The Inclusive Innovation and Entrepreneurship Network
The Inclusive Innovation and Entrepreneurship Network
Saifur Rahman (Saif) is currently working as a Research Assistant at the Ted Rogers School of Management’s Diversity Institute at Toronto Metropolitan University, where he is enrolled in the Ph.D. (in Management) program. He is also working as a Professor and Program Coordinator (Project Management programs) at the School of Management, George Brown College. In addition to his double Masters (MBA and MSc), Saif has several certifications in the field of Project Management (PMP & PMI-ACP), Business Analysis (CBAP & PMI-PBA), and Quality Management as a certified Lean Six Sigma Black Belt (CSSBB) practitioner from ASQ (USA). His research interests include entrepreneurship and strategy, diversity & inclusion, venture financing, and high-growth startups.
Dr. Lindsay Coppens is a post-doctoral research fellow at the Diversity Institute (DI). She completed her Ph.D. in Higher Education at the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education (OISE) at the University of Toronto, where her research explored the experiences and persistence decisions of first-generation women in male-dominated STEM programs. Her research interests lie within areas such as equity, diversity, and inclusion in STEM, access to post-secondary, and post-secondary pathways and labour market outcomes. She also holds a M.A. in Integrated Studies (Adult Education and Work, Organization & Leadership), Bachelor of Education, and Bachelor of Mathematics. Lindsay is passionate and committed to changing STEM education for equity-deserving groups and has over nine years of experience working in the field of education as a course instructor for teacher candidates at OISE, mathematics and physics teacher and tutor, and a mentor for young women interested in pursuing STEM.
Tomke Augustin is a Postdoctoral Fellow in the Business Administration Department and earned her PhD at the School of Business and Economics at University of Tübingen, Germany. She works with Professor Suzanne Gagnon on a Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC) funded project that aims to advance equity, diversity and inclusion in entrepreneurship and innovation. Her research interests further include multicultural individuals and multilingualism in organizations, intersections of language and gender in organizations, leadership, and social innovation. Her PhD dissertation won the Junior Researcher Award of the Industrial Trade Association of Baden-Wuerttemberg, the Best Dissertation Award of the International Management Division of the German Association of University Professors and Lecturers (VHB) and the Best Dissertation Award of the Faculty of Economics and Social Sciences at University of Tuebingen. She has published in Human Relations, presented her work at conferences of the Academy of Management and Academy of International Business and was an award finalist at the Academy of Management Annual Meeting 2020.
Dike Ike is a PhD candidate in Management at the Ted Rogers School of Management, Toronto Metropolitan University. His research interest revolves around the intersection of returnee entrepreneurship and green entrepreneurship. He is particularly interested in exploring the interdependence between different elements in entrepreneurial ecosystems and their role in promoting returnee entrepreneurship. Dike holds a bachelor’s degree in Electrical and Electronics Engineering from the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta in Nigeria, a masters degree in information and communications engineering from Covenant University in Nigeria, and an MBA from University of East London, United Kingdom. He has a diverse working experience, from working as a research/teaching assistant to working in operations management at several Fortune 500 companies.
Justin Chen (he/him) is a Master of Industrial Relations and Human Resources Candidate at the University of Toronto, where his studies focus on the latest innovations and best practices within industrial relations, human resources management, and labour market analysis. He is also completing a collaborative specialization in Workplace Learning and Social Change with the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education. He holds a Honours Bachelor of Business Administration in Human Resources Management and Operations Management, a Minor Degree in Health Sciences, and a Certificate in Labour Studies and Workplace Rights. His skills, experience, and education span across interconnected areas of human resources & labour relations, business strategy & operations, people development, and work & health. Justin is excited to research best practices to help make workplaces more equitable, diverse, and inclusive. He believes that evidence-based implementation of these practices can foster healthier workplaces and positive employee experiences. Prior to starting his master’s degree, he worked in the healthcare, higher education, and non-profit sectors.
Meraj is a PhD candidate in Management at the Telfer School of Management, University of Ottawa. His research interest revolves around entrepreneurial ecosystems. He is particularly interested in exploring the interdependence between different elements in entrepreneurial ecosystems and their role in promoting regional entrepreneurship. Meraj holds a bachelor’s degree in Aerospace Engineering from the Sharif University of Technology in Tehran and an MBA from Khajeh-Nasir University, Tehran. He has a diverse working experience, from part-time university lecturer to working in the energy sector and management consulting firms.
Sharon Broughton works as a Senior Research Associate at the Diversity Institute and is a PhD candidate (ABD) in Policy Studies at Toronto Metropolitan University. She holds a B.A., Honours B.Comm., M.B.A. and an M.A. in Public Policy and Administration. Sharon brings over 20 years private sector leadership experience and 8 years non-profit board experience, including work in the settlement and employment services sector. She has over a decade of quantitative and qualitative research experience in industry and holds a Certified Analytics and Insights Professional designation issued jointly by CAIP and ESOMAR. Her research interests include immigration and labour market policy, skills recognition and DEI.
