McGill set the foundations for creating my business today.
The Software Engineering program at McGill gave me the foundations to create my current business, Mistplay: a loyalty program for mobile gamers. Distributed Systems, Modern Computer Games, Software Architecture and Computer Networks (all 500-level courses) were some of my favourite classes. These were fundamental in allowing me to build and code robust, scalable software to support the millions of Android players that use Mistplay today. Enrolling in the Honours version of the Software Engineering program allowed me to take five 500-level courses, where I completed a research project that ended up turning into my first startup (prior to Mistplay). It didn't take off like Mistplay, but hey, startups are hard, and you rarely get it right on your first try.
The connections and friends I made at McGill are ones I will always remember and appreciate. I was fortunate enough to begin my career at Microsoft shortly after graduating and got to interview for the position on campus. The opportunity to work at Microsoft was invaluable and gave me the chance to learn, build my network and plan for my next move: diving back into the entrepreneurial world.
Today, I am the founder and CEO of Mistplay, which was named the 16th fastest growing company in North America by Deloitte Fast 500. We were also named first in Quebec by L'actualité and fourth in Canada by The Globe and Mail. I would not be the entrepreneur and leader I am today if not for these experiences. Mistplay is a software engineer's dream! We are constantly designing and building new products that touch millions of people, all while offering a workplace that plays as hard as it works.
One of our latest products is Ecoplay, an app that allows users to plant trees by playing free Android games. Our goal is to plant one billion trees. We're excited to be a part of giving back to our planet!
Currently, I am proud to say Mistplay has 17 McGill graduates, and I am positive that number will continue to rise. McGill granted me the opportunity to recruit top talent during Mistplay’s development by helping us reach out to Computer Science students directly. We are always confident in the professional level and work standard these graduates bring to the industry.
To all upcoming and current students, I want to encourage you to fuel that entrepreneurial spirit. I want you to always aim to push boundaries, because the reward is so worth it. There will be challenges, and failures, late nights of ordering take-out, but there will be huge moments of accomplishment and pride. Continue to work hard and never be afraid of taking a risk on something you love.
Finally, feel free to add me on LinkedIn and ask me any questions, say hi or send over your resume. We're always looking for passionate and ambitious graduates to come help us write our story.