Educate yourself before the election.
IGNITE elections are right around the corner, which means it’s time to meet your candidates. Over the past month, Humber College and the University of Guelph-Humber student candidates have prepared some introductions to help you learn more about them.
So, what are they running for?
Each candidate is running for a spot to be a part of IGNITE’s Board of Directors, a team dedicated to communicating the needs of the student body and representing students across each campus.
Last year, the Board of Directors worked on many initiatives from adding new bursaries, to building a more representative team. But now, it’s time for their term to close and to announce the IGNITE Election candidates for the 2023-2024 term.
So, let’s learn more about this year’s candidates!
University of Guelph-Humber candidates
Jasmine Bates
Program: Media and Communication studies
What one qualification do you think will make you successful in the role? Why?
“One qualification that will make me successful in the role is my interpersonal skills. Strong interpersonal skills are vital for fostering an inclusive and productive school environment. In various professional and school settings, my interpersonal skills have aided me in effectively leading others, building strong collaborative relationships with colleagues, and understanding and meeting the needs of those around me. Within this qualification, I highly value cultivating emotional intelligence to be a valuable leader.
Strengthening my emotional intelligence has allowed me to relate to others and adapt to changing social dynamics in a manner that prioritizes making those around me feel seen and understood. Overall, interpersonal skills are essential for excelling in leadership roles, and it is a quality that would make me highly suited for a Board of Directors position.”
How have you developed and strengthened your leadership skills?
“I have developed my leadership skills by being an active member of the school community through working on campus! Working as a Student Transition and Resource Team (START) leader and a First-Year Experience (FYE) leader at Guelph-Humber has been vital in strengthening my leadership skills. Working as a START leader has allowed me to be an ambassador for prospective students. I represent my program and the general school community in the areas of campus life, tours and student resources. As an FYE leader, I provide guidance and support to first-year students as they transition into our post-secondary community. Both roles have come with individual tasks and challenges that have allowed me to use my leadership, initiative and collaboration skills effectively. Additionally, being a leader and mentor for students in this capacity has allowed me to become highly knowledgeable about the services and programs available to all students at the University of Guelph-Humber and Humber College.”
Why do you believe it’s important for students to get involved with their student union?
“It is important for students to get involved with their student union because it is an invaluable experience that will benefit them for the rest of their lives! Student unions allow individuals to represent the student body and advocate for programs and services that are important to us. It empowers individuals with bold ideas and the desire to be heard to be at the forefront of student representation. Additionally, students need to get involved because it ensures an adequate representation of all groups of people in critical decision-making processes that affect everyone at Humber and Guelph-Humber.”
Jenny Trang
Program: Justice studies
What one qualification do you think will make you successful in the role? Why?
“One qualification I have that I think will make me successful in the role as a Board of Director would be my two years of experience as a Moot Court Participant with the Guelph-Humber Pre-Law Society. In this position, I plan, prepare, and execute oral submissions to a panel of judges consisting of lawyers, law school students, and other legal professionals. I am required to answer questions effectively on the spot and speak confidently to defend my assigned position. In addition, I collaborate with my fellow team members to discuss the best way to approach any given scenario.
Similarly, as a member of the Board of Directors, one of my responsibilities would include reaching out to the student body and bringing forth any of their concerns to IGNITE. I believe that with my experience, I am able to effectively articulate the position of students at various board meetings and advocate on their behalf to ensure that any decisions made that affect the student body, are reflective of their best interests. Moreover, I would be able to successfully collaborate with other Board of Directors and stakeholders at IGNITE to develop plans and solutions that address the needs of students.”
How have you developed and strengthened your leadership skills?
“I have developed my leadership skills through my time as a Student Transition and Resource Team (START) Leader at the University of Guelph-Humber, by acting as a resource and ambassador to both prospective and first-year students at the University. I have done so by leading tours that foster a welcoming environment of both Humber and Guelph-Humber. Furthermore, I engage with large groups of guests to speak to my personal experience at the school, positively represent my academic program, and answer any questions or concerns students or their supporters may have.
During my time as the Vice-President of Moot Operations with the Guelph-Humber Pre-Law Society, I have strengthened my leadership skills by planning and executing events for students on campus alongside my fellow executives. In particular, we provide students with the resources and connections to be successful in their current studies and post-graduation. My role entails taking the lead on shortlisting and interviewing qualified candidates for positions on our moot court team as well as finalizing budgets for moot competitions that we attend and host. I have also developed my leadership skills by liaising with representatives from other schools to maintain strong industry relationships on behalf of the society.”
