Engineers Reshape the World panel: Ekaterina Tzekova, Narinder Dhami and Eli Angen.
Have you ever thought about how you can change the world and make a difference? On November 26, 2015, a panel of three outstanding engineering graduates sat down with current engineering students to answer questions, provide advice, and discuss how social problems can be looked at through the lens of an engineer.
ILead’s Mike Klassen moderated the panel of esteemed engineering graduates consisting of: Eli Angen, Chemical Engineering graduate from the University of Calgary, Ontario Director for the Pembina Institute; Ekaterina Tzekova (CivE 0T9, PhD 1T4), Building Research Manager at the Toronto Atmospheric Fund; and, Narinder Dhami (ECE1T5+PEY), Managing Director of the LEAP Centre for Social Impact.
Mike asked the panellists how they stay motivated to work on such large challenges, and how they keep themselves on track. Eli said he often asks himself: “What most needs doing in the world? What most needs to be done by you?” For Eli, the answer to this question is in his current position at the Pembina Institute, a clean energy think tank leading Canada’s transition to clean energy through consulting and advocacy. Eli realized his passion was to create a world where clean energy is a solution to the energy crisis. However, Eli did not land his dream job right after his graduation, instead, he went through numerous positions and industries to find the perfect fit for him.
Although each panellist had a distinct and different route to their path of success, a common theme emerged throughout the evening: each path was lined with uncertainty and the valour to make difficult decisions about career advancement. The underlying message was that money is not always the answer to happiness. This came apparent as Narinder explained how she turned down numerous positions with generous salaries due to a lack of what personally drives her in the job description.
The panellists had a collective “yes” in answering the final question of the night “Do you think there are enough fulfilling jobs for everyone?” They left the crowd with the thought that change can start within them if they are passionate about what they are doing. The change can start when you ultimately align your goals with your schooling and job to help guide your path to success. “Align your goals with your schooling and with your job”, advised Ekaterina Tzekova.
Following the conclusion of the panel discussion, the panellists graciously provided their time to speak with students individually and in small groups—a gesture that surely aided the attending student leaders in their future endeavours.
The panel discussion was part of ILead’s year-long co-curricular program The Game.
-Michael Sabatini