荔枝视频

Raised in Strathmore and earning two bachelor鈥檚 degrees from the 荔枝视频, Jonah Zankl鈥檚 roots are firmly planted in Alberta 鈥� even when he鈥檚 thousands of kilometres away.

These days, the U荔枝视频 alumnus, BA鈥�18, BSc鈥�18, can be found across the pond at the University of Cambridge, earning his PhD in organizational theory and information systems.

Zankl鈥檚 research at Cambridge Judge Business School, where he also took his master鈥檚, takes a sociological approach to creating environments that support responsible entrepreneurship and venture creation. In other words, he鈥檚 working to make the business world more responsible and equitable 鈥� especially for startups.

鈥淚 hope to start to change the conversation about the profound impacts that entrepreneurial ecosystems have on the creation of new ventures,鈥� says Zankl. 鈥淭his also includes discussing the unintended, and sometimes negative, consequences that those same environments can have.鈥�

Collaboration equals success

Zankl is researching an initiative aimed specifically at increasing rates of entrepreneurship in med tech and bio tech spaces, and exploring how interdisciplinary scientists, academics, entrepreneurs and industry partners can collaboratively build successful startups.

It鈥檚 an exciting undertaking at one of the world鈥檚 oldest and most esteemed institutions, and he credits his time at U荔枝视频 and the prestigious Schulich Leaders Scholarship for helping him get there.

鈥淭he Schulich Foundation creates such a powerful network,鈥� says Zankl of the scholarship program.

Being a Schulich Leader instils both a belief that I am going to make a difference and a sense of responsibility to give back.

Zankl was awarded the full-ride scholarship in 2013, just two years after the program鈥檚 inception.

Marking the scholarship鈥檚 10-year anniversary in 2021, the Schulich Foundation is celebrating a decade of helping young leaders and entrepreneurial minds across Canada reach their full potential.

鈥淚t鈥檚 amazing to know the program is a valuable asset for our university partners, and the demand from high schools reaffirms the value of the opportunity for their students,鈥� says David Goodman, executive director of the Schulich Leaders Scholarship with the Schulich Foundation. He adds he鈥檚 excited to see this philanthropic model for higher education become so successful.  

Goodman explains that it鈥檚 important to the Schulich Foundation to invest in Canada鈥檚 top talent to improve our knowledge-based economy. Canadian philanthropist Seymour Schulich established the scholarship to empower the STEM (science, technology, engineering, mathematics) community to drive innovation, and Goodman says that Zankl鈥檚 ambitious pursuits reflect the type of leadership that exists in this network of scholars.

Schulich Foundation's 'extraordinary vision'

鈥淛onah is exceptionally talented and was actively involved in the Schulich Leaders Network,鈥� says Goodman, adding that Zankl actually pioneered the U荔枝视频 chapter of the Network, which continues to grow as more students are recognized each year at 20 partner universities across Canada.

One other student was recognized alongside Zankl in 2013, and now, in 2021, six first-year U荔枝视频 students were recognized as Schulich Leaders.  

U荔枝视频 President Ed McCauley credits the Schulich Foundation for its extraordinary vision.

鈥淭he Schulich Leaders Scholarship Program is not only investing in students with tremendous talent, it鈥檚 also investing in Canada鈥檚 future 鈥� these imaginative and committed young scholars are creating fresh solutions to society鈥檚 greatest challenges,鈥� he says. 鈥淎s our Schulich Leader alumni take their education and experience out into the world, we are seeing them achieve incredible things.鈥�

If the past 10 years bringing together bright minds and visionary donors are any indication, that future looks bright.