Leaders on campus and in the community: meet the 2025 SLRA recipients

Front row: Maria Manette, Spencer Vallis, Khuloud Saqib, Liah Christie.
Back row: Hailey Forbes, Ella Fitzgerald, Melissa Álvarez Del Angel, Audrey Salinger

Career & Experiential Learning and the Saint Mary’s University Student Association (SMUSA) hosted the annual Student Leadership Recognition Award (SLRA) ceremony on April 3, 2025. The award recognizes students who possess, display, and apply leadership qualities and skills within the Saint Mary’s University community and beyond.

The SLRA was initiated in 2012 and is awarded to a maximum of three students from each Faculty (Arts, Science, Sobey School of Business, and Graduate Studies). Learn more about the Student Leadership Recognition Award.

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Meet the award recipients

Melissa Álvarez Del Angel

Melissa Álvarez is a third-year Bachelor of Science student majoring in Psychology. As an international student from Mexico, Melissa understands what it means to start over. Facing cultural shock and the silent battles of proving herself in unfamiliar spaces shaped her passion for advocacy and community care. Melissa is a Senior Residence Assistant and Chair of the Residence Wellness Team, where she leads initiatives focused on harm reduction and mental health awareness, creating spaces for students to feel seen and heard. Beyond campus, Melissa volunteers at Peter’s Place, assisting individuals recovering from brain injuries. She is also involved in the French Woodland Conservation Project, where she helps educate children about the preservation of yellow birch trees.

Liah Christie

Liah is a fourth-year Bachelor of Science Chemistry Honours student minoring in Philosophy. A dedicated leader at Saint Mary’s University, she has excelled in academics, mentorship, and research. As a Peer Success Coach, she supports student transitions through personalized coaching and learning strategy workshops. Within the Chemistry Department, Liah has worked as a Research Assistant, TA, SNAP Centre Peer Tutor, and SMU Chemistry Society Co-President, fostering academic growth and engagement for science students. Beyond the lab, Liah is deeply committed to community health and advocacy. She has volunteered over 225 hours with Ronald McDonald House Charities, co-chairs the Halifax Community Health Board, and delivers educational mental health presentations as a certified JackTalks Speaker.

Ella Fitzgerald

Ella is a fourth-year undergraduate student pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Mathematics with a Minor in French. Ella has volunteered for three years with Students Acting for Global Awareness and served as a Teaching Assistant in the Mathematics Department. Additionally, she has volunteered as a Pack Leader with SMUSA for two years, creating a safe and welcoming community at Saint Mary’s. Ella participated in a year-long Study Abroad program at the University of Seoul in South Korea, where she joined Korean tutoring groups, volunteered as an English discussion leader, and contributed to the International Student Fellowship program, which strives to build a diverse global community. Ella also completed two spring semester exchanges in Québec. Ella will begin her Bachelor of Education program following graduation to further her goal of making education more accessible to all.

Hailey Forbes

Hailey is a third-year Bachelor of Arts Psychology student, completing the Forensic Psychology Certificate. Hailey has a strong passion for leadership, accessibility, and student success, holding various leadership positions in the Saint Mary’s community. As a Peer Success Coach for Accessibility, Hailey supports Arts students and individuals registered with the Fred Smithers Centre by facilitating learning strategy workshops and one-on-one coaching. She also serves as the Vice President of the Psychology Society, fostering connections and growth among students. Additionally, Hailey is involved with the Sexual Violence Prevention Initiative, working to raise awareness of sexual and gender-based violence to promote a safer campus environment. Outside of the SMU community, Hailey volunteers every summer at Camp Triumph, a camp for children who have a sibling/parent with a chronic illness or disability.

Maria Mannette

Maria Mannette is a fourth-year Bachelor of Commerce student, double majoring in Computing & Information Systems and Management. Graduating as Valedictorian in Spring 2025, she has been an active leader on campus, serving as a Teaching Assistant, a Peer Academic Leader, a BComm Ambassador, and the Administrative Assistant for the Sobey School of Business Commerce Society. She also played a key role in student governance as the Deputy Returning Officer for the SMUSA elections in 2023. In September 2024, Maria founded the university’s first Women In Business Society, serving as its inaugural President and igniting a legacy of female leadership, inclusion, and professional development with a growing community of over 100 members. Alongside her studies, Maria works full-time and volunteers with the Greek community.

Lydia Ramsay

Lydia Ramsay is a third-year Bachelor of Commerce Finance and Accounting student and Sobey National Innovator Scholar. For the past two years, she has served as a Residence Assistant on campus, fostering an inclusive environment and community. Lydia leads as Events and Engagement Lead for the Women in Business Society, organizing impactful events such as the Women in Finance Panel Gala. Beyond SMU, Lydia has coordinated French leadership training for the Canadian Student Leadership Association and launched an online Student Leadership Certification Program. With involvement in SMU’s Venture Grade Program and Research Associate for the IMPACT Investment Fund, she excels in financial leadership. Lydia aims to further her leadership in finance and community impact with the Women in Business Society.

Audrey Salinger

Audrey is a fourth-year PhD candidate investigating genetic impacts on the recovery of two endangered cetacean populations. She holds a Master of Science from the University of Tromsø and a Bachelor of Science from UCLA. Audrey’s contributions to the SMU community include co-organizing the seminar and journal club series for the biology and environmental science departments and helping to facilitate the biweekly EDIA book club. Audrey works as both a teaching assistant for biology and ENVS courses and an exam invigilator for the Fred Smithers Centre. Off campus, Audrey volunteers as a student representative for the Nova Scotia Institute of Science, where she serves student interests among the broader scientific community by supporting initiatives for students to share their scientific research and learn about potential career paths.

