Rotman Commerce

Stay connected, find community: International student shares tips from her guide to studying in Canada

davidlee — Mon, 09 Sep 2024 15:29:23 +0000

Stay connected, find community: International student shares tips from her guide to studying in Canada

davidlee Mon, 09/09/2024 - 11:29

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Ngọc Anh Thư (Tina) Huỳnh, a U of T Pearson scholar from Vietnam, wrote a Vietnamese-language guide for international students studying in Canada (supplied image)

Adina Bresge

Topic

Global Lens

Back to School 2024

Faculty of Arts & Science

Global

Lester B. Pearson International Scholarship

Rotman Commerce

St. Michael's College

Subheadline

“That's the great thing about being an international student in Canada ... Everyone is friendly. You can just reach out to anyone for help”

Unlike many first-year international students at the ��Ƶ, Ngọc Anh Thư (Tina) Huỳnh already has plenty of experience living and studying in Canada – and the inevitable cultural shock that can come along with it.

She even wrote a book on it.

A Vietnamese student who has been attending school in Ontario since Grade 8, Huỳnh has cultivated the cultural fluency, study habits and – it must be said – winter survival tactics needed to thrive in Canadian classrooms.

After writing a guide for other Vietnamese students, she’s been helping her fellow Lester B. Pearson International Scholars adjust to life in Canada by sharing tips in a group chat on everything from what to pack to navigating the airport.

“It kind of reminds me of when I first came to Canada, because I had the same feeling – I was really nervous,” says Huỳnh, who is studying at Rotman Commerce in the Faculty of Arts & Science as a member of St. Michael’s College.

Born and raised in Ho Chi Minh City, Huỳnh moved to Canada at age 13, starting her studies in Windsor, Ont. with a Vietnamese host family and later continuing her education at a school in nearby London, where she lived in residence.

Far away from her family and the familiarity of home, Huỳnh says she had to learn how to be independent. But she soon discovered that connecting with others eased the transition.

“What I found helpful was to find a community,” she says. “It could be a group of friends – maybe from your old country, or just someone you meet [here] ... You need someone by your side.”

She also discovered that Canadians were eager to make newcomers feel at home.

“That's the great thing about being an international student in Canada,” says Huỳnh. “Everyone is friendly. You can just reach out to anyone for help.”

A polyglot with fluency in Mandarin, Korean, Spanish and French in addition to Vietnamese and English, Huỳnh says she is quick to pick up new languages, but it still took her a while to get the hang of Canadian slang. For example, she recalls scratching her head when a Tim Hortons cashier threw around strange words like “loonie” and “toonie.”

“I was actually really confident with my English. But then it was destroyed because … communication styles were so different,” she says, encouraging international students to not be deterred by initial language barriers.

When the COVID-19 pandemic swept across the globe, Huỳnh responded by building international connections through business. She founded an online venture to retail Korean merchandise to customers in the United States and Canada, which later expanded to serve more than 10 countries globally.

“It was really hard to purchase face masks or any medical supplies, so I thought of starting my business as a way to earn profits to support people during that time.”

The experience, while challenging, proved rewarding, with Huỳnh eventually donating a portion of her earnings to those in need.

In addition to her entrepreneurial ventures, Huỳnh began to consider how her journey could benefit others. With a deep love for writing, she drew on her notebooks to organize her thoughts on navigating culture shock, adapting to new learning environments and finding community.

Huỳnh’s insights formed the basis of her published book: Cẩm Nang Du Học Canada (A Complete Guide to Studying in Canada).

“I figured it may be a good idea to share all of my knowledge and understanding from my experience with high school students and their parents who are looking for this information.”

Huỳnh founded an online venture to sell Korean merchandise to customers in the U.S. and Canada, which later expanded to serve more than 10 countries (supplied image)

As a Pearson Scholar, Huỳnh is now hoping to build more connections and share her experiences as part of a global community of future leaders.

“I've already connected with a lot of amazing people – a lot of amazing students, alumni, even professors,” Huỳnh says. “The Pearson community is so supportive.”

Here are some of Huỳnh’s tips for international students arriving in Canada:

Stay connected to home: “Stay connected with your family and friends, because maybe you don't notice how much you miss them when they're right next to you. But when you're away from them – especially like for me, half the Earth away – it's really nice to talk to your parents, talk to your siblings, your friends, and just share your life.”
Find comfort in food: “For homesickness, one of the most healing ways, at least for me, is through food. And I think for Toronto, at least, I don't think people have to worry too much about having difficulties finding restaurants for their own culture.”
Dress smart for winter: “My advice would be to stick to thermal clothing – those are just very thin and cling close to your body. When I tell people about that, they’re surprised because thermal clothes are so thin compared to puffy layers of jackets. But trust me, they’ll keep you warmer."\
Take notes in class: “I know that in a lot of countries, especially Asian countries, people are probably used to teachers outlining everything. But it’s different in Canada … Professors can go really fast in lectures, so scribbling some notes – even if you have ugly handwriting – is a great way to learn and revise for exams.”
Embrace Canadian culture: “If you’re walking on the street, and a stranger says, ‘Hi’ – don’t freak out. They’re just being nice!”

