Equipping Entrepreneurial Thinkers to Power Canada’s Future
By Anica Vasic
Sr. Director, Partnerships and Strategic Initiatives, Hunter Hub for Entrepreneurial Thinking, University of Calgary
National Program Lead, Experience Ventures
To secure its future in a fast-changing world, Canada must develop entrepreneurial thinkers ready to lead through disruption. Now more than ever, it is critical that our next generation of talented leaders have the confidence that they can launch successful lifelong careers right here at home in Canada.
By 2030, nearly 39 percent of core job skills are expected to change globally, according to the World Economic Forum. This is not a gradual evolution. It is a fundamental disruption. The convergence of artificial intelligence, technological acceleration, climate pressures, and economic volatility is reshaping the nature of work across every sector.
In this landscape of rapid transformation, students need more than conventional education to thrive. They must be able to adapt quickly, make decisions in uncertain conditions, and take initiative in unfamiliar territory. Entrepreneurial thinking, which is grounded in problem solving, creativity, and resilience, is becoming a foundational skillset for success in the future of work. Experiential learning is the golden opportunity to provide this generation with precisely this foundational skill set and the confidence needed to succeed.
This is the vision behind Experience Ventures.
Funded in part by the Government of Canada through the Innovative Work-Integrated Learning Initiative (I-WIL), Experience Ventures offers students placements in innovation-focused environments. These placements embed students in the heart of Canada’s innovation economy, where ambiguity is often the norm and challenges rarely come with clear solutions. Students work alongside changemakers in early-stage startups, social enterprises, and mission-driven organizations, tackling problems in real time.
Experience Ventures stands out not just for where students are placed, but for how they are asked to engage. Rather than performing tasks that come with instructions, students are immersed in dynamic situations that require creative thinking, collaboration, and the ability to navigate uncertainty. Whether supporting a founder through a product pivot or co-developing a community-based initiative, students are given the space and support to apply their skills in meaningful and impactful ways.
These experiences help students build the capabilities that employers consistently identify as critical, including adaptability, initiative, and the confidence to take action in unfamiliar and rapidly evolving conditions. This is not theoretical learning. It is hands-on, applied learning shaped by mentorship, teamwork, and complex and evolving challenges.
The program is also designed to be inclusive, flexible, and accessible. It supports students across disciplines, offering placements that fit into their schedules and educational journeys. Whether studying engineering, social science, business, or the arts, students gain access to career-building opportunities that align with their goals.
Since its launch in 2021, Experience Ventures has supported more than 8,500 placements through a national network of 14 post-secondary institutions, led by the Hunter Hub for Entrepreneurial Thinking at the University of Calgary.
Importantly, these placements do more than build future-ready skills. They help students form meaningful connections to Canada’s innovation economy. By working directly with ventures solving challenges at home and globally, students gain insight into what is being created within Canada’s borders. This exposure helps increase the likelihood they will remain in Canada after graduation and continue contributing to the ecosystems they have already helped shape.
The outcomes are clear. Students leave the program more confident, capable, and better equipped to lead in a complex and evolving workforce. They gain more than experience. They gain purpose, agency, and a deeper connection to Canada’s future.
Between 2025 and 2030, 170 million new jobs are expected to emerge globally, while 92 million are projected to disappear. Entrepreneurial thinking is no longer just a personal advantage. It is a national imperative that will shape Canada’s ability to compete, innovate, and thrive. Preparing students to lead through disruption is essential to preparing Canada to succeed. Experience Ventures is helping make that possible.