Why do you believe it’s important for students to get involved with their student union?
“I believe it is important for students to get involved with their student union because for many students, regardless of if they are attending Humber/Guelph-Humber for one year or four years, being a student makes up a large part of their everyday lives. Therefore, the role of a student union is to advocate on behalf of the students and provide them with a positive experience during their time at the school. I think that getting involved with a student union allows students to feel represented and have their voice heard, especially in an institution with such a large population.
Additionally, although educational institutions primarily serve as an academic space, they are also a space for students to build social connections with their peers, network with instructors and professionals, and gain resources. Which is why I think that students should get involved and take advantage of the events, resources, clubs, and societies that their student union has to offer. As these opportunities prioritize the well-being of students and set them up to be in the best position to have a valuable post-secondary experience.”
Kaitlynn McLeod
Program: Justice studies
What one qualification do you think will make you successful in the role? Why?
“I am confident that my work within the Guelph-Humber and Indigenous community validates my ability to succeed in this role. I have exhibited skills such as community engagement, problem-solving, and
ambition through my work to create new initiatives, better community zones, and higher participation. My ambition for change and leadership strengthens my confidence to not only fight for what students want and need but also allow me to amplify voices that may not be heard loud enough. I have great ideas backed by a powerful ambition to engage and change our student life for the better and hope that I will get a chance to show this.”
How have you developed and strengthened your leadership skills?
“Leadership is a strength of mine, and I would love the ability to use it to represent Guelph-Humber
students. I keep my leadership skills developed by staying active on campus and in class. One example of this is I am currently working in the Humber Indigenous Education and Engagement Department where I have been able to lead the Health and Wellness Challenge and connect with the community as well. It is projects such as these that I have been able to work on lately that have truly honed my skills. I find that acting in roles such as this help to define my skills by combining not only my leadership skills, but also my integrity, flexibility, and interpersonal skills. By actively participating in these communities I get the chance to interact and work alongside great teams who present me with leadership opportunities to learn and grow from. From these past experiences, I have learned powerful lessons including trusting in myself and having great self-confidence, which has developed me into a strong leader.”
Why do you believe it’s important for students to get involved with their student union?
“I believe it is important for students to get involved with their student union because these unions are an amazing way to represent and clearly conduct long-lasting change! When you become a member of a student union, you represent students like yourself. It is such a great leadership opportunity that allows you to act out the great ideas you have about improving your own student life. Whether a person has ideas about incorporating more plans highlighting diversity at our campus or maybe they want to incorporate more study-based initiatives, student unions are the way to create long-lasting change for all students, current and future. In final, as an indigenous woman, I am fighting to see more like myself in leadership positions in all locations around me, and I believe student unions are a great opportunity to be the representation that you want to see.”
Naisha Suthaharan
Program: Justice studies
What one qualification do you think will make you successful in the role? Why?
“One qualification I think will make me successful in the role is teamwork. There is so much to appreciate at the University of Guelph-Humber and Humber College, and I believe that through working together and being socially conscious and aware, we can create a lot. I am a student, and one with the community, and the truth is that without my campus, I would not be here right now. Without my friends, my peers, my colleagues, and my endorsements, I would not have come so far, and I believe it is important to go back to the roots and come together when we give back to the community.
As a leader, I think teamwork will make me successful not only because I will gain a lot of experience and knowledge while working with the community, but also because it will create connections that will better benefit the student body. Culture, wellness, and student success are my main values, and I want to bring that to light when creating future events in our atrium, such as cultural fashion shows and events around student well-being. Change and success to me isn’t an overnight movement; instead, it means a wave of people, a family, and a support system coming together and being a team to help build a better tomorrow. These are the reasons I believe teamwork is such a powerful quality and will make me successful in the role.”
How have you developed and strengthened your leadership skills?
