Experience

Islamic Family and Social Services Association (IFSSA)

• Canada
• Individual and Family Services
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Servant of Servants

  • Nov 2018 - Present

  Helping the organization articulate and increase its impact, professionalize from entry level to the board, and be sustainable in its interventions and operations. Helping the organization articulate and increase its impact, professionalize from entry level to the board, and be sustainable in its interventions and operations.



Servus Credit Union

• Canada
• Financial Services
• 700 & Above Employee

• Corporate Director

  • Mar 2021 - Present



University of Alberta

• Canada
• Higher Education
• 700 & Above Employee

• Lecturer

  • Jan 2008 - Dec 2020

  Developed & taught course curriculum for optional/mandatory MBA classes on 1) Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), 2) Ethics 3) Social Entrepreneurship and 4) Corporate Sustainability. Focussed class on helping prepare business students to develop positive social change within the for-profit and non-profit sectors. Explored community needs assessments, community organizing, governance, social metrics, revenue generation/diversification and engagement with social entrepreneurship thought leaders. Received a 92% positive feedback rating from students. Show less



ALIF Partners

• Canada
• Business Consulting and Services
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Senior Partner

  • Nov 2014 - Nov 2019

  Co-Founded a management consulting firm of 15+ people that focused on engagement-based research, values rooted communication, and specialized capacity. Developed firms research & change management methodology using Design Thinking, Human Centered Design, IAF Community Organizing and other methods. Sample Projects… Clark Builders – Guiding Principles & Community Foundation Helped one of Canada’s largest construction firms develop a plan for addressing organizational silos, upskilling/leadership development, corporate giving & community impact. Smith’s Landing First Nation – Community & Economic Development Led the First Nation to its highest amount of economic development funding through the development of a community guided environmental scan and planning. Edmonton Arts Council – Equity Workshops Designed and delivered a series of workshops utilizing Art of Hosting derived techniques. These workshops helped arts organizations understand issues pertaining to equity and diversity and received 95% positive reviews. Edmonton Economic Development Corp (EEDC) – YEG DT Case Studies Facilitated expert panels and practical case studies aimed at informing city councilors and policy makers on how to improve Edmonton’s downtown office vacancy rate. ECVO – History of Edmonton’s Human Services Sector Researched and created a 75-page history and visual timeline on the development of Edmonton’s Human Services sector. Work went on to become foundation of ECVO’s communication campaign in 2017. JEDI – Labour Study Created a comprehensive labour study with targeted recommendations for councilors/policy makers, prospective businesses & industry that included detailed statistical analysis, door knocking surveys and interviews with industry leaders. ORB Solar – Growth Strategy Helped with all elements of technology commercialization, including branding, funding, growth strategy and lead identification for an innovative solar lighting company. Show less



Edmonton Economic Development Corporation

• Canada
• Civic and Social Organizations
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Manager

  • Nov 2010 - Nov 2014

  Brought external funding to highest level in five years. Established and leveraged partnerships with industry, academia, unions, non-profits and different orders of government. Initiated and oversaw large multi-disciplinary multi-stakeholder projects. Brought external funding to highest level in five years. Established and leveraged partnerships with industry, academia, unions, non-profits and different orders of government. Initiated and oversaw large multi-disciplinary multi-stakeholder projects.



Sustainable Works

• Non-profit Organization Management
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Executive Director

  • Mar 2009 - Feb 2010

  Launched a social enterprise that aimed to create green collar jobs, reduce carbon emissions, and make utilities more affordable through eco-retrofits done on a community level. Established foundational infrastructure for organization from incorporation to operation. Worked with diverse stakeholders including: industry, unions, government, churches & citizens. Built key partnerships and funding agreements with municipal government & industry. Developed business plan, conducted feasibility analysis and led construction pilots. Show less



MBAs Without Borders

• Director of Innovation

  • 2006 - Jul 2009

  Took organization from three volunteers to having representatives in 25+ countries. Built online presence, expanded market outreach, collaboration, and added value for volunteers, funders, and the public through practical uses of social media. Took organization from three volunteers to having representatives in 25+ countries. Built online presence, expanded market outreach, collaboration, and added value for volunteers, funders, and the public through practical uses of social media.



Social Enterprise Fund

• Director of Operations

  • Jan 2008 - Mar 2009

  Established organizational policy, branding, metrics & marketing strategy. Stewarded medium to large sized organizations in social enterprise development, from idea generation, to financing, to implementation, and growth. Developed, deployed & marketed a highly praised 8hr series on social enterprise for diverse clients. Assessed business and investment risk using Social Return on Investment (SROI) and Blended Value (BV) techniques alongside traditional financial analysis and auditing techniques. Created partnerships focused on green innovation, alternative financing, and social measurement. Built strong partnerships with government, academia, non-profits, and private enterprise. Consistently delivered results significantly under budget, and above expectations. Show less



Vestergaard

• Switzerland
• Manufacturing
• 100 - 200 Employee

• Project Co-ordinator

  • Jan 2006 - Dec 2006

  Pitched, implemented, and maintained a first of its kind marketing/adult education strategy to combat malaria and sell anti-malaria bed-nets by securing lucrative product placement positions in 20+ high profile “Nollywood” films. CNN, Global TV, and others recognized work. Globally coordinated market research projects over four continents and six time zones. Pitched, implemented, and maintained a first of its kind marketing/adult education strategy to combat malaria and sell anti-malaria bed-nets by securing lucrative product placement positions in 20+ high profile “Nollywood” films. CNN, Global TV, and others recognized work. Globally coordinated market research projects over four continents and six time zones.



Tanzania Chamber of Commerce Industry and Agriculture

• Business Consultant/ IT Specialist

  • Apr 2004 - May 2005

  Fulfilled program mandate despite major infrastructure hurdles. Built a support network for 30+ NGOS, & private enterprises. Developed appropriate solutions for people of different cultures, languages, and means. Continued involvement with projects through fundraising, youth mobilization, and awareness building in Canada. Fulfilled program mandate despite major infrastructure hurdles. Built a support network for 30+ NGOS, & private enterprises. Developed appropriate solutions for people of different cultures, languages, and means. Continued involvement with projects through fundraising, youth mobilization, and awareness building in Canada.



University of Alberta: Unix Technical Response

• UNIX Programmer Analyst

  • Oct 1997 - Sep 2002

  Problem: How do you address the high-end needs of technically diverse research staff and academics? Solutions: 1. Speak the language… Knowledge is useless without the ability to communicate; I reserved tech-speak for my co-workers, and used jargon free English when communicating with clients and for writing articles in the campus newspaper. Required: Detailed knowledge of individual client needs as well as of AIX, Solaris, Irix, various Linux distributions, Windows (all versions), and MacOS, plus PHP, MYSQL/ Oracle, some Java, and C, C++. 2. Instigate cross-fertilization… I connected anthropology classes I was taking to technical projects I was working on to instigate the Bridgland Repeat Photography Project for SunSITE Alberta. This was one of SunSITE’s premier projects and went on to win several awards. Required: Creating ER Diagrams, using Oracle databases, working with GIS info, and creating a user-centric web interface. Show less