From supporting founders to becoming one: David Campbell BComm’24

David Campbell BComm’24

For David, entrepreneurship wasn't always part of the plan. In fact, he says he never considered himself a naturally entrepreneurial person. But after spending years surrounded by founders and innovative ideas at Saint Mary's University, his mindset began to change.

Today, David works at the Arthur L. Irving Entrepreneurship Centre, where he supports student founders and helps create entrepreneurship programming. Outside of work, he's building his own startup, Recordium, alongside co-founders Harpreet Jaggi, an experienced B2B sales professional, and Max Mascini, a Dalhousie University master's student specializing in AI ethics, neuroscience and machine learning.

The team recently received a major boost after being accepted into the AI2Market Launch incubator, earning $10,000 in funding to help bring their business to life.

Recordium was born from a real-world problem. After hearing about the challenges Harpreet faced while attending sales conferences, the team realized that many professionals invest significant time and money into events without having the tools to prepare effectively or capture valuable conversations afterward.

David and Harpreet, Co-Founders of Recordium

"There's no real system for remembering who you spoke to, following up or learning from those interactions," David explains.

That's why the team is developing a comprehensive conference assistant that helps users prepare before events, identify the right people to meet and use AI-powered note-taking and CRM updates throughout the day.

For David, building Recordium has reinforced many of the lessons he shares with aspiring entrepreneurs every day.

Working at the Entrepreneurship Centre taught him the importance of validating a problem before investing time into building a solution. Now, experiencing customer discovery, product pivots and pitching firsthand has also made him a stronger mentor for students.

“I’m now able to help students by using my lived experience,” he says.

David’s previous ventures included a drive-thru wood-fired pizza business

His own entrepreneurial journey has included previous ventures, from a drive-thru wood-fired pizza concept to a woodworking business. While neither succeeded in the long term, each experience taught valuable lessons and helped build confidence to pursue his latest venture.

Looking ahead, the Recordium team is focused on getting the platform into the hands of sales professionals who regularly attend conferences and networking events. With support from AI2Market Launch and fresh funding behind them, they're eager to discover where the product can create the greatest impact.

David's advice for aspiring entrepreneurs is simple: talk to people before you build anything.

"The actual problem people are facing starts to emerge quickly when you're having real conversations," he says. "And just start, even if you think the idea is bad or you don't fully believe in yourself yet. What you learn along the way will be well worth it."

Discover how the Arthur L. Irving Entrepreneurship Centre supports entrepreneurs like Recordium. 

Sociology grad receives prestigious SSHRC Research Scholarship

Sarah Delorme BA’26

Sarah Delorme, a Sociology Honours graduate from Saint Mary's University, was recently awarded a $27,000 Canada Graduate Research Scholarship – Master's (CGRS-M) from the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (SSHRC). The scholarship will support her Master of Arts in Sociology at Concordia University beginning in Fall 2026. In addition, Sarah has been awarded a $6,000 Graduate Special Entrance Scholarship from Concordia University.

After completing the first two years of her Bachelor of Arts at Laurentian University in Ontario, Sarah transferred to Saint Mary's University, where she became deeply involved in academic and campus life. She first served as Secretary and later as Co-President of the SMU Sociology Society, helping to organize both small- and large-scale events for students.

Sarah also gained valuable research experience through several projects. She worked as a research assistant and newsletter assistant editor for the GBV-MIG Canada Research Program under the supervision of Dr. Evangelia Tastsoglou, contributing to research on gender-based violence and migration. Her broad interest in sociological issues also led her to work as a research assistant on Dr. Rui Hou's research on digital mental health interventions for Asian immigrant youth and on Dr. Pauline Hoebanx's research exploring misogynistic online movements.

Beyond her academic work, Sarah has contributed to the Saint Mary's community in numerous roles, including as a Sociology Teaching Assistant, Assistant for the Sobey School of Business Research Newsletter, Secretary of the SMUSA Board of Directors, Game Day Ticketing staff with Athletics & Recreation, and Peer Notetaker for the Fred Smithers Centre for Student Accessibility.

