Nice to Meet You: Elyse Mitchell
Elyse Mitchell is the program coordinator of the Entrepreneurial Mindset Certificate, which is “a program we offer to students of any year or degree with the purpose of giving students the ability to dip their toes into entrepreneurship and what that entails. The certificate gives them skills and tools related to entrepreneurship in order to develop skills that are beneficial for professional careers, entrepreneurial endeavours, and advance individual’s entrepreneurial tools.”
Elyse started out as an employee through the Work-Study program in her final year of her Honours BA in Communication, when she came across an interdisciplinary option called Interdisciplinary Entrepreneurship. “I saw jobs in the Work-Study program for the entrepreneurship hub, and I thought it would be a good addition to this add-on to my degree. I did CO-OP with my degree so I did a lot of work in communications, public relations, and the like,” she says. When asked about her work at the eHub, Elyse says that she loves the team dynamic: “I work with very positive and encouraging people. We all have a good sense of humour and it feels very familial in that way.” She also says that “the vastness of the courses we offer is interesting too, lots of brainstorming about “what is entrepreneurship” and “what can we offer within the scope of this certificate.” We’re constantly always trying to add new things to our lineup, and we’re always open to learning.”
To get to know Elyse a little better, I asked her a series of questions about herself:
Describe yourself in three words.
Creative, Goal-oriented, Goofy
What did you want to be when you grew up?
I wanted to be a vet. I spent a good chunk of my teenage years wanting to be a vet — it was only not long before university that I switched. I came from the Quebec side, so I did a DEC in Liberal Arts, which veered me off into the communication/arts side.
What’s one thing nobody would expect about you?
People wouldn’t expect that I know how to build a quinzhee. Which is a snow shelter essentially, so if you’re ever caught in the cold, Bear-Grylls style, I could build a shelter. I used to be a girl guide and that’s what they taught us in an extreme survival situation.
What do you like to do outside of work?
I like to hang out with my friends, I love cooking and baking and stuff. Having picnics, a good bottle of sangria. Sitting in the sun with some lovely food. I like doing DIYs too — the creativity element is always there.
What’s your favourite band and/or song?
Vienna — Billy Joel. I love that song, I always go back to that song. I think it’s fitting right now — the song is about slowing down and taking time, and I’m always looking at the next goal, I’m very go-go-go all the time so a song like that reminds me to slow down. With COVID I think this is a time of universal reflection and a song like that seems very fitting.
What’s your advice for budding entrepreneurs?
I would say, understand that your background doesn’t matter. Everyone can be an entrepreneur if they want to be. Everyone can learn. You need to be persistent, and if you have a passion or idea, persistence is key. You need to have the ability to inspire others, to believe in your venture or your idea. Understanding that entrepreneurship is not just limited to certain people, but that you also can’t just half-ass it. Persistence and understanding the value of passion is important.
*This feature was published as a part of the Entrepreneurship Hub’s Nice to Meet You Series, 2020.