Food for thought: First-year student campaigned for more nutritious, affordable meals in Niagara schools

rahul.kalvapalle — Wed, 28 Aug 2024 14:29:41 +0000

Food for thought: First-year student campaigned for more nutritious, affordable meals in Niagara schools

rahul.kalvapalle Wed, 08/28/2024 - 10:29

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Julianna Marcel, who graduated from Greater Fort Erie Secondary School in Fort Erie, Ont., will be studying at Rotman Commerce this fall (photo courtesy of Julianna Marcel)

Rahul Kalvapalle

Topic

Our Community

Back to School 2024

Faculty of Arts & Science

Rotman Commerce

Rotman School of Management

Undergraduate Students

Victoria College

Subheadline

As a high school student and Niagara Region school board trustee, Julianna Marcel led a successful effort to overhaul school cafeteria meals and secure funding for culinary education

Julianna Marcel was in Grade 10 when a teacher pulled her out of science class and asked if she’d be interested in joining the District School Board of Niagara (DSBN)’s student trustee senate.

“I said yes, despite not knowing what it was,” says Marcel of the group that serves as a bridge between the school board and student body.

It would prove to be a fateful decision for both Marcel and the school board.

Later elected to one of three student positions on the DSBN’s board of trustees, Marcel went on to lead a successful campaign to overhaul school cafeteria menus to make them more nutritious and affordable. The effort also helped secure funding for culinary education.

“It ended up being one of the most transformative experiences of my life, connecting me deeply with both the student body and the educational community," Marcel says.

Marcel, who will begin a bachelor of commerce degree at the ��Ƶ this fall, decided to act when a survey revealed a significant demand for healthier, more affordable meal options.

“Students expressed concerns about the high cost and low quality of their food, which I found unacceptable,” she says. “I recognized the need for change and saw an opportunity to advocate for healthier food in schools while better supporting our students.”

As she attended Greater Fort Erie Secondary School in Fort Erie, Ont., Marcel educated herself on food services policy and finance and carried out research on the impact of nutrition on academic performance and student success.

With her adviser’s encouragement, Marcel shared her findings in a letter to the president of DSBN’s food service provider. A series of meetings followed and, ultimately, a revamp of cafeteria menus.

Next, Marcel turned her attention to campaigning for more resources for culinary education. This led to the DSBN allocating $500,000 in its 2023-24 budget to expand culinary education.

Marcel's contributions were recognized with an Ontario Public Student Trustee Leadership Scholarship, jointly awarded by the Ontario Public School Boards’ Association and the Public Board Council of OSTA-AECO. The award citation noted that her work benefited some 37,500 students.

She's keen to highlight that the positive outcomes were the result of collective effort.

“I wouldn’t say that these changes are my accomplishments. They are a testament to what we can achieve when we listen to and involve students in decision-making processes,” she says.

The advocacy work led by Marcel benefited more than 37,000 students (photo courtesy of Julianna Marcel)

In addition to her trustee responsibilities and keeping up her grades, Marcel also made sure to carefully consider her post-secondary options. She participated in the U of T Faculty of Law’s youth summer programs in 2022 and 2023 – experiences that she says inspired her long-term ambition to attend law school at U of T and become a technology and corporate lawyer.

She says she is drawn to U of T’s vast array of resources and supports – and the diversity of its community.

“When I was picking between schools, I really did a deep delve into my top few choices and the ��Ƶ has the most academic, extracurricular and career supports of any school that I researched,” says Marcel, who will pursue a specialist in finance and economics at Rotman Commerce as member of Victoria College.

“Coming to Toronto, I’m so excited to get to know everyone, learn more about the people and communities around me and meet so many international students.”

She intends to use her undergraduate years to enrich her understanding of how economics can be used to address societal problems.

“I’m drawn to economics because it offers a powerful framework for analyzing the challenges we face in society,” Marcel says. “Whether it’s understanding the causes of economic inequality or exploring the impacts of globalization or designing policies for sustainable growth, I believe economics provides the tools to critically access and influence the world around us.”

Marcel also plans to make time for her many hobbies while at university: she plays five musical instruments, enjoys soccer and basketball, and loves writing.

She hopes to start a tutoring business that engages U of T students in assisting high school and elementary learners, and wants to get involved in student groups at Rotman Commerce – particularly the Law Association, FinTech Association and Women in Business group.

"My ultimate goal is to support my community in every way that I can – not just in my first year but throughout my life," she says.

U of T grads aim to electrify - and simplify - the package delivery business

Christopher.Sorensen — Wed, 20 Mar 2024 17:33:25 +0000

U of T grads aim to electrify - and simplify - the package delivery business

Christopher.Sorensen Wed, 03/20/2024 - 13:33

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GoBolt co-founder Mark Ang, who graduated from Rotman Commerce in 2017, says he and co-founder Heindrik Bernabe, an alum of U of T Engineering, “wanted to be change-makers in an antiquated industry” (photo by Kemeisha McDonald)

Topic

Faculty of Applied Science & Engineering

Faculty of Arts & Science

Subheadline

GoBolt got its start as a storage solution for students living in residence, but co-founders Mark Ang and Heindrik Bernabe switched gears after deciding they wanted to have a positive impact on the planet

What started as a side hustle for ��Ƶ graduate Mark Ang has since evolved into a multi-million-dollar third-party logistics company – one that aims to have a positive impact on the planet by using electric vehicles for package deliveries.

