Geoffery Malleck

Perspectives: (September 3, 2014) Promoting the entrepreneurial spirit through penetration and expansion.

During lectures on creativity-innovation-entrepreneurship, the words I use to define the characteristics of an entrepreneur are ‘interesting’ as they are both their accurate and yet considered less-than-complimentary:  Unreasonable, disruptive, irrational and curious..  For example, when my grade school teachers repeatedly informed my parents “Geoff is disruptive,” I am pretty sure it wasn’t meant as a compliment and yet entrepreneurs must seek disruption in order to make a difference.

The effect of the innovative spirit at UW may best be described using another slightly unattractive expression- contagious.  How does this infection occur?

The entrepreneurial spirit at uWaterloo flourishes in two ways:

• Penetration within the University of Waterloo space

• Expansion outside of the traditional UW space. 

Penetration is a direct result of a university that attracts the entrepreneurial spirit and provides the right conditions to grow, prepare, develop and innovate.  44% of incoming students consider themselves entrepreneurial.  They were attracted because of UW’s reputation as an innovative university that supports the entrepreneurial spirit.  Programs and experiences that promote creativity-innovation-entrepreneurship have been a mainstay feature for many years.  With the resulting influx of this special breed of student Waterloo has invested in deeper and more diverse experiences. 

Expansion is a natural and positive outcome of the entrepreneurial culture that is uWaterloo.  There are several factors that have contributed to expansion.  The first is a direct consequence of our strategy to expand to Huntsville, Cambridge, Kitchener, and Stratford. 

The second is a result of our enterprising alumni who, inspired by the innovative spirit while at UW, have packed their dreams and returned to their home to launch the empire. 

Significant results have been realized from relationships with government agencies, NGOs and a bevy of passionate and experience-rich entrepreneurs; each committed to enabling the aspiring entrepreneurs.  

Both penetration and expansion gain momentum through the nurturing of a collaborative environment.  Penetration for example has Velocity as a unique on-campus residence for the high-octane student seeking to experience the entrepreneurial lifestyle.  Velocity has expanded outside of campus and offers a significant suite of experiences including Garage, Science, and Foundry.  Other examples of penetration leading to expansion are evident.

Perspectives (August 30, 2014):

The Labour Day weekend, in my mind, is really New Year's.  I contend that the traditional celebration of January 1 is being just another day on the calendar.  Labour Day celebrates many beginnings (school, end of summer loafing, harvesting, and Christmas shopping-ha).  The excitement on campus is pallitable.  In January it is a deathly morose.