Khuloud Saqib

Khuloud Saqib is a third-year international student majoring in Criminology with a minor in Psychology. Widely recognized on campus as the ‘purple-haired’ girl, Khuloud has made an impact through her leadership and involvement in student life. She started as a dedicated member of SMUSA’s Street Team in her first year, a role that required energy, extroversion, and direct engagement with students. She was also an active member of the SMU Cheerleading team for two years and served as the Captain of her team in her second year. Alongside this, Khuloud upheld various off-campus volunteer roles. Currently, Khuloud serves as the Vice President - Societies for SMUSA, where she plays a key role in supporting the 60 active societies, managing event risks, and ensuring policies are upheld.

Ramon Stultz

Born and raised in Jamaica, Ramon Stultz is a third-year international student pursuing a Bachelor of Commerce with concentrations in Finance and Management. Ramon co-founded the Premiere Emcee Team, where he draws upon his background in hosting high-profile Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion events. He held the positions of Resident Assistant for two consecutive years and Research Assistant at the Black Entrepreneurship Knowledge Hub, where he applied his finance expertise and passion for youth mentoring to support groundbreaking research initiatives for Black communities. Ramon also contributes to Tribe Network as an Administrative Lead. Ramon’s goal remains steadfast: to drive positive change, inspire those around him, and foster a thriving environment for learning, growth and innovation.

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Spencer Vallis

Spencer is a dedicated advocate, community organizer and leader, passionate about creating change. He is a fourth-year Bachelor of Arts student majoring in Social Justice and Community Studies and minoring in Sociology. Spencer has led the SMU Pride Society for the past two years, advocating for institutional change, organizing queer-centric events, and supporting 2SLGBTQIA+ SMUdents. He is a Teaching Assistant in the Faculty of Arts and represents 2SLGBTQIA+ students on the Sexual Violence Prevention Executive Advisory Committee. In addition to his leadership on campus, he works full-time in retail management and excels academically as a two-time Dean’s List recipient. Recently, he was appointed to the Point Pleasant Park Advisory Committee with the City of Halifax.

Three-Minute Thesis winner to represent SMU at Eastern Regional Competition

Samuel Sequeira

Congratulations to Samuel Sequeira, a first-year Master of Science student in Environmental Science, who won first place and the People’s Choice award in the annual Three-Minute Thesis (3MT) contest at Saint Mary’s last week. His presentation was titled “Jumping into danger: Mercury, fungus, and the frog crisis.”

Abigail Battson won second place for her thesis titled “Finding a needle in a haystack: Looking for indirect evidence of black holes in star clusters.”

Hosted by the Faculty of Graduate Studies, the 2025 3MT event saw 11 Saint Mary’s Master’s students and PhD candidates explain their thesis research projects in three minutes using just one static PowerPoint slide, no other props and no visual aids. A panel of judges chose the first and second place winners, while audience members voted for the People’s Choice Award.

Condensing a thesis—the result of months or even years of work—into three minutes is a unique challenge, and doing it effectively is an impressive feat. Competitors are challenged to condense and communicate their work while still making it accessible to a non-expert audience, with the clock ticking.

In his master’s thesis research, Samuel is studying wetlands contaminated with mercury and arsenic, specifically the effect this contamination has on amphibians. Nova Scotia has a rich history of gold mining dating back to the mid-1800s. The processes used to extract gold from its ore produced waste materials that contained mercury and arsenic. Due to the lack of regulations at the time, these waste materials, or tailings, were discarded in low-lying areas, including wetlands. These historic gold mine tailings are a risk to several organisms, including amphibians. Since they spend their lives on land and in water, amphibians are constantly being exposed to these contaminants, which they can absorb directly through their skin and their diet.

Along with supervisor Dr. Linda Campbell, Samuel and a team of student researchers are working to determine how much mercury and arsenic are accumulating in amphibians’ tissue, and its implications for their predators, including endangered species of birds, fish and turtles. 

This project will also focus on whether a highly infectious fungal pathogen, which has caused the extinction of several species of frogs worldwide, has made its way to Nova Scotia.

Samuel completed his undergraduate degree at Saint Mary’s and is now enrolled in the Master of Applied Science program. He will compete in the Eastern Regional 3MT Competition hosted by Memorial University in June.

The Three-Minute Thesis presentations covered a wide range of topics from the Faculties of Arts, Science, and the Sobey School of Business:  

• Abigail Battson: Finding a needle in a haystack: Looking for indirect evidence of black holes in star clusters

• Lily Binney: The structural complexity of old-growth Eastern Hemlock and Red Spruce forests in Nova Scotia

• Gary Ernest: The interaction between leadership style and calling orientation in predicting burnout in academic vs. clinical physician leaders

• Angelo George: Cosmic neighbourhoods: How environment shapes galaxies

• Gabe Kipnis: Mapping and analyzing the local food network in the HRM

• David Lewis: TRaP-ping Historic Mine Tailing Arsenic & Mercury

• Sasha MacArthur: Beyond MRI: How SHG reveals the hidden story of collagen

• Nichole Michaud-Kuszelewski": Price wars: An empirical investigation of competitive pricing

• Megan O’Brien: Finding old-growth forest in Nova Scotia

• Samuel Sequeira: Jumping into danger: Mercury, fungus, and the frog crisis

• Alex Stokes: Exploring perceptions of citizenship and place in Prince Edward Island curriculum

From classroom to career: empowering responsible AI leaders

Artificial intelligence (AI) is rapidly transforming higher education, not only reshaping how students learn in university classrooms but also driving innovative research across disciplines. At Saint Mary’s, our instructors are playing a pivotal role in bridging the gap between cutting-edge AI advancements and the broader business community by integrating AI tools into curriculum and community-based research projects.

