SPARK After Hours

In the final episode of season 3, our co-chairs Shreya and Ananya, welcome Amanda, popular STEM social media influencer and a final year Integrated Science student at McMaster University. Amanda discusses her journey to being a social media influencer and how her university project during the pandemic has turned into her full-time side hustle. She shares her tips about surviving university and having a healthy balance all while enjoying the journey. Join us today as we unravel a load of advice behind motivation, university, studying and be prepared for an insightful conversation from your “uni bestie”.

In this episode, we welcome Jaimil Dalwadi, a computer science student at the University of Waterloo, to share insights into STEM. Jaimil discusses the challenges and triumphs of his academic journey, offering a perspective on the skills needed to excel at a top-tier university. The conversation extends to high school preparation, with Jaimil providing advice on extracurriculars and strategies for success in STEM programs. Whether you're a student or curious about computer science, join us for valuable insights into navigating academia and excelling in STEM with Jaimil Dalwadi.

Tune in to learn about Andrea Chakma’s journey, a Mechatronics Engineering alum from the University of Waterloo, as she shares her inspiring story of leadership, diverse internships at tech giants like Splunk and financial institutions like RBC, and her commitment to making a positive impact.

Hear about her prestigious Pearl Sullivan Emerging Global Leaders Award, adventures with Girl Guides of Canada, and much more!

Whether you're a STEM enthusiast, aspiring engineer, or simply curious about the intersection of technology and positive change, this episode is packed with wisdom and passion.

Join us in Episode 5, hosted by Risha and Haley as they dive into the incredible journey of Helen Li, a Waterloo student blazing a trail in software engineering.
From high school to university, Helen shares her challenges, projects, and key insights for aspiring students. Get ready for a dose of inspiration and valuable tips on shaping your path to success!

In this episode, our executives Ananya and Samaira dive deep into the future of technology in various career fields with a leadership performance coach, Issa Paez. Issa is the founder of Arete Leadership, a leadership program elevating leaders of tomorrow.

In this episode, we discuss the process of the challenging journey to being accepted to Medical School in Canada and the process as a whole with Vidhi Bhatt and Shubh Patel. Vidhi and Shubh both completed their undergrad programs early in just 3 years and are now first year Medical Students at UFT’s Temerty School of Medicine, one of Canada’s best medical schools. Today we will gain an insight into their process of applying to Med school, their unique extracurriculars and tips on how to improve your chances of getting accepted overall.

Get ready for an exciting episode where we dive deep into the incredible journey of Saumya Gupta, a graduate from University of Waterloo’s computer science co-op program. She's not just a brilliant data engineer at SkyWatch; she's also a Commonwealth Games athlete representing Kenya! We'll explore how she expertly balances her love for professional badminton with her career dreams in the startup world, all while relocating from Kenya to Canada. Get ready to be inspired by her advice and personal experiences on chasing dreams and achieving goals while discussing her perspective on the world of software engineering.

Connect with Saumya on LinkedIn!

https://www.linkedin.com/in/saumyagupta278/

In the first episode of SPARK After Hours Season 3, we dive deep into university applications and learn about success in high school with the valuable insights of Keya Tiwari! Keya Tiwari is a 2nd-year Computer Engineering student at the University of Waterloo and has worked in IT, software, and application development at various companies. She is a Director for Waterloo Women in Engineering (WiE), an organization that encourages women to pursue STEM fields. Additionally, she is the Chairwoman of CS Connect, a nonprofit that aims to connect all computer science clubs and enthusiasts across Ontario. In this episode, we explore Keya's tips to increase your chances of getting into your dream university, and to ensure a smooth transition from high school to post-secondary.

In this episode, we discuss diversity in STEM, high-level education, and the future of genetics with Roopali Chaudhary! Dr. Chaudhary is the CEO of an organization called Lotus STEMM which provides a networking and leadership platform for South Asian women in Science, Technology, Engineering, Math, and Medicine (STEMM). Alongside this, she is a cell biology specialist at Allarta Life Science, a research associate at McMaster University and a content editor for Sci-Illustrate. Today we will gain more insight into her organization, time spent in research, and advice on how to break into the post-secondary environment.

In this episode, we discuss exactly what goes into making video games with Owen Goss! Owen is the co-founder at Milkbag Games. He has run his own businesses for over 15 years, and today, we’ll be exploring how he started off in this field, from his experience in software development to his world-impacting work with his very own game studios.