Ang’s startup GoBolt has raised more than US$160 million from investors to support expansion of its fulfillment, last-mile delivery and returns management services to major urban areas across Canada and the United States.

It’s also using the funding to increase the percentage of electric vehicles (EVs) it has on the road.

“I always tell the team, ‘We need to be fiercely competitive to win enough volume to have an environmental impact,’” says Ang, who earned his bachelor of commerce degree from U of T in 2017 as a member of Trinity College.

GoBolt estimates that its approach currently prevents 20 tonnes of CO2 emissions each month, a number that increases as it adds more EVs to its fleet. The company also invests in tree planting and other restorative projects to sequester the emissions GoBolt does produce, with the goal of being carbon neutral by the end of 2023.

“What we do today is a great start, and it is a beacon for people, but it's not nearly enough to make a difference globally,” says Ang. “We're fiercely competitive in making this business a multi-billion-dollar global enterprise – and then we can start to effect real change.”

GoBolt Co-Founders Mark Ang and Heindrik Bernabe with one of their electric delivery vehicles (photo by Kemeisha McDonald)

The story of GoBolt began when Ang was a U of T undergraduate student in Rotman Commerce. He founded Second Closet, a storage service aimed at international students who needed to clear out their dorm rooms for the summer. Ang’s team rented trucks and scurried around campus to collect hundreds of boxes and random items. It was a lot of driving, a lot of parking tickets and a lot of stairs.

By offering a convenient service for a fraction of its competitors’ prices and an effective, flyer-based direct marketing campaign, the venture soon experienced rapid growth. Within two weeks, Second Closet was making $20,000 a month – pushing its resources to the limit.

“Every year got progressively crazier,” says Ang. “We had a dozen five-tonne trucks around U of T every day in April and September. We would do thousands of pickups. It was just bananas.”

They needed help and they needed it fast.

Enter Michael Hyatt of the Creative Destruction Lab, a seed-stage accelerator that was founded at the Rotman School of Management.

The angel investor raised US$500,000 for Second Closet in a single day.

“In the realm of exceptional founders, Mark stands out as an evangelist who possesses the acumen to drive the business forward,” says Hyatt, entrepreneur and CDL founding partner who sits on GoBolt’s board of directors.

“Mark's intelligence and adeptness at building relationships were readily apparent. His ability to hustle and propel the business forward was instrumental in leveraging the connections within CDL.”

Hyatt also connected Ang with U of T engineering student Heindrik Bernabe, who went on to become a GoBolt programmer, co-founder and CTO.

The business thrived but Ang and Bernabe still weren't satisfied.

“I didn't want our legacy to be that we help people hoard their stuff more efficiently,” says Ang.

Ang and Bernabe wanted to make a difference in the world, and so, with their fleet of trucks from Second Closet, they pivoted to logistics and shipping with GoBolt. At the time, using EVs commercially was a novel idea, but the newly formed GoBolt already had relationships with EV makers in Ontario and Quebec, as well as goods producers who cared about the fate of freight and addressing climate change.

“We wanted to be a 21st-century business for 21st-century brands, shoppers and merchants,” says Ang, whose clients include Endy mattresses and Frank And Oak apparel.

“We wanted to be change-makers in an antiquated industry.”

GoBolt’s made-in-Canada electric delivery vehicles can travel up to 400 kilometres on a single charge, depending on the payload and the EV battery’s natural enemy – freezing weather. But range is just a minor speed bump as technology improves and GoBolt adds service hubs and charging stations on its busiest routes.

“We're excited about what we're doing,” says Ang. “We don't feel super altruistic about it – we just know it's the right thing to do.”

Celebrating U of T's impact on hockey in Toronto

Christopher.Sorensen — Thu, 01 Feb 2024 14:05:36 +0000

Celebrating U of T's impact on hockey in Toronto Christopher.Sorensen Thu, 02/01/2024 - 09:05

Topic

Our Community

Sinai Health

Alumni

Faculty of Arts & Science

Faculty of Kinesiology & Physical Education

Hockey

Rotman Commerce

Varsity Blues

Toronto is a sports city – and hockey is close to its heart.

In a new video, members of the ��Ƶ community reflect on how U of T’s Varsity Blues hockey program inspired the Toronto Maple Leafs – and how the future of hockey is diverse and inclusive.

“I’m excited about the future of hockey because I think we’ve never been in a better place – especially with the creation of a professional women’s league,” says Jayna Hefford, a five-time Olympic medallist in women’s hockey who is now senior vice-president of the Professional Women’s Hockey League and a former Varsity Blues Player.

“If we want Canada and hockey to thrive, we need as many people playing as we can.”

Cole Purboo, a fourth-year student at Rotman Commerce and captain of the Varsity Blues men’s hockey team, says he, too, believes the future of the game is one that is “more diverse and more accessible for more people.”

The video also explores how the Tanenbaum Institute for Science in Sport at U of T and Sinai Health is shaping the future of athletics and ensuring that sports are for everyone.

“We saw an opportunity to encourage engagement, drive performance and accelerate recovery through groundbreaking and globally recognized research,” says Larry Tanenbaum, philanthropist and chair of Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment, “allowing athletes of all levels and ability to reach their maximum potential.”

