Cyril Leeder's Magic from a Hat Lecture Notes, November 13, 2000

A. Cyril L.

Live in Kanata Lakes on a golf course
I do NOT golf
Married for 15 years
(3) Kids, Ciera 13, Dillon 11, Tyler 9

HOCKEY ARENAS ARE MY LIFE

I work in an Arena
I have two sons playing competitive hockey
I coach a team
For social activities, I take my wife and kids to Corel Centre for games and concerts

WHERE IS THIS GUY FROM?

grew up in Brockville, Ontario
played baseball, basketball and hockey
went to McMaster
graduated at top of class in 1982 in business

OTTAWA

moved to Ottawa after graduation in 1982
articled at a C.A. firm
stayed just long enough to qualify as a C.A. (two years)

BRUCE F. INFLUENCE

went to work for Bruce in 1984
we started six new businesses from 1984 - 87
1987 - Bruce had idea to go after NHL franchise
1988 - bid for team begins
1990 - bid is successful
1992 - Senators start play
1994 - construction of Corel Centre starts
1996 - Corel Centre opens

EDUCATION

I learned MORE in six months working for Bruce than I had learned in previous six years of articling and University
most of what I learned in business I learned from Bruce
the rest I learned from Rod Bryden

INTERESTS

I DON’T golf in the summer
I LIKE to fish
I have a family cottage that we use every weekend
I love to play games. Any games.
I never play anything “for fun”. Everything is for keeps.
I met my wife for the first time when I pulled her name out of a hat for a date at University

CONCLUSION

Cyril's strengths:

attention to detail
excellent judge of character
quiet strength
leadership by example
strong work ethic
brilliant analytical mind
when Cyril talks, people who know him listen carefully

Cyril's weaknesses:

quiet demeanor can be misinterpreted as weakness in negotiations and can lead to uncomfortable silences

Cyril's position as COO of the Corel Centre and President of Palladium Corporation allows him to maximize his effectiveness since he is in a position of authority in an area where he combines education and experience with a true love of what he is doing.

B. Bruce F.

Live in Kanata Lakes on a golf course
I do NOT golf
Married for 15 years
(5) Kids, Andrew, Rachel, Miriam, Matthew, Jessica

HOCKEY ARENAS HAVE BEEN A BIG PART OF MY LIFE

I worked in an Arena
I have ONE son playing hockey
For social activities, I take my wife and kids to Corel Centre for games and concerts

WHERE IS THIS GUY FROM?

grew up in Rockcliffe Park, Ontario
played football, cricket, soccer and hockey
went to McGill, UNSW, ANU
started uni at age 15

OTTAWA

moved to Ottawa from Australia Xmas 78
worked at BMC for 2.5 years- learned that government employment was not for me
stayed just long enough to see Andrew into grade school
went to work for Terrace in 1982
we started six new businesses from 1984 - 87 and dozens of projects
1987 - had idea to go after NHL franchise
1988 - bid for team begins
1990 - bid is successful
1992 - Senators start play
1994 - construction of Corel Centre starts
1996 - Corel Centre opens

EDUCATION

I learned MORE from doing than any other way
the rest I learned from Rod Bryden

INTERESTS

I DON’T golf in the summer
I LIKE to run
we go to Dunrobin Lake every weekend- a lake I 'created'
I hate to play games. Any games.
when I do play, I don't keep score
I met my wife for the first time when I saw her walking along the street in downtown Ottawa

I collect Canadian art; it is my only hobby

I was known as Citizen Bruce from the age of three

I wanted to an engineer from the age of three- to build insanely great things

I am an educator and enjoy original research

I do a lot of pro bono work and am other directed

CONCLUSION

Bruce's strengths:

creativity
leadership
team player
kindness
understanding of people
determination and willingness to try again after failure
risk taking
education and experience in real estate
bootstrap marketing and finance
strong sales skills
learn from failure
willingness to change course if something isn't working
ability to take advice and to adopt best practices and best ideas from others
wide ranging mental map of the way the world works
future vision

Bruce's weaknesses:

lack of attention to detail
poor judge of character
short attention span
lack of confidence and desire to be liked
don't like bad news and conflict

Bruce is suited to be an entrepreneur in his field and to assist other entrepreneurs. He makes a good Chair of a corporation or Board Member but not a line executive.