“I have developed and strengthened my leadership skills by taking action both within my school and my community. I have been a team player on many athletic teams, such as my school’s soccer team and have participated heavily on a municipal track team outside of my school. In high school, I took on the roles of Chair and Founder of an Association called South Asian Student Association and took on the role of student body president. Additionally, I was also a Weston Community Ambassador for three years and an ACE in my community for four years. Concerning volunteering, I have volunteered with Westdale Blooms for the Rexdale and Weston areas and currently volunteer with the John Howard Society as a researcher for the Criminal Reform Movement. Additionally, at the University of Guelph-Humber, I am a part of many on-campus extracurriculars, such as Alpha Phi Sigma, as well as being a START and FYE Leader. These experiences have not only helped me strengthen my leadership skills but have also helped me develop more soft skills in public relations, public speaking, and self-awareness, as well as developing skills in teamwork and management, which I believe are essential skills for a leader.”
Why do you believe it’s important for students to get involved with their student union?
“I think it is vital for students to get involved with their student union and student life because I believe student voice and student action are the core foundation of an institution. I have been to schools with many clubs before, and I have also been to schools without much student life, and the biggest difference I see is that the more student engagement there is, the more possibilities and the more chances of creating student change, which further leads to personal and social student success. Student life, along with student action, I think is essential because, at the end of the day, it is up to us on how we want our post-secondary experiences to be, and by getting involved it is not only incredibly fun, but also allows for more connections, networking, and growth. Speaking from my personal experiences, I have been on START and FYE with the University of Guelph-Humber, and simply from that, I have learned so much from my friends in other programs. This has not only created a huge, strong bond, but has also created so much motivation, creativity, and eagerness to do more and contribute more to our school life.”
North Campus candidates
Angad Handa
Program: Business Management
What one qualification do you think will make you successful in the role? Why?
“One skill that I believe will make me successful in this role is a combination of effective communication and leadership skills. A director must be able to communicate with not only other board members but also be the voice of the educational institution i.e., Humber College. This further requires me to be able to listen to issues openly, analyze key information, and make decisions in the best interest of everyone affected by it. I genuinely believe I have these key traits leading to the success of my organization. If given an opportunity, I will be the face of our college and I will represent Humber with full accountability.”
How have you developed and strengthened your leadership skills?
“Developing and strengthening leadership skills requires dedication. Firstly, for me it very essential to have an unclouded vision as a leader. I have acknowledged my weaknesses and strengths and have worked in the area where I was lacking. It is important to understand the needs and perspectives of the team and to communicate effectively with them. I have learned to lead by example, exhibit integrity and be accountable for my actions. I try to maintain a growth mindset and continuously work on improving my leadership skills over time.”
Why do you believe it’s important for students to get involved with their student union?
“I believe that getting involved with your student union is a particularly important part of student life as it provides many opportunities and benefits. Student unions often offer a variety of programs, events, and resources that cater to students’ interests and needs. Getting involved with student unions helps students to create positive change on campus by advocating for students’ needs and interests. Unions help students to get through issues they face. Students can build connections and networks with other students and staff members. Students learn some valuable skills for any future career.”
Devang Parikh
Program: Information Technology Solutions
What one qualification do you think will make you successful in the role? Why?
“I believe to be successful in a role on the Board of Directors for IGNITE, I have a strong understanding of corporate governance, financial management, and strategic planning. These skills will allow me to effectively monitor IGNITE’s operations and make informed decisions that align with its long-term goals and objectives, while also ensuring compliance with legal and regulatory requirements. Additionally, I have strong leadership and interpersonal skills that will help me to effectively communicate and collaborate with other board members, management, and students through which I will be able to succeed in this role.”
How have you developed and strengthened your leadership skills?
“There were several ways I have developed my leadership skills. The key point of leadership is communication, I always used to communicate with my teachers, alumni, classmate’s other students as well as at my workplace, I used to communicate with my managers, BDM and CEO and learn through them how they made themselves good leaders. I always used to listen to them and try to develop those skills. To become a good leader you should be a good listener and I have that quality in myself. Due to that, I can say that I have learned these skills and strengthened my leadership skills.”
Why do you believe it’s important for students to get involved with their student union?
“I believe student unions play a crucial role in the educational experience of students, and there are several reasons why it’s important for students to get involved. Student unions serve as a voice for the student body, advocating for their needs and concerns to the administration and other stakeholders. Joining the student union provides students with opportunities to develop their leadership skills and gain experience in organizing events, campaigns and initiatives. Student unions bring students together, creating opportunities for building relationships with peers, classmates, and staff members. Student unions work to create a positive campus culture and enhance the overall student experience by organizing events, activities, and programs that foster a sense of community and belonging. Involvement in student unions can help students develop transferable skills that are highly valued by employers, such as teamwork, communication, and event planning. Therefore, getting involved with a student union is an excellent way for students to become active members of their community, develop important skills and have a more enjoyable and meaningful educational experience.”
