A Liberal Arts University in the Business World: Enactus STU Attends National Conference in Toronto
Members of Enactus STU had the opportunity to network with students from across the country, exchange ideas, and share their projects at the Enactus Canada National Exposition in Toronto.
Enactus is an international nonprofit organization dedicated to inspiring students to improve the world through entrepreneurial action. The National Exposition was the first in-person event for the STU group since the beginning of the pandemic.
Ameri Suzuki, a second-year STUdent from Japan and co-president of Enactus STU, described the experience as inspiring and eye-opening.
“I was struck by the passion and creativity of the members. It was amazing how innovative business ideas can flourish from common everyday, environmental problems,” she said.
“I realized that you don’t have to be a certain age or have a level of expertise to address social issues. Sometimes all it takes is initiative, passion and having a unique perspective.”
Isabella Mehlitz, a fourth-year STUdent from Fredericton and co-president of Enactus STU, said the event highlighted the importance of addressing issues from the social sciences and humanities perspective.
“People thought it was odd that we were from a small liberal arts school, in a very business-oriented environment. But we broke that stereotype and I’m very proud of that,” she said.
"A liberal arts education, in addition to Enactus, has helped me develop a strong sense of social responsibility and strong and transferable intellectual and practical skills that I can use in real-world settings."
The co-presidents also attended a leadership summit. They learned about leadership and training practices, mental health, and shared their experiences running an Enactus club.
“I have expanded my soft skills and gained more confidence in my leadership skills with the responsibilities that I undertake as President. I'm excited to continue my journey within Enactus and as an alum after I graduate,” Mehlitz said.
With the knowledge they gained from the conference, the co-presidents are in the process of restructuring Enactus STU.
“We want to make our team more competitive and make gradual changes so that we can make it to nationals,” Suzuki said.
The next Enactus Regional Competition is in Halifax on March 2, 2023, and the Enactus Canada National Exposition is in Montreal on May 1, 2023. Enactus STU looks forward to the competition and support from the STU community.
About Enactus STU
Enactus STU is a group of STUdents from all faculties striving to make a difference in the community. Enactus provides an experiential learning platform for students in an entrepreneurial capacity to develop projects to help advance the economic, social, and environmental health of Canada.
Enactus STU currently runs three student-led projects:
- Connecto - seeks to enhance financial literacy skills in high school students in the Fredericton area and New Brunswick.
- Incubatorly – hosts entrepreneurship fairs in collaboration with STUdent run businesses and mentoring sessions to help current STUdents succeed in their business ideas.
- Spring Up – an initiative focused on creating a positive environmental impact by bringing together the Fredericton community to keep the city and campus clean. They also have an upcoming event called Sustainability Swap for exchanging items like clothes, books, games and more to encourage sustainable practices.