To paraphrase, candidate Bill Clinton, circa 1992:

"It's real estate, stupid."
"It's real estate, stupid."
"It's real estate, stupid."
"It's real estate, stupid."
"It's real estate, stupid."
"It's real estate, stupid."
"It's real estate, stupid."
"It's real estate, stupid."


C. Darcy M.

I Live in Lincoln Fields
Down the street from the Coliseum
Across the street from a Blockbuster Video
I like movies
I live with my girlfriend of 4 years
University will soon not be my life anymore
Attend Carleton University, taking B.Com with concentrations in Information Systems and
Business Operations Analysis
My girlfriend attends Carleton University, taking B.Com with a minor in Psychology
For social activities I go to events organized by university clubs

Where is this guy from?

Grew up in Brampton, Ontario
I was a computer nerd and a mall rat
Ottawa
Moved to Ottawa in 1995
Lived with my parents for 2 years
Moved in with my girlfriend in 1997
Carleton University
Enrolled in B.Com in 1995
1998 Elected President of the Commerce Society
1999 Founded ACE--Carleton University Entrepreneurs Club
2000 Awarded the Jason Daley Leadership Award from the School of Business
Initiated the creation of the School of Business endowment fund
Created Entrepreneurship Week
Co-established the Magic From a Hat Entrepreneurialist Culture Lecture Series
Orientation Facilitator for 4 years
School of Business Peer Mentor for 5 years
Attended 13 conferences

Education

I learned just as much from running student clubs as I did from academic courses.
I am a firm believer in the theory "Academics is only half of your university education"
Interests
I'm learning golf
I like to watch movies
I love to play games. Any games
I always play everything "for fun"
I met my girlfriend during frosh week. I was a facilitator, she was a frosh. We didn't start to
go out until seven months later.

Greatest personal achievement

Entered Grade 9 with reading and writing comprehension of Grade 4, then graduated High
School with reading and writing comprehension of Grade 13
Greatest professional achievement
Creating Entrepreneurship Week
Characteristic I like most about myself
The ability to take nothing and make something
Characteristic I like least about myself
My utter dependence on spell-check

Conclusion

Strengths:
Leadership
Achievement oriented
Humanistic
Team player and works very well with others
Good listener
Excellent public speaking skills
Futuristic thinker
Innovative
Ability to befriend anyone and their dog
Ability to look and think out of the box
Ability to learn from my own and other's failures
Constantly thinks about the big picture

Weaknesses:
Constantly thinks about the big picture
Avoid conflicts if possible (unless picked on)
Tend to fall into tunnel vision
Difficulty in delivering bad news
Desire to be liked by everyone

D. Robin C.

My name is Robin
I'm 23
Born in Ottawa
I live in residence
I live on a humanities floor
I'm in 4th year CSE
I get really good grades
I've had lots of different jobs with hi-tech companies
I used to have lots of hobbies but I don't have time for any of them anymore
I compete in all kinds of competitions from Popsicle bridge building
competitions, to business plan competitions, to really dumb compititions

Main Strengths
I can build pretty much anything
I can fix pretty much anything
I get completely consumed by everything I do
Creative
I have a really, really long attention span

Main weaknesses
Getting my attention can sometimes be difficult
I used to be a engineering snob, living with a bunch of humanities students
has beaten that out of me
I do not feel I have the social skills required to be an entrepreneur, but
I'm working on it :)
There are several social situations I feel awkward in
Too trusting
Can't sell
Can easily get over confident

E. Greg P.

Who am I?
· Originally from New Brunswick
· Lived in Vancouver for 1.5 years
· Currently live in Hull Quebec (No, don't speak French)
· Mother is a pianist and No, I don't play.

Education
· Graduated from Petitcodiac High School
· Worked 5 years prior to entering university
· Began university at Mount Allison in Sackville N.B.
· Graduating in April of this year with Honours in Finance

Interests
· New what I've wanted since I was 9 years old
· Always dreamed of being in business world
· Upon becoming gainfully employed will golf in summers and ski in winters again
· Love camping
· Aspire to do what everyone says can't be done.