Jessica Carrera
Program: Hotel and Restaurant Operations Management
What one qualification do you think will make you successful in the role? Why?
“A qualification that I feel that I have, that would make me successful in the role is being approachable. I feel that I always stay true to who I am and what I believe in. I hate trying to be someone I am not and “fitting in”. I want students to feel comfortable with me, I want them to see that I make mistakes, but I do learn from them. I feel as a student leader this is important because you want to be relatable, so students know that you are a student as well, learning and discovering who you are as well.”
How have you developed and strengthened your leadership skills?
“This is something I always tell anyone who is interested in becoming a leader, whether at work, school or in their community. Ask questions and take chances. You don’t know what opportunities and learning you can miss out on. Over the years, I would ask people in upper management to meet, one on one, for coffee and I would pick at their brains on how they got to where they are, what mistakes have they made and if they can give me feedback on how I can improve in my position. I would also join in on any opportunities where I was able to network because you don’t know who you may meet and help open a door you were trying to open but couldn’t.”
Why do you believe it’s important for students to get involved with their student union?
“I believe it is important for students to get involved with their student union because as a student you want to be able to see what your student union is doing for the student body. Everyone can have their opinion on what the student union does or doesn’t do for certain students, but instead of assuming, we can get involved and see why things are being done a certain way, get answers to questions or most importantly make changes for a better experience for current and future students.”
Karanveer Singh
Program: Business Management
What one qualification do you think will make you successful in the role? Why?
“I anticipate that my leadership skills will assist me to fulfil this role in a way which will help not only me but the whole student community to fulfill their objectives. To elaborate, being an extrovert, I will be instantly approachable to students to discuss their concerns and further try to solve them. Also, my decision-making ability allows me to take bold decisions to represent the student community without any bias. Moreover, most of the students of North campus are known to me and they are open to me to discuss their issues and I too will try my best to be with them.”
How have you developed and strengthened your leadership skills?
“In my secondary school days, I have fulfilled the role of the head boy of the class as well as captain of the whole house. Being a captain, I have helped various teachers and organizers in organizing numerous events on special occasions. Took several decisions to make an event successful, and once managed to organize the whole athletic meet with some other students. Furthermore, being an excellent player in cricket, I was selected as captain of my school team and have managed to earn several wins against various other schools.”
Why do you believe it’s important for students to get involved with their student union?
“First of all, almost every student faces an ordeal that must be solved collectively as it is a problem faced by several others. That is only possible if students come as a group which can later be named a union. Secondly, learners learn to work in a team as in a union, decisions are taken collectively and so followed, and everyone has a chance to take initiative to make ameliorations. Finally, the student’s union is the life-blood of any college and often acts as the focal point of the student community.”
Shanell Roye
Program: Civil Engineering
What one qualification do you think will make you successful in the role? Why?
“Over the years, I have garnered a plethora of experience advocating for students in various capacities. One qualification that will make me successful in this role is my ability to communicate effectively with students, teachers, and administration. Good communication skills are essential to effectively convey ideas and plans to my peers and listen to their concerns and feedback. Communication is vital to building consensus and leading positive change within the school community. Building and maintaining solid relationships promotes a healthy college environment for students to collaborate and achieve their goals.
Being an excellent listener and articulating ideas and vision clearly, helps gain support and trust. Lastly, my ability to inspire and guide others toward a common goal will align the school community towards meaningful initiatives to foster an inclusive Humber culture.”
How have you developed and strengthened your leadership skills?
“There are various ways in which I have developed and strengthened my leadership skills. I continually evolve and refine my skills by actively seeking opportunities to lead and practice leadership. Participating in team sports and clubs, taking on leadership roles in student organizations, and volunteering for community service projects played an integral part in my development. Sports such as softball and netball, student organizations such as FYE (First Year Experience), and the BSSE (Black Student Success and Engagement) have left an indelible mark on my life.