Find out how Saint Mary’s is supporting students and the business community navigate the fast-paced world of AI.

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Atlantic Canada AI Summit: May 1-3 at Saint Mary’s University

Organized by leading institutions, including Saint Mary’s University, Dalhousie University, the University of New Brunswick, Acadia University, Memorial University of Newfoundland, and the University of Prince Edward Island, the Atlantic Canada AI Summit fosters collaboration across academia and industry in Atlantic Canada. 

The Summit will showcase cutting-edge AI research, facilitate industry-academia collaboration, and highlight exceptional AI talent in the region. It will feature three days of programming, including research presentations, workshops, a healthcare data competition and a youth AI pitch competition.

The Youth AI Pitch Competition on May 3 invites youth ages 13-18 to use AI and creativity to improve the Children’s Emergency Department at the IWK hospital.

We are looking for AI-driven solutions to enhance the ER experience for kids and their families. Whether it’s making ER visits more fun, improving parent experience or advancing patient care, your ideas can make a difference!

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AI in the classroom

Preparing students for the workplace with AI learning

Anubhav Gupta and instructor Bryce Cross

Under the guidance of Sobey School of Business Lecturer Bryce Cross, who heavily incorporates large language models (LLMs) into his PhD research, Anubhav Gupta and his classmates are getting unique exposure to AI tools like ChatGPT and Copilot.

“Professor Cross loves talking about his research, and he tries to integrate it with the concepts he’s teaching,” Gupta shared.

This approach has allowed students to engage with AI in practical ways, such as using ChatGPT to analyze mystery companies, prompting the model to match anonymous balance sheets to the correct industry. “It was an interesting experience to see how AI and LLMs work and their limitations. You can use it, but you can’t replace the knowledge you’re learning at university.”

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Philosophy program teaches students to use critical thinking in an AI-driven world

Dr. Shelagh Crooks

With political turmoil, social divides, economic instability and the complexities of AI, the global landscape is full of challenges.

Philosophy teaches students how to think about concepts like fairness, autonomy and justice, skills that are increasingly important as we interact with AI-driven systems in the workplace. Understanding the societal impact of AI is not just a technical challenge—it’s a moral one.

“If we consume AI, we have to consume it with a critical eye,” says Saint Mary’s Philosophy professor Dr. Shelagh Crooks. “One of the things you learn in all philosophy classes is to be a skeptic…ask yourself, ‘Why should I accept this as truth?’ That is not something people do naturally.”

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Start a career in AI with SMU’s Master of Business Analytics (MBAN)

Interested in working in the growing industry of business analytics and AI? The Saint Mary’s Masters of Business Analytics (MBAN) program equips students with cutting-edge expertise and practical knowledge, emphasizing the development, evaluation, refinement and implementation of AI-powered analytics solutions to transform data into actionable insights, driving business innovation and success.

Students are eligible for an 8-month paid internship, offering hands-on experience with AI-driven tools and methodologies, strengthening their expertise and establishing a solid foundation for a successful career in business analytics and AI.

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Researchers using AI to solve real-world problems

Chris Mitchell and Shahriar Swapni of Citco with Dr. Pawan Lingras

The Office of Innovation and Community Engagement (OICE) facilitates research relationships between Saint Mary’s University and external partners, such as companies, government departments and community organizations. In their 2025 report, OICE highlights a number of completed and ongoing research projects which benefit from integrating AI systems.

Harnessing Data to Reduce Food Waste

Easy Platter, a meal-planning and personal chef service, partnered with Mathematics and Computing Science professor Dr. Yasushi Akiyama to design a framework to calculate ingredient costs, potential food waste and nutritional value for selected meal plans.

Virtual Guides Transform Tourist Experiences

Fundy Language Analytics Inc., which specializes in artificial intelligence and machine learning for language applications, partnered with Mathematics and Computer Science professor Dr. Somayeh Kafaie to use Large Language Models to enhance their virtual tour guide app, Strollopia.

A Partnership to Diversify Revenue and Reduce Risk

Citco, a global network of independent firms, partnered with Dr. Pawan Lingras, Director of the Master of Science in Computing and Data Analytics (CDA) Program and his team of graduate students. Together, they developed a document scraping application powered by generative AI to diversify their revenue streams within the fund administration sector.

AI-Powered Animation Enhancing Creativity One Frame at a Time

Moonshot Rights Inc., a Canada/UK-based animation company, partnered with Dr. Jason Rhinelander, an Associate Professor in the Division of Engineering and Head of Technology and Innovation at the David Sobey Retailing Centre. Together, they are pioneering a new approach to animation by accelerating the generation of Ultra-High-Definition (UHD) computer-generated frames.

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Sharing AI insights with the business community and beyond

Arjun Asokakumar speaks at the 2024 Responsible Leadership Day

Driving responsible leadership of AI

The Sobey School of Business brought together inspiring leaders and forward-thinking students for its sixth annual Responsible Leadership Day in November 2024: The Future of Responsible Work in an AI-Driven World. As artificial intelligence becomes more prevalent, the need for specialized knowledge remains high. Understanding how to judge the information AI provides you—and being able to evaluate its output critically—is key to using the technology responsibly.

The event included a thought-provoking keynote by Arjun Asokakumar, Director of Data Science at Royal Bank of Canada (RBC), on how AI-driven automation may reshape job roles and skill requirements.