Strengths
· Fairly competitive
· Easy to get along with
· Good at seeing big picture
· Good judge of character
· Love meeting new people
· Love to travel
· Diplomatic (Function of being a middle child)
· Hit a long drive off the tee

Weaknesses
· Short attention span
· Tendency to make self-deprecating statements
· The latter at times may be perceived as a sign of incompetence
· Risk seeker
· People don't always warm to me the first time around
· At times I can be incorrigible
· Don't always hit it straight off the tee (This is problematic if you hit it long)

F. Alex A.

Live in Ottawa on Prince of Wales with two best friends from Moldova and France,
Who are with me in Business, Music, and Sports.

My parents divorced when I was 2
Have two younger sisters, Alina and Ann one from each parent, which are the best things in my life.

Where is this guy from?

RUSSIA

Spent first 15 years of my life in Moscow
Was the first 6 year-old attending Stasov's Music School
Played basketball until the coach realized that I'm not going to grow
Played Tennis and Ping-Pong regardless of the fact that my piano teacher thought that would conflict with the music career on piano.
Had a pleasure of performing my graduation Concert at the conservatory with the orchestra
Graduated from Stasov's school at 14 with a red diploma
After the communism curtain dropped, had a chance to be one of the pioneers of the software piracy business, which became my first job and first management experience.
Met Stefan Hensel at the age of 15…

CANADA

Came to Ottawa and entered Ashbury College at the age of 15
English came to me in about 2 years.
Formed a band with 2 people who were very passionate about music.
Composed and performed for a play with New Edinburgh's theatre in 1997
Graduated in 1998 from Ashbury College with IB Bilingual Diploma

Entered Carleton University…
and currently in my 3rd year of Bcom Finance and Business Operations Analysis.

INTERESTS

I love music and I love sports.
I love games, any games.
Always pay attention to the score and when I lose call it learning.
Play until I win.
Love computers.
Love challenge.
Love people and the endless ocean of knowledge within everyone.
Love business and the idea of using all available resources in the most effective way

CONCLUSION

Alex's strengths

o creativity
o leadership
o analytical ability
o learning from people
o international education
o risk taking
o self-challenge
o kindness
o persistence

Alex's weaknesses:

o assuming that the desired is real
o overanalyzing without sufficient information
o lack of patience
o lack of experience
o smoking

G. Heather S.

I live south of Ottawa in a virtually unknown place called Greely
I live with my mom and stepdad
My dad lives in Orleans
I have two sisters Melissa and Bonnie that go to university at Ottawa U
I have a boyfriend named Asokan and have been seeing him for 3 years

I am in my last year of Aerospace Engineering
I volunteer and organize events at school for the Aerospace Society
I am also working part time at Orenda Aerospace
I'm not a gory information seeker (airplane, space geek)

I am a great employee and I now work for someone else's dream
I want to employ myself and work for my own dream

Education

I went to an arts high school and specialized in music, playing the trombone
I was influenced by my parents and others that I should go into Computer engineering at Ottawa U because they make more money in that field
At the time I did not know how to turn on a computer
I HATED it
I quit halfway into my second year
I then went into Aerospace Engineering
I chose it because it sounded hard (rocket scientist)

Influences

My mother intrigued me with science ever since I was very young

Interests

I became friends with Asokan when we were assignment partners in a mechanics class
I love inventing crazy ideas
I like to sculpt, paint and do artsy things
I want to invent or personally fund a medical project that will help everyone's health
I have always been interested in medicine and how living things work

Conclusion

Heather's Weaknesses

Attention span
Need to socialize more and improve my people skills (I get stuck at home with lots of homework!)
Too trustworthy of people
Chocolate

Heather's Strengths

Creative
Determined to be successful
Trusting
Organized
Risk taker
Willing to try new things
Always tries again after failure
Learns from failures
Able to change direction when things aren't working out
Honest
Proactive
Kind

H. Catherine C.

o Born in Ottawa 1977
o Older sister & younger brother
o Mom from New York, Dad grew up in Rockliffe
o I grew up in Rothwell Heights
o Spent my youth:Swimming,school sports and extracurricular activities

Continued…….
o University Of Western Ontario
o Carleton for 3 years in Finance
o I live on Nantucket Island in the summer and I manage 4 retail stores
o Have been dating boyfriend for 6 years.

