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| Second-year business management student Parvinder Sachdeva was selected to participate in the Next 36 program, a national scholarship that mentors up-and-coming entrepreneurs and offers venture challenges. Photo credit: Winston Chow. |
Parvinder Sachdeva is one of Canada's next generation of entrepreneurs.
The second-year business management student was chosen for the Next 36, a national scholarship program that aims to turn promising entrepreneurs into the business leaders of tomorrow. Sachdeva is one of 36 students selected from more than 1,300 applicants to participate in the nine-month leadership initiative. Developed by Toronto entrepreneurs, the Next 36 offers an academic foundation, practical skills, role models and networks to help mentor 36 of Canada's talented and innovative students.
In addition to receiving a $25,000 scholarship, Sachdeva will take part in a venture challenge where teams of four build businesses in the mobile environment. Each team receives $50,000 of project development resources and support from industry mentors to build a business in the mobile environment. During a four-month summer residency at the University of Toronto students will study with internationally acclaimed faculty and prominent Canadian entrepreneurs while developing their mobile projects.
"This program will definitely be a huge stepping stone in my quest to become a better leader and community builder," Sachdeva said. "The opportunity to learn from the industry's best as well as from the other 35 students who are as passionate and motivated as you are to make a difference to society, cannot be compared to any other. Plus, the venture challenge takes us out of our comfort zone and gives us all a very unique opportunity to test ourselves in the real business world."
In his close to two years at the Ted Rogers School of Management, Sachdeva started Ryerson's first toastmasters club to help students learn effective speaking, listening and leadership skills. He also organized the first annual TEDxRyersonU event, an independently coordinated technology, entertainment and design conference.
Sachdeva has always seen business as a progressive approach to bettering society. "It's the ability to inspire those around you, start a movement and make a positive change in the community. Entrepreneurship to me means taking initiative, no matter how small, and starting something of your own that would add value to the life of those around you. You have to be constantly looking for what's missing or what can make the community better and just get it done. You have to move from a 'can do' attitude to a 'will do' attitude," he said.
The venture challenge began last December and will end Aug. 18, 2011. The venture requires teams to invent, launch and sell a product or service focused on the mobile environment. Mentors include Nadir Mohamed, president and CEO, Rogers Communications and a member of Ryerson's Board of Governors; Francis Shen, founder and CEO, Aastra Technologies; Tim Hodgson, special advisor to the Bank of Canada; and Sam Duboc, founder and CEO, Edgestone Capital Partners.