Say 'Hello' to Halifax's newest pet store
Mohammad Ashiq BComm'20
To tell the story of Mohammad Ashiq BComm'20, one needs to consider the age-old adage, what came first, the chicken or the egg? Cliche but related animal causality dilemma aside, was it Ashiq's time as a Saint Mary's Huskie that led him to open a pet store, or was it his love for animals? It's readers choice.
"When I first arrived in Halifax as an international student, I immediately felt at home. While I've had the chance to visit some other parts of Canada, there's just something about Nova Scotia that's hard to put into words, but it's truly special. The sense of community and the genuine warmth of the people here continually inspire me in my journey."
And it's that sense of community that gave Ashiq the confidence to dive head first into the world of entrepreneurship and follow his dream of owning his own business.
Born out of a fusion of love and curiosity, Ashiq and his brother Hasibur Abir BComm'16 – another proud Saint Mary's alum – always aspired to start their own venture but weren't sure what path they should take. It wasn't until the winter of 2022, during a casual conversation, that Abir mentioned the idea of opening a pet store in Halifax that things seemed to click.
"It was like a lightbulb moment," says Ashiq. "The idea resonated deeply with me, particularly because of my experience as a pet parent."
Ashiq had adopted his beloved furball, Storm, early in 2020, just before the lockdown at the start of the pandemic. This bond helped Ashiq understand pets' important role in our lives, calling Storm his anchor.
From there, the brothers pitched the idea to their friend Asm Sady, who was instantly on board and started researching the basics – how to start a business and information about the pet industry – before opening Hello Pets in August 2022. They aim to provide a one-stop shop for pet essentials while creating a space where people can celebrate the joy of having a furry companion.
"None of us, including my business partners, had prior experience in the retail industry, let alone the pet industry. But what we lacked in experience, we made up for with our shared excitement and dedication to building the business and making our community happy. Hello Pets is more than just a pet store. It's a place where pet lovers can come together, share their stories and find everything they need to nurture their beloved animal companions."
Centrally located on Dutch Village Rd. in Halifax, Hello Pets recently celebrated one year in business – a milestone filled with pride for Ashiq and his team. And though the weather wasn't exactly on their side that day, the outpouring of support from their community brightened their celebration.
"Celebrating our one-year milestone was such a moment of pure joy. Seeing so many people drop by to show their love and encouragement was amazing. Moments like that make all the hard work worth it."
Now, with the first year of business under their belts, the team looks to the future with excitement and anticipation, with a plan to bring new products, offerings and ideas to their community of furry friends.
"We're constantly learning and growing. Recently, we have expanded our preferences to include a small pet section catering to all the small pet parents. We're also always looking for new, local products to feature and new brands to collaborate with. As pet parents ourselves, anything that excites us, we try to bring to the table for our customers."
As a recent graduate and former employee of Saint Mary's, Ashiq looks back at his time on campus with inspiration and gratitude, knowing that the school's culture of entrepreneurship has played a role in where he is today.
"While I am still navigating the early stages of my entrepreneurial journey, I can offer this piece of advice: if you're passionate about an idea, don't hesitate to take the risk. Starting something new can be very daunting, but your passion and dedication will drive you forward. Embrace the journey and keep learning along the way – that's where the real adventure begins."
Made with Local has the recipe for success.
Andrew Russell MBA'14
Make the best-tasting snacks with the best quality ingredients. That's the goal for Made with Local, a B Corps snack company where Andrew Russell MBA'14, is Chief Growth Officer. While the title of CGO may sound new to some, its functions are rooted in the foundations of business: finance, strategy, business development and sales.
In 2012, Made with Local was founded by Russell's partner, Sheena, who is President and CEO. The business now produces its products in Windsor, Nova Scotia. Guided by their company's mission, "social impact baked in," the duo are determined to impact their community and the planet positively. By developing meaningful relationships with farmers and producers to source local ingredients, Made with Local is genuinely living its mission.
It's because of their ethics and determination that Made with Local earned B Corps certification in 2019]. The Business Development Bank of Canada describes the B.Corps certification as "corporations that have met rigorous assessments to meet standards in social and environmental performance, public transparency and legal accountability."
Thinking back to his time at Saint Mary's, Russell, an Olympian who competed in Beijing in canoe-kayak sprint, loved the quick pace of the MBA program, "After working as an athlete, the MBA program was big identity shift for me," says Russell, "the learning by doing was tremendous, it was a hyper-speed orientation to the business world and SMU gives you agency to develop yourself in a way that is very applicable to the work you want to do ."