Interests
o I love to travel to hot destinations
o I love to run
o I love to shop
o Favourite author
Patricia Cornwell

Future plans
o Graduate in April
o Move back to Nantucket Island
o Travel around the world
o Do my MBA at an American University
o Start my career and get married

Strengths
o Strong Work ethic
o Generous
o Good people skills
o Self motivator
o Strong leadership skills
Weaknesses
o Balancing work and social life
o Lack of creativity
o Avoid Conflict
What I want to achieve…
Personal
o I want to maintain the relationship that I have with family and friends
o I want to start running marathons
Career
o I want a challenging and interesting career where I get to work with a lot of people.
o A good job before I start a family

I. John W.

I live in Gloucester

I ALSO do NOT golf

Background

Born and Raised in North Central British Columbia

Moved to "the city" because I wasn't interested in being a logger.

Education/Career Goals

Am a fourth year B.comm student with a concentration in finance

Career ambition is to work in the venture capital industry.

Interests

My extracurricular interests include; weight-training, rock climbing, individual sports ( am not a team player when it comes to sports.), and play jazz guitar and saxophone.

I am extremely competitive, I hate to lose at anything

Strengths

- Very motivated
-analytical
-good people skills
-leadership ability
-creative
- ability to think on my feet
- I am a second order thinker: I enrolled in this class (Entrepreneurialist Culture) not because I want to be an entrepreneur but because I wanted to study entrepreneurs up close and this is where to find them.

Weaknesses

- not a detail person
- tendency to develop "tunnel vision" once I think I know how to approach a task.
- tendency to over-analyse things, " Paralysis through analysis".

Although creative, I don't consider myself an idea generator, but more of an idea refiner.

J. Martina G.

Live in Aylmer, a couple of minutes walk from the Ottawa River
(And NO it is not that far and it is not way out in the boonies!)
I am single
Moving out in May into my own place in Ottawa

HORSEBACK RIDING HAS BEEN AN IMMENSE PART OF MY LIFE

I worked many years in a riding stable
I did everything from mucking out stalls to bailing hay to bedding down the horses and of course RIDING! J
I of course attend as many competitions as possible and watch and/or tape them whenever they come on TV
For social activities, I love going out dancing with a group of friends

WHERE AM I FROM?

Grew up in Aylmer, Quebec
Played soccer, basketball, but mostly rode horses
Completed my Grade 10 in piano
Went to Ecole Secondaire Grande Rivière, Heritage College, and now am in my last term of my B.Comm I.S. at Carleton
Am planning on doing my MBA in a couple of years
Took a year off before starting at Carleton
Travelled throughout Europe for 2 months and worked at an upscale equestrian facility in Toronto for 6 months

WORK EXPERIENCE

Summer 2000 - worked for a start-up (Simbol Test Systems), in Aylmer
Summer 1999 - worked in a large animal veterinarian clinic, in Aylmer
Feb to Aug 1998 - worked at Hendervale Equestrian Complex in Milton Ont.
Jan 1996 to July 1997 - worked at Mikes Restaurant in Aylmer
All previous summers - worked at Tic Toc Stables in Aylmer
Throughout university have been teaching piano 2-3 hrs/week

INTERESTS

I like to run, roller blade, squash and tennis… and RIDE HORSES!
My family doesn't have a cottage - if I need to get away from things I go to the stables
I love to travel
I met my boyfriend at Good Life Gym

I collect horse figurines

I would have loved to have a career in horses, but realized from a young age that I would need an education

My dream is to one day have a little barn in my backyard where I could keep a few horses

I have enjoyed most of my business and I.S. courses and am looking forward to increase my technical skills in the high tech sector

CONCLUSION

Martina's weaknesses:

I sometime procrastinate
Weak sales skills (unless it is something that I really believe in)
I am not a great judge of character
Naïve
Desire to be liked

STRENGTHS

Honest
Adaptable
Open-minded
Takes risks
Patience
Perseverance
Strong values
Learn from my mistakes
Believe in compromising
Am open to constructive criticism
Modest
Enjoy working with people
Good listening skills

K. Gita R.

I live in the Glebe in an apartment building.
I have two roommates: an art history grad student (Jenn) and a dwarf rabbit (Lavrans)
I have not yet developed a great love of art.

