So... what is an Entrepreneur?

So... what is an Entrepreneur?

After three years of being within the ecosystem of Entrepreneurs ... I don't know.

If you’ve ever met me — even for a moment — you already know: entrepreneurship isn’t what I do. It’s who I am. It’s the restless fire that’s kept me up at 2 a.m., scribbling half-formed ideas on napkins and notebooks. It’s the voice in my head that never says “what if?” without following it with “why not?”

That fire is what led me to co-found something that didn’t exist yet — an organization at UTSC not built for applause, but built for ambition. A place where students didn’t just talk about ideas — they launched them. A place where failure was a teacher, not a verdict. A place where dreamers became doers.

The Entrepreneurship Association didn’t just mark my undergrad — it defined it. The late nights. The bold pitches. The flops. The victories. The people. Every chapter of my university life — every high, every heartbreak, every hard-earned lesson — was written in the margins of EA.

And on April 30th, I stepped down as Co-Founder of this wild, beautiful, unforgettable community.

It wasn’t just a student club. It was my heartbeat. It was my home.

I’d like to take you on a journey — through the inception, the introductions, the victories, the setbacks, and the countless challenges we faced in building EA into what it is today. On campus, we often see student clubs in their polished final form, but rarely do we hear the stories behind them. In tracing EA’s history, I want to share the truth of our experience — the wins and the failures, the events that soared and those that stumbled, the people who shaped it, and the vision that guided us. And maybe, just maybe, by the end of this journey, I’ll have a clearer answer to the question that’s been with me since the beginning: What is an entrepreneur?

2021

Back in first year, I was in Management Co-op — bright-eyed, hopeful, and ready to take over the world (or at least get into a club). Like every eager management student, I applied to the usual suspects: MESA, MIBA, IS... you name it. And one by one, they all said no. Rejected. Denied. Left on read. Out of pure pettiness (and a healthy dose of delusion), I decided, fine — I’ll just start my own club.

I dropped a message in the first-year group chat asking if anyone wanted to start something with me. To my surprise, seven people responded. SEVEN! I thought I’d get maybe one sympathy reply. We made a group chat, started tossing around ideas, and within weeks, we were in full build mode. Despite the chaos of COVID and having no clue what we were doing, we somehow pulled it off. By October 2021, the Entrepreneurship Association was officially born — a club built on ambition, stubbornness, and one very salty rejection streak.

2022

In January 2022, we launched our very first event: EntrepreNOW. It was held online — not out of choice, but necessity, as the world was still finding its footing in the shadow of COVID-19. The goal was simple but powerful: to bring real entrepreneurs into conversation with students and begin building a culture of innovation at UTSC. Through thoughtful outreach and intentional marketing, over 30 students showed up. It wasn’t a stadium crowd — but it was enough. Enough to prove that there was a hunger for this kind of space. Enough to remind us that big movements often start quietly. EntrepreNOW wasn’t just our first event — it was the moment we knew EA had a purpose.

Shortly after the event Zaaraaa Sura (one of the initial students that responded) requested a meeting. She was someone who had quietly been pouring herself into the club behind the scenes. She had helped organize the event — not just efficiently, but with a level of care, structure, and passion I hadn’t seen before. She didn’t just want to be involved — she wanted to build. That day, she shared her vision for EA with me, and it mirrored my own in ways that felt almost uncanny. She wasn’t just excited — she was all in.

In that moment, I knew: this was someone I wanted beside me for the long haul. Boldly she asked to take on a bigger role as Co-Founder, and without hesitation, I said yes. Looking back, it remains the best decision I ever made for EA. She helped shape the soul of this organization, and her dedication helped carry it further than I ever could have alone.

November 2022 was a turning point. EA hosted its first-ever flagship event — Shark Tank — and we did it big. In collaboration with SICIEEL (formerly The HUB) and the Scarborough Campus Student Union (SCSU), we launched one of the most ambitious, high-stakes pitch competitions UTSC had seen since the pandemic. With over $1,500 in cash prizes on the line, we drew more than 20 teams and packed the room with spectators. The energy was electric. The ambition was real. And for the first time, it felt like entrepreneurship was taking center stage on campus.