A consistent Dean's Honour List student, Sarah received a Bursary Award in 2022 and an Academic Excellence Award in 2023 from Laurentian University. At Saint Mary's University, she earned an Academic Achievement Award and several other merit awards. In 2026, she was awarded the Outstanding Graduating Sociology Student Award by the Canadian Sociological Association (CSA).

Inspired by her work with the GBV-MIG project, Sarah completed her Honours thesis on the resilience of migrant and refugee women who have experienced gender-based violence in migration contexts.

Sarah at Convocation in May 2026

Reflecting on the award, Sarah said she is grateful for the opportunities and mentorship she received throughout her time at Saint Mary's.

"Receiving this scholarship is incredibly exciting and affirming. My experiences at Saint Mary's gave me the opportunity to explore a wide range of sociological topics, work alongside inspiring faculty members, and contribute to research that addresses important social issues. Through those experiences, I discovered a passion for research and a desire to better understand how people navigate complex challenges. I'm excited to continue that work at Concordia and build on the foundation I developed at Saint Mary's."

Dr. Evie Tastsoglou, Professor of Sociology cross-appointed in Political Science and Global Development Studies, said Sarah's success reflects both her academic abilities and her commitment to meaningful research.

Dr. Evie Tastsoglou

"Sarah has distinguished herself through her intellectual curiosity, strong work ethic, and commitment to understanding issues that affect marginalized communities. Whether as a student, research assistant, or campus leader, she has consistently demonstrated thoughtfulness, professionalism, and a desire to make a positive contribution. This SSHRC award is a well-deserved recognition of her achievements and potential as a scholar."

As she prepares to begin her master's studies at Concordia University, Sarah looks forward to continuing her research and contributing to important conversations in sociology. Her achievements reflect a strong commitment to academic excellence, community engagement, and meaningful social research.

Automating for the future

Michael Toner has a restless drive to streamline and improve data analysis through AI automation

When Michael Toner completed his Screen Arts and Cultures degree at the University of Michigan, he didn’t anticipate that every job he would get would end up being about data.

The Los Angeles native says, “Whether it was ingesting footage for reality TV, mapping demographics for the city, or managing financial accounts at LA Metro, I kept finding myself automating the work and eventually realized that was the part I actually loved.”

He set out to identify a Master’s program that would let him focus on the intersection of business and data. A factor he had to consider was that he did not have a traditional STEM background, something many programs were looking for.

The Sobey Master of Business Analytics (MBAN) program was the right fit for Michael.

“Saint Mary's stood out in a narrow field. Only a handful of universities offer an MBAN program — most institutions go the MBA or Master of Data Science route,” says Michael. He plans to pursue a career in financial automation. He notes, “Financial data is unusually clean and structured compared to most domains, which means someone with the right skills can move fast and have real impact. And the demand is everywhere. Every company has a finance function.”

Testing his mettle

During the program, Michael has enjoyed competition opportunities to explore his enhanced skillset with coding and AI, developing promising innovative solutions for long-term intractable problems like food insecurity and emergency department wait times.

“At RBC Hubhacks, my team built an AI-powered financial engineering solution for food insecurity in Nova Scotia. We did well enough that we were invited to present to Halifax Partnership and then to Feed Nova Scotia directly. At CGI Datajam, we placed third out of 30 teams with an AI screening tool that cut emergency department wait times by roughly two hours per patient.”

Bringing automation to research insights

In January 2026, professor Chantal Hervieux hired Toner to work with the Centre for Leadership Excellence as a research assistant. CLE had built a relationship with a company called TrendAI, which was looking for background and industry research. TrendAI is an AI-powered demand planning and supply chain tool aimed at small to medium fashion retailers in Canada. It was founded by longtime friends, one with a background in textile manufacturing, the other in software-as-a-service.

Michael describes his research assistant role this way: “I ran background research on the Canadian fashion industry to identify TrendAI's best point of entry, surveyed small and medium enterprises, and from that built the product specifications, business model, development roadmap, and pathway to profitability.”

