When the asked post-secondary students from across Canada to come up with the next big green idea that will change the way Canada does business, it was a challenge聽that Hassan Valiji, a third-year business administration student聽in 91亚色's Schulich School of Business, could not refuse.
Hassan Valiji
鈥淢y friend told me about the challenge and I had an idea in mind so I decided to go for it!鈥 said Hassan about his reason for entering the competition. His big green idea, which is聽a secret, won him a spot at the聽national finals taking place Feb. 29. Valiji will present his sustainable business idea to a panel of judges聽for a chance to win $30,000 for himself and $30,000 for the Schulich School of Business.
Valiji聽will compete against students from the University of Calgary, Richard Ivey School of Business at the University of Western Ontario, University of Waterloo and Cape Breton University.
The five semi-finalists will pitch their concepts to a panel of Canada鈥檚 top CEO鈥檚: Shelley Broader, president and CEO, Walmart Canada Corp; John Guarino, president, Coca-Cola Refreshments Canada; John LeBoutillier, president, Unilever Canada; Michael McCain, president and CEO, Maple Leaf Foods; and Peter Robinson, CEO, The David Suzuki Foundation.
The winning idea must present a new way of doing business, have a significant sustainability benefit and have a strong business case to back it up (it saves money or creates new revenue). Judges will also be scoring submissions for originality and ease of implementation.
The finals take place today from 10am to 2:30pm. The challenge will be from the TMX Broadcast Centre in Toronto.聽Register 聽to watch聽Valiji battle head-to-head against his competitors in the Walmart Green Student Challenge.