“If I could leave you guys with any parting words, it would be to feel inspired by what you see happening; see if there is something that you’d like to do and then implement it.”
Shugufa Kaker
In different aspects of life, we always remember the people who shape us in meaningful ways. Maybe it’s that friend who’s been by your side since elementary school or that colleague who made you feel welcome on your first day at work.
No matter where we come from or what path we take, there are always people who leave a mark on our journey.
Over the past 25 years, IGNITE’s had students, staff and alumni who have helped shape the organization into what it is today. From its early days as the Humber Students’ Federation (HSF) to the independent, student-led non-profit it has become, IGNITE is made of countless stories of growth, community and leadership.
And Shugufa Kaker is one of the people who helped build that legacy.
From assisting with on-campus events to representing over 20,000 full-time students to local and provincial governments, Shugufa shaped the future of IGNITE — and her own.
Finding her place at HSF
Today, Shugufa is the Director of Sales and Marketing at her own company, Merali Marketing. They sell business-to-business and work with major North American retailers like Costco, Toys R Us and others. Her focus is on building relationships and selling products.
“I basically feel like Santa Claus at the end of the year, and I feel like I’m putting smiles on people’s faces,” Kaker said.
But when she first walked through Humber Polytechnic’s doors in 2007, she thought she knew exactly where her future was headed — and it had nothing to do with what she does today.
After getting her real estate licence in high school, Shugufa went to Humber for business administration. She had one clear plan in mind: gain a solid business background and become a real estate mogul.
Which didn’t quite happen.
While taking summer courses to fast-track her diploma, Shugufa noticed a job posting for an events assistant position with HSF and decided to apply. She showed up an hour early for the interview by mistake, but it turned out to be the best thing that could have happened.
Shugufa saw people walking in and out, heard their conversations and thought it all seemed so fun and exciting. She realized she wanted to be part of it.
She got the job and spent a year helping plan and set up campus events. This was just the first step in what would become a life-changing journey.
Transitioning to bigger roles
The following year, Shugufa ran for vice president of campus life and won. With the guidance of her mentor, Aaron Miller, she found that the transition to a bigger leadership role came naturally.
Then, in her final year, she ran for president and won again — by a landslide.
Shugufa explained that her campaign strategy was all about visibility and connection. She wanted to be everywhere on campus, put up as many posters as possible and make sure she was in front of students at all times.
“I didn’t have a whole lot of different pictures. I basically used the same picture over and over again so that everyone was like, ‘Oh yeah, that girl,’” Kaker said with a laugh.
And who doesn’t love cupcakes? A cupcake lover herself, she also handed them out during her campaign.
As president, Shugufa represented more than 20,000 full-time students and managed a large operating budget. It was a huge responsibility, but it felt natural to her. As the oldest of five siblings, leadership was something she had practiced her whole life.
She said the older child mentality stays with her to this day. It also helped in her roles as VP of student life and president.
Shugufa believes that gradual progression through roles at HSF was crucial to her growth.
“HSF is amazing because it gives you a structure; HSF makes it easy for you,” Kaker said. “They provide you a way to be guided, and I felt like I took the proper steps in getting there.”
Impact from HSF
Those experiences shaped her long after graduation. Shugufa worked in real estate, the restaurant industry and banking before founding her own company. She credits HSF for giving her the skills to succeed.
Shugufa said that her leadership experience at HSF, which included speaking to higher-ups within the organization and Humber, as well as to thousands of students, was the number one lesson she carried into her career.
“I would say probably any student in my position should make it their goal to learn that. In my life, that has helped me in everything moving forward,” Kaker said.
If Shugufa had to describe HSF in one word, it would be support. Whether students needed help with insurance, extra funding for a club or just someone to listen, they came to the HSF team.
During her time with the organization, Shugufa became very close with the current manager of Leadership & Advocacy, Kristine Galvan, who remembers hers as “the life of the party.”
With a smile on her face, Shugufa said Kristine was always there for her.
“All these people, they helped me grow as a person. That’s not something you forget as time goes on,” Kaker said.
Looking back, she hopes today’s students feel the same inspiration from the executive team that first motivated her.
“I hope they [students] all feel inspired by what they see, are able to set goals and go through the process,” Kaker said. “If I could leave you guys with any parting words, it would be to feel inspired by what you see happening; see if there is something that you’d like to do, and then implement it.”
As IGNITE celebrates 25 years of empowering students, stories like Shugufa’s remind us that the people we meet along the way can have a lasting impact on our future.
They also show that leadership starts with showing up, getting involved and believing you can make a difference.
So, what motivates you every day? Who are the people that inspire you? Let us know in our socials @shareignite!
Feature image courtesy of Shugufa Kaker.
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