Given today's competitive job market, Russell offers wise advice for students and new grads wanting to pursue a career path like his, "balance a lack of experience with a desire to learn." He notes that employers are looking for ambition and good energy; expertise will come, but the thirst for knowledge will get you there faster. He has always sought out work that aims to solve meaningful problems in a way that aligns with his values, which is why Made with Local products are more than just about the product itself; they are nourishing, good for the community and good for the planet.
Made with Local products are available at 3,000 retail locations across Canada and were the official snack sponsor at the 2023 Toronto Waterfront Marathon, providing healthy nutrition to over 20,000 participants at the finish line.
Nothing ventured, nothing gained.
Holly Foxall MTEI'20
By Krista Keough
Holly Foxall MTEI'20, says Saint Mary's was always on her radar. Growing up down the street from campus, not only was Saint Mary's at the top of her mind, but it was literally in her sight.
After completing her Bachelor of Science (Hon) in environmental science in Ontario, Foxall wanted to return home and pursue further education. "I was looking at Master's programs from many different places, but the Master of Technology Entrepreneurship & Innovation (MTEI) program at Saint Mary's felt like a really good fit," she says. "I also liked the small class size and the community feel on campus."
The Saint Mary's MTEI program is a technology-focused Sobey School of Business graduate degree and the only one of its kind on Canada's East Coast. The cross-disciplinary curriculum appealed to Foxall and she enrolled in 2018.
While at Saint Mary's, Foxall developed close relationships with her professors and classmates. She also made new connections in the business community in Halifax, across Canada and abroad. "That's one of the most valuable things I gained from attending Saint Mary's," she says, "the amazing network of people I connected with in the program."
Foxall's time participating in extracurricular activities played a significant role in her positive Saint Mary's experience. She travelled across Canada to participate in corporate tours and attended the Net Impact Conference in Detroit, Michigan, in 2019. She participated in the Entrepreneurship Ambassador program, promoted events to foster entrepreneurialism in the student community and was a volunteer committee member for the Women in Business Conference and the Venture Capital Investment Competition.
"One thing I learned is there are a lot of different jobs and fields you can go into. You don't have to be set on a straight path," says Foxall.
"There are things you might not even know exist that might be a perfect fit for you. That's why I tried to be involved in different things."
Her advice for newcomers to campus is to work hard in school but also to get involved in other initiatives. "Collaborating with other students or community groups is a valuable way to learn and connect with people," she says. "There are so many awesome opportunities for your time at Saint Mary's."
Foxall had explored several ideas for her future business before her postgraduate studies. In August 2018, she co-founded We Worthy Women with a friend, Madeline Whittaker. The youth-led non-profit is dedicated to the prevention and elimination of sexual and gender-based violence and works to improve the lives of women and girls globally.
"It really grew out of conversations about issues related to gender equality and women empowerment. Seeing things on the news and social media, we really wanted to make an impact there," says Foxall. Together with Whittaker, they started an Instagram account to share information about gender equality issues and empowering posts.
When asked why she started down the path toward entrepreneurship, Foxall is quick to answer. "My mom," she says. "For most of her career, she has been an entrepreneur and is definitely an inspiration for me."
Being in the MTEI program, Foxall became more interested in gender equality and wrote her thesis on gender in capital venture funding and finance. Her research fueled her passion for being her own boss. The year after she graduated from Saint Mary's, she created Action Now Atlantic and assumed the role of program director.
The idea for the initiative was to create a network of people from different institutions in the region and share resources that promote a culture of consent on campus. Funded by We Worthy Women and Gender Equity Canada, "our goal for Action Now Atlantic is really to be a connector," Foxall says.
Although the nature of her business can be challenging at times, finding things that bring her joy, having a support network through family and friends, and creating healthy boundaries help Foxall maintain her positive outlook. "There are so many things that need to change for equality. It can be heavy work sometimes, but it's good work to be doing."
Today, Foxall is 28 years old and in the beginning stages of her career. She wants to spend her days doing work that has a positive influence on individuals, communities and, ultimately, creates systemic change for a more equitable future.
"It doesn't have to be about gender-based violence. I'm interested in other gender equality issues, social justice, community health, safety and wellbeing", says Foxall. "Doing work that's really impactful is my aim."
