“My initiatives at UofT and several community projects helped me stand apart in a competitive crowd. They helped me boost my self-confidence, build a strong understanding of who I was, refine my organisational and interpersonal skills, and discover other talents I was unaware of.

This work helped me connect to and learn from prominent members and leaders of the Canadian society who in turn encouraged me in all my initiatives and provided guidance for a more successful career. It all comes back to you somehow…”

About Premal’s community groups

The Indian Alumni Society (IAS), University of Toronto provides a common platform for alumni of Indian origin. Whether you are a UofT graduate of Indian origin, or whether you have an interest in issues related to international and local Indian culture and affairs, you are welcomed to become a member. IAS helps alumni engage with larger social and professional networks, identifying opportunities that bring alumni with similar careers or interests together. It acts as link between students and alumni identifying opportunities to help international and local students harness a successful educational experience by allowing them to access support networks.

The Global Young Indian Professionals and Students Toronto chapter helps develop a stronger community of young Indian professionals and students around the world serving as a forum for them to interact with each other personally and professionally on issues they are passionate about. This group facilitates their contribution to India’s development by channelling their energy and expertise to specific projects while also making a difference in the host city.

The Toronto chapter was founded because of high interest in the young Indo-Canadian community about India as an emerging market and the need among young professionals and students to understand how to get involved with India in terms of business/ non-profit and other developmental initiatives.

TiE (the largest non-profit group of entrepreneurs around the world) has come to represent “Talent, ideas and Enterprise”. TiE Youth University of Toronto serves as a forum for uniting and engaging all UofT students, alumni and staff members interested in Entrepreneurship. This group brings together young entrepreneurs and like-minded leaders, and creates unique networking opportunities and speaking events featuring entrepreneurs and leaders from across Canada.

Alumni bio

An international student from Bujumbura, Burundi (Central Africa), Premal felt lost in such a diverse university in Canada. Like many shy international students in their first year, he missed his family and friends back home. He asked: “How will I be different from the other 500 students who will graduate with me? Why would an employer want to hire me?” This is when he realised he needed to get involved on campus. During the next three years he volunteered at the Mount Sinai Hospital, acted as the Group Study Leader for a New College Study program, acted as a Clubs Committee Officer at the University of Toronto Students Union, and served on the board of several campus groups, especially the award-winning Indian Students’ Society which he co-founded.

Partially out of his own experience as an international student, he recognised the need to provide a better support system to students such as a mentorship program between alumni and students. With the full support of the Alumni Office, he launched the Indian Alumni Society, a common platform for students and alumni to network and connect. Since graduating, Premal has worked for Novus Health and the University of Toronto. He continues to serve on different executive boards including the Indo-Canada Chamber of Commerce Young Professionals’ Committee and 2 organisations he founded recently: the Global Young Indian Professionals and Students Toronto chapter and TiE Youth club at the University of Toronto. He was also recently selected as a South Asian Heart Health Ambassador by the Heart and Stroke Foundation. His career interests lie in the field of healthcare and technology.