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Naimah Venezia (BGBDA ’25) began her entrepreneurial journey at age seven, inspired by her brother and the book “Rich Dad, Poor Dad.” She founded CoinWa, a gamified financial literacy app for teens, to make financial education fun and accessible. The Global Business and Digital Arts (GBDA) program at the University of Waterloo equipped her with essential skills in business, technology, and design. Through the E-Co-op program, Naimah developed CoinWa with support from mentors and employed fellow students. As she graduates, Naimah aims to enhance financial literacy among young people, preparing them for future financial success.

Three student projects from the University of Waterloo Stratford School of Interaction Design and Business will be showcased at the Lights On Stratford festival, running until January 19, 2025. These projects, part of the GBDA 412 – Special Topics in Media Architecture course, highlight the students' ability to merge technology and the arts.

Under the guidance of David Han, students created interactive installations reflecting on local, non-human activity. The top three projects selected are:

1. A Living Entity: Animates the Avon River, emphasizing its future significance.
2. Nocturnal Visions: Highlights the roles and behaviors of nocturnal animals.
3. Fungi: Beyond the Eye: Explores the hidden world of local fungi roots (mycelium).

The course emphasizes thorough research and iterative feedback, culminating in a final presentation to a panel of community representatives.

The University of Waterloo will host local high school students from Huron-Perth at their inaugural MVP Challenge – a one-day design and business challenge – to provide high school students with a free opportunity to experience the post-secondary education available to them locally.

The study published by Waterloo researcher Kim de Laat and team outlines cultural and structural barriers, representation in leadership positions, income and the work environment, and an investment in equity as opportunities for progress.

The University of Waterloo's Stratford School of Interaction Design and Business will be hosting CBC IDEAS: Visionaries in Conversation on November 16. Billed as "an opportunity to explore how we reshape the future of our tech-driven world," the event will feature speakers Cory Doctorow and Vass Bednar.

On January 24, the Office of Research hosted a panel discussion on understanding where Artificial Intelligence (AI) will take us. Panelists from the Waterloo Artificial Intelligence Institute (Waterloo.AI), and industry professionals spoke about AI's current and future uses.

Real-Life Morals in Gaming: "I Don't Want to Shoot the Android"

Ten years of preparing students for new roles, new industries and new horizons, Alum and Virtuous Waste award-winning team member reflects on how GBDA set her up with the skills for a career in UX Design.

As the Stratford School of Interaction Design and Business settled into the Stratford community in the early 2010s, members of the Rotary Club of Stratford took notice.

Berlin Pang shares how clubs and co-op prepared her with the confidence to collaborate effectively in the workforce.