Interviews in this video include:

Larry Tanenbaum, chair of Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment, philanthropist behind the U of T Tanenbaum Institute for Science in Sport at U of T and Sinai Health
Bruce Kidd, professor emeritus, sport and public policy, Faculty of Kinesiology & Physical Education
Cole Purboo, fourth-year student at Rotman Commerce, Varsity Blues men’s hockey team Captain
Jayna Hefford, senior vice-president hockey operations for the Professional Women’s Hockey League, Varsity Blues Women’s Hockey 1996-97

U of T’s Rotman Commerce opens Toronto Stock Exchange to mark 100 years of program

mattimar — Thu, 18 Jan 2024 17:37:41 +0000

U of T’s Rotman Commerce opens Toronto Stock Exchange to mark 100 years of program

mattimar Thu, 01/18/2024 - 12:37

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Susan Christoffersen, dean of the Rotman School of Management, was joined by students, alumni, faculty and staff on the floor of the Stock Exchange at TMX Market Centre in the heart of Toronto’s Financial District (photo by Tam Nguyen)

Topic

Faculty of Arts & Science

Rotman Commerce

Rotman School of Management

The ��Ƶ’s Rotman Commerce community opened the Toronto Stock Exchange this week – an event that marked the 100th anniversary of the university program.

Susan Christoffersen, dean of the Rotman School of Management, was joined by students, alumni, faculty and staff for Wednesday’s opening ceremony on the floor of the stock exchange at the Market Centre in the heart of Toronto’s financial district.

“Our two organizations have much in common: they share not only a proud history of shaping the business landscape in Canada and around the world, but also a long-standing vision of driving change,” Christoffersen said.

It was in 1924 that the first graduating class walked across the stage at U of T’s Convocation Hall. Today, the well-known U of T undergraduate business program is jointly managed by the Rotman School of Management and Faculty of Arts & Science, boasting 3,300 students.

Alum Evelyn Foo said it was an honour to be included in the ceremony and that Rotman Commerce served as the foundation of starting her business career. Meanwhile, student Edouard Larouche said the event provided “great perspective on the legacy left by those who preceded me at Rotman and fuels my aspiration to contribute meaningfully to the future of the program.”

For new U of T grad Medha Arora Wadhwa, public speaking is key to creating change

siddiq22 — Fri, 23 Jun 2023 14:29:36 +0000

For new U of T grad Medha Arora Wadhwa, public speaking is key to creating change

siddiq22 Fri, 06/23/2023 - 10:29

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Medha Arora Wadhwa developed a passion for public speaking while earning her bachelor's degree in commerce (supplied photo)

Coby Zucker

Topic

Our Community

Convocation 2023

Student Leadership Award

Graduate Stories

Faculty of Arts & Science

Rotman Commerce

Summer Abroad

Woodsworth College

For new Faculty of Arts & Science graduate Medha Arora Wadhwa, university was a time to grow and give back.

Arora Wadhwa earned her honours bachelor of commerce, specializing in management with a focus on marketing, while also completing minors in drama and economics.

After graduation, Arora Wadhwa plans to pursue her passion for art history, studying in Spain through U of T’s Summer Abroad program. When she returns, her aim is to find full-time work consulting in media and communications.

Over the past four years, Arora Wadhwa was involved with the Rotman Commerce Arts Group and Rotman Commerce Toastmasters. Most recently, she was vice-president external for the Toastmasters club, where she launched the RCT x RCPA: Roaring '20s Speakeasy, an arts incubator that created a safe space for the creative exploration of issues that are difficult to discuss or rarely spoken about.

Arora Wadhwa was also a student leader at Woodsworth College, where she was a residence advisor.

For her efforts, Arora Wadhwa earned a ��Ƶ Student Leadership Award as well as the Director's Award for Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion from Rotman Commerce.

She spoke with Faculty of Arts & Science writer Coby Zucker about her passion for public speaking and how it was helpful during her time at U of T.

Arora Wadhwa was vice-president external for Rotman Commerce Toastmasters (supplied image)

What did you get out of participating in Rotman Commerce Toastmasters?

First, there's the element of public speaking, which is so helpful to anyone in a professional and academic setting. I really developed my skills through the club. The other thing was being given a bit of freedom. I had a vision to create an arts incubator where people could speak about issues that are very rarely spoken about – like pride, feminism, diversity and body dysmorphia.

Through Toastmasters, you're given so much support for any idea that you have. To be able to see something like that come to life showed me that's something I want to do in the future, for a career.

You worked as a public-speaking tutor. What was that like?

I work with a lot of students who are English-language learners and to see their confidence grow, especially in a language they're not comfortable with, is just really beautiful.

What makes public speaking so important?

It's such a valuable skill to be able to communicate effectively, and to be able to get what you need to say across in a clear and effective way. And taking it a step further, being able to communicate with a big group of people in an effective way can help create a lot of social change.

It also doesn't have to be at the macro level – it's also on the micro level. It's speaking up for yourself in a meeting or communicating your ideas on a project. Those are the small wins that public speaking gets you. Having that confidence and comfort with speaking can really transform people's lives.

What is the value of public speaking for groups that are often underrepresented in public discourse?