Learn more at www.actionnowatlantic.ca
The value in values-based leadership.
Sara Napier EMBA’11
For United Way of Halifax CEO Sara Napier EMBA’11, supporting community needs and bringing people together for lasting change has been her leadership focus for the past eight years. At a time when community needs are growing faster than ever, the United Way is an impact organization that leads support efforts in housing and homelessness, domestic violence, food security and poverty.
Now a non-profit leader, it’s unsurprising that Napier’s major research project during her Executive Master of Business Administration (EMBA) focused on values-based leadership. At that time, she was the only student to take a qualitative research approach and examine the values of kindness, trust, authenticity and forgiveness in business leaders.
“Who we are as people is how we show up in the world,” says Napier, “finding passion in your workplace is important and once you realize that everything has passion and learning in it, that’s where you find impact.”
Napier credits the EMBA model as allowing her to continue working while providing an opportunity to learn more broadly alongside a diverse group of peers. As the EMBA class president, Napier’s role was to advocate on behalf of her class. She reflects fondly on how her classmates prioritized creating moments where they could connect as individuals and as a group, highlighting that each person contributed beneficial learning moments in and out of the classroom.
The United Way is a values-based organization, with equity being one of its core values. Napier is pleased to see Saint Mary’s commitment to truth and reconciliation by providing more opportunities for Indigenous students to learn in an environment that reflects their culture. Napier says, “We all need to be on our own learning path of reconciliation. I have an expectation with my team to be invested in learning in this area to help us push the envelope. It’s important that SMU shows leadership here. We must ensure that every student continues to challenge the organization to be as inclusive as possible.” For more information on the United Way of Halifax, go to www.unitedwayhalifax.ca
Homecoming 2023
October 12-15
At Homecoming 2023 on October 12-15, more than 2,300 alumni, friends, and community members came together on campus and online to celebrate milestones, reconnect and cheer on the Huskies. A heartwarming Golden Grad class of 1973 reception saw more than 145 people gather, some for the first time in 50 years. "We really enjoyed our Golden Grads Luncheon—51 years ago for me already—how did that happen in the blink of an eye…" said Bob Bissett, Golden Grad.
This year, Homecoming kicked off with the panel discussion Pathways to Success: From Saint Mary's to International Diplomacy—an opportunity for the Department of Philosophy to introduce the new major, "Law and Ethics," at Saint Mary's. Each speaker shared their journey, discussed challenges and successes, and helped students and young alumni explore the possibilities after graduating with a Bachelor of Arts.
Later that evening, our alums and community attended an eye-opening panel discussion on artificial intelligence (AI) to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the Computer Science Program. This event brought together science and business alumni and students to connect, network, and discuss AI. Discussions included how AI is advancing business, research and technology and the importance of ethics in academic integrity, finance and government.
2023 was a big year for celebrating milestones at the university. Fifty years ago, the 1973 Huskies Basketball, Football, and Hockey teams took home championships. Almost 100 alumni gathered in the O'Donnell Hennessey Student Centre for a 1973 champion teams reunion, where they celebrated and swapped stories from their big year.
The 1973 Men's Football team gathered for a reunion reception in the Gorsebrook Lounge. MLA Barbara Adams, Minister for Seniors and Long-Term Care, presented the team with certificates from the province. ADM Dwayne Provo BEd'95 addressed the team to celebrate their success in '73. There was a buzz of stories—from on and off the field—as if no time had passed.
Despite the rain on Friday evening, more than 900 former Huskies, fellow alumni and Saint Mary's community members cheered on the Huskies Football team. The Huskies won (33-18) against Acadia, sending them into the playoffs. Later that night, alums and friends gathered in the Gorsebrook Lounge for a Flashback Friday Pub night celebration following the football game—an opportunity to reconnect with friends and dance the night away with Halifax DJs PINEO & LOEB.
Homecoming also celebrated the classes of 1998 and 2013 with a brunch in the Gorsebrook Lounge on Saturday. The morning was full of laughs, tasty food and many graduates catching up with old classmates. The weekend was packed with sporting events and reunions, with alumni cheering on the men's and women's hockey and soccer teams on the Huskies field.
Saint Mary's Alumni sends a huge thank you to all who came out to make another successful Homecoming weekend. Our alumni, friends and community were able to reconnect and celebrate monumental milestones for themselves and the university.