SCHOOL IS MY LIFE

More accurately, school has become my life.
There are many aspects of school I do not enjoy and some that I do.
I spend most of my waking hours at school (weekends too).
Vending machines have become an integral part of my life.

WHERE IS THIS GAL FROM?

Grew up in Bolton (not related to Michael), Ontario
Played field hockey, rugby, and the piano and flute
Was heavily involved in the Royal Canadian Air Cadets and earned my glider and private pilot licenses.

OTTAWA

Moved to Ottawa in 1996 to attend school at Carleton University.
Spent several summers working in Kanata at a small aerospace company

EDUCATION

I am currently taking my last term of engineering courses for my B.Eng in Aerospace (electronics and systems) Engineering.
Unfortunately, I cannot graduate this year (as I recently discovered) unless I finish 1 credit of business electives this summer to complete my Minor in Business.
I am BITTER.
I learned more about business and engineering from my summer employment positions than I did in almost 5 years of university.

INTERESTS

I like to shop (who doesn't?).
I have a big interest in space exploration and development
When I have time, I like to sew.
I like to observe and interact with people, therefore I am quite fond of networking and/or social events.

CONCLUSION
Gita's strengths
observation skills - the ability to see "the big picture" - can view a situation or event and draw objective conclusions
ability to network effectively - presents self well and is able to meet and interact with new people in a tactful and graceful way
power of persuasion - able to show enthusiasm in ideas in order to persuade others to share in the enthusiasm for the idea
ability to compromise - knows how and when to give and take
effective communicator
ability to take a technical subject and communicate it in a non-technical way
creativity
kindness
understanding of people
education and experience in aerospace technology

Gita's weaknesses:

can be hesitant when it comes to taking big risks
can be temporarily crippled by failures
can be impatient
tries too hard to please others
gets bored easily

L. Al P.

About myself

I am 35 years old.
I live out by the airport.
I have been married for 3.5 years.
My wife and I are expecting our first child during the summer.
I am a part time student at Carleton University.
I work part time for the school of business as a computer consultant.
I have developed and started a business that has tremendous growth potential.

Who I am

When I was young, I was not good at sports and I definitely didn't have any competitive instinct.
A few coaches in High School got me involved in Cross Country skiing, later in my life, I was on the National team for 9 years.
During that time period, I represented Canada in 2 Olympics, 3 World Championships and many World Cups.
In the last few years of my career, I was the best in Canada and North America.
To date, I still have the 2 best-ever results by a Canadian at a World Championships.
I was a good enough athlete to make a living from my sport.

My weaknesses

I am weak in cold calling.
For some reason, I am nervous when I present.
I do not like talking about myself.
At times I might be over powering in my thoughts, but I also know when someone suggests an idea I like, I will agree with them.
I need to keep practicing on delivering my thoughts and feelings onto paper.
I am weak at spelling, grammar and remembering names.

My strengths

I am a very driven, focused, determined and goal-orient person.
I am internally motivated. (It is not important to me for others to know about my success.)
I can be very competitive. (Although I have learned that there are times to be competitive and other times to let it go.)
I do not lack confidence but at times I just lack knowledge.
I am not afraid to ask questions to learn and understand.
I thrive on criticism. (To me, this is a great way to improve myself.
I am happy for others when they do well.)

What motivates me and where I want to go?

What motivates me is the journey to succeed.
The business that I am developing will have many ups and downs, but I know I will have success.
This business opportunity will be my next major career.
I look forward to this company achieving success across North America as I achieved success in my skiing career.

M. Martha ("Marta") R.

Funny girl who lives in Orleans and commutes to school everyday.
Live with my family: mom, dad, little sister, little brother, dog, cat and 3 little fishys.
YES! It is spelled with an "H" but the "H" is silent.
So please DON'T call me martHa!!!!

SO WHY IS THE "H" SILENT?????

I was born in Bogota, Colombia and lived there until I was 13.
Mother tongue is Spanish.
In Spanish the "H" is silent.
At age 13 moved to Canada to battle snowstorms and clean the driveway
In the meantime, (between battles) I learned to snowboard
(which is the only thing that keeps me here in the winter...)

