The Globe and Mail quotes UW alumna and former Feds VP Ed Veronica reporting on a study that says TO lacks certain qualities to support some careers: “Toronto’s networking opportunities, its research resources, its infrastructure all fall short.”

Veronica Chau could be a poster child for expat innovators who can’t get their professional fix in their hometown.

When the Toronto native and Waterloo University graduate finished her public policy degree at Harvard University, she had a choice: Go home to Toronto, which was nice but lacked a certain international oomph. Or not.

“It was certainly something I considered, but the opportunity to pursue my passion for international development and public policy brought me to D.C. and, ultimately, has been the reason why I’ve stayed here.”

Ms. Chau and her Canadian husband, who graduated with an MBA from MIT’s Sloan School of Management, have been living in Washington for five years. Being there has allowed her to do things she’d never accomplish in Toronto.

“Toronto is a very multicultural city, it’s a very international city. I wouldn’t call it a global city, though,” she said. “I need to be at the centre, at the crossroads of thinkers, influencers, decision makers. And, quite frankly, they’re here in D.C. and they’re not yet in Toronto.”
— Toronto the good - but not good enough TGAM 15 Dec 2009

Unfortunately the writer makes a mistake referring to the unversity as “Waterloo University.” But I have heard people often call University of Oxford “Oxford University” too.

We finally got our first win in indoor soccer last Thursday. It was our fifth outing with more than half our roster being new players. We are finally coalescing as a team.

We led the match from the first score to full time, winning 6-3 over the only team in the six-team division we hadn’t yet faced.

We had opened the season with a huge loss 8-2, playing without our regular goalkeeper and a man short. Missing subs and key positions had their toll, but we still had to get comfortable as a team.

We followed up with a loss where we had one or a couple subs.

In the third game we were tied until the last few minutes but then lost it.

For the fourth game we were leading, but gave up a goal after a free kick with only seconds left. That did, however, give us our first point.

Then this game gave us a win.

We still have much work, but we will just face the same teams again and we have shown we can do it.

• Soccer win keeps us in premier league 12 Aug 2009

The blog at VeloCity, the entrepreneurship, living-learning residence at Waterloo, had a post about a possible centre for student innovation last week.

But imagine the possibilities if we were able to give the entire student community the support and guidance needed to make their ideas a reality. That’s why we want to establish the Centre for Student Innovation (CSI) – a place dedicated exclusively to student innovators and entrepreneurs to work and interact with each other and with professional mentors, advisors and entrepreneurs.
— Help us establish the “Centre for Student Innovation” at UW VeloCity Blog 2 Dec 2009

The initials are unfortunately like a television program, but it could otherwise be a good idea. A lot depends on what they envision. Often university programs can have a worthwhile intent but poor implementation.

They asked for e-mails of support. I sent this in:

E-mail of support for Centre for Student Innovation
I think it is vital for Waterloo to support student enterprise and innovation. There is great potential in the student body for initiatives that create incredible value for the university through educational experiences, entrepreneurial reputation, and student efficacy. Students need support and resources to implement and realize their good ideas. The University of Waterloo would benefit from offering that support.

It is also good that the focus will be focused more broadly than just profit-making ventures like UW Innovate Inc. was.

UW Innovate Inc., described as “a novel approach to business pre-incubation within a university setting,” seeks to encourage and nurture the entrepreneurial activities within the UW community.
— Innovate Inc. has official opening UW News 2 Apr 2002

Two weeks ago I got an call from Ann Marie in development and alumni affairs at Waterloo. She asked if I would be willing to speak to students at the faculty of science awards reception on Tuesday 1 December.

One of the reasons she thought I would be good was because of my “unique post-uni experience,” heh.

I told her I was interested. I booked the evening off work and my mind started jumping around about what I would say.

I got some “compulsories” to include, things like: the importance of studying science; emphasizing a connection with the university; and imparting the idea of exploring careers beyond science but while not neglecting those who would focus on a career in science.

Public speaking is a common stress for people and though I like the idea of it, communicating and performing, I am no different. It makes me nervous. On top of that, over the week I had to prepare my speech, I was going through a stressful move, unsure whether I could get my boxes into storage or my furniture into my new apartment.

With help from Magda, Ooms, Mos, and Mateusz, I prepared some remarks that mostly fit the request. When I was done I remembered that the alumni staff had also asked that I speak along the theme: “Follow your Dreams.” It kind of fits, I thought.

Mateusz gave e-mailed me a good statement about these kinds of speeches: “In general, events like this always pose the problem for the speaker of trying to say something that does sounds trite. Obviously, motivational speeches will always be heavy on often-repeated concepts. You should focus on personal stories or examples because they cut up the didactic nature of such a speech and allow you to connect with the audience [. . .]”

I had hoped to deliver it without notes, but I made some late edits that I didn’t think I could keep straight and I spoke using the notes but not verbatim. I kept eye-contact well.

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