Diego Rodrigues and Douglas Coll BComm’89
As one of the first recipients of the LeaderVision Atlantic Wicked Problems Award, Diego Rodrigues has a unique opportunity. The award provides financial support to students pursuing projects related to tackling some of society’s most pressing—and most challenging—problems. For Diego, this means finding a solution to the issue of young men joining the drug trade in the slums of his home country of Brazil.
Douglas Coll BComm’89 was inspired to establish the award when he read about Saint Mary’s University’s Wicked Problems Lab in the summer of 2021. As President of LeaderVision Atlantic Ltd., Douglas works with clients around the world to develop their skills in issue-framing and divergent thinking—skills that students develop at the Lab.
“It’s my absolute pleasure to support these incredible students at Saint Mary’s,” says Coll. “I am blown away by their intellect and the creativity of their ideas. The skills they are building through the Wicked Problems Lab will set them up for huge success in whatever career they pursue – and I’m honoured to have played a small part in their endeavours.”
The recipients of the awards will continue their work throughout the school year, and will share their findings publicly through the Wicked Problems Lab website.
For his part, Diego is grateful for the opportunity the award provides.
“Alumni and donors like Mr. Coll have a significant impact on the lives of us students,” he says, “because of their generosity in investing their time, money and, most importantly, knowledge with future generations.
“In my case, as an international student, this award allowed me to continue my studies and gain some breathing room in my tuition fees. It was a true miracle for which I will be eternally grateful.”