INTERESTS
Did I already mention snowboarding???
I like traveling, learning new languages and different cultures.

On that note........
Went to Japan on exchange last year to learn the language and culture
Hitch-hiked western Japan visiting all major cities except Tokyo and Sapporo
Also travelled through China and Thailand

WHAT NEXT? Career Goals...anybody???
First, want to bring my "conversational-level" Japanese to a native-level
Next, get some experience and learn more about the Japanese market
Then, go to graduate school and get an IMBA
Ultimately, become the CEO of my own multi-million dollar business that helps further ease and improve the relationships with Japan and North America.

*** Sounds like a crazy goal but I strongly believe that the further you aim, the further you are going to get.***

CONCLUSION

Martha's strengths Martha's weaknesses
* determination
* very optimistic
* goal-oriented
* non-conformist (stubborn??)
* hard worker
* energetic
* take more than what I can handle
* find it hard to say no
* impatient / low attention span
* stubborn?
* hate anything to do with math
* tone deaf

N. Kate L.

My full name is Katherine E. L.
I am from Dundas ON, west of Hamilton
I am one of two kids, my sisters name is Courtney and she's 24 years old and went to McMaster Univesity
My best friends name is Vanessa
I just got a new puppy named Kalu (black lab) who's 13 weeks old.

BACKGROUND

I have 3 roommates, Robin, Tina, and Nicole
I used to do landscaping for summer jobs but now I work at Merrill Lynch
I am graduating in April with a concentration in finance
I hope to live in Ottawa when I am done school

INTERESTS

I love soccer and I play it year round, I play defense and mid-field
I also love volleyball, basketball, skiing, roller-blading, football, and sailing
I made the Carleton Rowing team this year
I had to wake up at 4:30 every morning for 2.5 months
I played the Piano for 15 years and won an award for the highest mark in Canada for my grade 6 conservatory exam
I love going out with my friends
I want to get my MBA after working for a few years and getting some experience in valuating companies
I am very interested in doing mergers and acquisitions and I am also interested in venture capital firms

STRENGTHS

Work well in a team setting but I can also work well by myself
I know my limitations
I have very good time management skills
I have a strong work ethic
I am very outgoing and easy to talk to
I can be a leader, or not
Good memory, no need for a daily planner

WEAKNESSES
I am a bad judge of character (mostly in male cases)
Lack of attention to detail
Sometimes I am too outgoing (and too loud)

O. Richard I.

Live in Ottawa (formerly Nepean) with my girlfriend
Have a Cat
Born Dec. 1, 1976 - yes that makes me 24.
4th year Electrical Engineering but will be in school part time to
finish off two credits next year.

WHERE AM I FROM and WHAT DO I LIKE?
Born in Lebanon
Parents immigrated to Canada when I was very young
Grew up in Aylmer, Quebec
Played almost all sports because there was nothing else to do in Aylmer
Favorite sports are soccer and snowbording
I exercise as often as possible (I have less time during school)
I LOVE good food and wine
I love to be alive "go places, do DIFFERENT things"
I love the Internet and technology
I love people
I love to travel
I hate routine
I hate sitting down for long periods of time
I hate T.V.
Did I mention I hate T.V.

WHERE HAVE I BEEN?
After grade ten I moved to Lebanon with my parents for almost 2 years,
decided to drop out of school because it was boring. Moved out (against
my parents wishes) and came back to Canada alone. Wanted to be a
professional snowboarder then found out that I had no chance (for many
reasons). Went to whistler B.C., got a job dressing up as a monkey to
promote for a club, then decided to come back to Ottawa.
I finished my OAC and decided to become an Engineer because I would be
able to make a lot of money that will help me eventually start my own
business (maybe not engineering related).
Chose Carleton U. because they gave me the biggest scholarship.

WORK?
-Supported myself with telemarketing during OAC's and First year of
university.
-Got bored, so I started a promotion company that booked DJ's from
around the world and brought them to Ottawa. Failed because Engineering
took up to much of my time and I took a step with the promotion company
that was too big for me.
-Got a job doing customer service for the Ottawa citizen, I hate it but
It pays the bills for now.