Public speaking is especially tough for any minority. Women historically have been told not to speak up. It's a very recent societal change that we've had where we're encouraged to. For people with disabilities or any kind of minority, you're taught your entire life through society that your voice doesn't have that much significance.

So public speaking is especially important for any kind of minority to advocate for themselves. To be confident in speaking is to create change for yourself and a bigger group of people.

What advice would you have for someone who is considering studying at U of T?

Don't lose your individuality. It's really easy to see the path or the direction all your peers are taking and then feel like you're doing something wrong, or feel like you're not successful enough by those standards.

If you can leverage your own individuality – whatever it is you love or that makes you unique – whether it's dance or acting or a certain sport you play or maybe having a disability, that's who you are.

I’d say own that, because that's what makes you unique – and that's what's going to take you further.

David Denison, a corporate leader who led the CPPIB to global acclaim, receives honorary degree

Christopher.Sorensen — Fri, 16 Jun 2023 19:51:18 +0000

David Denison, a corporate leader who led the CPPIB to global acclaim, receives honorary degree Christopher.Sorensen Fri, 06/16/2023 - 15:51

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(photo by Steve Frost)

Scott Anderson

Topic

Our Community

Convocation 2023

��Ƶ Asset Management Corp.

Alumni

Honorary Degree

Rotman Commerce

A corporate leader with exceptional investment knowledge, David Denison has made an immense impact on something that affects every Canadian: the Canada Pension Plan.

As CEO of the Canada Pension Plan Investment Board (CPPIB) from 2005 to 2012, Denison transformed the organization’s investment strategy in a way that has contributed to Canada’s global reputation for having an innovative and effective retirement income system.

Today, for his corporate leadership in the for-profit and non-profit sectors and for his outstanding service to the ��Ƶ as co-chair of its Investment Committee, Denison will receive a Doctor of Laws, honoris causa, from the university.

Born in Gander, N.L., where his father worked as an airport meteorologist, Denison was raised in Montreal but finished high school in Toronto.

He earned a bachelor’s degree in math and a bachelor of education from U of T in the mid-1970s, then taught high school math in Toronto. After six years, he decided that teaching was not for him, completed his chartered accountant designation and embarked on a career in business.

“Part of it was a challenge to myself,” he once told Reuters. “Being a successful teacher, could I be successful in a dramatically different environment?”

Denison worked at a number of investment firms, including Merrill Lynch, in the 1980s. He moved to Fidelity Investments in 1995 and became president of the Canadian office.

Ten years later, he was named CEO of the recently formed Canada Pension Plan Investment Board. Denison told the Globe and Mail in 2012 that he had been attracted to the position by the prospect of being able to lead change. “How many times in one’s life or career do you get the chance to come into an organization … early stage, and really have the opportunity to help shape how it’s going to evolve?” he asked.

(photo by Steve Frost)

Under his watch, the pension plan’s portfolio grew from $70 billion in assets to $170 billion. At the same time, the number of employees leapt more than 10-fold – a challenging process for any manager.

Denison says his most important decisions in the early years were hiring the right staff. “If you focus on the people … the deals will take care of themselves,” he told the Globe in 2012. “And if you don’t pay enough attention to the people and the culture, you will end up with some deals you probably won’t be happy about having on your track record.”

He has applied his business knowledge to the non-profit sector as well. As chair of Bridgepoint Active Health, he led that organization in a merger with Mount Sinai Hospital to create the Sinai Health System – a move designed to provide long-term strength and stability to each group.

He has also served as co-chair of U of T’s Investment Committee for 13 years, providing guidance to the ��Ƶ Asset Management Corporation (UTAM) and the university’s administration. In this role, his advice on investment strategy has been instrumental in enabling UTAM to significantly improve the performance of the pension and endowment funds under its management without undue risk.

A reflection, perhaps, of his discipline is his commitment to running. For decades, Denison arose at 4:30 each morning to start the day with a jog – preferably outdoors. When he traveled, he would choose hotels based on how well they were situated for running. In the Globe interview, he recalled once having to forgo his outdoor run – on a trip to Sao Paulo – after hotel staff told him it wasn’t safe to run in the city in the dark.

When he retired from the pension board, he kept his daily run but pushed it back to 5:30 a.m.

Denison has held numerous corporate board positions, including at BCE and RBC, and is a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Ontario. He has also served as a director for several non-profit organizations, including the Canadian Opera Company, the Princess Margaret Cancer Foundation, the Toronto Rehabilitation Institute and the United Way of Greater Toronto. He holds one other honorary doctorate. In 2014, he was named an officer of the Order of Canada.

In his convocation address to graduates of Rotman Commerce, Denison urges them to avoid pressuring themselves to have a mapped-out career plan: “…approach these next few years as an important process of self-awareness and discovery about the types of work, roles, cultures and organizations that will best provide personal satisfaction and fulfilment.

“It may take several years and a detour or two before you find what you’re ideally suited for… If that proves to be the case, don’t look upon those detours as setbacks or missteps – I never once thought that way about the years I spent in teaching or public accounting.

“They’re just an essential part of your learning process and each one will give you important additional skills and perspectives that you can draw upon in the future.”