The survey was challenging. Response rates were so low, Michael needed thousands of contacts to reach statistical significance. When databases available through the library were insufficient, he created a solution: “I wrote Python to pull contacts from the Google Maps API and ended up with about 6,500 emails. The takeaway I'll carry forward is to think about response rates and outreach scale upfront, and to reach for technical solutions earlier rather than grinding manually.  Automating outreach was the only way the research worked at all.”

A glimpse of the future

High school students participated in SMU’s AI co-op

Michael shares that there was a surprise for him in the research. “I interviewed three Canadian business owners running operations out of their garages with fewer than five employees. Twenty years ago, that same output would have required a hundred people. The headline finding from the surveys was that AI is acting as an equalizing force for small businesses, not a threat — and these three were proof. That's the future I want to help build.”

He is already working on building the future – last winter, he was one of the MBAN students who taught a cohort of high school co-op students about AI. Michael is currently doing an internship with JD Irving in Saint John while completing his degree. He will graduate next winter.

How one Saint Mary’s University student balanced school, entrepreneurship and visual storytelling

Prateek Tamta

Prateek Tamta has spent the past two years helping shape the visual identity of the Arthur L. Irving Entrepreneurship Centre while balancing being a student in university, entrepreneurship and leadership roles outside the classroom. 

Originally from India, the Saint Mary’s University arts student is a self-taught photographer, cinematographer and designer who built his creative business, Pixels by Prateek, alongside his studies. Through photography, videography and storytelling, he has helped capture the energy of the Centre’s events, programs and entrepreneurial community while continuing to grow his own brand in Halifax. 

Prateek’s creative journey started long before university. 

“My mom used to buy film cameras when I was a kid and print albums of photos,” he says. “As I grew older, I became very keen on all things tech-related, would take a lot of photos on my phone, draw in my free time and watch lots of tech tutorials to get better at design.” 

What began as curiosity quickly evolved into a passion for multidisciplinary storytelling. Over time, Prateek taught himself photography, videography and design through online tutorials, experimentation and trial and error. 

“The most important skill I learned was how to learn anything,” he says. “Since I am self-taught, most of my skills came from Googling, YouTube tutorials, Skillshare courses and just trying things out.” 

Prateek holds the Enactus World Cup trophy

While building Pixels by Prateek, Prateek was also balancing classes, his role at the Arthur L. Irving Entrepreneurship Centre and leadership responsibilities with Enactus Saint Mary’s University. As VP of Tech alongside Co-VP Maya Campbell, he helped lead the tech team during Enactus SMU’s World Cup win. 

“It was one of the most rewarding experiences of my life,” he says. “We pulled all-nighters, problem-solved and built a system that future tech teams could use as a base. The win felt worth it because everyone worked so hard to get there.” 

At the Arthur L. Irving Entrepreneurship Centre, Prateek’s visual storytelling helped strengthen the Centre’s online presence by capturing authentic moments from events, student ventures and the entrepreneurial community. Through reels, photography and creative content, his work helped showcase the people and stories behind the Centre. 

Balancing so many responsibilities was not always easy, but Prateek credits the Centre with helping him grow both personally and professionally. 

“I was lucky enough to get a job at the Entrepreneurship Centre that let me work more within my skillset while giving me enough time to do well in classes as well as business,” he says. “The EC also introduced me to a lot of people and ways I could find clients for my business.” 

As graduation approaches, Prateek will continue pursuing creative storytelling full-time. Looking back on his journey, he encourages other students to explore different interests and embrace the learning process. 

“Make sure you’re taking care of yourselves,” he says. “It’s very easy to neglect your health when you’re passionate about something. Just make sure you’re not burning out, learning lots and most importantly, having fun.” 

Pitch perfect

Meet the three unique women who made up the top Stock Pitch team in Canada

Keira Hennigar, Katelyn Abriel, Laura McAleese and coach/faculty advisor Ross Hallett

A team of three Sobey School of Business women are the top stock pitching team in Canada after competing in Virginia, USA, in March.

Laura McAleese graduated from the Sobey School of Business in 2025 with her Bachelor of Commerce in Finance. She “landed at Saint Mary’s after hip-hopping around a bit,” knowing that the Sobey School was where her mother had gotten her accounting degree. She says she toured SMU when she was a little girl and “vividly remembers the Atrium with the plant wall.”  