Goals?
In chronological order
-I want to Graduate.
-Get a good Engineering job
-Save enough money to start my own business, even though I don't know
what it will be, I'll figure it out as I go.

Weaknesses?
-Talk too much
-Don't learn from other people's mistakes, I have to learn the hard way.
-My writting skills are very bad (improving lately)
-Short attention span
-find it hard to say NO sometimes

Strengths?
-Risk taker (not scared of risk)
-good problem solver
-confident
-I don't get nervous in a tough situation, only after the situation has
passed.
-I can sell
-have lot's of life experience
-generous and kind
-Quick learner

P. Nikhil M.

I was born in Thunder Bay Ontario
I was raised in Ottawa and have been here ever since.
I enjoy the city, but dread the cold.
I would rather play a sport or a board game than go to a club
I live to learn, explore, and compete.
Everybody in my family is right handed.
I am left handed.
Everybody in my family seems to be very focused
My attention often wanders.
Everybody in my family hates to travel.
I live for it.
Everybody in my family dislikes animals.
Another source of disagreement
Everybody in my family is in high tech fields
I am in Information Systems.
All my friends seem to be either business students or engineers.
All my friends are very entrepreneurial by nature.

EDUCATION

I like my program
It could be better.
I feel students and professors rely too much on grades and measurables
I try to judge a class on what I took from it.
I have liked about half the courses I have taken thus far.
I am a strong believer in participatory education.

INTERESTS

I like volleyball and squash
I like graphic design and manipulation
Every month I volunteer at a high school to talk about issues.
I volunteer because it is fun and interesting.

CONCLUSION:

I think my strengths include:

Innovative
Leadership
Loyalty
Passion (if interesting)
The ability to make most things interesting.
The ability to Speak

Weaknesses:
Organization
Attention Span
Lack of Experience
Budgeting

Q. Arsalan Z.

SLIDE 1: INTRODUCTION
· Born: Tehran, Iran
Lived in India for a year

SLIDE 2: EDUCATION
· B. Eng. (almost)
· Planning on M. Eng and MBA
· Best Lessons thought through life experiences

SLIDE 3: WORK EXPERIENCE
· Toronto Hydro
· Bell Canada
· Retail (Danier Leather)
16 consecutive weeks #1 sales person

SLIDE 4: GOALS & DREAMS
· Travel
· Ultimately my own consulting firm
Like the hours
Rather to work and make myself money as appose to someone else

SLIDE 5: CHARACTERISTICS
· Money is important
I measure success with a power & financial ruler
· I am a good teacher
due to my patience and enthusiasm
· I can admit to my mistakes
Which I often do, because I make mistakes often
· Good judge of character
I don't have any family here so I need to relay more on my instincts for people

SLIDE 6: WEAKNESSES
· Women
· Short tem memory sucks
So I've invested in a Palm Pilot
· Not dedicated to school
So my marks suffer
· I get board easily
I need to be challenged or I'll find a way to challenge myself

SLIDE 7: STRENGHTS
· Very confident
I don't like the saying "If it's not meant to be, it's not meant to be",
I like the saying "If it's not meant to be, it's up to ME".

· Risk
Physical (skiing, my knee surgery) & Skydiving at 17
Opportunity (jump on it) à if it woks out, you will have great results
à if it doesn't, you will have great experience
· Sales
I can sale
Danier leather (16 weeks #1 sales person)
Every interview I've walked into in the last 5 years, I got the job

· I am a leader
I set goals and I often have a clear vision of how to achieve them.

R. Jeff W.

I live 2 blocks away from the Kanata Town Centre
I am 22 years old
Currently in my 4th year of Computer Systems Engineering
I have three indoor cats
I drive a 14 year old gold Topaz for commuting to/from Carleton – and I hate driving home on a
Sens game night!

COMPUTERS & TECHNOLOGY HAVE BEEN A BIG PART OF MY LIFE

Used my Dad’s “Portable” 20lb Lug-able 286 when I was seven
I got my VIC-20 when I was eight & Apple II+ when I was nine
Playing, learning, working – have been on a computer
In kindergarten I drew circuit diagrams instead of stick men & houses

WHERE IS THIS GUY FROM?

