Get to know Kevin Saludares, ILead’s Brand Ambassador work-study student!
What’s your name, program, and background?
My name is Kevin Saludares, and I am a Fourth Year Chemical Engineering student hailing from the Philippines.
How have you been involved with ILead?
Currently I’m taking two courses offered by ILead, which are Foundations of Engineering Leadership (APS343), and The Power of Story: Discovering Your Engineering Leadership Narrative (APS445). I’m also involved with The Game. Since First Year, I was involved with the Chemical Engineering Working Group where I would plan events such as First Year Lab Tours, Research Days, and Networking Tutorials. I also took part in the Chemical Engineering Summer Research Leadership Program during my summer research internship after Second Year.
What does being a “brand ambassador” mean to you?
To me, being a brand ambassador is to become a role model for an organization, and showing the best image of myself. In everything I am involved with, I have a sense of responsibility to professionally represent myself in order to leave a good impression.
Why does engineering leadership matter to you?
Engineering leadership matters to me because it helps me develop the skills and experience necessary to succeed in the workforce. I see that many of the world’s biggest and most successful companies rely on effective leadership for their success. Engineering leadership gives me the chance to learn about my own strengths and weaknesses, and apply them in a variety of group experiences. It also helps me to learn how to maximize my contribution in teams. Without it, I would be doing things for the sake of doing them without asking myself: “Why is doing this important to me?”
What do you hope to accomplish in your final year at Skule?
The one thing I really want to accomplish is to be fully aware of myself as a person, and how I can use my skills, talents and passion to make a lasting impact in the Skule community. Effective leadership always starts with learning more about yourself and that can be very challenging at first. I want to be able to graduate from the University of Toronto having developed a whole new perspective on leadership, and especially understanding why it’s so vital for companies and for my self-development. One goal for me in particular is to be a recipient for the Gordon Cressy Leadership Award!
What is one thing you’d take with you on a desert island?
My little brother. Who wants to be alone on a desert island?