From her BComm, she applied to the Sobey Master of Business Analytics “on a whim,” although she adds that the future-facing AI-focused curriculum appealed to her.

Laura is an active participant in the Impact Fund program, which deepened her passion for, as she calls it, “the technical aspect of finance.”  Last year, in her first year on the Impact Team, she competed at the Stock Pitch.

Keira Hennigar is a third-year BComm student majoring in finance. She is a member of Saint Mary’s Equestrian Club and the Investment Society. Katelyn Abriel is also a third-year student, majoring in finance and accounting and aiming to get her CPA designation and pursue a career in accounting. Both are current Research Associates with the Sobey School Impact Fund, Keira for real estate investment and Katelyn for consumer staples.

In March, Keira, Katelyn and Laura entered the women-only Bianca Caragliano Stock Pitch Competition.  

So what is a stock pitch competition?

Participants are tasked with choosing the stock that they hope will beat the market over the next year. “After choosing a stock, we basically do equity research on that stock,” says Laura. “We look at the company, we look at its competitors, industries, and then we try to come up with an implied share price for the stock and see whether or not it's mispriced in the actual market. Then, we give a buy or sell recommendation.”

This preparation paid off. The team competed at William & Mary in Williamsburg, against 21 teams from across Canada, the US and beyond. They landed at number four, topping teams from the Ivey Business School, Memorial University, UBC and University of Regina, making them the highest-scoring Canadian team.

First cohort of Sports Business students prepare to launch their careers

Matthew Lloyd is one of the first students to graduate with the Saint Mary’s Certificate in Sports Business

At Saint Mary’s, preparing students to thrive in agile, competitive careers is a top priority for us—and the Sobey School of Business is one of the faculties leading the charge with innovative programming designed for lucrative, high-demand industries.

Working in tandem with the Scott McCain & Leslie McLean Centre for Sport, Business and Health, the recently unveiled Bachelor of Commerce in Sports Business major was launched last year as part of the Sobey School’s program offerings, with students like Van Bernard coming to SMU specifically for the program. As the only sports business program currently available in Atlantic Canada, we’re committed to developing talent right here at home—giving students the opportunity to build an education that supports their goals.  

The BComm in Sports Business didn’t launch overnight. It started as a Certificate in Sports Business in 2024. It’s still available as a certificate option for students interested in adding it to an existing major, and we’ve heard firsthand from students that it’s a fantastic pairing with other Sobey School programming.

Marketing major Matthew Lloyd is one of the first students set to graduate with the certificate in sports business, and he felt passionate enough about his experience in the program to write a profile of it in the SMU Student Journal.

“I had the option to go out of province for a sports business program, but I wanted to stay in the Maritimes. It aligned perfectly—with the sports business certificate, I was able to get sport-specific education while finishing my degree at Saint Mary’s.”

“The courses required for the certificate—like sports marketing and sports data analytics—have given me extremely relevant experience and allowed me to practice applying my marketing education in sports-specific contexts. ”

— Matthew Lloyd

A longtime fan, Matthew is passionate about every aspect of sports. He played basketball in his youth, and he follows hockey and basketball closely. His dream job would be a marketing role with a team like the Toronto Raptors, and he took full advantage of our sports-related programming, taking that first step toward turning his passion into a lifelong career.  

“Marketing and sports business go hand-in-hand, as sports marketing is a key part of the industry. Between sponsorships, event promotions and broadcast opportunities, having sports-related education under your belt when you graduate gives you a competitive advantage when getting your foot in the door in sports marketing.”  

You don’t have to be planning a career in sports to benefit from taking these courses, Matthew says. Each of the sports business courses—Human Resources in Sports and Sports & Sustainability—give students ample opportunity to apply the learning they do to real-world examples through case studies in the sports industry.

“I feel a lot better entering the job market because of my education at Saint Mary’s than I would otherwise. In addition to the education I received, I’m graduating with work experience. With the co-op program I participated in, I have 12 months of experience across three different organizations, so I have projects I can point to on my resume that give me an advantage in a competitive market.”

