Wondering how to make an impact with your health & life sciences degree or curious about what lies ahead? You’re in the right place! This article is part of an 8-part series, supported by RBC Future Launch, that delves into the entrepreneurial journeys of students and recent graduates just like you. 

To get some real advice, we sat down with three of our 2024 RBC Inclusive Entrepreneurship Award Winners from our Fellowship Program. These health & life sciences graduates, recognized for their inclusive leadership and entrepreneurial innovation, shared their personal stories, growth journeys, and practical advice, all tailored just for you.

Meet the Fellows

Amanda Yuen 

Meet Amanda, she has a Bachelor of Health Sciences with a Minor in Sociology from Western University and a certificate in UX Design from BrainStation. She’s located in Vancouver, British Columbia and is a 2024 Venture for Canada Fellow.

Amanda discovered Venture for Canada from a friend of hers, Andrew Fullerton, who was a 2023 Fellow. “I had been seeking professional development for some time, and was very interested in the startup space. I saw that Andrew, who also has a background in health, was working for a startup doing very meaningful work. I wanted to be able to make an impact and learn as much as I could, so after speaking with him, I decided to apply,” explains Amanda. 

During her education, Amanda felt very discouraged by the many issues that affect the health of individuals and society at large, and felt powerless to do anything unless she went into policy or medicine. “For my health science grads, know that there are so many more options than that. I think a lot of STEM majors can often feel like they wasted their education if they’re not actively using their knowledge in their day to day but I challenge you to think about what other skills you’ve gained along the way. Whether it’s public speaking, formal writing, or communication skills, there’s always transferable skills that you can leverage to open up more doors,” advises Amanda. 

Before the Fellowship Program, Amanda felt very stagnant in her professional growth. “I was really hoping that VFC would provide me with more guidance and clarity for my next steps and it definitely did! I found myself continually getting out of my comfort zone and oftentimes, genuinely surprised myself. It gave me the confidence to apply for the roles I was seeking, while helping build such a great community of like-minded young professionals,” says Amanda. ❤️

Ramez Ahmed

Meet Ramez, he has a Master in Medical Biotechnology from the University of Windsor and his career motto is all about combining science with business. He’s located in Windsor, Ontario and is a 2024 Venture for Canada Fellow.

Initially, Ramez had no clue what VFC was, he was simply applying for a job as a Venture Analyst. Upon searching “Venture Analyst Canada,” VFC came up! “What intrigued me most about the program was the hands-on experience in business roles and access to exclusive job searches. The interview was particularly memorable, as it assessed my problem-solving abilities for real-life scenarios rather than just my resume. Having recently graduated, I was eager to network and gain practical experience,” explains Ramez.

“Coming from a background in biological and life sciences, where pursuing a PhD and research is the norm, I would suggest exploring the industrial side of life sciences if you have an inclination towards business. There are numerous roles that bridge science and business, offering a dynamic and rewarding career path. VFC is a great place to try something new in a supportive environment where failure is not looked down upon, making it a great platform to explore and pivot into other streams of interest,” says Ramez.

“VFC was a transformative experience! I found a supportive community where I could experiment with different roles to discover what resonated with me most. I gained hands-on experience in sales, marketing, operations, and customer success. Additionally, I improved my soft skills, including public speaking, teamwork, and collaboration,” describes Ramez.💡

Michelle Ong

Meet Michelle, she has a Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology from Western University. She’s located in Toronto, Ontario and is a 2024 Venture for Canada Fellow.

I cannot remember exactly how I stumbled across the Fellowship program but it must have been through an Instagram ad or Tik Tok video of someone raising awareness of the program. At this point, I think I was already halfway into the year since I completed my Kinesiology program…I had no hard agenda as to how I wanted to advance my professional career but what I knew for certain was I wanted to take this time to enrich myself in other fields that I never got a chance to expose myself to or decided too early in life (with the limited knowledge I had) that it was not for me. 

Entrepreneurship and business, in particular, were areas that I wanted to dive into so you can imagine how thrilled I was to find out that there was a program which offered post-grads like myself an opportunity to learn and explore. Fortunately, my friends and family were extremely encouraging about this transition and perhaps leap in the opposite direction (due to my health science background), however, my decision to join the program came from a very intuitive place and I think my time at the Fellowship program ultimately cemented that,” explains Michelle.

“Some advice that I would offer to future fellows from my academic background would be to be as open and curious to new experiences and connections as possible. I think a lot of information can be drawn simply from making a choice or decision and committing to it. It may or may not feel like it is leading you to the “right” direction at times but what I believe it offers you in the long run is clarity towards what is.” says Michelle.

“The Fellowship program impacted my personal and professional growth in invaluable ways. I made lifelong friendships for one and I believe it also reinforced and broadened my existing knowledge set.”

Inspired by Amanda, Ramez and Michelle’s stories?

You can be next! Become one of the top 65 entrepreneurial graduates across Canada by applying for Venture for Canada’s Fellowship Program. Connect with a vibrant community and leverage your unique social science background to carve a distinct path in the entrepreneurial world. Engage with like-minded individuals, redefine entrepreneurship, and build a future where your skills set you apart. 

Apply to Venture for Canada’s 2025 Fellowship Cohort