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.

Meet: Benji Eisenberg & Amar Kaur

Welcome to our new Meet series, where we shine a spotlight on students, alumni, and members of our community who have an amazing stories to share.

With our Kickoff just around the corner, we are launching this series with our very own REVCA Co-Presidents, Benjamin Eisenberg & Amarpreet Kaur!

Benjamin Eisenberg
REVCA Co-President

2018 Summer Internship:
Blockchain Business Development and Strategy Intern, Aion

Connect with Benji on: LinkedIn

Tell us a little bit about yourself.
After starting my career as a field engineer and then becoming a ski instructor in Colorado, I got into entrepreneurship as the first employee of a startup solar energy developer, NEI Solar. Working at NEI Solar was eye opening – I loved being able to touch each part of the company and have my ideas help guide our strategy and direction. What really got me hooked was the idea that small companies can be much more nimble in a rapidly-changing world, filling the gaps and innovating where large companies are slow to adapt.

Why are you doing an MBA?
The full-time MBA was experience I knew I wanted to have. Part of it was learning the fundamentals of business, some of which I learned in previous jobs. The bigger reason was to learn life skills around making decisions, motivating others, and managing myself to always be progressing in life. I chose Rotman specifically for the CDL and to be launched into Toronto’s startup ecosystem.

What inspired you to become a REVCA exec?
REVCA was one of the most valuable parts of first year. The Nuco trek helped me get my internship, and overall the club helped me get connected to the entrepreneurial community in Toronto. I’m grateful for my REVCA experience in first year and want to help provide the same opportunities to our members this year.

Why should people join REVCA?
People should join REVCA to explore their entrepreneurial interests, whether that means wanting to start a business, work with startups or in VC, or just exploring an entrepreneurial mindset that they can take to whichever industry they choose to pursue. REVCA will help our members become familiar with Toronto’s ecosystem, learn how to add value to early-stage startups and small businesses, gain experience in venture capital, and grow their networks.

Send our members a message. It can be advice, a recommendation, a promotion, anything!
Paraphrasing a quote from Sheryl Sandberg – rather than think of your career like a ladder, think of it like a jungle gym. There is so much to experience and explore. Have fun and do what excites you most.

Amarpreet Kaur
REVCA Co-President

2018 Summer Internship:
Web Producer, Creative Destruction Lab

Connect with Amar on: LinkedIn | Twitter | Instagram

Tell us a little bit about yourself.
I come from a science background; undergrad in Molecular Biology and Chemistry, and a Masters in Biotechnology from the University of Toronto. I ventured out of the world of science and into the world of business when I decided to start working at a technology incubator to learn business where business starts: from startups. I turned my creative side into a marketing-focused position. I started meeting a new innovative tech startup every day and I fell in love with entrepreneurship.

Why are you doing an MBA?
I realized that I needed to explore more aspects of running a business that I did not get exposure to while managing, developing and executing a marketing and communications strategy. I got that exposure and knowledge in my first year of the MBA on how to support business development for a venture or a new venture supporting-organization (like an incubator, accelerator or innovation program).

What inspired you to become a REVCA exec?
I couldn’t help but want to spread my love for innovation, entrepreneurship and startups with the student community within Rotman. The team that came together as REVCA executives makes me so excited to engage the Rotman community with the ever-growing Toronto startup ecosystem.

Why should people join REVCA?
Join REVCA because the entrepreneurial mindset is not just for people that want to start their own business, or work in a startup, it’s a way of life that will help you in any role that you take on. The way that an entrepreneur thinks is the way that a problem solver thinks: they push boundaries, test their limits and make an impact.

Send our members a message. It can be advice, a recommendation, a promotion, anything!
Keep an open mind. I never thought that doing a Masters in Biotechnology would take me into the world of innovation. I thought I would be working in a pharmaceutical giant. But I’ve never looked back. It’s addicting.