Matthew will cross the stage with his cohort of Sobey School of Business graduates on May 27 during Spring Convocation. Soon after, he’ll begin his new role with Irving Shipbuilding in Halifax.

With Sports Business now offered at Saint Mary’s, students who want a clear path to a career in the sports industry are able to set themselves up for success. Whether you’re looking to double major, minor, or add a certificate to your education, Saint Mary’s offers flexible opportunities to prepare students like Matthew for a successful start in their chosen field.

TRIUMF triumph: Two Saint Mary’s science students awarded prestigious fellowships

Two Saint Mary’s University science students, Tehya Mohammed and Clara Wrightman-Dillon, will be travelling to Vancouver this summer for the Richard E. Azuma Summer Fellowships at TRIUMF, Canada’s particle accelerator centre.

Only two of these prestigious fellowships are awarded each year to students from TRIUMF’s 21 member universities across Canada, making it extra special that both students will be representing SMU.

The fellowships support promising Canadian undergraduate students in pursuing careers in TRIUMF’s research fields, including accelerator science and technology, detectors and instrumentation, life sciences, molecular and materials science, particle, nuclear, and theoretical physics, and scientific computing.

“Watching students succeed is the greatest reward for an educator. Having two SMU stu-dents win the only two fellowships at TRIUMF, and knowing that they competed against students from much larger institutions makes this a very proud moment.” says Dr. Sam Veres, Dean of Science. “These wins are a testament to Tehya and Clara’s dedication to their studies, and the exceptional education that our faculty and staff in the Department of As-tronomy and Physics provide.” 

Tehya Mohammed

Tehya Mohammed, from East Preston, N.S., just completed her third year of a BSc in Physics with an honours in Chemistry. She is excited to start working on a research project titled “Antimatter Physics with the ALPHA Collaboration” with Dr. Makoto Fujiwara at TRIUMF and at the CERN scientific research laboratory in Switzerland.

When she graduates in spring 2027, Tehya plans to attend graduate school; longer-term goals may see her staying in academia, teaching and doing research, and she credits her experience at Saint Mary’s with helping her land the fellowship this summer.

“I’m grateful for the experiences I’ve had at Saint Mary’s,” says Tehya. “I was able to do research with my professors each summer starting after my first year. There are more opportunities available to undergraduate students at smaller schools like SMU.”

Chemistry professor Dr. Christa Brosseau is Tehya’s honours supervisor; she also worked with Dr. Rob Singer in chemistry, publishing a paper with him. She credits these experiences with helping to round out her resume for the fellowship.

Clara Wrightman-Dillon

Clara Wrightman-Dillon, a physics major from St. Andrews, N.B., will be working with Dr. Adam Garnsworthy and researchers at the University of York. Their project, titled “Decoherence of Quantum Entangled Photons,” will involve the collection, sorting and analysis of data for research that could affect PET medical imaging.

This won’t be Clara’s first visit to TRIUMF; she was there last year thanks to her work alongside Dr. Greg Christian, a professor in the Department of Astronomy and Physics at Saint Mary’s.

After graduating from Saint Mary’s, Clara intends to pursue a Master of Science in physics.

Tehya and Clara have both spent the previous two summers at Saint Mary’s conducting research with their professors in positions funded by the Natural Science and Engineering Research Council (NSERC)’s Undergraduate Student Research Awards program and the Faculty of Science at Saint Mary’s.

The paid, four-month fellowship includes travel and a week's stay at TRIUMF House, a “home away from home for TRIUMF’s national and international visitors”. When fellowship winners complete their undergraduate degrees, a $5,000 scholarship is available to any of the 21 TRIUMF schools in Canada.

---

Meson Hall at TRIUMF. Credit: triumf.ca

About TRIUMF

Established in 1968 in Vancouver, TRIUMF is Canada’s particle accelerator centre. The lab is a hub for discovery and innovation inspired by a half-century of ingenuity in answering nature’s most challenging questions.

From the hunt for the smallest particles in our universe to research that advances the next generation of batteries or develops isotopes to diagnose and treat disease, TRIUMF drives more than scientific discovery. Powered by its complement of top talent and advanced accelerator infrastructure, TRIUMF is pushing the frontiers in isotope science and innovation, as well as technologies to address fundamental and applied problems in particle and nuclear physics, and the materials and life sciences. 

