Morissette Program Feature/Khadeejah In a job market that is not only difficult to break into but also continually evolving and asking potential employees to differentiate themselves, Western students have had to learn to adapt. One of the ways they can do this is by obtaining a certificate from Ivey Business School’s Morissette Institute for Entrepreneurship as a degree add- on. The Ivey Certificate in Entrepreneurship offers students across all faculties a formal academic entry point into startup thinking. Built around a mix of Ivey-style and interdisciplinary courses, the program teaches students how to identify opportunities, validate ideas, and turn them into viable ventures. English student Khadeejah Abdul Khadir says, “Coming into university, I did not expect to dip my toes into business at all. Western made doing this really accessible, and so I enrolled in the Certificate of Entrepreneurship during my second year. The Morissette Institute has supported me immensely! I’ve been a vendor at their Winter and Spring Markets, and my experience in their Founders Program has allowed me to be a part of a community that I’m very grateful for.”
The Founders Program at Western is a selective, multi-year experience for students serious about building ventures. It combines mentorship from experienced entrepreneurs, hands-on startup development, and leadership roles within the campus ecosystem, along with funding support, to help students turn ideas into real companies while shaping Western’s entrepreneurial community. The program is designed to meet students where they are, whether they have a fully formed idea or are simply curious about what building something of their own could look like. Khadeejah’s entrepreneurial side was first nurtured when she decided to create her own small business in high school. Kazlet’s is a business she built around the handmade jewelry and accessories she creates. You can find Kazlet’s online through her Instagram @kazlets or in many downtown London and campus spaces. She has participated in pop-ups such as Western’s Art Crawl, the Spooky Sunday Street Market at Dundas Place, and Western’s Winter Market. Additionally, she runs bracelet-making and keychain-making workshops at various campus locations. For Khadeejah, entrepreneurship has become an unexpected but welcome addition to her university experience, running alongside her degree rather than away from it.
CAMPUS VILLAGER • 2026
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