U of T grads develop Mind-Easy therapy platform with a focus on equity

siddiq22 — Mon, 13 Mar 2023 14:44:26 +0000

U of T grads develop Mind-Easy therapy platform with a focus on equity

siddiq22 Mon, 03/13/2023 - 10:44

Cutline

Alexandra Assouad and Akanksha Shelat created Mind-Easy, an adaptive mental health platform that provides knowledge and tools in more than 100 languages, dialects and accents (supplied images)

David Goldberg

Topic

Our Community

Entrepreneurship Week

Entrepreneurship

Faculty of Arts & Science

Health Innovation Hub

Mental Health

Ontario Institute for Studies in Education

Rotman Commerce

Startups

A new app launched by ��Ƶ alumnae aims to make cultural competence a minimum standard in mental health – including innovative ways to deliver identity-centric preventive care.

“Available to anyone around the world, the Mind-Easy app is an adaptive health platform that uses avatars with human-like characteristics that help guide users through their therapeutic journey,” explains Mind-Easy co-founder and chief technology officer Akanksha Shelat, who graduated in 2018 with an honours bachelor of science from the Faculty of Arts & Science as a member of New College, majoring in computer science and cognitive science.

“This platform is designed to provide personalized care to patients, using a proprietary human taxonomy and artificial intelligence to deliver tailored mental health plans.”

Shelat and fellow Faculty of Arts & Science alumna Alexandra Assouad, along with Ontario Institute for Studies in Education (OISE) PhD candidate Dalia Ahmed, developed and launched Mind-Easy, drawing from their own experiences as international students.

In consultation with mental health professionals across the country, Mind-Easy provides knowledge and tools in more than 100 languages, dialects and accents. Asynchronous learning makes the resources available on demand. Leveraging the OISE and psychology network at U of T, the team built a database of carefully curated content for Canada’s diverse and often marginalized groups.

From the start, the co-founders' goal was to solve two major problems: the shortage of therapists and the lack of cultural competence. Mind-Easy checks both boxes.

“Cultural competence is essential when providing proper mental health care,” says Assouad, who is Mind-Easy’s CEO and graduated with a bachelor of commerce degree from Rotman Commerce in 2018 as a member of St. Michael’s College.

“Coming to Toronto from Lebanon sparked internal chaos and filled me with an overwhelming sense of loneliness,” she says. “I wanted a therapist who spoke my language – a person who ethnically represents me and allows me to share vulnerable experiences.”

The Mind-Easy system learns from a patient's data to determine which interventions will be most effective. The approach not only improves patient outcomes, but reduces costs by avoiding unnecessary therapy treatments, the founders say.

Shelat and Assouad credit U of T’s abundance of resources for helping them develop and launch Mind-Easy, including support from the Health Innovation Hub (H2i) accelerator at the Temerty Faculty of Medicine.

“It is very exciting to be part of the innovation economy in Canada, especially when it involves working with passionate entrepreneurs who are dedicated to commercializing their technology and intellectual property,” says Andris Lauris, H2i's associate director.

“It’s also extremely rewarding to help these companies raise non-dilutive funding and equity investments in an ever-challenging struggle to bridge the funding gap in Canada. H2i focuses on one-on-one mentorship for companies in health and life sciences in software, medical devices, and diagnostics and therapeutics.”

In part, H2i’s in-house mentors guided Mind-Easy's co-founders with practice pitch sessions, helping the aspiring entrepreneurs develop their product and business plans.

“Mind-Easy has built a great team and are poised for success,” Lauris says.

Assouad also credits Arts & Science faculty members for their support – including the mentorship of Craig Geoffrey, an assistant professor, teaching stream, at Rotman.

“Alexandra had a really entrepreneurial view of how she’d run her life,” Geoffrey recalls. “She was always interested in taking on new challenges, learning new things and working to develop a full skill set she could apply to any career she’d eventually take on.”

Assouad and Shelat advise aspiring entrepreneurs to “network, network, network” while at school to build important connections they can tap into down the line for professional, financial and even emotional support.

“Being surrounded by other entrepreneurs and world-class experts is inspiring,” Shelat says. “And amazingly, it all takes place on this campus with its rich legacy of boundary-breaking innovation.”

‘A big moment’: U of T alumni who graduated with virtual convocations return for in-person celebrations

lanthierj — Mon, 05 Dec 2022 18:03:33 +0000

‘A big moment’: U of T alumni who graduated with virtual convocations return for in-person celebrations

lanthierj Mon, 12/05/2022 - 13:03

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More than 7,700 members of the Class of 2020 and Class of 2021 are expected to cross the stage at Convocation Hall (photo by Neil Ta)

Alexa Battler

Topic

Our Community

2020 & 2021 Graduation Celebrations

Convocation Hall

Alumni

Faculty of Arts & Science

OISE

Rhodes Scholar

Rotman Commerce

Rotman School of Management

U of T Scarborough

Liwei Liao didn’t put much thought into his outfit when he viewed his virtual convocation ceremony at ��Ƶ at the height of the pandemic – but next week, he will be getting dressed up.

With an honours bachelor of science degree from U of T Scarborough, Liao is one of more than 7,700 grads expected to cross the stage at Convocation Hall as a part of a series of in-person celebrations for the classes of 2020 and 2021.

He says he’s looking forward to a signature U of T moment.

