Our Students
Quotes from our team
Isabel Vidri
Supply Chain Planner, Alumni
“LIFT has taught me how to stay connected within and ever-changing world.”
Sabrina Dammholz
Finance Major, UBC Sauder student
"Growing with the SSE-Kenya program from my first year until now has been a major highlight of my university experience. The impact of sharing knowledge in these entrepreneurial communities is tremendous for all stakeholders involved: knowledge and community for the entrepreneurs and expanding perspectives, innovative thinking, and collaboration to do good for the Sauder students. It leaves ripple effects in both communities of entrepreneurial spirit."
Reilly Kagetsu
Finance Major, UBC Sauder student
"Nothing beats seeing your students process your lecture material and proactively implement it into their business. If there is one thing for certain, no other student I have met has such a fantastic opportunity to spark social change from tens of thousands of kilometres away as Sauder students do through LIFT Kenya."
Rachel Kim
Marketing major, UBC Sauder student
"2020 and 2021 were certainly challenging years, but our team was ready to face the challenge and work together; we came up with unique strategies to continue our work, and continued making impacts across the world. To me, this resilience and continuous action is what Sauder is all about, and I am so proud to be part of the team."
Ashley Tay
CPA & PMP, Alumni
“As an LIFT trainer, witnessing [participants'] resilience and prevailing through all obstacles has been the most rewarding and inspiring experience yet.”
Jessalyn Chen
Marketing Major, UBC Sauder student
"Being a part of LIFT this year has completely changed my outlook on my journey as a student. I never thought I would be in a position so early in my career to actively change lives across the world. "
Felicia Fung
Accounting, Alumni
“Over the past year, the words LIFT and opportunity have become synonymous to me. Witnessing the grit and high-fighting spirit of each entrepreneur has inspired me to stay hungry for growth and continue striving to create an impact in both my professional and personal life. In what I initially perceived to be an opportunity to give back, I realize now that I been given so much more.”
Alice Ko
Accounting & Marketing Major, UBC Sauder student
"More than ever before, LIFT has shown me the value of business school and what good it can do for others in the world. Being able to work with Sauder students to apply, challenge, and learn business thinking on a truly global scale — that is what makes Sauder different. "
Tyler Sheardown
Accounting Major, UBC Sauder student
“LIFT has been an integral part of my journey through Sauder and helped me to develop friendships, public speaking abilities and a variety of other immensely important skills. I am extremely grateful for this program and I highly recommend it to all Sauder students, and staff.”
Jonathan Chan
Accounting Major, UBC Sauder student
“While I have had experience in event planning and mentorship through club involvement in the past, LIFT offered opportunities to expand my skillset while getting to know amazing individuals within the UBC Sauder community who are also passionate about using their business skills for good.”
Janelle Ho
Strategy Analyst, Alumni
“My greatest takeaways from LIFT were two-fold: 1) the unparalleled value of relationships I built both locally and globally and 2) redefining "grit". In retrospect, LIFT was the pinnacle of all the lessons, tools and hours put into my BCom and easily the most meaningful experience of my degree.”
Lawrence Leung
Senior Director Corporate Internal Audit, Alumni
"A way for me to pay it forward, not only to the entrepreneurs we train, but also to the next generation of Sauder alums. being a role model for future alums that we can care and contribute whilst pursuing our personal ambitions."
Quotes From Participants

Daniel Chege
(Spring Class of 2021), Dans Dairy and Icecream | dankairu08@gmail.com
“The experience of learning in LIFT was awesome. Learning is student-led. It is more of an idea nurturing and actualizing as opposed to normal educational learning. My favorite memory is during pitching as it was certainly very anxious and nerve-racking in a good way. It has made me appreciate the business from an entrepreneur and customer point of view.”

Dorcas Odhiambo
(Spring Class of 2021), Sparklin Pro Cleaning Services | atienoodhiambo16@gmail.com
"LIFT has been the best thing that has happened in my life as an entrepreneur. I am so grateful to God that I was a part of it. I learned so much from the program; lessons that I am going to incorporate as I start my business in a few week's time. My favorite moment was when we had an actual graduation ceremony and received our certificates. It was a great honor and the fact that they retained LIFT alumni as service providers was so great to see. To me, it means that LIFT will always be there for you."
Some of whom have taken the lead on giving back to theUBC Sauder LIFT program through serving as
Trainers
Trainers play a multifunctional role. During in-person classes, Trainer's act to bridge knowledge gaps between teaching material and a participant’s understanding of classroom concepts, generate classroom discussions during breakout activities, and identify participants to present their ideas. Similarly, during live cases, Trainers will encourage problem solving skills and engagement. Lastly, during pitch day, Trainers are responsible for ensuring participants are ready to present to judges in a timely manner.