New major in Sustainability Management launches at Saint Mary's

“Sustainability is a competitive advantage.” – Mary Barra, CEO General Motors

Environmental responsibility and equity are key career themes for today’s students. A new Sustainability Management major in the Sobey School of Business Bachelor of Commerce program will help students address real challenges, such as climate change, responsible resource use and social impact, through a business career. Students will learn how organizations balance environmental responsibility, community and societal well-being, and economic success.

The program includes courses like Sustainable Finance, Sustainability Accounting, Reporting and Assurance, Business Ethics and Responsibility, and Economics of Sustainability, as well as elective courses in Arts and Science. While the major is a standalone program, it has been specially designed to work well as a second major alongside other disciplines such as Finance, Management or Marketing.

The program will include important experiential learning elements that deepen a student’s understanding outside of the classroom, including opportunities to work hands-on with organizations on real sustainability challenges. Graduates may pursue careers in fields like responsible investing, corporate sustainability management, ESG analysis and sustainability consulting.

The new Sustainability Management major is a natural next step for the Sobey School, as our students and alumni have long demonstrated commitment to environmental and social sustainability, through building social enterprises like Square Roots; societies like Enactus, Women in Business and the new Sustainability Society; and through participating in national and international case competitions themed for ethics, responsible leadership and sustainability.

Commitment to sustainability

The Sobey School of Business is a signatory to PRME, a United Nations initiative. Its focus is ensuring that business schools equip future leaders with the skills needed to balance economic, social and environmental goals, with particular emphasis on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Sobey is a PRME Champion school, signalling a greater commitment and intention to be a thought leader in responsible leadership.

Our research centres focus on topics related to sustainability, including social entrepreneurship and impact, immigration economics, and co-operative businesses.

Saint Mary’s University has a reputation for environmental and social responsibility that is evident in everything from our research endeavours to our academic programs to many on-campus activities and initiatives. The new major joins a number of sustainability-focused undergraduate programs at the university.

Related:

• Certificate in Sustainability Business

• Bachelor of Commerce programs

• Sustainability at Saint Mary’s

A new tradition: Atlantic Sustainable Marketing Case Competition debuts at Saint Mary’s

Students presented compelling pitches at the inaugural Atlantic Sustainable Marketing Case Competition hosted at Saint Mary’s

The Sobey School of Business was buzzing as students from across Atlantic Canada gathered for the inaugural Atlantic Sustainable Marketing Case Competition (ASMCC).

Twelve undergraduate teams from Saint Mary’s University, Dalhousie University, the University of New Brunswick and the University of Prince Edward Island tackled real-world marketing challenges through a sustainability lens, with more than 80 students, faculty, judges, sponsors and volunteers participating.

From idea to reality

Katie and Chris welcome participants to the case competition

ASMCC started as a bold idea from student co-chairs Katie Murray and Chris Nemeskeri, aiming to give students hands-on experience solving real-world business challenges.

"I’m super proud of what Chris and I have built together from scratch," says Katie Murray. "Starting all of it was a learning curve, but it gave me so much experience for my future endeavours."

"Our goal was to create a platform for students to tackle real-world challenges through a sustainable and innovative lens," says Chris Nemeskeri.

With support from advisor Dr. Hao Lu and Dean of the Sobey School Dr. Michel Delorme, the team managed everything—from branding and sponsorships to logistics—turning a student-led idea into a full-scale competition

The challenge

This year’s case partner, Sprout Dwellings, challenged teams to rethink their marketing strategy as the company transitioned from business-to-consumer to business-to-business marketing while expanding into larger developments.

Students had just three days to analyze the case, submit slide decks and present their solutions to a panel of judges. The case, designed by Jocelyn Grabke and Yanting Wu, has been submitted to the Sustainability Case Writing Awards through Ivey Publishing.

After preliminary rounds, six teams advanced to the finals, showcasing creativity, strategy and professionalism.