This wasn’t just another event. Shark Tank was a platform. A proving ground. It gave students the space to pitch bold ideas and get real recognition — no fluff, no filters. It was the launchpad for Aliya A. who created Meds For Less, the now-successful student-led startup that took home first place and went on to lead culture-shifting campaigns like “Bidets at UTSC” and “Rate My Courses.”

Shark Tank laid the foundation for future collaborations, bold concepts, and expanded programming at EA. More than anything, it proved something we always believed deep down: entrepreneurship is alive at UTSC — and it's just getting started.

2023

March 2023. The stakes were high. EA was gearing up for its second flagship event — Start-Up Summit — and this one had a very specific goal: to break into the Management student market. We wanted to offer more than just inspiration; we wanted tangible value — co-op placements, summer internships, real hiring opportunities. But unlike Shark Tank, this time we were on our own. No co-hosts. No institutional crutches. Just us.

I knew the perfect moment to host it: the last week of March — that rare window between midterms and finals when students could finally breathe. But of course, every other club had the same idea. Suddenly, this wasn’t a passion project. It was a chess match — tight timelines, limited space, and a mountain of logistics. There would be no last-minute miracles this time. If this was going to happen, it had to be cold, calculated execution.

So, I got to work.

I had my eyes set on the IC Atrium — the heart of campus — but requesting it with less than a month’s notice was bold, borderline unrealistic. Still, I reached out to every contact I had, knocked on every door I could. And somehow, through sheer persistence, we got the green light. That was our first miracle.

But the real work had just begun. We didn’t just need entrepreneurs — we needed entrepreneurs who were hiring. We needed sponsors, vendors, and a promotional campaign that could slice through the noise of end-of-semester burnout. Every day felt like a sprint against the clock. But then came the momentum. One by one, things started falling into place:

• We secured six startup founders who were actively hiring.
• A sponsor stepped up with $1,000 in funding.
• Our promo campaign launched, and signups started rolling in.

Still, nothing was guaranteed. We knew the brutal truth of event planning: none of it matters if no one shows up. But when the day came, they did. Of the 50+ who signed up, over 35 students showed up — and for a career-focused event, that turnout was gold.

Start-Up Summit wasn’t just our second flagship. It was a turning point. It proved that entrepreneurship isn't just about ideas and passion — it’s about strategy, execution, and resilience. It showed us that EA could not only stand toe-to-toe with UTSC’s most established organizations, but we could also lead. We were no longer just building a club. We were building an organization.

June 2023 marked a pivotal turning point for EA. While the club was active and functioning, behind the scenes we were facing growing pains — disorganization, internal confusion, and high staff turnover. We had momentum, but not the structure to sustain it. That’s when Zaaraaa Sura and I made a critical decision: if EA was going to thrive long-term, we needed to stop operating on instinct and start building with intention.

Together, we laid the foundation for a new era of EA. We drafted our first official Constitution — a living document that not only clarified the responsibilities of each executive and department, but also formalized access to internal systems, accounts, and sensitive information. For the first time, EA had a central source of truth — a backbone to support its future.

We didn’t stop there. We reimagined the club from the ground up. We streamlined our structure by removing redundant departments, merging others, and — thanks to Zaaraa’s foresight — introduced entirely new ones. That’s when the Research & Development (R&D) Department was born. Expertly led by Alina Khan , R&D became one of the most transformative additions to the club, conducting internal research, spearheading strategic initiatives, and fueling EA’s continued growth in ways we never could have imagined.

By the end of that summer, we had rebuilt the Entrepreneurship Association into a leaner, smarter, and more dynamic organization — one designed not just to survive, but to scale. It was a reinvention — and one of the most defining chapters in EA’s journey.

Around this time, EA was also facing financial strain. While landing a sponsorship from Blazesoft was a major win, it wasn’t enough to sustain us long-term. After much deliberation and a difficult, honest conversation, we made a strategic decision — to join the Management Umbrella under the leadership of MESA.

