Meet the 9 UBC students joining entrepreneurship@UBC as Interns and Work Learns this Summer
The University of British Columbia is ripe with bright thinkers looking to change the world. Each summer season, entrepreneurship@UBC welcomes new cohorts of students to work with our team and venture community on a range of critical projects helping us to move the needle and further the journeys of UBC entrepreneurs. Students gain hands on experience, building capacity for venture teams in our community.
This year, we are lucky enough to have two cohorts of students joining us through our Venture Development Specialist Internship program, for UBC Sauder students looking to sharpen their business skills working with the venture portfolio, and UBC’s Work Learn program, for UBC students across faculties aiming to broaden their skill sets, working in depth with our team to accelerate innovation across the ecosystem.
Meet the teams!
Venture Development Specialists
entrepreneurship@UBC's Venture Development Specialist Internship Program enables UBC Sauder students to broaden their experience in a thriving community of entrepreneurs and dive into BC’s tech and startup industry working with the next generation of innovators.
Sahil Jain
Role: Venture Development Specialist
UBC affiliation: MBA Class of 2023
Work history: I’m passionate about technology and software solutions. I pursued my undergraduate program in Information and Communication Technology. Before joining the MBA program, I worked as an Associate Director of Engineering at Sprinklr - an Enterprise Customer Experience Management company. I also had a short stint with Morgan Stanley as a Technology Analyst for their Wealth Management division. My technical background has enabled me to develop an analytical mindset. In team settings, I emphasize collaborative leadership and prioritize relationship building for effective work outcomes.
What he’s looking forward to: At entrepreneurship@ubc, I’m most excited about working through the different challenges that early-stage ventures face. In parallel, I also hope to kickstart my own entrepreneurial journey by observing the startup ecosystem and gaining valuable insights about venture growth from Entrepreneurs in Residence.
William Kinash
Role: Venture Development Specialist
UBC affiliation: MBA Class of 2023
Work history: I am a graduate student with 7+ years of financial services and sales leadership experience in the banking sector. Professional focal points include financial services, account management, team leadership, client relationship management, business development, sales growth, technology solutions, marketing, and client acquisition. I hold a Bachelor of Business Administration from the British Columbia Institute of Technology and a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Victoria.
What he’s looking forward to: The position of Venture Development Specialist excites me because it incorporates my professional and personal interests and allows me to exercise a range of my skills. I look forward to providing value, but at the same time having fun and forming lots of new relationships at entrepreneurship@UBC.
Smruti Savkur
Role: Venture Development Specialist
UBC affiliation: MBA Class of 2023
Work history: I am an International Relations and Modern History graduate from the University of St Andrews, UK with six years of experience in the education sector in India. After working in several non-profit organizations and ed-tech companies, I was a social entrepreneur.
What she’s looking forward to: I am looking forward to a summer of accelerated learning; researching new and varied industries to provide value to founders and building a passionate network of founders, mentors, and investors in the BC entrepreneurial ecosystem.
Madiha Thaver
Role: Venture Development Specialist
UBC affiliation: Marketing and Entrepreneurship 2023
Work history: I have experience working at multiple startups as well as founding a non-profit organization that aims to improve financial literacy in students. I have also had freelance experience in marketing strategy, branding and business consulting. Currently, I am a co-founder at Coolares, an AgTech company that uses AI to protect fruit crops against sun damage.
What she’s looking forward to: The best part about entrepreneurship@ubc is watching the work we do reflect on the progress of young ambitious startups as they overcome obstacles and find their way in the marketplace. I am really excited to see the difference between where these companies are right now and where they will be by the end of the summer!
Luiza Vargas
Role: Venture Development Specialist
UBC affiliation: MBA Class of 2023
Work history: Bachelors in Business Administration and Masters in Organizational Psychology. - Experience as an Entrepreneur in the retail and food industry.
What he’s looking forward to: I'm looking forward to working in the startup environment with amazing companies and hopefully adding as much value to them as they will give to me.
Work Learn Students
Under UBC’s Work Learn program, UBC students work as part of the entrepreneurship@UBC team on projects ranging from business and data analytics, digital marketing and working within our Venture Studios.
Kenny Go
Role: Business Analyst Work Learn
UBC affiliation: UBC’s Faculty of Land and Food Systems / Global Resource Systems (specializing in International Trade and Development) / 2022
What he’s looking forward to: I recognize the importance businesses have in driving positive, sustainable change in the community, and am excited to explore how entrepreneurs can do so in this role. With the circular economy gaining traction in Canada, I hope this experience allows me to contribute more to this discussion and help shape an economically, environmentally, and socially just future.
Diane Shen
Role: Human Health Venture Studio Work Learn
UBC affiliation: Bachelor of International Economics (BIE). Expected Graduation May 2023
What she’s looking forward to: I am super excited to meet the team and make meaningful connections during my summer at entrepreneurship@UBC. I am also looking forward to exploring and helping ventures in the Digital Health space!
Simran Sethi
Role: Digital Marketing Work Learn
UBC affiliation: Undergraduate majoring in English Language and Literature. Expected to graduate in 2023.
What she’s looking forward to: I'm looking forward to diving into the world of digital marketing and getting to know everyone on the team!
Ayesha Thatte
Role: Social Venture Studio Work Learn
UBC affiliation: BA Psychology and Economics, Faculty of Arts UBC, Year 4 (Graduating May 2022)
What she’s looking forward to: I am keenly looking forward to connecting with and learning about high-impact ventures and the various kinds of resources they require. I am also very excited to be working in a diverse team and expanding my skill-set by learning from mentors and teammates with expertise in different backgrounds.
Welcome to our new team members! We look forward to working with you all this summer.