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Demystifying AI for businesses

In March, Sobey School of Business professor Dr. Yigit Aydede hosted a half-day conference titled Beyond the Code: Demystifying AI. The event featured three engaging sessions designed to educate, demonstrate and inspire action around the transformative power of AI.

Sessions covered simplifying AI concepts for both technical and non-technical users, demonstrating AI in action to illustrate how the technology is applied to solve real-world challenges, and a practical discussion with key stakeholders on how small and medium-sized businesses can effectively leverage AI to drive growth, boost productivity, and achieve long-term success.

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SMU competition supports AI innovation in healthcare

The Arthur L. Irving Entrepreneurship Centre at Saint Mary’s hosted The Arena, an annual pitch competition, in March. More than 60 student entrepreneurs from across Canada participated.

The winning project was Wonder Guard—an AI-powered Catheter Bag Module, created by McMaster University PhD student Manak Bajaj. Wonder Guard is capable of detecting and predicting urinary tract infections (UTIS), integrating electrochemical biosensors for real-time detection, quantification, and prediction of UTIs. This allows immediate diagnostic feedback to users and health information systems for AI-driven clinical decisions.

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Considering the impact of AI development

In fall 2024, Faculty of Arts professor Dr. Teresa Heffernan joined UofT Jackman Humanities Institute Humanities at Large podcast host Melissa Gismondi for a conversation about AI. They discuss topics like the public's perception, limitations, environmental impact, and AI’s relationship with fiction. They also touch on the need for regulation and ethical considerations in AI development.

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Guidance for students and faculty

The Patrick Power Library's Artificial Intelligence (AI) guide is designed to help students use AI responsibly and ethically in their academic work.

The Studio for Teaching & Learning has helpful guides and resources for instructors here: Generative AI in Higher Education. They also host learning events and share resources from other institutions, including an upcoming webinar series titled Mind the (Bias) Gap: Ethical AI for Inclusive Teaching, from May 28-30.

Business student recognized for excellence in leadership, athletics and entrepreneurship

We are thrilled to announce that Taylor Lougheed, a remarkable student in the Sobey School of Business, has received the prestigious 2025 Frank H. Sobey Award for Excellence in Business Studies. In addition to this award, Taylor is also a Sobey Scholar, a recognition that highlights her exceptional academic and leadership potential.

A natural leader, Taylor has proven herself in multiple areas. As a manager at Scholar’s Edge Painting, a student-run business, she led her team to generate impressive sales and build lasting client relationships. Her experience taught her invaluable skills in communication, problem-solving and resilience—qualities that will serve her well in her future career.

Taylor embodies the perfect blend of entrepreneurial spirit, academic excellence and athletic leadership as the Assistant Captain of the SMU Huskies Women’s Volleyball team. Her dedication and discipline shine through as she motivates her teammates and balances her studies. She is also involved in various campus organizations, including the SMU Women in Business Society and the Saint Mary’s Athletic Council. These experiences not only define her leadership style but also set the stage for an inspiring and successful career ahead.

Looking forward, Taylor aims to pursue her CPA and MBA, laying the foundation for owning a successful and financially sustainable business. With hard work and a natural ability to inspire others, she is poised to become a promising leader in the business world.

Highlights from the 2025 Venture Capital Investment Competition at the Sobey School of Business

Dalhousie MBA team

Queen's Smith MBA team

UNB MBA team

U of T Rotman MBA team

Waterloo Undergraduate team

Waterloo MBA team

York Schulich MBA team

Wilfred Laurier Undergraduate team

Queen's Smith MBA

Waterloo MBA team

Harvinder Kaur (SpaceBeacon)

Ugochi West

Judge

Bryn Davis Williams (DOUBL)

Kory Henn

Judge

Gena Arthur (Pure Paints Lab)

Judge

George Palikaras

Judge

Dr. Ellen Farrell

Host, Saint Mary’s University

The Sobey School of Business was thrilled to host this year’s highly anticipated Venture Capital Investment Competition (VCIC), which brought together 72 talented graduate and undergraduate students from some of Canada’s top institutions, including the University of Waterloo, Queen’s University, Schulich School of Business and the University of Alberta.

Canada’s Venture Capital Investment Competition has become a landmark event in the venture capital industry, providing universities across the country with the opportunity to test and nurture the next generation of professionals.

All judges for the competition are venture capitalists, business angels or members of the VC program at Sobey School of Business. “The competition showcases a remarkable wealth of talent,” said Dr. Ellen Farrell, leader of the VC program, who is renowned for her innovations in venture capital. Her accomplishments include founding the Venture Grade: Student Venture Capital Fund, co-founding the Masters in Technology Entrepreneurship and Innovation (MTEI) Program, creating InvestorQ&A, and winning the prestigious Father William A. Stewart, S.J. Medal for Excellence in Teaching.

This year, all of the featured startups were women-owned, highlighting the growing impact of women entrepreneurs in the venture capital space. Co-organizers Ellen Farrell and Andrew Ray praised the featured startups and celebrated the diverse representation from across Canada, from British Columbia to Nova Scotia.