At first, I was hesitant. The extensive rules, stipulations, and oversight felt restrictive — especially for a club built on independence and innovation. But in practice, the two-club policy gave us just enough flexibility to operate with autonomy while still benefiting from institutional support. The funding we received under MESA’s umbrella was enough to keep us afloat — a much-needed boost while we searched for more reliable and sustainable income sources.

It wasn’t ideal, but it was necessary. And in hindsight, it was one of the smarter decisions we made during that chapter of EA’s growth.

In October 2023, we entered new territory with our first major collaboration between student clubs — partnering with Web3 UofT and AMCSS to launch The Da Vinci Competition. This event was rooted in the world of emerging tech — from crypto and NFTs to app development and blockchain-based solutions. It was ambitious, futuristic, and unlike anything EA had done before.

Up until this point, we had either operated independently or collaborated with campus departments, so working directly with other student-led organizations was a new and, at times, challenging experience. The dynamics were different. The planning process more layered. But our EA Operations team rose to the occasion, managing the bulk of the coordination while I stepped into a more supervisory role.

What made The Da Vinci Competition stand out was its immersive use of Web3 technology — participants even signed into the event using NFTs. With over 25 participants and incredible engagement throughout, the event was a resounding success. More importantly, it laid the groundwork for future student club collaborations, proving that when bold ideas meet collective effort, the results can be groundbreaking.

January 2024. I had just landed a role at CIBC as a Procurement Associate — a dream opportunity that I had worked relentlessly for. I was thrilled. Energized. Ready to step into a new world. But what I didn’t anticipate was how deeply that shift would ripple through EA.

I thought we were ready. We had systems, processes, a Constitution — everything that was supposed to make the club self-sustaining. But systems mean nothing without people to run them. And the truth was, a lot of the club’s inner workings still lived in my head — access to files, key contacts, operating knowledge. I had unknowingly become the bottleneck.

As my availability declined, so did EA’s momentum. The club stalled. Progress slowed. Our most anticipated project — our newly rebranded flagship event, Innovator’s Den — was hit the hardest. We postponed it once. Then again. The vision was still there, but the engine wasn’t moving.

It was frustrating. Disheartening. And yet, within that pause, something powerful happened. We stopped scrambling and started planning. Really planning. We leaned into the silence, the space, and began rebuilding — not just logistics, but clarity, intent, purpose.

And then, when the time was right — when the plans were sharpened, the team aligned, and the vision fully realized — we moved.

And everything changed.

September 2024 to April 2025 — I call this the Golden Era of EA. This was the culmination of everything we had built, learned, and overcome since day one. Every setback, every pivot, every hard-won lesson led to this moment. Our sole focus was clear: to execute the most impactful, high-quality events possible — and we did just that.

This era wasn’t just about events. It was about excellence. Precision. Perfection. Every detail was intentional. Every move felt like the fulfillment of a vision years in the making. What we created during this time was more than a club experience — it was a masterpiece. The Entrepreneurship Association had not only found its rhythm — it had found its purpose.

We started with Founder’s Circle — a monthly initiative launched by Adam Badar ,our VP of Business Development — that was created to bring together like-minded individuals for meaningful conversations, networking, and shared entrepreneurial insight. The goal was simple: to build a consistent space where student entrepreneurs could connect, grow, and be inspired by one another.

We kicked off the very first Founder’s Circle in September, featuring none other than Bill McConkey. Despite an unexpected fire alarm that delayed the event by 30 minutes, the turnout was still impressive. The room filled with curiosity, energy, and ambition — proof that when the right people gather with purpose, nothing can stop the momentum. Using the momentum, we started planning and executing our long-awaited event.

Innovator’s Den.

It was supposed to happen in January. But life — as it often does — had other plans. Delays. Complications. Disruptions. We pushed the event to October, unsure of what the future held. But looking back now, the delay was divine. Because in October 2024, the long-awaited Sam Ibrahim Building had just opened its doors to students.

Originally, the event wasn’t even supposed to happen there. We didn’t have a room. We didn’t have permission. What we had was something far more dangerous: ambition. And once an entrepreneur, always an entrepreneur.

Out of what can only be described as blind confidence and bold audacity, we sent a message directly to Sam Ibrahim himself — a long shot. We asked if he would be interested in sponsoring and judging our event. We expected silence. Maybe a polite no.

