After reviews of 630 applications, two SFU students have been chosen as part of the 2015 cohort of The Next 36 initiative, a national entrepreneurial leadership program.

Gursher Sidhu and Lauren Watkins are two of the 38 students who were chosen for The Next 36 program at the National Selection Weekend held in Toronto in early January. Over the next six months, they will be mentored by some of Canada’s top business leaders to expand their own entrepreneurial endeavors.

The Next 36 program is the leading undergraduate entrepreneurship development program in Canada. It provides not only mentorship for participants from notable business leaders and entrepreneurs, but also the chance to access funding from venture capitalists.

Through a series of venture-building workshops, hands-on classes, investment and networking events, the program is designed to support these participants in their entrepreneurial efforts. Both Sidhu and Watkins aim to develop successful business start-ups upon their completion of the program.

Sidhu is a fourth year Mechatronic Engineering major who initially became interested in pursuing entrepreneurship through his work with the Tech Entrepreneurship@SFU program, in which business and engineering students collaborate to create innovative technological products. Sidhu gained an entrepreneurial mindset through participating in workshops, panel discussions, and networking events.

Sidhu said of his experiences, “I have learned that leadership starts with self-awareness. A successful leader is an individual that communicates effectively, believes in realist optimism, respects diversity, and is a ‘doer rather than delegator.’”

Watkins was the project manager of an initiative called Banner Bags, a sustainable program that took banners from companies that were no longer using them to high school sewing classes where they would be made into reusable bags.

During her time as project manager, she launched the first Beyond the Bag showcase at SFU, where high school students showcased their clothing and accessories that they had created.  Winners of the design contest won scholarship money for the post-secondary institution of their choice.

“I [don’t want to do] the same thing every day,” said Watkins. “I want to solve real problems and make a difference in people’s lives. The thought of creating a sustainable business makes me excited to wake up and work every day to make it happen.”

When asked what advice they had for aspiring entrepreneurs, Sidhu replied, “I believe that in order to create your own luck and be a successful leader and entrepreneur, you have to be curious about the opportunities available, show persistence on your journey, and take calculated risks to reach your goals successfully. [Making] the most out of low-resource situations should drive you as an entrepreneur.” 

Watkins also offered some wisdom:  “My advice would be to [not] get discouraged by failure. Learn quickly from your mistakes and be prepared to pivot until you get it right. Take risks, work hard, and enjoy it.”