Innovation and entrepreneurship were the main themes in a speech by president Cheryl Jensen at the Eggs N’ Icons breakfast March 12.
“Our city’s goal should be to make Ottawa the entrepreneurship capital of Canada,” said Jensen during her keynote speech.
Her vision for making that happen is simple: better education will create a more skilled workforce.
And Jensen’s aim to change the fundamentals of education runs deep.
“In 20 years, creativity will be seen as a core component with math and English,” she said.
Ian Faris, the president and chief executive officer of the OCC, said Jensen is a business leader in the community.
“We wanted to hear her vision on innovation,” said Faris.
Faris was not the only one who wanted to hear that, as the breakfast had the highest attendance of any Eggs N’Icons yet.
Algonquin’s former president Robert Gillett, president of the University of Ottawa Allan Rock, and a group from Carleton University were also among the crowd.
In an interview with the Times, Gillett agreed with Jensen’s assessment that entrepreneurship is a way forward for students.
He said younger generations are hesitant to fall into the same routine as their forebears – to find a job with a large company and live in fear of being laid off.
“Entrepreneurship is a very real way to look at employment,” said Gillett.
Held by the Ottawa Chamber of Commerce, the School of Business-sponsored event occurs nine times each year at the Sheraton Ottawa Hotel.