2022 Pearl Sullivan Emerging Global Leaders Award Recipient
The 2022 recipient of the Pearl Sullivan Emerging Global Leaders Award, Ahmed Hamodi, is passionate about the use of technology for our common good. He takes an active role in improving the community around him by working to eliminate prejudice for future generations. A rising entrepreneur, Ahmed uses his engineering mindset and multidisciplinary skills to work on projects that empower and create long-term impact for minority communities.
His startup company, DecisionHub, enables organizations to collect, review and make unbiased decisions on applications. DecisionHub’s strategic focus remains, for now, on student bursary and organizational granting applications. With current operational capacity and a facilitated distribution valued at $10 million, future growth expansion will focus on eliminating bias in organizational hiring and investment decisions.
As a former project lead and president of UW Blueprint, Ahmed has spent thousands of hours over the past four years dedicated to building technical solutions for non-profit organizations to improve societal problems – ranging from environmental concerns in India to mental health initiatives in Calgary.
As the frontend lead on MAX Aspire, Ahmed launched a platform enabling aspiring professionals to connect with senior executives from the same minority demographic as a way of encouraging and inspiring younger generations to thrive – despite systemic discrimination and racial barriers.
As the winner of the prestigious Pearl Sullivan Emerging Global Leaders Award, Ahmed will use the $50,000 award to focus his time and efforts into the growth of DecisionHub. He also plans to pursue education opportunities to gain advanced knowledge on the vast landscape of equity, diversity, and inclusion in society, as well as gain more understanding of anti-bias material, legislation and regulation. The award will also provide the opportunity to invest in DecisionHub’s employee efforts to eliminate systemic bias on a global scale and even the playing field for underprivileged groups through community initiatives, such as outreach programs and workshops.
2022 Pearl Sullivan Emerging Global Leaders Award Finalists
Amy works actively to inspire future generations of students to solve meaningful problems. A strong advocate for STEM education, Amy hopes to debunk common stereotypes about science and technology in younger generations. She aspires to demonstrate the limitless possibilities that exist within the field of engineering, and help young people pursue their passions and explore potential paths to make a difference in the world.
By leveraging her diverse experiences as she pursues a Master’s degree in engineering, Amy hopes to launch a non-profit organization that hosts STEM-focused competitions and activities for high school students who are interested in exploring the vast possibilities available through STEM disciplines.
Mental health awareness advocacy is an important cause for Elle. She has worked actively to remove the stigma for those who struggle from first-hand experience and demonstrates a willingness to be open about her own journey. Throughout her studies, she’s become an advocate for mental health awareness and support related to healthcare and supportive housing. Elle is wise beyond her years – knowing that awareness and open conversation around mental health is vital to a healthy and thriving global society.
Throughout her degree, she sought to make a difference any way she could by organizing campus therapy dogs during exams, sharing her experience as a panelist for Let’s Talk Mental Health, managing the EngSoc mental health blog, advocating for mental health as VP of Communications for EngSoc, and as the MECH22 class representative and as a strong supporter of UW MATES, a peer-to-peer mentorship program available on campus. She also supported female engineering students as a Women in Engineering peer leader and residence life don. Elle is an inspiration and a beacon of hope for many.
She’s committed to making a difference in her local and global community – no matter where her journey as an engineer takes her in the world.
Linda is dedicated to creating impactful products that will make the world more accessible for minorities and those who are disabled. She believes the first step to making inclusive products is to build an inclusive community that amplifies minority voices.
While pursuing her degree, Linda built the first Mechatronics Engineering mentorship program, Tron Mentor Chats – which aimed to build relationships between entrance and upper-year students and focused on pairing minority groups.
Linda is using her engineering mindset to build a hip support exoskeleton that helps patients regain control and reduces pain and discomfort.
An aspiring entrepreneur, Linda hopes to launch a startup that builds rehabilitation technologies and makes current technologies and products more inclusive for disabled populations.
Siddarth understands that service to others is at the heart of the engineering profession.
Throughout his engineering studies, he dedicated part of his university life to his passion for helping incoming undergraduate students. Starting as a class rep for EngSoc, he held roles as a first-year commissioner, orientation leader and peer mentor. He committed his personal time to mentoring hundreds of first-year students privately – providing advice on resumes and first co-op terms, as well as insights into university life.
Balancing a heavy course load, co-op terms, and active involvement in extracurriculars, Siddarth also found time to pursue his passion as a filmmaker and actor. He exemplifies the deep technical aptitude and creative mindset that an engineer possesses. Working with electrical engineering alumnus Vyom Malhotra, Siddarth has produced and acted in two acclaimed short films.