“It's going to be very special for me and probably one of the best days of my life,” Liao says. “I’ll be thinking about the respect I have for my home campus. This is the place that paved the way to where I am now.”

Alumni and their 24,000 guests will attend 28 special in-person graduation celebrations over 13 days. Cohorts are organized by campus and degree. Two celebrations were already held on Nov. 12 for Rotman School of Management and Rotman Commerce graduates.

Mariana Saraiva

“This graduation celebration was a special milestone for me,” says Mariana Saraiva, who earned an executive MBA degree in 2020. “It was my first experience in Canada graduating, so I am grateful to have been present and have my moment on stage with all my peers and fellow graduates.

“For me, it was extraordinary to return to campus and celebrate what we achieved in person.”

The celebrations include decades-old U of T traditions as well as a new role introduced to U of T convocations this spring – the Eagle Feather Bearer, a sign of the university’s profound respect for Indigenous communities and cultures.

“These in-person celebrations are part two of the initial, virtual convocation ceremonies held at the height of the pandemic,” says Bryn MacPherson, assistant vice-president in U of T’s Office of the President and chief of protocol. “This is the culmination of a multi-year effort to ensure our graduates have as many as possible of the experiences they would have enjoyed during their in-person Convocation ceremonies.”

Institutional leaders, deans and principals from the three campuses will deliver remarks. Each recent grad will then hear their name called and take the short but significant walk across Convocation Hall’s stage.

Ikran Jama, who graduated from the Faculty of Arts & Science last year and is now studying at Oxford University on a Rhodes Scholarship, says her thoughts will be with the people cheering her on in the audience.

“I’ll be thinking of my parents and the struggles they went through to give me an education and a fighting chance,” Jama says. “To finally see their daughter cross that stage is a big moment for the people I love and care about.”

Jama says she is flying back to Toronto to attend the celebration and is looking forward to visiting family and reconnecting with classmates she hasn’t seen in years, as well as those she only managed to connect with virtually.

“We haven’t seen each other in so long and people have gone across the world,” Jama says. “I'm so excited to come back and speak with them about what they're doing.”

13 days of celebrations – a huge undertaking

Behind the scenes, staff faced an array of logistical challenges when organizing the events – not the least of which was contacting graduates who might not have opened their U of T email in years.

Organizers are taking steps to give alumni from the classes of 2020 and 2021 every chance to attend. Since the initial deadline, more than 350 names have been gathered and added to convocation lists. Organizers said registration of latecomers would continue until the start of the ceremonies – and a limited supply of extra academic gowns will be available on site for those who missed the deadline to order ahead.

Those late entries present another logistical hurdle. Graduates had the ability to provide information about the pronunciation of their name in advance so that this would be captured in the recordings. To accommodate late additions, names will be on different types of cards and delivered live.

Yet, despite the challenges, organizers say they are committed to making these celebrations as special as possible.

“We recognize that the pandemic made reaching this academic achievement more challenging,” says Silvia Rosatone, director of the Office of Convocation. “In partnership with our Faculty and College partners, we are all committed to providing our graduates with the opportunity to celebrate this important milestone.”

Members of the Rotman Commerce Class of 2020 and Class of 2021 celebrate at Convocation Hall (photo by Tam Nguyen)

'U of T’s greatest strength is its people': International student Aamyneh Mecklai on the thrill of being on campus

rahul.kalvapalle — Thu, 06 Oct 2022 19:37:17 +0000

'U of T’s greatest strength is its people': International student Aamyneh Mecklai on the thrill of being on campus

rahul.kalvapalle Thu, 10/06/2022 - 15:37

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An international student in her third year at Rotman Commerce, Aamyneh Mecklai was deeply involved in extra-curricular activities during her first two years at U of T – even while studying remotely (photo courtesy of Aamyneh Mecklai)

Rahul Kalvapalle

Topic

Global Lens

Faculty of Arts & Science

Global

Lester B. Pearson International Scholarship

Rotman Commerce

Students

Trinity College

Undergraduate Students

Aamyneh Mecklai’s transition to student life at the ��Ƶ was anything but straightforward, but she says she wouldn’t have it any other way.

Originally from Mumbai, India, Mecklai was accepted to U of T in 2020 with a Lester B. Pearson International Scholarship. But the elation of receiving the university’s most competitive full-ride scholarship for international students soon gave way to the reality that she wouldn’t be able to move to Toronto due to the pandemic – and would have to complete her first semester remotely from halfway around the world.

Mecklai finally arrived in Toronto in time for the winter 2021 term – on a freezing January day, no less. She then headed straight to two weeks of quarantine and a delayed return to in-person classes, as the university responded to the Omicron variant.

Now in her third year at Rotman Commerce – at a time when U of T’s three campuses are once again brimming with activity and excitement – Mecklai says the journey has made her all the more appreciative of the joys of campus life and better equipped to tackle its challenges.

“When I finally came to U of T, I felt like I was much stronger and much more independent,” she says. “I had so much to look forward to, there were so many people to meet and so many things I could now do in-person.

“It was definitely a little challenging at times, but I’m in love with U of T and Toronto. Looking back, I don’t think I would have it any other way.”

