News

When Will Paskar graduated from the University of Waterloo with a degree in mechanical engineering, he knew he wanted to do more than design technology. He wanted to shape how it was used to create value. His career path from engineering graduate to technology and business leader reflects exactly the kind of transformation the Master of Business, Entrepreneurship and Technology (MBET) program was designed to support.

The Conrad School of Entrepreneurship and Business recently hosted the Quantum Valley Investments Problem Pitch Competition Winter 2026 Finals, bringing together student teams to present innovative solutions to pressing real-world challenges across health, technology, and society.

When Krishna was first considering graduate school, she faced a familiar crossroads: pursue a traditional engineering path or follow a conventional business degree. Neither fully matched her ambitions.

She knew one thing with certainty: she wanted to build something of her own.

The Master of Business, Entrepreneurship and Technology (MBET) program offered a different path. Designed around venture creation and real-world experimentation, MBET gave Krishna the space to test ideas, make mistakes, and develop the interdisciplinary mindset that continues to shape her work today as a product manager and author.

Her retirement marks the conclusion of an extraordinary chapter, and the Conrad School community extends its sincere gratitude and best wishes as she begins this next stage. As reflected by founding Director Howard Armitage, Tracie’s steady leadership, good humour, and problem-solving ability made her a foundational presence at Conrad.

Her retirement marks the conclusion of an extraordinary chapter, and the Conrad School community extends its sincere gratitude and best wishes as she begins this next stage.

After the closure of his first venture during the early months of the COVID-19 pandemic, Kamal Lutfi entered the Master of Business, Entrepreneurship and Technology (MBET) program seeking a structured path to relaunch as a founder in Canada’s innovation ecosystem. MBET provided the clarity, community, and disciplined approach he needed to rebuild his entrepreneurial foundation.

Kamal credits the program with reshaping his leadership, strengthening his customer-development discipline, and teaching him to leverage Waterloo’s innovation network. He learned to treat each iteration as a hypothesis and to view failure as valuable data.

Today, Kamal is building a purpose-driven venture grounded in validated opportunity and long-term impact. He continues to stay connected to the Conrad School through mentorship, sharing real-world experience, and creating opportunities for future founders. His journey reflects MBET’s core mission: transforming setbacks into strategy and empowering resilient, evidence-based entrepreneurship.

The Conrad School of Entrepreneurship and Business is set to host the Problem Lab’s Problem Pitch Fall 2025 Competition Finals, where student teams will demonstrate the depth of their research into important real-world problems.

Sponsored by Quantum Valley Investments®, the competition awards $7,500 to the team that shows the strongest understanding of the problem they aim to solve.

This year’s finalists represent a wide range of challenges and innovative thinking, supported by a panel of accomplished judges from the entrepreneurial ecosystem.

This week, Waterloo News shines a spotlight on professor Larry Smith, who marks a remarkable 45-year milestone of teaching at the University of Waterloo. Over four decades, Smith has become a pillar of the university’s entrepreneurial spirit, helping build its reputation for innovation, risk-taking, and real-world relevance. 

Nicole Troster (MBET ’18) is helping women-led service businesses scale with clarity, confidence, and customer-centric strategy. After more than 15 years supporting entrepreneurs and co-founding ELLA, Nicole launched Coeurage Labs to fill a growing gap in Canada’s entrepreneurship ecosystem.

Inspired by her own family’s journey and driven by a commitment to empowering founders, Nicole combines evidence-based frameworks with deep customer understanding to help entrepreneurs build sustainable, scalable companies. 

The Conrad School of Entrepreneurship and Business is delighted to announce that professorMarc Hurwitz has been appointed associate director, Professional Graduate Programs. In this leadership role, Hurwitz will help guide the continued growth of the School’s professional graduate offerings, including the Master of Business, Entrepreneurship and Technology (MBET) program, while enhancing student learning, strengthening industry engagement, and supporting the Conrad School’s ongoing evolution as a leader in entrepreneurship education at Waterloo. 

The Conrad School of Entrepreneurship and Business joins the University of Waterloo community in remembering Dr. Wayne Chang, an inspiring teacher, mentor and entrepreneurial champion whose optimism, creativity and compassion shaped generations of students and founders.

An associate professor and coordinator of the Enterprise Co-op (E Co-op) program, Wayne was known for his infectious positivity and unwavering dedication to helping others realize their potential. His influence continues to define the culture of creativity, collaboration and confidence at the Conrad School.