Instead, he said yes.

But there was a catch — a challenge that turned into our mission: “I’ll support you,” he said, “but only if you host the event in my building.”

No templates. No playbook. No roadmap. Just one clear instruction — make it happen.

Those three words would come to define everything that followed.

We got to work. Hard work. Relentless, uncompromising, against-the-odds work. But we hit walls quickly. The classrooms were under the Registrar’s jurisdiction. The building wasn’t officially open for events that semester. We were told "no" — more than once. But Sam’s name held weight. So we pushed. We emailed. We advocated. We leveraged every ounce of political capital his support gave us.

And against all odds — we won.

The room was ours.

But we weren’t done. If we were going to make history, we were going to do it right. Our Business Development team raised over $7,000 in sponsorships, with a significant contribution from the Arrow Group of Companies. We spared no detail. Gourmet catering. A photobooth. Personalized name cards. Mics, signage, decor — everything was elevated. Every touchpoint was intentional. It wasn’t just an event — it was a statement.

And on that day, we made history. EA became the first organization to host an event in the Sam Ibrahim Building. The first to host Sam Ibrahim himself. And the first to do both — at the same time.

We didn’t just plan an event. We built a legacy. We followed Sam’s words — and we made it happen.

What followed was a streak of back-to-back success. EA officially launched its Monthly Memo series — a consistent and curated update that ran from September to April, missing only February throughout its entire run. It became a trusted voice for our community, keeping students informed, inspired, and engaged.

But our biggest growth wasn’t just in operations — it was in values.

After receiving rightful criticism for the lack of female representation in our past events, we knew we had to do more than just listen — we had to act. That’s when we partnered with WIBA to launch WomEntrepreneur, a powerful, women-only event that spotlighted trailblazing female entrepreneurs who had broken barriers in the startup world. The event didn’t just inspire — it rewired the way we thought about representation.

From that moment forward, we implemented a new policy: at least 50% of every panel must feature women, with intentional inclusion of Women of Colour. It wasn’t just about optics. It was about ownership — about shaping a culture of empowerment, visibility, and equity within our own walls.

Not long after, we continued our collaborative momentum with Eclipse — a joint event with MIBA, MSC, and MTC. Eclipse had faced a rocky past, but this time was different. Under the leadership of Sharon Tai and Tejasvin Tanwar , everything changed. Their strategic vision, resilience, and calm-under-pressure leadership made it not only easy to collaborate, but rewarding. Eclipse became a model of how cross-club partnerships should be run — and it delivered an ROI that exceeded every expectation.

The level of sponsorship secured, the precision in logistics, and the professionalism across the board — it was nothing short of a masterclass in leadership, execution, and the power of shared vision.

2025

Y Combinator Creator Circle — an event that felt like a dream not long ago — became a reality thanks to the vision and leadership of EA’s current Co-Presidents, Alina Khan and Arani (A-ran-e) Yogeeswaran . Their bold idea? Bring the spirit of Y Combinator — the world’s most prestigious startup accelerator — to UTSC. And through meticulous planning, relentless outreach, and unwavering commitment, that’s exactly what they did.

Together, they secured not one, but three Y Combinator-backed startups to speak directly to students who aspired to follow in their footsteps. The event was hosted in the Sam Ibrahim Centre for Inclusive Excellence in Entrepreneurship, Innovation & Leadership (SICIEEIL) innovation hub — a space that couldn’t have been more fitting for the occasion. Even a snowstorm couldn’t stop the momentum. Over 30 students braved the weather to attend, a powerful testament to the event’s pull and purpose.

With generous sponsorship from the UTSC Library and WYSA, the Creator Circle proved something deeply personal to me: that EA was no longer reliant on my leadership — and that’s exactly how it should be. Watching Alina and Arani take on a challenge of this scale and deliver it with such poise and excellence marked a defining shift.

This wasn’t just an event. It was a signal — a clear, undeniable sign that EA had grown into a self-sustaining force, led by a new generation ready to carry the torch, and take it even further than we ever imagined.

Start-Up Summit: Second Edition.

My final event. The closing chapter in a story that changed my life.