Another critical factor in strengthening my leadership skills is seeking feedback from others and reflecting on my leadership style and strengths. I have also had incredible opportunities to attend leadership workshops and spent much time seeking mentorship from experienced leaders, many of whom walk our halls daily. In tandem with my dedication to academic excellence, these activities continue to be an asset in my student and work life.”
Why do you believe it’s important for students to get involved with their student union?
“Getting involved in student leadership is important for several reasons. Firstly, it provides opportunities for students to have a voice in the decision-making processes, ultimately enhancing their college experience. The student union represents the interests of students and works to improve the quality of their education, making sure that their needs and concerns are considered.
Secondly, getting involved with the student union helps students develop essential life skills, such as leadership, communication, and teamwork. This can be a valuable experience, as these skills are transferable to future careers and can help them succeed in their personal and professional lives.
Thirdly, the student union often organizes events and activities that bring students together, promoting a sense of community and belonging on campus. This can be especially important for students who are new to the university and may be feeling overwhelmed or homesick.
Lastly, I firmly believe that getting involved with the student union is important because it gives the student cohort a voice and helps them develop valuable life skills. By participating in student union activities, students can have a positive impact on their college experience and the world at large by participating in sustainable initiatives with campus partners and other agencies.”
Swarnim Deshwal
Program: Engineering – Mechatronics
What one qualification do you think will make you successful in the role? Why?
“A good leader is the one who leads the team, whose commands must be followed by other members, and for the perfect execution of any task, the whole team needs to be committed as well. If there is no good communication between the leader and the team, there won’t be a good relationship between the group members and the leader. The same goes for a student union and the students at a college. If there is no communication between the students and the union, there will be conflicts. As a member of the Board of Directors, one must be accountable to students, listen to their concerns, and present them to the rest of the committee and that will only be possible if one has great communication skills.
If I get a chance to be elected to the Board of Directors, I will have up-to-date information about the conditions of students and the issues that they would be facing, as I think I have good communication and interpersonal skills. I generally listen well, give feedback to my colleagues and group members, and effectively engage with them, which results in better outcomes than those with poor coordination.”
How have you developed and strengthened your leadership skills?
“As an engineering student, I have taken part in various kinds of group projects and led them successfully. Talking about the major one, in our first semester, we had a bus project, that needed to be done by a group of five or six members. In this project, we had to construct a marble run by using scrap materials as well as by AutoCADing and 3D-printed parts. I led the team, and it was a nice experience while leading them. There were people of various ethnicities, and working with them helped me learn about their ideas and cultures. It was quite difficult at first as there were conflicts, but later on, we worked as a team, and I made sure that each member was contributing their best. We completed it within the given time period and other constraints, and it went successfully. This semester, we have a course called “Teamwork and Leadership,” in which we are taught how to lead a team as an engineer and as an individual. Even back in India, I was the prefect in our school, led the cricket team of our school, and we managed to win the inter-school cricket competition as well.”
Why do you believe it’s important for students to get involved with their student union?
“The student union of a college is the primary body for the students to address their problems if their voice is not being heard by the college. Getting involved with a student union can help a student to gain experience from their peers, and build a strong network with other students and faculties. Sometimes, students even bring about positive change by detecting flaws that are present in the system. One can have fun as well when the student union organizes various kinds of events. Students are the backbone of the student union, if the students do not support it, it will automatically fall!”
Lakeshore campus candidates
Elinam Kamassah
Program: Child and Youth Care
What one qualification do you think will make you successful in the role? Why?
“My involvement is one qualification that I believe will make me successful in this role. I represent my program, Bachelor of Child and Youth Care, as a class captain (serving on the Faculty of Social and Community Services Council) and a representative (serving on the Child and Youth Care Council). I regularly go to events run by IGNITE. I use several of Humber’s resources on a weekly basis, including libraries, student success, and student wellness services. I was also awarded the Program Excellence Award at Humber in 2022, which factored in my ‘overall enthusiasm, enhancing their program of study.’
Because of my involvement, I have great confidence that I can appropriately stand for the student body of Lakeshore Campus. I love Humber truly. Humber has provided me with so many opportunities and assistance through my journey in my program. Being on the Board of Directors is just one way I can put my knowledge of Humber to beneficial use and repay them for all their support.”
How have you developed and strengthened your leadership skills?
