Innovation Bridge

Welcome to the Innovation Bridge series, designed to help you discover aspects of innovation and the entrepreneurial mindset. The series is open to all University of Alberta students and postdoctoral fellows (PDF) who want to explore how their skills can open opportunities, whether your goal is to start a new initiative yourself or assist other organizations in successful ventures.

Students and PDFs are in a unique position — they are talented, creative, analytical, problem solvers and innovators, yet they rarely rank themselves high in their business skills. Having an entrepreneurial mindset means more than starting a business that sells a product or service. You need innovation and creativity to create solid policies, develop new processes and establish best practices. These are the skills that graduate programs and fellowships build and can be transferred to any organization.

The Innovation Bridge series will explore questions that relate to the entrepreneurial mindset and will help you bridge your skills with the larger entrepreneurial ecosystem — an ecosystem that needs you.

Upcoming Sessions

Navigating Social Entrepreneurship

April 30, 2025 | 12 - 1 p.m. MDT | Online

Register in campusBRIDGE     Zoom Link

Description: Many people want to have a purpose in their future and share a strong commitment to improving their community. This is what drives many people to pursue careers in the non-profit sector, although social entrepreneurship can take place in any sector. What does it take to work in this sector? How can you set up an organization to support something you are passionate about? What are the challenges of founding a social innovation? Come join us for a conversation with current graduate student Hero Laird who has co-founded a number of successful ventures, and who is passionate about supporting a justice system that works for all of us, not just a few.

Presenter: Hero Laird, JD
Featured by the City of Edmonton as someone who was only coming for a short stopover, Hero has found the city offers a place to share ideas and grow new connections. They have more than 15 years of experience in organizations from the grassroots to the Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat at the Government of Canada. Hero has worked with many groups on law and social systems reform, including as the President of Volunteer Alberta and as the President and Co-founder of the Digital Law & Innovation Society. Whether the role was as a start-up staff member of the Ontario Nonprofit Network or Legal Counsel with the Wahkohtowin Law and Governance Lodge, a common theme is a connection and commitment to the community, the heart of work that is sometimes known as social entrepreneurship.

More sessions are to be announced for Fall 2025. Stay tuned ….

Previous Presentations

To see previous presentations, view the list below. Past presenters welcome questions from current graduate students and PDFs. To connect with them, email gradpd@ualberta.ca.