Born and spent my first 10 years in Winnipeg
Played lots of soccer and swimming

OTTAWA

Moved to Kanata in 1988
Graduated from Earl of March S.S. in 1997 then went to Carleton
1997, 1999 Worked at Nortel in the Corporate Design Group / Design.Interpretive
1998 - Worked At Stentor
1997 - Started Jeff W Consulting – One client – The Community Resource Centre of Goulbourn,
Kanata, and West Carleton – J.O.B

INTERESTS

Computers
“News Junkie” – track current events, politics, closely
Audio/Visual –> theatrical lighting
Photography
Alto Sax player for 7 years in Jazz & Concert Band

EDUCATION

Theory first, then do it
Self-teacher

CONCLUSION

Jeff’s Strengths:

team player
tolerant of other viewpoints
ability to concentrate
curious in areas of interest
thoughtful
confident in areas that are in my domain of knowledge
listen to other’s ideas & practices and incorporating them into my own

Jeff’s Weaknesses:

not a risk taker
not confident in areas outside my domain
stay quite and lay low in new situations and when meeting new people

Traits that can be both positive and negative:

Rule Follower –> strong sense of right & wrong: + action oriented
- judgmental

S. Asokan T.

I live in Ottawa.
I have 2 sisters who live with my parents in Toronto
I originally came to Canada from Sri Lanka in 1994

I have completed my Computer Engineering degree at U of O.
I work as an Applications Engineer in a software company in Nepean.

Education

I completed up to grade 11 in Sri Lanka
I did 2 years of High School in Toronto
Entered University in 1996
I was in the coop program which allowed me to experience -how is it like to have a job.

Influences
I was always interested in technology and computers, which drove me to apply for Computer Engineering degree.

Interests
Music
Movies
Games (for fun)
Developing skills and qualities

Weaknesses
Get bored at things pretty fast
Last minute worker
Messy hand-writing (others comment)

Strengths
Logical
Creative
Risk taker/ Positive thinking
Honest
Down-to-earth
Kind
Quick learner
Like to try new things

T. Jacqueline W.

· 23
· Youngest child - have 1 older sister who's thirty, living and working in California with her husband
· I have great parents - they have recently retired and are around just a bit too much lately for my liking…Fortunately they will be leaving for a 2 month vacation in 4 days…and counting….
· I've always been what you'd consider a good kid…All A's…nice friends…responsible….reliable….highly stressed….
o I was HS student council vice president
o Honour Roll all the way through highschool
o Received and Maintaned a Carleton Scholarship
· Halfway through first year university….I Hit A Wall…
§ For 2 weeks I didn't study…didn't even open a book
§ It was the beginning of what I like to consider the creation of a better me….(I have to say that otherwise I'll get depressed)
· Less stressed, less responsible, more fun….but still successful in school, work….etc.
· On the surface I seem like the most together, directed, motivated person….but really am filled with self-doubt and insecurity…and fear of failure.
· I'm studying International Business - In my last year…and I can't wait to be done.
o I get great marks for the most part, but am not a student. I'm much better off working…I try harder, am more motivated, feel more needed.
· I work part-time at Nortel…it shows me what I don't want to do for my life…anything clerical, regimented, nitpicky…
· What I do want is something with lots of social interaction, creativity and flexibility.
· I had the best year of my life last year, studying in Spain…
o I learned a lot about myself
o Had a taste of travel and the finer things in life
§ Basically, spent a ton of money…and am paying for it still…not only in debts but in bad money management habits that I brought home with me.
· My ambitions…success…I will not lie…I am motivated by money…and will need it to support my spending habits…or at least that is what my Dad keeps telling me.
· I want a career…something where I am challenged, where I can travel….
· For fun…I like watching movies, reading, pampering myself (a trip to the salon or new makeup from MAC will keep me happy for a week)
· My strengths….I am reliable …you can count on me to get the job done and done right…If I am challenged and motivated, I will come through. I'm a great friend…caring almost to a fault
· My weaknesses…Getting me going is very difficult. I procrastinate more than anyone I know….I'm extremely sensitive…take everything personally…always blame myself…

MAGIC FROM a HAT

ENTREPRENEURIALIST CULTURE

DRAMATIS PERSONAE