From left to right: Meredith Drost BComm’19 MTEI’25, Leslie Arsenault BComm’19, Jason Turner, Michael Sanderson MBA’08 and Brennan Daley BSc’16
Behind the Enactus Saint Mary’s World Cup-winning team is a group of advisors who have quietly shaped generations of student leaders. Through mentorship, guidance and a shared belief in learning by doing, they help students turn ideas into meaningful action, often in ways that extend far beyond campus.
Enactus Saint Mary’s at the 2025 World Cup in Thailand
Enactus Saint Mary’s is a student-led organization, supported by the Arthur L. Irving Entrepreneurship Centre at Saint Mary’s University. Through entrepreneurship and innovation, students create meaningful social, environmental and economic impact. From early-stage ideas to ventures generating hundreds of thousands of dollars in revenue, the program gives students a platform to apply what they’re learning beyond the classroom, building real businesses and addressing the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), a journey that led to them winning the World Cup in Bangkok, Thailand, in 2025.
For Michael Sanderson MBA’08, who has been involved since 2003, Enactus Saint Mary’s has always been about leadership development. As one of the earliest advisors, he remembers when the team was just 11 students dreaming about how big Enactus could become. From taking the team to watch the World Cup in Toronto, Ontario, in 2005 to experiencing the monumental Saint Mary’s World Cup win, Michael has seen firsthand how confidence, presentation skills and belief can change the trajectory of a student’s life.
That long-term growth is something Jason Turner, an advisor since 2007, holds especially close. He recalls the team placing in the top four at the National Exposition for the first time. This moment felt like a turning point for Enactus Saint Mary’s. Even more meaningful, he says, is seeing former students like Brennan, Meredith and Leslie step into advisory roles, a full-circle moment that reflects the strength of the Enactus community.
Brennan Daley BSc’16, an advisor since 2016, is one of those alumni. Brennan helps ensure students have what they need to succeed. While he jokes about the travel opportunities, what truly keeps him coming back is watching students grow, mature and step confidently into their careers—a journey he understands deeply, having met his wife through Enactus.
Leslie Arsenault BComm’19, an advisor since 2019, began her Enactus journey serving as a project manager for a program that helped neurodiverse entrepreneurs create business plans. She also travelled to Asembo, Kenya, to deliver entrepreneurship training and initiatives. For Leslie, Enactus was a place where academic achievements and community could intersect. She learned how to apply classroom learning in ways that could make a positive impact on the community. Today, she continues advising to be part of that same journey for the next generation of leaders.
Meredith Drost BComm’19 MTEI’25, an advisor since 2023, was drawn to Enactus when she saw the impact it made on communities and students alike. After joining her first Enactus meeting, she knew she had found a group of people committed to creating real change. For the same reason, she now gives her time as an advisor, a commitment that earned her the John Dobson Fellow of the Year 2025 award from Enactus Canada for her dedication to advancing entrepreneurial learning and student success.
Together, these advisors foster an environment where students from business, science, arts and beyond can grow into leaders, build impactful ventures and give back to their communities, all while addressing global challenges in meaningful ways.