Top honours went to:

• 1st Place – Saint Mary’s University: Vaishali Sachdeva, Trang Truong, Hazza Sujeer, Chloe Pobjoy-Ridolfo

• 2nd Place – Dalhousie University: Ryan Ski, Jaime Mason, Naomi Johnston

• 3rd Place – University of New Brunswick: Rahma Khanes, Domenica Vasco, Natalie Liscuna, Matthew Heans

Judges praised the level of preparation and insight. "The level of preparation and creative thinking was inspiring," said one judge.

First-place team: Saint Mary’s University

Second-place team: Dalhousie University

Third-place team: UNB

Expanding sustainability in the Sobey School of Business

ASMCC highlights Saint Mary’s growing focus on sustainability and experiential learning. Building on the competition’s success, the Sobey School of Business will launch a new sustainability-focused major in Fall 2026.

The Sustainability Management Program will prepare students to integrate responsible practices throughout a business. Students will tackle real-world challenges, develop sustainable solutions and gain the skills to lead organizations with social and environmental impact in mind. Learn more here.

Empowering women through bold ideas

Students from three universities participated in the FemXchange Innovation Sprint

In celebration of International Women’s Month, the Arthur L. Irving Entrepreneurship Centre brought together students and founders for an Innovation Sprint featuring FemXchange, a growing platform designed to help female+ individuals share skills, build connections and support one another.

The sprint welcomed 14 students from Saint Mary’s University, Dalhousie University and Mount Saint Vincent University, all tasked with tackling a real challenge: how FemXchange can grow sustainably through partnerships while continuing to engage the right members and stakeholders. The opportunity came at the perfect moment, as conversations are already underway to deepen collaboration between FemXchange and the Centre, particularly in ways that could better connect students, alumni and existing programming.

“I was blown away by the bright, diverse minds in the room,” said FemXchange Founder Caroline Mastropaolo. “As a solo founder, having such a range of fresh, objective perspectives is incredibly valuable. I’m excited to hit the ground running with all these new ideas.”

Not only were students solving for business growth, but they were doing so for a platform rooted in empowerment and access. As a bonus, all female participants received one year of free access to FemXchange, turning the experience into something that extends well beyond the classroom.

The solutions presented reflected both creativity and strategic thinking. First place went to Saint Mary’s University arts student, Stuti Sandhu, who proposed partnerships with university alumni offices, venture capital firms and small business insurance companies. Her idea also highlighted an important social impact angle, suggesting the platform could support survivors of domestic violence and economic abuse by promoting financial independence.

Second place was awarded to commerce student Isabella Scuse and science student Abdinasir Ali, both from Saint Mary’s University, who developed a multi-partnership approach. Their strategy included collaborations with Etsy to support DIY entrepreneurs, Credly for certifications, Shopify for scaling businesses and RBC for funding and financial literacy.

Third place went to Saint Mary’s MBA students Laura Thompson, Benjamin Broadbent and Noah Zelin-Opps. Their plan focused on partnerships with universities, professional organizations and platforms like PrestaShop, alongside a detailed activation strategy that included chatbot integration and a WhatsApp ecosystem.

Overall, the Innovation Sprint highlighted what’s possible when the right people, purpose and timing come together.

If you’re interested in learning more about the next Innovation Sprint, sign up for our newsletter.

New Bachelor of Engineering degree starting this fall

Saint Mary’s University is proud to announce the launch of an exciting new program, the Bachelor of Engineering (BEng) in Resource Engineering.

The first cohort of students will begin in September 2026 and will choose to specialize in one of two distinct streams: Mining Engineering or Renewable Energy Engineering.

Designed in collaboration with industry, the new degree builds on a 100+ year history of delivering foundational engineering education at Saint Mary’s. The BEng is modern, interdisciplinary and is squarely aligned with regional and national priorities.

From the materials used in buildings and technology to the energy that powers homes and cities, engineers play a critical role in designing systems that responsibly produce and manage the resources required to support society.

The Bachelor of Engineering in Resource Engineering equips students to address the full lifecycle of resource development, from land use planning to construction and operation to reclamation, with a balanced curriculum that addresses technical, environmental, economic and societal considerations.

