Meet: Nirusan Rajakulendran

For the second entry in our Meet series, we are shining a spotlight on the REVCA member who generously volunteered his time to be our guide on our MaRS Trek in September, Nirusan Rajakulendran! He is a Market Intelligence Manager at MaRS by day and an Evening MBA student at Rotman by night.

Nirusan Rajakulendran
Market Intelligence Manager, MaRS Discovery District
Rotman Evening MBA - 2020

Connect with Nirusan on: LinkedIn | Twitter | 500px

Tell us a little bit about yourself.
My passion has always been in the sciences. Even as a kid, I had a curious mind. I did my undergraduate studies in molecular biology at the University of Toronto. During this time, I had the chance to intern for an early-stage biotech startup. This was my first exposure to entrepreneurship and I loved it! From this point on, I knew that I wanted to work in an environment that married both the sciences and business.

After taking a year off to do an internship in British Columbia, I returned to Toronto to start my Masters in Biotechnology at the University of Toronto. The program focused on teaching students the business of science. After graduating from the program, I spent two years at GlaxoSmithKline, working in business operations and medical education. I soon realized that working in large multinational was not what I wanted to do for the rest of my life. I wanted to get back to the entrepreneurship space.

I soon left GSK to join MaRS – the epicenter of entrepreneurship and innovation in Toronto. I have been working at MaRS for the past 5 years and have enjoyed every bit of it! Over the years, I’ve had the chance to support hundreds of startups and learn the intricacies of running a successful business.

Why are you doing an MBA?
I am doing my MBA at Rotman, so that I can continue to develop my business skills and network with like-minded students who are interested in entrepreneurship. I would like to start a social enterprise one day and believe that the network and teachings at Rotman can help me achieve that.

What do people ask you most about working at MaRS and what is your answer?
Most people are interested in learning about the various teams at MaRS and also career opportunities with the organization. Most know that we rent out space at MaRS and hold events, but we do much more than that. There are multiple teams at MaRS and we work and interact with the innovation community in various ways.

We operate across four main sectors, Health, Energy and the Environment, Enterprise and Fintech. We help our companies in a number of ways including market research, advisory, capital raising, partnerships, talent, and more. Some teams at MaRS also work at the systems level where we try to advance new ideas and create an environment that is more receptive to innovation. We have teams dedicated to social innovation, data analytics and insights, talent development, systems change, venture capital and much more. The best way to get your head around MaRS is to spend some time in the building attending an event, grabbing a coffee with a MaRSian, or interacting with the various tenants who call MaRS home.

How can someone get a job at MaRS?
There are a number of different teams at MaRs and we hire individuals with various backgrounds, skills, and experiences. To get a better sense of the teams at MaRS and the various opportunities with the organization, I recommend reaching out to MaRS staff and trying to understand which team matches closely with your interest and skill set. We also have an internship program every year, and postings are typically released during the start of the calendar year. To stay tuned to opportunities at MaRS, refer to our Careers page and follow us on LinkedIn, Twitter and Instagram. I would also recommend researching the various tenants at MaRS and the opportunities that are available with these organizations.

Send our members a message. It can be advice, a recommendation, a promotion, anything!
Check out the MaRS Student Work Placement Program, for opportunities to work with some of the most exciting and innovative startups in Toronto.