“Group projects completed in my program have greatly developed my leadership skills. One overlooked leadership skill is managing morale and equal delegation of roles. In my group projects, I was regularly elected as the leader, and I would have to factor in this element of leadership. I made sure that the load of work was balanced among group members, and that everyone’s roles matched their strengths somehow.
When leading basketball, I have also practiced delegating roles. The ‘tally of sacrifices’ is a tactic I use to make sure everyone is treated equally with respect to their roles. The tally of sacrifices makes sure that one person is not sacrificing an unequal amount compared to their peers. For example, in basketball, I could give the ball to one of my players who has been sacrificing their role as a regular handler of the ball. For group projects, it could look like giving fewer research roles to someone who volunteered to do more speaking responsibility in a presentation. Leaders who do not factor in the tally of sacrifices in their groups are waiting for conflicts from the team members to happen.”
Why do you believe it’s important for students to get involved with their student union?
“It is important for students to get involved with their student union because students are the heart of these institutions. Students are the reason institutions can function in the first place. Students should always be found at the epicentre of leadership and change, which in this case can be found in student unions.
Imagine if you went to a doctor’s office with an upset stomach and said nothing to the caregivers about your issue. That situation is similar to what happens when students are not involved in their student union. You, the student, have the best idea of what is going on in the student’s belly’ (body). Leaders that are not in communication with their students may try to troubleshoot what the problem is, but it won’t be as effective without the help of your input. They will take longer to find issues (upset stomach), or initiatives (medication, or tips for a healthier digestive system) that would be helpful for you. They might even misdiagnose the problem (like when you search for your cold symptoms on the internet and they tell you you’re dying). The student must be involved to make their institution a better place.”
Valentin Cela
Program: Entrepreneurial Enterprise Business Management
What one qualification do you think will make you successful in the role? Why?
“If I were to be considered for the role of IGNITE Board of Directors, I believe my two-year professorship experience and 20 years of experience as a student would make me a highly successful candidate. As a professor, I am well aware of the issues that students face, from their academic and personal performance to their career prospects and the challenges they face navigating their way through college.”
How have you developed and strengthened your leadership skills?
“I have developed and strengthened my leadership skills in various ways throughout my career, such as excellent communication and interpersonal skills, organization and time management skills, problem solving and decision-making abilities, research and teaching abilities and strategic planning capabilities. My experience in teamwork has also enabled me to bring together team members and work together to achieve a common goal, allowing for efficient decision-making and problem-solving.”
Why do you believe it’s important for students to get involved with their student union?
“It is vitally important for students to be involved in their student union as it allows them to develop their leadership skills and be exposed to a wide variety of ideas, perspectives and activities. This encourages active participation and collaboration and allows for a greater understanding of the various resources available to students. Additionally, student unions provide an avenue for the exchange of knowledge, ideas and opinions amongst a broad cross-section of the student body. This provides students with a platform for voicing their concerns and influencing positive change within their field of study as well as their respective universities. Furthermore, student unions also provide students with a greater sense of community and belonging, enhancing their university experience while also creating an outlet where they can get involved with activities and events taking place on campus.”
Navjot Singh
Program: Police Foundations
What one qualification do you think will make you successful in the role?
“As I am studying in police foundations, it teaches me a lot about leadership roles and how to tackle different kinds of situations. It teaches me about the diversity of Canada, which reflects in our college campus. I have a lot of experience in leadership qualities.”
How have you developed and strengthened your leadership skills?
“I have a lot of experience in developing and strengthening leadership skills. As I live with my friends, I used to deal with my house owner on the behalf of my friends. I used to yearly organize events in my village in Punjab, India on my own behalf with the support of my fellow villagers. I used to work on the frontline.”
Why do you believe it’s important for students to get involved with their student union?
“It’s very important for students to unite and get involved with their student union because student union is for the rights of the student. If student unions are strong enough with the support of students, their rights can’t be exploited”
International Graduate School candidates
Augustina Ngene
Program: Business Management – Entrepreneurial Enterprise
What one qualification do you think will make you successful in the role? Why?
“My Agile Scrum Master qualification opened me up to the rudiments of servant leadership, mentoring, active listening, facilitation, and agile leadership.
It has shown me how to nurture a team to achieve exponential results. My ability to effectively manage both people and tasks makes me a people-oriented project manager and an excellent implementation lead.”