The two program specializations feature common core programming, with education in areas such as environmental impact assessment and risk management, lifecycle cost analysis, project management, geomatics and engineering design.

Students who specialize in Mining Engineering will undertake additional study in surface and underground mining methods, structural geology and rock mechanics, and environmental contaminants. Students in the Renewable Energy Engineering stream study solar and wind systems, biomass utilization, grid integration and energy storage technologies.

Along with coursework, the program includes 16 months of integrated co-op work placements, allowing students to connect in-class learning with real-world experience and to begin building their industry networks prior to graduation.   

“Hands-on work experience is such a critical part of engineering education,” says Dr. Sam Veres, Dean of Science at Saint Mary’s. “We’ve created a co-op program structure that’s ideal for both students and employers, where students will be able to spend 16 continuous months with a single employer, or two consecutive eight-month terms with different employers and really have the opportunity to establish themselves in the workplace, be valuable employees, and build relationships that jumpstart their careers.”

Students will study in SMU’s Engineering building, which opened in 2024

The importance of hands-on learning is apparent throughout the engineering curriculum at Saint Mary’s, with students undertaking a range of laboratory experiences and design projects beginning in first year. Students in the Resource Engineering program will get to complete five courses focused on engineering design, including an industry-based design course connected to co-op, and a two-semester-long capstone project.

“Our class sizes are strategically kept small, which gives our students opportunities for one-on-one interactions with professors for support or extra challenges, or to think about next steps in their academic and future careers,” explains Don MacNeil, the director of the Division of Engineering.

“Working in small teams facilitates the creative thinking process and encourages students to consider other perspectives, allowing them to generate innovative solutions to tackle real-life and challenging problems.”

The Division of Engineering, part of the Faculty of Science at Saint Mary’s, is based in the university’s new Engineering Building, located on campus at 960 Tower Road, Halifax.

Saint Mary’s students earn recognition as 2026 Frank H. Sobey Award winners

Olivian Sanderson

Conrad Scotchburn

Two students from Saint Mary's University have been named among the eight recipients of the prestigious Frank H. Sobey Awards for Excellence in Business Studies, recognizing their outstanding academic achievement, leadership, and commitment to community impact. 

Olivian Sanderson of Pugwash, Nova Scotia, a third-year student known for her strong academic performance and active engagement in the Saint Mary’s community, and Conrad Scotchburn of Dhahran, Saudi Arabia, a fourth-year student recognized for his leadership and commitment to excellence in business studies, are the University’s 2026 award recipients. Selected through a rigorous process, they were chosen from a competitive pool of 34 nominees put forward by business school deans across Atlantic Canada. 

Each year, the Frank H. Sobey Awards celebrate undergraduate business students who demonstrate excellence not only in academics but also in entrepreneurship, leadership, philanthropy and future career potential. This year’s cohort reflects a diverse and accomplished group of emerging leaders from across the region. 

As award recipients, they will each receive $50,000 and be paired with an experienced mentor through the program—an element consistently highlighted by past winners as one of the award’s most valuable aspects. 

Demonstrating leadership and peer support

During her time at Saint Mary’s, Olivian has been active in programs at the Arthur L. Irving Entrepreneurship Centre, including the award-winning Enactus team. This helped her create Sociable, an online community platform that helps students connect, get peer support and gain access to campus events. "The Frank H. Sobey Award gives me space and the resources needed to build my business or start other ventures that also contribute to the mission I have of helping young students," she said.

Conrad used his experience as a former varsity athlete and business student to create Sideline Reset, an app that connects student athletes with peers who share their unique mental health concerns. "Winning the Frank H. Sobey Award is an incredible honour and validation of the hard work I put in." Learn more about their businesses in the videos below.

In addition to the eight winners, 26 other finalists will receive $3,500 scholarships in recognition of their achievements. 

Established in 1989, the Frank H. Sobey Awards for Excellence in Business Studies support the development of future business leaders at universities across Atlantic Canada. Since its inception, the program has awarded more than $4 million to students. 

For Saint Mary’s, the recognition highlights the strength of its business students and their growing impact both locally and globally. 

Watch: