Tell us a little bit about yourself!
I studied mechatronics engineering at UW, during which time I had the opportunity to work for a number of different companies both here and abroad, doing everything from working at a bank writing software for high-frequency trading algorithms, to spending four months in San Francisco working for a company that makes online games. When I graduated in 2012, two classmates and I started a tech company called Thalmic Labs, and we recently started shipping our first product: the Myo armband, a device that allow anyone to interact with their technology using simple, intuitive hand gestures and motions.
Why did you choose the University of Waterloo? Why did you choose to base your business in K-W?
I chose the University of Waterloo for two main reasons: the quality and reputation of the engineering program and the opportunity (requirement, actually) to participate in co-op. And if I were starting over right now, there’d be a third: the amazing start-up community that’s been steadily gaining momentum over the past few years, which has led to many new opportunities for students and graduates alike.
That third thing is also a big part of the reason we chose to base Thalmic Labs in the K/W region. The support network of mentors, investors, and other startups, combined with the amazing talent that’s continuously coming out of the post-secondary institutions, has made it the perfect place to launch a high-growth company.
How do you think the University of Waterloo (and others) can encourage women to pursue degrees in engineering? Do you see it as a male-dominated field, or is that changing?
You can’t meaningfully force people to pursue paths that they’re not interested in or passionate about, so the first step is to get women thinking and excited about engineering as a possible career path long before any post-secondary admissions decisions have to be made. (This applies equally to women as it does to anyone!) And yes, going by the numbers there are many areas of engineering that are still male-heavy, although that is indeed starting to change
Any advice for the students who are still finishing up finals? Or students who are graduating?
To both: good luck! And to those who are graduating: take some time off now, if you can, because life will only get busier from here!