To learn more about the undergraduate competition, visit: Undergraduate Canada VCIC

To learn more about the MBA competition, visit: MBA Canada VCIC

Pizza, jazz and sustainability

Sobey students explore global solutions in Chicago 

Eighteen students from Canada, the US and Mexico participated in the Developing Climate Leaders course, pictured here on-site at Top Pallets in Chicago

SMU students Dakota Burrows and Barbara Ellis (3rd and 4th from left) present with teammates from Dominican University and Universidad Anáhuac at Top Pallets in Chicago

Students visited Top Pallets in Chciago to learn about sustainable supply chain management

SMU students joined Sobey School of Business professor Dr. Rahman Khokhar (pictured speaking) for the Developing Climate Leaders course

Rahman Khokhar, Dakota Burrows and Barbara Ellis among other students during a visit to Top Pallets

The Dean of the Brennan Business School at Dominican University in Chicago, IL welcomes the students and instructors

The vibrant energy of jazz, the universal love for pizza and the critical need for climate change solutions—an unexpected fusion of experiences shaped the Sobey School of Business students' transformative trip to Chicago, proving despite apparent divisions, Canada, the U.S., and Mexico can unite over global sustainability. 

During February's reading week, six ambitious Bachelor of Commerce students from SMU ventured to the Windy City for the "Developing Climate Leaders" course, guided by Dr. Rahman Khokhar, Associate Professor of Finance at the Sobey School of Business.  

Now in its third year, this innovative program showcases how cross-border cooperation can further sustainable business practices. 

International efforts in action 

Teamed with peers from Dominican University (Chicago, IL) and Universidad Anáhuac (Mexico), the students dove into assessing sustainability practices at companies like Top Pallets, Wintrust Financial, and Pepper Construction. 

Their mission was clear: to bring fresh, actionable insights back from their research. This work was supported by funding from the 100k Strong in the Americas Innovation Fund and the Linton Family Sustainability in Business Trust, established by Bill Linton BComm'75, DComm'22 and Marilynne Day-Linton. 

During their stay, the students presented their findings to company executives on-site and toured the facilities, gaining direct insights into operations and real-world experience. 

"Being able to interview the COO of Top Pallets opened my eyes to the critical role of green supply chains,” said Barbara Ellis, a second-year undergraduate student. “I loved collaborating with a cross-cultural group of students. We came up with solutions to practical business problems that could have a real impact."  

Halifax to Chicago: beats and eats  

The cultural experiences formed a core part of their journey. From tasting Chicago's legendary deep-dish pizza to grooving to a live jazz band, the students immersed themselves in the local scene.  

“I am starting to understand how different cultures might approach sustainability initiatives. Before this trip, my perspectives were short-sighted, but now I see the importance of hearing from different viewpoints,” said Zayna Eissa, a second-year undergraduate student and Sobey National Innovator Scholar. “I also loved trying new foods and I really admired the architecture in Chicago. That’s the beauty of international learning."  

“Just getting out of Halifax over the break,” said Cole Fraser, a third-year undergraduate student, on his highlights of the trip. “The food scene, visiting the Morton Arboretum, and the nights spent exploring downtown Chicago with a great group of students were unforgettable.” 

Empowering students as sustainable business leaders 

The course included various team efforts, including a social media campaign promoting carbon neutrality and a real-world sustainability challenge about Walmart and one of its suppliers.  

Through this exercise, students strengthened their problem-solving and presentation skills, gained insight into supplier negotiation dynamics, and explored how sustainability decisions today can significantly shape global supply chains of the future.  

The Sobey School of Business is proud of its commitment to fostering future leaders who are ready to tackle the world's pressing environmental issues with innovative, culturally informed approaches.  

Additional resources 

• Sobey School globally recognized for supporting UN initiative

• Sustainability Initiatives

• Bachelor of Commerce at Saint Mary’s

• Certificate in Sustainability Business

One million pounds of perfectly imperfect food feeds Nova Scotians

Square Roots, a Nova Scotia social enterprise founded at Saint Mary’s University, celebrates major milestone.

Students sorting donated food

Square Roots, founded by Saint Mary’s University students in 2016, buys imperfect yet perfectly edible food from local farmers and sells it directly to customers at a price that is 50% less than the grocery store. Nova Scotians benefit from getting healthy food at a more affordable price and farmers benefit because they get revenue from the food that would otherwise go to waste. This month, Square Roots celebrates the major milestone of delivering one million pounds of food since its beginning in 2016.

“We could not have done it without the student teams, the community champions and the farmers. ”

— Courtney Dingle, Square Roots president

“Square Roots is delighted to reach this one million pounds of food milestone. We could not have done it without the student teams, the community champions and the farmers. We believe this is just the beginning of what’s possible. We are currently in 16 communities and want to be in every county in Nova Scotia by April 2025 and we have a vision to take this model nationally,” says Courtney Dingle, Square Roots president and SMU business student.

Square Roots was developed by students at SMU who participate in an international student program called Enactus. Enactus marries entrepreneurial-minded students with social action. Square Roots addresses the twin issues of food waste and food insecurity. At the farm level, 30% of harvested produce is dumped into landfills due to cosmetic imperfections despite being perfectly healthy. Square Roots rescues this "less attractive" produce that would otherwise be discarded, offering it at affordable prices to those with limited access to healthy food.

Working with local contacts, Square Roots is currently bringing food to over 25 communities across Nova Scotia—the newest being Port Hawkesbury, D’Escousse, Sydney, Baddeck, Cornwallis Park, Digby, Yarmouth, Shelburne, Mill Village, and Lunenburg. The team intends to be in all Nova Scotia counties by May 2025 and, in the bigger picture, has plans to expand across Canada by 2026.

The SMU Enactus team is well-recognized in Canada and around the world. They have placed top 4 in the Canadian Enactus championships 11 of the last 13 years and won the national Canadian champion in 2024. With this recognition, the team represented Canada at the global Enactus championship in Kazakhstan in October 2024. The SMU Enactus team recently earned first place in the 2025 Enactus regional competition and heads to the national competition in May 2025.

Sustainability…period!

