Alumni Office Hour: Discover your Niche by Digital Networking

Thursday, February 16, 2023 4:00 pm - 4:00 pm EST (GMT -05:00)

Anika Abdullah

There’s a saying “the riches are in the niches” and for grads facing an uncertain job market, it’s valuable advice. 2021 planning grad, Anika Abdullah found her niche as an accessibility specialist with DesignABLE Environments through digital networking and cold calls.

Join her Alumni Office Hour to hear insights on niche industries – what they are and how to break in without any contacts – advice on building confidence to connect with professionals and tips on making polite requests that get answered.

Join us Thursday, February 16, 2023

4:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. EST

Teams - link will be provided upon registration 

Submit your questions for Anika when you register or ask them during the event.

Anika Abdullah (BES 2021, PLAN)

Accessibility Specialist, DesignABLE Environments

Anika Abdullah is a recent graduate of University of Waterloo’s School of Planning. Her commitment to creating an inclusive built environment inspired her interest in universal design and accessibility. She uses her lived experience as a person with a mobility disability to provide an intersectional and inclusive lens to design in the built environment.

As an accessibility consultant, her expertise provides best practices from local and international accessibility legislation and standards to many design teams consisting of architects, interior designers, landscape architects, and designers.

Anika's notable accomplishments include the development of RAIC's Successful Accessible Design Course, DesignABLE Environment's Accessible Outdoor Patios Guide for Restaurants and Small Businesses and publishing an article in Plan Canada's Spring 2021 issue about Social and Racial.


This is a limited space event. If you register and are no longer able to attend, please notify the advancement office so we may offer your spot to another person. Failure to comply with this policy will result in not being able to attend the next two Alumni Office Hour events. ALUMNI OFFICE HOURS, A Leadership Series Event. Hosted on ENV Connect, powered by Ten Thousand Coffees.