How have you developed and strengthened your leadership skills?
“Volunteering was my foundation! I cut my teeth in discovering, developing, and deploying my leadership skills through volunteering at diverse social impact and political initiatives from my undergraduate days both on campus and in my community.
Professionally, I have worked in the non-profit sector for over a decade in diverse capacities and have risen through the ranks. Since 2018, I have been the Director of Projects for a global faith-based non-profit organization championing women and youth empowerment in Nigeria.
In addition, I also led the Electronic Media team for Slum2School Africa, an educational non-profit serving underserved children in Africa for five years.
Through my leadership experience, I have learnt to navigate the politics of organizational leadership, especially the art of managing upwards in a highly bureaucratic environment to get faster approvals, including working with lean budgets and strict deadlines.”
Why do you believe it’s important for students to get involved with their student union?
“I believe students should get involved with their student union because it develops their leadership quotient, sharpens their political acumen, and helps them grow their empathy which is the ability to receive the viewpoints of diverse people and perspectives. It is also a great opportunity to learn and practice servant leadership which is leadership by service.
Through active participation in your student union, you’d learn to work for others and achieve something bigger than yourself. Most importantly, it helps you understand and appreciate the sacrifices and labour of great people who facilitated remarkable changes throughout history.”
Hinal Bhansali
Program: Research Analyst
What one qualification do you think will make you successful in the role? Why?
“According to me, my relevant qualification would be my experience being the Vice Chairperson of a college festival back in India. Where-in I learnt planning, executing, making timelines, organizing meetings, sending invites & managing events for college students. The motive would be to help students in engagement via interactive sessions, seminars, gaming events and free music concerts. Hearing demands and presenting them to the council is more of a quality and skill since expectational bars are always set high. Gaining the confidence, and trust of the authoritative council and getting them on board requires talent, a good speaker and a communicator. My experience’s so far have taught me and made me learn the necessary skill sets.”
How have you developed and strengthened your leadership skills?
“Growing up as an adult I like to stand for what’s right. Having said that, as an individual I like to play and abide by the rulebook. Whilst I was the Vice-Chairperson of the college festival, I had to delegate my planned work to my teammates and track their progress of it. Marking things off the checklist and effectively maintaining the social media platforms were one of my tasks. I strongly believe in learning with experience and I’ve learnt that being a good leader doesn’t mean who has been dominant enough. For me, a good leader is a person who is looked upon as a role model by one down the hierarchy chart. At the same time, looking out for our team members & their well-being, being a good communicator & understanding them effectively plays a very important role in my experience.”
Why do you believe it’s important for students to get involved with their student union?
“Being an international student, I did come with a lot of campus expectations just like my fellow batch mates. And the only way to encourage students and create a fun-loving campus environment I really do believe there needs to be active participation by students. In order to bring the students together the student union plays a vital role. These student representative roles are basically the collective voice of students demanding something essential to them be it academically, financially or something that has unanimous excitement may be an artist performing or some ice-hockey match. Looking after the well-being of students falls under the hands of the academic institution and being a student, I do really believe that amenities and facilities do play a vital role in short-listing which college one wishes to enroll himself in. Occasional free food, a cup of coffee with cupcakes, on-campus participation events for winning a ticket to a hockey match or maybe an athletic competition with gifting hampers of protein or pre-workout kit, providing affordable rentals or lease-hassle free accommodations, spin a wheel for discounted grocery coupons, etc. can be a few of the things that can encourage a student in regularly visiting the campus. Lastly, student union organizations are by the student, for the student and of the students same as united they stand, divided they fall.”
It’s now your turn!
There you have it, your candidates for IGNITE Elections 2023-2024. It’s now your turn to take action and become more familiar with the candidates with three in-person events. During these in-person “Meet Your Candidate” events students will have to opportunity to engage and speak with candidates as well as win free prizes!
Each event will run from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on the following dates:
- North campus– Wednesday, Feb. 22
- Lakeshore campus– Thursday, Feb. 23
- Guelph-Humber campus– Wednesday, March 1
Lastly, make sure to add a reminder to your calendar that voting week is from Monday, March 6 to Friday, March 10, 2023. You can vote at our on campus polling stations between 10:00 a.m. and 4:00p.m. or vote anytime online!
Remember, your voice matters!
Why should you vote? Learn how a single vote could change everything.
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