From classroom to Aruna Revolution: how Bridget's MBAN is helping make menstrual products eco-friendly

Bridget Osundiji MBAN’24 blends her passion for business, sustainability and women’s health at Aruna Revolution

Fresh off her master’s from the Sobey School of Business, Bridget Osundiji, a young powerhouse, has found her calling as a Growth Marketing Specialist at Aruna Revolution, a Halifax-based start-up reimagining menstrual care products.

Bridget’s story is not just about academic achievement. It’s about purpose, passion and the power of using business to spark meaningful change.

Originally from Nigeria, Bridget relocated to Canada to pursue her dreams of higher education and living abroad. She earned her Bachelor’s degree in Accounting from Landmark University in Nigeria before coming to Saint Mary's, looking for a place to not only further her education but also launch her career. The Sobey School of Business Master of Business Analytics (MBAN), with its emphasis on responsible leadership and global perspectives, proved to be the right environment for her growth.

“For me, the master's program was a reality check. I knew it would be challenging, but I wasn’t prepared for how intense it would be—it was very fast-paced. There was always something to do, like assignments, rotations and workshops. It was go go go. I realized I had to prioritize and cut out unnecessary distractions. The program was tough, but it taught me a lot.”

After graduation, Bridget joined Aruna Revolution, a company focused on creating sustainable, compostable menstrual pads made from plant-based materials.

“The MBAN program was not just about education—it was about building relationships. SMU actually really helped with that. I got the internship at Aruna originally through a networking event. A lot of my classmates were able to secure job positions through those workshops.””

Bridget displays the plant-based materials used to create compostable menstrual pads at the Aruna Revolution warehouse in Dartmouth, NS

“Michael Zhang, the director of the MBAN program, is someone who is very passionate about the department and very passionate about the students. He wants to make sure that everybody's fine, everybody gets their job, and everybody understands what's going on in class. He helped with everything I needed. I really appreciate his support.”

The MBAN provides critical knowledge but also helps students develop a deep sense of purpose—one that now fuels Bridget’s work at Aruna Revolution. She continues to thrive in her now more permanent role, helping to develop strategies that not only promote the company's products but also raise awareness about the importance of sustainable menstrual care.

Bridget was recently recognized as Tribe Scholar of the Year at the Tribe Leader Summit, an event hosted by Tribe Network. Tribe Network is a community that supports racialized individuals in entrepreneurship and innovation by providing resources, opportunities and networks to help them succeed.

Empowering women, protecting the planet

Aruna Revolution’s mission of reducing plastic waste and empowering menstruators aligns perfectly with Bridget’s values. As someone passionate about sustainability and women’s health, she feels like she’s found her calling.

“Aruna is not just offering an alternative to traditional menstrual pads—we are offering a solution that’s better for the planet and the people who use them. It’s exciting to be part of a company that’s working toward real change in an industry that has long relied on plastic.”

Compostable menstrual pads are made from cattail, soybean raw material and extracted processed corn fibers

The bioreactors shown behind Bridget process the raw materials in a chemical solution to create the pad material

The company’s innovative approach to menstrual care is a direct response to the environmental harm caused by traditional products.

“It is about more than just creating and selling biodegradable menstrual products. I believe we are part of a larger movement toward a circular economy, where every product is designed with its full lifecycle in mind—from creation to composting.”

Aruna Revolution recently secured a deal on Dragons' Den with Michele Romanow and Manjit Minhas, who offered $300,000 for a 25% stake.

Bridget’s story exemplifies the transformative power of an education that blends business expertise with social responsibility. Her journey shows the profound impact responsible leadership, paired with a strong educational foundation, can have in today’s workplace and serves as a reminder that defining success in business can be found beyond just the numbers.

““Saint Mary’s gave me the tools to pursue a career that not only drives business success but also aligns with my values. I am proud to be part of a company that’s doing important work for both people and the planet.””

— Bridget Osundiji MBAN'24

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Related:

• Master of Business Analytics

• Celebrating International Women’s Day at Saint Mary’s

• Sustainability at SMU

Fresh ideas for accounting’s future

The AC Group teams up with students to tackle recruitment challenges in the CPA industry at recent Innovation Sprint challenge 

Tezas Sethi showcasing their solutions to the AC group representatives

Pari Ajay Mehra, Iram Sheikh and Rishita Mishra present to the AC Group

SMU students Asmita Ale, Hazzaa Sujeer and Lydia Lee present to AC Group

Students brainstorming ideas

Third-place team Kathleen Murray, Angus Bonnyman (CEO of The AC Group), Nguyen Thu Trang Truong, Aquilya Smith

Participating students and the AC Group

Last week, 28 students from Saint Mary’s University, Dalhousie University and NSCC worked in teams on an Innovation Sprint. In this short, high-energy event, students collaborate to generate solutions for business challenges. The AC Group of Independent Accounting Firms Limited (AC Group) brought forward a challenge focused on addressing recruitment challenges within the CPA and accounting industry. 

The AC Group is an alliance of 13 independent accounting firms in Atlantic Canada. It facilitates the member firms' being leaders in serving the needs of owner-managed businesses in their marketplaces. 

Students heard from Angus Bonnyman, CEO of The AC Group, and Shirley Jollimore, Director of The AC Group. They provided insights into topics such as attracting high-quality applicants and increasing awareness and opportunities in the CPA and Accounting industry. 

The participating students brought fresh perspectives and creative strategies to the table, creating a win-win situation for both students and the AC Group. 