After years of hosting polished, high-stakes events filled with strategy, sponsorships, and tight timelines, I wanted this one to feel different — not just in format, but in spirit. I didn’t want to end with something formal or corporate. I wanted to end with something human. Something warm.

So I booked out 1265 Bistro — a cozy restaurant with a stage, perfect for the kind of ambiance I envisioned. I brought in a live jazz band, not for spectacle, but for soul — soft melodies playing as students networked, laughed, and quietly secured their future internships over dinner and conversation.

Of course, we stayed true to our roots. The startups we invited were all actively hiring — because purpose and professionalism were never optional. But for the first time, I didn’t just organize an event. I painted a picture. I executed a vision — my vision — one that was bold, elegant, and alive with meaning.

And it was beautiful.

That night proved something to me: that EA had reached a level where dreams didn’t just stay on whiteboards or in late-night group chats. They happened. If I could imagine it, EA could make it real.

As the lights dimmed, the music faded, and the final guests trickled out, I felt something deeper than pride. I felt peace.

Because this wasn’t just the end of an event. It was the end of my journey as Co-Founder.

And what a journey it has been.

I would like to thank my 2024-2025 Executive team for an amazing performance this year. Adam Badar Sydontae Mazni Arani (A-ran-e) Yogeeswaran Alina Khan Hailey Vu Yash Bhatia . It goes without saying that the Success of EA this year would not have been possible without all of you. I would especially like to thank the original founders of EA. Sude (Sue-day) Bakal Nathaniel Givant Aarav Nichani Aniket Duggal Nabaa Naji Shaan Bhojwani . Without you all, there would be no EA, and that matters a lot. Last but not least, my Co-founder, Zaaraaa Sura. She was, without question, the heartbeat of the Entrepreneurship Association — a force of nature whose impact shaped the very DNA of EA from its inception to its golden era. Her fingerprints are etched into every milestone, every structure, and every success we’ve ever had. Her management was not just effective — it was surgical. Her organizational mind, unmatched. Her leadership, blindingly brilliant — the kind that didn’t demand attention but effortlessly commanded it.

She was the architect behind some of EA’s most iconic legacies. Shark Tank? Her vision. Monthly Memos? Her brainchild. She led the centralization of EA’s internal operations and built the infrastructure that allowed EA to move from chaos to cohesion. The very systems that keep us afloat today — the calendars, the files, the clarity — all of it began with her.

When Innovator’s Den faced hurdle after hurdle, she was the one quietly orchestrating solutions behind the scenes — not for the glory, but for the mission. And all of this? She accomplished while simultaneously serving as Co-President of the Investment Society, leading yet another powerhouse organization with the same excellence and grace.

She never sought the spotlight. But make no mistake — without her, there would be no stage to stand on.

And beyond her, there are countless others. The team. The collaborators. The leaders. The students who showed up with nothing but an idea and left with purpose. They are the soul of EA. They are the dreamers, the builders, the doers. Entrepreneurs, every single one of them.

And without them — there would be no Entrepreneurship Association.

So, what is an entrepreneur?

An entrepreneur is someone who holds a dream so tightly it begins to pulse through their veins — a vision not yet seen by the world, but vividly alive in their mind. An entrepreneur is someone who sees a problem, dares to step closer, and chooses to build a solution when others look away.

An entrepreneur is someone who doesn’t wait for permission — who spots the flicker of opportunity and reaches for it with both hands, heart pounding, hands shaking, soul ready. They fail — not once, but over and over. And still, they rise. Every. Single. Time.

An entrepreneur is someone who stares down the impossible and grins. Someone who sees victory long before the battle lines are drawn. Someone who maps a plan, sets it in motion, and never lets the dust of doubt settle on their ambition.

An entrepreneur is someone who has the courage to ask for help — not out of weakness, but out of wisdom. Someone who doesn’t just chase ideas but brings them to life with fire, focus, and faith.

An entrepreneur is not just a title. It’s a way of seeing. A way of living. A relentless belief that if it doesn't exist yet, it can. And if no one else will do it, they will.

An entrepreneur is someone who makes things happen — no matter what.

What are you willing to do to bring your vision to life ?

Me ? - anything