Dr. Victor Cui, Professor of Entrepreneurship, Innovation, and Global Strategy at the Conrad School of Entrepreneurship and Business, published an opinion piece in the Globe and Mail this week on the global trade war now roiling world economic markets.
Kevin Ye’s journey is a testament to the power of entrepreneurship, innovation, and the global connections that the University of Waterloo’s Conrad School of Entrepreneurship and Business cultivates. As an MBET (Master of Business, Entrepreneurship and Technology) graduate from the class of 2024, Kevin has successfully navigated the entrepreneurial landscape, with impressive achievements in product marketing, venture creation, and startup growth.
Last night, the University of Waterloo’s incubator, Velocity, hosted its highly anticipated All-Stars Pitch Competition, and we couldn’t be prouder of the incredible Conrad School of Entrepreneurship and Business students who took centre stage.
As always, the Master of Business, Entrepreneurship and Technology (MBET) students and founders who have taken Enterprise Co-op and our undergraduate business and entrepreneurship courses crushed it in this competition! In fact, half of the finalists were Conrad School alumni and students, underscoring the transformative power of our programs and the collaborative approach to entrepreneurship that makes Waterloo so unique.
The Problem Lab’s Problem Pitch Competition Finals, hosted and sponsored by the Conrad School of Entrepreneurship and Business, is set to showcase innovative student-driven solutions to pressing global challenges.
The competition, which focuses on solving significant issues through research and entrepreneurial efforts, offers a grand prize of $7,500 to the team that demonstrates the most in-depth understanding and creative solution of their selected, impactful problem.
"As a child, I believed in the magic of these words, certain that a sprinkle of pixie dust could make anything possible. As I grew, I traded wonder for realism and magic for logic. But somewhere along the way, I realized pixie dust is real, just not in the way I once imagined.
On March 7, an email arrived in my inbox, my paper had been accepted at the Administrative Sciences Association of Canada (ASAC) 2025. A monumental milestone as a first-year PhD student. Yet, the real magic was not in that acceptance. It came later that evening.
At 8:49 PM, another email arrived. My supervisor, Shavin Malhotra, the guiding force behind the paper submission, had shared the news with the entire department. Almost instantly, my inbox came alive, messages of joy, encouragement, and celebration poured in. What had started as a personal milestone transformed into a collective success.
In that moment, I realized pixie dust does exist, just not as a shimmer in the air, but as something far more powerful. It’s the unseen force of people who uplift you, the ecosystem that nurtures you, the mentors who guide you, the staff who support you, and the colleagues who walk beside you, celebrating, encouraging, and making your victories their own".
Meet Avery Kelly, a current Master of Business, Entrepreneurship, and Technology (MBET) student at the University of Waterloo. Avery graduated in June 2024 with an Honours Arts and Business degree, majoring in Legal Studies.
"Transitioning from undergraduate studies to the graduate-level Conrad School of Entrepreneurship and Business has been an incredible experience, and I’m excited to share my journey and how it’s shaped my career path.
My introduction to the Conrad School and the MBET program began during my undergraduate years. I took BET 210, a course within the Arts and Business program that really opened my eyes to the world of entrepreneurship and business. The course connected the theoretical business concepts I was learning in the ARBUS program with real-world applications, which sparked my interest in pursuing more business-focused learning.
As I began researching graduate programs at the University of Waterloo, I was drawn to the hands-on learning and the strong integration MBET has with the local KW community. I wanted to ensure that I wasn’t falling behind in terms of work experience, and the MBET program offered the perfect opportunity to develop and apply entrepreneurial skills in real-world settings. I found out more about the program online and even connected with members of the UW Athletics department, which helped me decide that MBET was the right choice for me."
We are thrilled to congratulate Dr. Janet Boekhorst, Conrad Research Excellence Chair and Associate Professor at the Conrad School of Entrepreneurship and Business, for being selected as one of the winners of the 2023-2024 Faculty of Engineering Teaching Excellence Award!
Professor Boekhorst’s commitment to fostering innovation, engagement, and transformative learning experiences for students strengthens the future of entrepreneurship and business education at the University of Waterloo.
Ibukunoluwa Elebute (Ibukun), a part-time student in the Master of Business, Entrepreneurship and Technology (MBET) program, has been making waves in the health tech industry with startup CELLECT.
Ibukun, who brings nearly a decade of experience in healthcare technology and holds a background in biomedical engineering (BEng and MSc), has long been committed to driving innovation in underserved communities. Before joining the MBET program, she founded the STEMite Zone Fair, which has grown to become Africa’s largest science fair aimed at nurturing young innovators across the continent.
But it’s not just about past accomplishments. Since partnering with fellow University of Waterloo student CT Murphy in September, Ibukun has co-founded CELLECT, a ground-breaking startup focused on transforming diagnostics through menstrual blood collection. The startup is tackling an important challenge in healthcare, offering an innovative approach that could change the way diagnostic testing is conducted.
We are excited to spotlight the accomplishments of one of our part-time Master of Business, Entrepreneurship and Technology (MBET) students, Omid Bagheri.
Omid, a PhD candidate in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering and an Entrepreneurial PhD Fellow in the MBET program, has been making waves in both the scientific and entrepreneurial communities with his pioneering research on metasurface-enhanced radar biosensors for non-invasive, real-time glucose monitoring.