Solutions from the winning team, comprised of three business students, Hazza Sujeer, Lydia Lee and Asmita Ale, ranged from building strategic university partnerships for talent acquisition to targeted social media strategies aimed at increasing brand exposure. Reflecting on the competition, Hazza shared, “We tackled one of the biggest challenges in public accounting, which is to attract and retain top talent. It was an incredible experience being around creative and like-minded individuals to develop real-world solutions.” 

Business student Munyaradzi Matura and science student Q’Ba Richards won second place, while a team of business students, Kathleen Murray, Nguyen Thu Trang Truong, and Aquilya Smith, secured third place. 

The AC group representatives were highly impressed by the students’ professionalism and innovative thinking. Angus remarked, “We worked with a very dynamic group of students who had great ideas about how we could solve a real-world problem.” The firm was enthusiastic about implementing some of the proposed solutions. 

At the end of the Sprint, businesses choose the winning teams, with the first-place winners receiving $1,000, second-place winners receiving $700, and third-place winners receiving $300. In a unique opportunity, The AC Group also opened scholarship applications to participants and actively encouraged students to submit resumes for potential career opportunities. 

Find out how to participate in an Innovation Sprint. 

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About Innovation Sprint  

Innovation Sprint is a short, focused event that brings business and keen, creative students together to generate ideas and solutions to business problems.  During the Innovation Sprint, participants:  

• engage in time-sensitive bursts of intensive problem-solving and developing business solutions;  

• receive insightful resources and mentorship, helping them address business challenges;   

• learn how to facilitate rapid and effective outputs to challenges they may face in their business. This is a unique entrepreneurial experience that can be translated into their own chosen fields;  

• collaborate with students from across Atlantic Canada from various faculties and disciplines.  

Sprinting for spa solutions

Students pitch ideas to help local business The Wine Spa at recent Innovation Sprint challenge

Students pitch their business ideas to The Wine Spa

Students pitch their business ideas to The Wine Spa

Students pitch their business ideas to The Wine Spa

Students pitch their business ideas to The Wine Spa

The Wine Spa Founder, Angela and Will reviewing students' pitches

Last week, 26 enterprising students worked in teams with the Arthur L. Irving Entrepreneurship Centre and The Wine Spa on an Innovation Sprint, a fast-paced event focused on generating creative solutions to business challenges. The Wine Spa marries fine wine, delicious food, and luxury spa experiences to offer a one-of-a-kind social spa experience.

As the name suggests, an Innovation Sprint is a short, high-energy sprint during which students generate rapid-fire ideas and solutions to real-world business problems. Each sprint brings students and businesses together for live problem-solving and idea generation. Students practice their learning and skills, and businesses get access to current, fresh thinking. Everybody wins!  

Participants heard from The Wine Spa Founder Angela Szubielski, who briefed them on the product offering and shared insights and challenges, including finding new ways to utilize the space and identifying new markets and clients.

The participating students brought fresh ideas, new perspectives and solutions ranging from inviting senior homes for a spa day to curated packages for bachelorettes and special events, and corporate employee appreciation retreats.

The winning team included arts student Stuti Sandhu and business student Kris Ram. Their winning idea involved collaboration, unique events and expanding the target market to drive awareness and revenue for The Wine Spa. Reflecting on the competition, Stuti said, “We really got to think creatively, and that was amazing. It's also really rewarding to help our community succeed. That’s what I really love about Innovation Sprints.”

Echoing Stuti’s enthusiasm, Kris said, “Innovation Sprints are really inspiring. I get to learn about a real-world business problem and solve it hands-on. This is an experience many don't get to have and I'm very fortunate to be able to be exposed to that.”

Innovation Sprint students with Angela and Will, Founders of The Wine Spa

The Wine Spa team was enthusiastic about the students’ ideas and impressed with the results. “Everybody was so professional,  courteous and bright. To other businesses, I would absolutely recommend joining an Innovation Sprint,” said Szubielski from The Wine Spa. “I knew [the students] would brainstorm and present ideas, but we benefitted from their different cultures, perspectives and experiences. I don't spend a lot of time talking to university students at this stage in my life or as a business owner. So, to be able to see many different perspectives in one room was excellent.”

At the end of the Sprint, businesses choose the winning teams. First-place winners received $1,000 and a $100 gift certificate to The Wine Spa. Second-place winners received $700, and third-place winners received $300.

Find out how to participate in an Innovation Sprint here.

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About Innovation Sprint

Innovation Sprint is a short, focused event that brings business and keen, creative students together to generate ideas and solutions to business problems.  During the Innovation Sprint, participants:

• engage in time-sensitive bursts of intensive problem-solving and developing business solutions;

• receive insightful resources and mentorship, helping them address business challenges; 

• learn how to facilitate rapid and effective outputs to challenges they may face in their business. This is a unique entrepreneurial experience that can be translated into their own chosen fields;

• collaborate with students from across Atlantic Canada from various faculties and disciplines.

Saint Mary’s student entrepreneur wins $10,000 award for mental health app start-up

Olivian Sanderson, winner of the Dream Chaser Change Maker Social Impact Award

Bachelor of Commerce student Olivian Sanderson, Co-Founder of Sociable, a mental health app designed for students, has won the Dream Chaser Change Maker (DCCM) Foundation Social Impact Award and $10,000. The DCCM invites student entrepreneurs with social impact aspirations to a pitch competition where a team of mentors and alumni select the next Dream Chaser.

Olivian competed against thirty contestants and was shortlisted as one of seven finalists at the recent DCCM Award Pitch Competition held at the Arthur L. Irving Entrepreneurship Centre. The award, which provides a scholarship supporting tuition and start-up costs, celebrates student entrepreneurs who use their businesses to address pressing social and environmental challenges. 

