SLN Creators
What inspired you to create Meraki?
In my last semester at UofT, I remember that I was buried in essays and job applications and ran away from one network session to another. I found comfort in reading about people who "did it." Most of these people have accidentally cut their own ways that have cut my interest in getting something I can call my own. I saw what my dad did, so I knew how incredibly hard it was to create your own business
At the same time, I was also in this process of realizing how much North American consumer culture is managed by the main brands, which do not allow consumers to express themselves in the usual way. We live in a cultural mosaic, but at present we do not have a single basic option to dress in a way that would melt cultural and habitual forms. I have a chance to get back to my roots and study the prowess, and before I knew him, I was knee-deep in Meraki
And how was that until now?
It's going well. We evolved in some way and were grown in other ways, but, most importantly, we learned a lot about good and bad days!
What roadblocks do you run?
One particular obstacle for us was access to certain groups of customers, as trade opportunities were reserved for brands that work exclusively with local craft. However, with our practice of specializes in different parts of the world, we do not automatically approach this. This has made us create new opportunities for ourselves
So, what's the plan? What's next for you and Meraki?
In order to overcome the above-mentioned roadblock, we will be afraid to cooperate with Canadian social enterprises, as well as to launch our program-so much!
Let us know about some people or resources in your life that have helped you with this
First of all, my father, who helped me navigate everything, especially in cases like customs/duties and legal framework. Second of all, I'm lucky to have some beautiful entrepreneurs who are always a call at any moment when I have questions that I don't even know
How did you decide to reject when it comes to Meraki?
With the passage of time, it becomes easier because you have taught him to take it less personally, but also because, as you grew up and earned trust, the number of failures is less. However, I believe that a screwdriver is crucial to the development of a thick shell, which you need especially in business
What are the skills that help you make this vision a reality?
I have discovered that there will always be difficulties and difficulties in all the things that are worth having to overcome these difficulties and be bold enough to continue to work even if nothing is done in your way. If there's one thing at the university that helped me get through this process, she's gonna stay even if she's walking
What advice do you give to a student who wants to follow the same path?
Two keywords to remember, no matter what you watch
All books or articles that you would recommend to other young people/students to check?
I'm a very big podcast, so I would recommend it
What do you want to know before you start?
It'll go wrong, and it's all right! We must not be so cruel every time something doesn't happen in our case. Moreover, it should not be bought in other peoples. Everyone has their own realities. The comparison of your reality with other "ideal" moments will be nothing but distraction and counter-productivity
What kind of advice do you give to high school students who transfer to high school? And the post-secondary students were moving on to their careers?
Be there! I can tell from the personal experience that I have gone through one phase of the life cycle in the next phase. If I could do it again, I'd be there right now. I would try to make the best of all stages of life, because everything ends up in order
What's the best advice you've ever had?
Remember, we tend to underestimate what we can do in 10 years, because we are too busy reassessing what we can do in one. It's happening over time
How can you spin this?
From time to time, it was very fresh. On a weekly basis, I usually just end binge watching minless tv shows. It won't help that we have a long winter, because any other way to spin it can simply not win the constant cold
* Views expressed in respect of the author, and not necessarily for the "Student life" or their partners
An active writer, musician, visual artist, and a sound designer. I was born in my spare time. Self-training, self-starting