Trainees
Trainees will play a dual-role in which they will be equal parts teachers and observers. Trainees will be expected to aid Trainers in facilitating discussion and guide participants during classroom breakout activities.

Observer
Observers will be selected from previous LIFT Program participants. The main role of an Observer is to take on a shadow position, in order to learn from Trainers and Trainees. Observers will monitor the classroom environment and alert Trainers or Trainees of concerns or questions they may have.

Quote from a Trainee

Mourine Uchi
(Spring Class of 2021), Mo Online Store | maureenuchi97@gmail.com
Mourine began as a student during the spring class of 2021 and became a Trainee in the fall class of 2021.
"Throughout my own life, I've had mentors who have molded me into the person I am today. I believe there are others like me, who dream to own their own online stores. My hope is to inspire; Inspire others to let go of their doubts and fearlessly pursue their passions."
Our Alumni
- Within Canada, alumni from cities such as Toronto, Vancouver and Kelowna.
- Internationally, alumni from US (San Francisco, Texas, Seattle, New York) & England (Hackney, London), Germany, Denmark, Austria, and Uruguay.
•Vancouver, BC •Uruguay •Toronto, ON |
•Seattle, WA •San Fransisco, CA •Nuremberg, Germany |
•New York, NY •London, ENG •Kelowna, BC •Houston, TX |
•Hackney, ENG •Copenhagen, Denmark •Austria |
First Name |
|
Email Address |
Location |
---|---|---|---|
Jordan Deshane |
Austria |
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Marian Lee |
Copenhagen, Denmark |
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Candela Hackel |
Hackney, ENG |
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Matthew Cochrane |
Houston, TX |
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Amy Hobbs |
Kelowna, BC |
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Cameron Kroeker |
Kelowna, BC |
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Jack Li |
London, ENG |
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Jenny Ma |
London, ENG |
||
Katherine Caverly |
London, ENG |
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Derek Dodds |
New York, NY |
||
Lawrence Leung |
Nuremberg, Germany |
||
Cole Christiansen |
San Fransisco, CA |
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Tyler Tanaka |
San Fransisco, CA |
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Matheson Kroeker |
Seattle, WA |
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Grace Jin |
Toronto, ON |
||
Isabel Vidri |
Toronto, ON |
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Janelle Ho |
Toronto, ON |
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Jason Mah |
Toronto, ON |
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Justin Cochrane |
Toronto, ON |
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Katherine Wong |
Toronto, ON |
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Pavani Chugh |
Toronto, ON |
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Talise Tsai |
Toronto, ON |
||
Mica Pfeffer |
Uruguay |
||
Alexandra Hawley |
Vancouver, BC |
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Alice Ko |
Vancouver, BC |
||
Allison Feng |
Vancouver, BC |
||
Ashley Tay |
Vancouver, BC |
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Audrey Steinke |
Vancouver, BC |
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Bella Shang |
Vancouver, BC |
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Blake Henley |
Vancouver, BC |
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Calvin Kam |
Vancouver, BC |
||
Elvina Sageeva |
Vancouver, BC |
||
Felicia Fung |
Vancouver, BC |
||
Grace Hardwicke-Brown |
Vancouver, BC |
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Helena Zhao |
Vancouver, BC |
||
Jaiya Varshney |
Vancouver, BC |
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Jessalyn Chen |
Vancouver, BC |
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Jonathan Chan |
Vancouver, BC |
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Kaleb Butt |
Vancouver, BC |
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Katie Dritsas |
Vancouver, BC |
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Katrina Kwong |
Vancouver, BC |
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Logan Benninger |
Vancouver, BC |
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Luk Pham |
Vancouver, BC |
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Marisa Chong |
Vancouver, BC |
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Niki Non |
Vancouver, BC |
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Nikita Olechko |
Vancouver, BC |
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Noah Gray |
Vancouver, BC |
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Rachel Kim |
Vancouver, BC |
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Reilly Kagetsu |
Vancouver, BC |
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Sabrina Dammholz |
Vancouver, BC |
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Sabrina Rai |
Vancouver, BC |
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Sam Cochrane |
Vancouver, BC |
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Sameena Kamdar |
Vancouver, BC |
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Sika Paradis |
Vancouver, BC |
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Sirena Harrop |
Vancouver, BC |
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Tanvir Toor |
Vancouver, BC |
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Thomas McDonald |
Vancouver, BC |
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Tiffane Mak |
Vancouver, BC |
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Tyler Sheardown |
Vancouver, BC |
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Yu-Lin Yee |
Vancouver, BC |