Salary negotiations can be one of the most daunting yet important parts of your career, whether you're just starting out or making your next big move.
Join the Recent Engineering Alumni Council for an engaging panel discussion featuring accomplished alumni and an associate professor, as they share personal stories, professional insights, and practical advice on negotiating compensation with confidence.
Panelists include:
- Nick Mostowich (BASc 2016, systems design engineering) brings a technical lens from his experience in hiring and leadership at a high-growth tech company.
- Simran Kakodkar (BASc 2019, chemical engineering) offers a candid perspective on navigating salary negotiations through multiple career transitions.
- Dr. Bruce MacVicar (associate professor) shares his expertise from the academic sphere, where negotiation plays a unique but critical role.
The event will include a dynamic panel discussion followed by an open-floor Q&A where you will have the opportunity to ask questions and walk away with actionable insights for your next salary negotiation.
Location: Zoom (register online to receive the link to join the session on Zoom)
Please note: This session is virtual and will be recorded. Please register to ensure that you receive the link to join the Zoom session and/or the link to the recording after the event.
Speakers:
Simran Kakodkar
BASc 2019, chemical engineering
Program manager - AGI
Amazon
Biography
Simran Kakodkar is a 2019 graduate from chemical engineering and is currently working as program manager - AGI at Amazon. Having moved between and within companies several times within her career, Simran brings a breadth of negotiation knowledge to the panel based on her personal experience.
Connect with Simran Kakodkar on LinkedIn.
Bruce MacVicar
Associate professor, Civil and Environmental Engineering
University of Waterloo
Biography
Bruce MacVicar is an associate professor in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at the University of Waterloo. He leads the River Hydraulics Research Group in the department.
His research interests lie in river engineering, understanding the effect of urbanisation on sediment transport, studying the hydrodynamics of straight pools, and quantifying wood transport in rivers.
Professor MacVicar conducts research on hydraulic engineering and fluvial geomorphology, while placing a particular emphasis on river dynamics. His research uses field measurements, physical experiments and computer simulations to understand various aspects of river processes such as sediment transport and flow turbulence. He ultimately aims to improve engineering designs, protect and restore critical habitats in rivers and floodplains, and preserve the integrity of these complex systems.
Connect with Professor MacVicar on LinkedIn.
Nick Mostowich
BASc 2016, systems design engineering
Principal software engineer
Altena
Biography
Nick Mostowich is a 2016 graduate from systems design engineering. He is a principal software engineer at Altana, where he has helped grow the startup into a billion-dollar valuation while tripling the company's headcount. In his capacity as an engineering leader, he is involved in all aspects of technical hiring, interviewing recruiters and engineers, creating interview questions, and helping to define Altana's role specs and hiring strategies.
Recruited by Bridgewater Associates out of university, Nick spent five years in the hedge fund's Research and Account Management divisions, during which he was part of the recruitment, interviewing, and training of interns and recent graduates. After Bridgewater, Nick joined the startup world, working first as a team lead at NYDIG before joining Altana.
Connect with Nick Mostowich on LinkedIn.
Moderator:
Thiruni Thirimanne
BASc 2022, civil engineering; candidate for MASc, civil engineering
Sessional Lecturer
University of Waterloo
Biography:
Read about Thiruni Thirimanne's work as the events working group member on REAC.
Learn more about Thiruni's research interests through her master's research work.
Connect with Thiruni Thirimanne on LinkedIn.