The University of Waterloo values experiential learning that takes student experience beyond academics. This is exactly why Kevin Ye, MBET candidate 2024, was drawn to explore the Master of Business, Entrepreneurship and Technology (MBET) program.
Part two is here!
Explore some of the top tips from entrepreneurs and entrepreneurial academics who have decades of experience in Waterloo's renowned innovation ecosystem.
Check out part one if you haven't already.
Interested in becoming an entrepreneur? Already an entrepreneur?
Here are the top tips from seasoned veterans in the renowned Waterloo innovation ecosystem that can help you on your journey.
Throughout high school and my first year of university, I was completely invested in going into the healthcare field and becoming a surgeon. I had a full plan: I was going to complete my bachelor’s degree in biology, go to med school, do my residency and follow the path that a surgeon must follow. The classes in first-year biology were not how I expected them to be, though.
My name is Ernest and I am currently enrolled in the Master of Business, Entrepreneurship and Technology (MBET) program.
I was enrolled in the Arts and Business program at the University of Waterloo where I majored in Communication Studies and did a minor in Economics. My passion for entrepreneurship was cultivated in one of the entrepreneurship courses I took for my program during my undergrad program, which is why I chose to pursue MBET. This course exposed me to the multitude of entrepreneurial resources that are available to students at Waterloo, and I got to see firsthand the numerous entrepreneurial achievements of Waterloo students. I was inspired.
From environmental engineering student to cosmetic start-up founder – people often ask me if there's a connection. The answer is a straightforward “no”. The environmental engineering program curriculum at the University of Waterloo doesn't relate to cosmetics or building businesses. Unlike other engineering disciplines that are linked to computing, environmental engineering is typically more conservative when it comes to entrepreneurship.
Hi everyone, my name is Jenni Lien and I’m part of the Master of Business, Entrepreneurship and Technology (MBET) 2023 cohort.
When I tell pastors and ministry leaders that I’m building a Christian business in a secular business school, I often get surprised responses. But for me, it’s been a very natural process. I was clear that I wanted to build a business targeted at Christian women in my MBET application, and also in class introductions, projects, and in my application for other on-campus opportunities. All I’ve felt is respect and support from my professors and peers.
I come from India, a country with a vast population, 48% of our population consists of women. However, I have always sensed inequality between genders. I am a humanist, and I believe in equality for all.
I decided to further my education in the field and opted for my master's program at the University of Waterloo. I have been in love with Canada since the first time I visited. I knew I had a connection with the country; it felt like home. I transferred to the University of Waterloo after completing my Bachelors in Business Administration from a leading institute in India to meet the education requirements for me to be eligible to apply for MBET.
My name is Edmond H. and I am in my second year of the Math/CPA program and am currently on my first co-op work term through the Bridging Entrepreneurs to Students (BETS) program.
“What is the BETS program?”, you might ask. Well, the BETS program is a specialized co-op program offered through the Conrad School of Entrepreneurship and Business that allows engineering, mathematics, and School of Accounting and Finance (SAF) students to gain experience working for startup companies. The program pairs teams of two entrepreneurial co-op students with companies for a 12-week project placement.
Entrepreneurship, to put it simply, is the act of building a business. Naively, I believed being an entrepreneur was essentially about creating a financially stable company from the bottom up, establishing yourself in the industry similar to the likes of some current influential minds - Bill Gates (Microsoft), Steve Jobs (Apple), Elon Musk (Paypal, Tesla).