Aamyneh Mecklai kayaking in Toronto's harbour (photo courtesy of Aamyneh Mecklai)

Mecklai was one of thousands of students around the world who couldn’t begin their post-secondary experience in person due to the pandemic. Her best friend, who was accepted into a college in New York, was also affected – so the duo decided to make the most of their shared predicament by moving into a Mumbai apartment together.

“We had a pseudo-college experience and learned to live alone, cook, take care of our apartment and each other, and balance academics alongside,” Mecklai says. “It was a really interesting experience and, in retrospect, a beautiful transition to college.”

In addition to getting a taste of independent living, Mecklai also wasted no time getting involved in an array of extra-curricular activities at U of T. She joined an online dance organization, wrote for the Varsity and the Trinity Times, and participated in several clubs and leadership platforms that catered to her interests in activism, education access and girls’ rights – including Trinity Women in Leadership and the U of T chapter of Girl Up, a leadership development initiative launched by the United Nations Foundation.

“Although I was studying remotely, I had access to incredible resources at U of T and was able to express myself, albeit online,” says Mecklai, an aspiring social entrepreneur and lawyer.

Trinity College, in particular, served as a rich network for Mecklai to find likeminded people.

Through the college, Mecklai connected with student-activists and twin sisters Maryam and Nivaal Rehman, who run the non-profit MNR Foundation. Mecklai helped them launch a student-led digital advocacy tool called Feminae Carta, which provides resources to young and inspiring advocates, and is backed by organizations including the UN Girls’ Education Initiative (UNGEI), Malala Fund and Disney. She has since been interviewed by UNGEI about Feminae Carta, and launched a podcast with the Rehman sisters.

Nivaal (L) and Maryam Rehman run the non-profit MNR Foundation (photo courtesy of McKinley Tretler for Malala Fund)

“What was so incredible is that I had access to all of this before I even physically arrived in Toronto,” Mecklai says. “U of T’s greatest strength is its people – you just need to reach for it.”

Of course, connecting with people exclusively over Zoom and phone calls wasn’t always smooth sailing. “Initially, it was a bit jarring because you don’t know how connected you’ll feel to other people and there can be some awkward moments, but it was just about persisting through it – and knowing that when you come to U of T, there will be so many opportunities to meet and connect with people. So, there was always so much to look forward to.”

Mecklai finally arrived in Toronto in January 2021 – “I certainly didn’t know what -18 C felt like,” she recalls – and completed two weeks of quarantine at the CampusOne residence building before moving into her current digs at Trinity College.

Aamyneh Mecklai with her friend Tazriaan Islam outside Trinity College in winter (photo courtesy of Aamyneh Mecklai)

While the large class sizes and sheer numbers of people on campus may have seemed daunting at first, Mecklai says she’s come to see it as one of U of T’s best attributes.

“That’s the beauty of U of T … it gives you so much choice and diversity in being able to pick and gravitate towards your people,” she says. “You’re always going to be spoiled for choice, whether it’s extra-curricularly, academically or professors you want to engage with.”

Mecklai emphasizes the extra-curricular aspect, which she says is her favourite part of the university experience.

“To be very honest, academics for me is something I do like to work on, but I think I’m really driven by things I do outside the classroom and side projects,” she says.

To that end, Mecklai has worked to create links between her schoolwork and outside interests. She's currently involved in a research project with Professor Karen Mundy of the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education that explores India's Right to Education Act in the context of rural communities – specifically, how skills like communication and expression can be better incorporated into education. It’s a subject that’s directly inspired by Mecklai’s efforts as the founder of Speak to Lead, a non-profit that teaches conversational English and public speaking skills to over 1500 students across rural and urban India, with plans to scale to Pakistan and Kenya.

For Mecklai, the Pearson Scholarship has been a crucial source of both financial support and community. “The Pearson Scholarship is one of the greatest gifts I think I'll ever receive," she said. "Of course, it has some incredible financial benefits and covers tuition, residence, etc. for all four years – but what stands out to me are the cohorts of students that hail from different parts of the world, study different disciplines and still feel fiercely united ... we are all in pursuit of a better tomorrow."

Mecklai says she hopes to contribute to that better tomorrow via a career path that involves combining a private-sector efficiency with a public sector-driven vision, specifically in the context of access to education. “As a Rotman Commerce student, I’m still equipping myself with the toolkit I need in order to create and understand private-public partnerships, to further scale an initiative like Speak to Lead – and, importantly, to not be afraid to try new things.

"I do think grad school’s on the cards. However, at this point, I’m very open to new experiences and I think it’s becoming clearer with every year that I want my work to be impact-driven.”

Aamyneh Mecklai says good-bye to her mother, left, and other members of her family in India (photo courtesy of Aamyneh Mecklai)

For the time being, though, she's squarely focused on savoring the second half of her undergraduate experience – and spending as much time as possible at her most beloved St. George campus locations. “My favourite spot on campus is St. Hilda’s College Rigby Room [in Trinity College]. You’ll find me trying to sight-read music by the piano. It’s one of the most beautiful rooms I’ve seen and sitting by the piano makes me feel at home,” she says.

“Something else I’m really looking forward to is running to The Buttery with my friends to grab a coffee in between classes. The Buttery is one spot where we’ll attempt to study, hang out and eat food all at once. Sitting there with my friends makes me feel most like an undergraduate student, a feeling that I’m learning to truly relish and be grateful for.”

Rotman Commerce

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