СÓÅÊÓƵ

Time: 9-10 a.m. (Mountain).

Alberta's vibrant start-up scene is thriving across a wide range of sectors—from energy and tech to health and agriculture. These innovative companies are hungry for people with the skills, creativity, and advanced knowledge to help them grow. Highly educated professionals bring fresh perspectives, strategic thinking, and specialized expertise that can accelerate a company's development and strengthen the broader innovation community.

But building a start-up in Alberta isn't without its challenges. How do these companies navigate obstacles and find the talent they need? What makes a candidate with a graduate degree stand out? And how can graduate students connect their research and skills to the needs of industry?

If you're curious about Alberta's start-up ecosystem—especially if you don't come from a business background—this session is for you. Discover how to leverage your training, connect with emerging companies, and explore real opportunities to make an impact in Alberta's growing innovation economy.

Presenter: Debra Greig, MBA, Founder TransforMana

Debra Grieg began her professional career as a retail manager, a position that would not have spanned twenty years had it not brought her much joy and provided her with priceless business and management practices. In 2000, armed with the knowledge and confidence she had gained in this role, she launched her first technology company, ShirWin Knowledge & Learning Systems. There she fused educational methods with gaming technologies to create simulated learning environments for post-secondary students in a number of professional domains. It was important work to be sure, but it is with TransforMana where she was able to marry her managerial know-how with her passion for business—both of which have provided the basis for her companies and which fuel her evolving professional life.

Debra has a BSc in Computer Science and an MBA, both from the University of Alberta.

Time: 10:30-11:30 a.m. (Mountain).

Have a business idea you can’t stop thinking about, but aren’t sure what to do next? Join us for a candid panel discussion with innovations leaders and graduate student founders who will share what it’s really like to move from an initial idea to an early venture.

In the panel you will hear more about how to build confidence and skills, find the right people to work with, access resources and funding, and make decisions when the path isn’t obvious. Whether you’re just curious about entrepreneurship or already exploring a project, you’ll leave with practical insights, helpful signposts, and a clearer sense of next steps.

Presenters: Dr. Paula Berton, Zach Prusko, and Madeline Springle

Dr. Paula Berton, PhD

Dr. Paula Berton is Manager of Founders & Venture Initiatives at the University of Calgary’s Hunter Hub for Entrepreneurial Thinking, where she leads programs that help researchers and early-stage entrepreneurs turn innovative ideas into impactful ventures.

Her professional journey began in chemical research, where she earned a PhD in Chemistry and spent over a decade working on sustainable technologies, publishing extensively and contributing to multiple patents. She previously served as a Research Associate in Chemical and Petroleum Engineering and as Chief Scientific Officer at CalAgua Innovations Corp., leading efforts to commercialize university-developed technologies. Passionate about bridging academia and innovation, Paula co-founded the Academic Entrepreneurs in Residence program and has supported more than 35 startups in their path from discovery to market.

Zach Prusko, Master’s student, University of Alberta. Founder and CEO of HI Finance.

Zach started HI finance as a current master’s student with the mission of improving financial literacy. In the last two years, this organization has worked with over 1,000 students, earned them over $3,000,000 in grants, and grown to a full-time team of 8 people, made up of co-op students, master’s students, and recent grads from the University of Alberta. Zach is early in his innovation and entrepreneurship journey. Starting with a BCom degree from the University of Alberta, then a franchise owner of College Pro, followed by entering the banking world of RBC and Scotia Wealth Management, and later co-founding Graduate Planning.

Madeline Springle, PhD student, University of Calgary. Founder of Master Your Interview.

Madeline is a PhD Candidate in Industrial/ Organizational Psychology at the University of Calgary and a Certified Human Resources Professional (CHRP). Alongside her academic research on effective interviewing, she is the founder of Master Your Interview, a coaching business helping job candidates overcome interview anxiety so they can show up clearly and confidently under pressure. Her business sits at the intersection of research and practice, drawing on her background in I/O psychology to address the emotional and psychological burden of interviewing. She is also a sessional instructor at UCalgary and just taught the Intro to I/O undergraduate course.

Time: 12-1 p.m. (Mountain).