Olivian shared her excitement about the win and how the $10,000 prize will accelerate Sociable's development, “The competition was a great experience. Participating in the pitches was also amazing: being able to see all the amazing businesses other students are running and then being able to showcase my own to a panel of judges was great. The prize will help accelerate my business growth. With a portion of it going to my education, it also relieves some of that financial stress, meaning I can focus more time on doing what I love, building Sociable. The DCCM network has so many industry leaders and experts that I want to learn from, so I am excited to have been given such a valuable opportunity to do so.” 

Beyond the $10,000 prize, the competition celebrated students as changemakers, recognizing their commitment to creating a positive impact. The other finalists represented a diverse range of innovative ventures: 

• Ashish Ganapathy, Co-Founder of Accesstructure, featured a business focused on creating more accessible campuses for those with disabilities; 

• Gabriel Martin, Founder of Purlo Foods, pitched his business emphasizing transparency and sustainability in the food supply chain; 

• Vaishali Sachdeva, Brand Ambassador of Bean, presented a smart food assistant app designed to revolutionize meal planning; 

• Stuti Sandhu, Founder of Being There, pitched an initiative aiming to support dementia care and prevention with a personalized, holistic approach; 

• Karanveer Singh, Founder of Eco-Nova Store, focused on sustainable and eco-friendly plastic alternative products that could be eaten after their use; and

• Andrei Marchenko, Founder of All Year Greens, featured an innovative vertical farming solution to increase access to fresh, healthy food.

Finalist Andrei Marchenko shared his perspective on participating in the pitch competition: “This competition inspired me to grow as a presenter and helped improve my public speaking skills for a wider audience. I would highly recommend this experience to anyone looking to grow both personally and professionally.” 

Finalists, judges and DCCM representatives at the pitch competition

Following the competition, all finalists were invited to a pitch training program led by the DCCM team to refine their pitching skills further and advance their businesses. 

About The Dream Chaser Change Maker (DCCM) Foundation

Founded as a scholarship program in 2017, The DCCM Foundation is a federally registered non-profit organization dedicated to nurturing generations of social entrepreneurs. The DCCM aims to alleviate financial barriers to education, helping Dream Chasers (student social entrepreneurs) harness the power of academic knowledge and their creativity to drive positive social change in the world.   

Visit DCCM Foundation to learn more about the organization.  

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De-Mystifying AI in the Workplace

Arjun Asokakumar, Director of Data Science at RBC, was the keynote speaker at Responsible Leadership Day 2024

Empowering Students to Shape a Sustainable Future

A 2024 analysis by Statistics Canada reveals a growing trend, with 30% of businesses in the information and cultural industries, 25% in professional, scientific, and technical services, and 19% in arts, entertainment and recreation planning to use Artificial Intelligence (AI) in the next year.[1]

In a world where AI seems to be everywhere, how can students prepare themselves for what the future could bring?

The Sobey School of Business brought together inspiring leaders and forward-thinking students for its sixth annual Responsible Leadership Day on November 22, 2024.

The event kicked off with a thought-provoking keynote on how AI-driven automation may reshape job roles and skill requirements, delivered by Arjun Asokakumar, Director of Data Science at Royal Bank of Canada (RBC). Attendees also had the opportunity to engage with expert panelists on the upcoming challenges of AI.

Responsible Leadership Day at Saint Mary’s University

In today’s competitive job market, students must understand how to effectively work with and respond to artificial intelligence to stay ahead, not just in the business world but across multiple areas. Regardless of where you are in the organization, AI has the potential to impact all levels.

How do machine learning and algorithms help solve people’s problems?

Although AI may seem complex and mysterious, at its core, it’s all about us—people. AI is programmed by people, learns from people, and ultimately is used by people. It learns by reading our books, analyzing our paintings, listening to our music, downloading our history and studying our habits.

Because it learns from us, AI inevitably inherits our flaws and biases. What we think, feel, and believe becomes embedded in its algorithms. AI cannot judge right from wrong—it processes data without judgement. For example, when using AI to sort through resumes for hiring, factors like postal codes, names, genders, and gaps in employment due to parental leave can unintentionally introduce biases into the process.

The ability to recognize and understand these biases is crucial for using AI effectively and responsibly. As AI becomes more integrated into the workplace, employers are placing greater value on this crucial skill. 

As artificial intelligence becomes more prevalent, the need for specialized knowledge remains high. Understanding how to judge the information AI provides you—and being able to critically evaluate its output—is key to using the technology responsibly.

As an employer, there are steps you can take too. For example, pushing for transparency on what data was used in creating the AI programs and asking for evidence and results.

The expert panel emphasized innovation and plans for action toward a more responsible future, all while embracing an entrepreneurial mindset.

Dr. Stephanie Kelley, Scotiabank Professor in Innovations in Business Technology and Assistant Professor of Management Science at the Sobey School of Business at Saint Mary’s University, moderated the discussion.

Panelists included Roshanak Sadeghi-Zadeh, Director of People and Belonging at IWK Health, Saeed El-Darahali, President and CEO of SimplyCast, and Sandra Pasquini, Senior Vice President, Human Resources at Empire Company Limited.

[1] Analysis on expected use of artificial intelligence by businesses in Canada, third quarter of 2024

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About Responsible Leadership Day   

Responsible Leadership Day is a flagship event for the Sobey School of Business. It brings together students and researchers with industry and government partners and highlights the school’s commitment as signatories of PRME, a UN initiative that promotes Principles for Responsible Management Education. The Sobey School of Business is committed to upholding sustainability, as demonstrated by its research, student projects, and course content.