If your life had a dashboard—like a car, a research instrument, or a project management tool—what would it be telling you right now?

This interactive session invites graduate students and postdoctoral scholars in Alberta to step out of “busy mode” and get curious about how their time, energy, and attention are distributed. Grounded in the Design Your Life framework, this session is less about fixing problems and more about noticing patterns, asking better questions, and generating ideas for what might come next.

Career teams from the University of Calgary and the University of Lethbridge will introduce the Life Dashboard, a reflective tool that helps you map key areas of your life—research, career development, well being, relationships, and life beyond the university—and explore how each one is currently fueling (or draining) you. Through guided activities and conversation, you’ll examine energy highs and lows, surface tensions, and reflect on how the realities of graduate and postdoctoral life in Alberta shape your choices and opportunities.

Rather than aiming for a polished five year plan, this session encourages thoughtful experimentation: small adjustments, low stakes trials, and design questions that open new possibilities. Expect space to think, sketch, reflect, and leave with fresh insights—and a few “What if I tried…?” ideas to carry forward.

Curious is enough. You don’t need all the answers, just a willingness to explore.

Presenters: Emily Brown, Liliana Gonzalez, and Victoria Wert

Emily Brown, BA, MC, CCC

With over a decade of experience at University of Lethbridge, Emily has had the opportunity to support students in a variety of roles since joining the institution in 2012. Her career at the university has included positions as a Recruitment Officer, Career Coach, and now as a Certified Canadian Counsellor, where she helps students navigate personal, academic, and career challenges. Emily holds a Bachelor of Arts in Social Sciences and a Master’s degree in Counselling Psychology, which have provided the foundation for her passion for student development and mental health. Outside of her professional life, she enjoys working out, running outside, indulging in cookies, and watching murder mystery television shows.

Liliana Gonzalez, MC, BSc, HNCP, Career Development Specialist, Centre for Career and Personal Development

Liliana Gonzalez has over a decade of experience in Career Development and workplace culture. Liliana has worked with thousands of individuals to help them achieve career success and to build an understanding of how to create inclusive workplaces. She holds a Master of Counselling Psychology and a Bachelor of Science in Psychology from the University of Calgary. In addition, she has completed a Human Resource Management Certificate from the University of Calgary, a Career Educator Certificate Program through the Canadian Association of Career Educators and Employers, and Holistic Narrative Career Professional Training through OneLife Tools. Liliana is also a Registered Psychologist with the College of Alberta Psychologists.

Victoria Wert, MEd, BA, Life Design Specialist, Centre for Career and Personal Development

Victoria is the Life Design Specialist at the University of Calgary, where she focuses on life design on campus. She’s passionate about creating inclusive and impactful experiences for students and is passionate in helping students grow, explore career paths, and succeed in their professional journeys. By combining theory, evidence-informed practices, and strong interpersonal skills, she works with diverse teams to drive innovative programs that make a real impact. Victoria has a master’s in student development and services with experiences spanning residence life, co-operative education and careers.

Time: 1:30-2:30 p.m. (Mountain).

Knowledge mobilization plays a critical role in ensuring that research extends beyond academic settings to inform practice, policy, and ultimately, create meaningful evidence-informed change in the world.

As the way that information spreads changes, and the need for evidence-informed decisions grows, knowledge mobilization has become an essential skill set across disciplines. This session will provide an overview of the core principles of knowledge mobilization and highlight its increasing importance across sectors, illustrating how and why researchers can collaborate with communities and translate their work for diverse audiences and contexts.

Emphasis will be placed on developing intentional, audience-centered approaches to sharing knowledge, including selecting appropriate strategies, channels, and messaging to enhance relevance, uptake, and real-world impact for a better future.

Presenter: Dr. Leah Brainin

Dr. Leah Brainin is the Knowledge Mobilization Specialist at the Research Office with СÓÅÊÓƵ.

Leah works closely with researchers to develop effective knowledge mobilization plans, provide impact-focused support for funding applications, plan events and initiatives, and support the development of strategies that increase the reach of СÓÅÊÓƵ’s research. Leah completed her PhD in Cognitive Psychology in 2023 at the University of Western Ontario where she first gained interest and expertise in translating complex research into digestible information to produce evidence-informed change.