IKDEEP SINGH Coming to CBU in 1994 from India was the first step to the rest of his life.

Originally from India, Ikdeep Singh moved to Cape Breton as an international student to pursue his engineering diploma in 1994 at the then, University College of Cape Breton (UCCB), CBU’s predecessor institution. Ikdeep joined his sister Harman who was already living in Sydney. He quickly learned that the people of Cape Breton island are genuine and warm, and he immediately felt a special welcome from his professors and the entire CBU community.

Ikdeep Singh is the President of Giorgio Armani Beauty, part of L’Oreal USA, and now calls New York City home. During his time at CBU, he worked at the campus library part time, and was quick to become involved in other activities on campus which resulted in longlasting friendships. CBU not only brought Ikdeep these lifelong friends, but it also provided the foundation for his success, instilling in him a sense of community and the need to support others on their educational journey.

"I think you already have a first step in the door, and now you just have to hold the doorknob and push the door open."

For Ikdeep Singh, coming to CBU in 1994 from India was the first step to the rest of his life, and that proved to be an inspiration for all in attendance at Leader's Edge. He is truly a leader.

After leaving CBU and Cape Breton, Ikdeep studied and worked in various parts of the world, including Taiwan, China, the United Kingdom and now the United States. Fast-forward to 2020, Ikdeep is working for L’Oreal and investing in small startup companies, especially those created by young entrepreneurs. He has a special desire and passion for helping them grow their business.

Wherever he lives or works in the world, he always returns to Cape Breton to visit family and enjoy a few rounds of golf at Cape Breton’s world-famous courses. Now with his own young family, Ikdeep shares his love of the Island with his wife Cathy, and young son and daughter, visiting when time allows. When speaking about his family, Ikdeep said, “We love Cape Breton Island as the island and its people have given us so much. We are proud to contribute in any way.”

Ikdeep’s advice to current and future international students, "Seize the moment. I think it's a tremendous opportunity to be in Canada. It's a blessed country; it's very peaceful, it's very safe, it's a rich country with a lot of resources and even more opportunities. You are a part of the fabric and have an education that is recognized throughout the country".When Jenna made the decision to become a full-time entrepreneur, her experience, confidence and skill set gained from her time at CBU helped her not only transition into this new role but to grow and expand her already successful business.

Jenna graduated from CBU in 2010 with her BA in political science and continued her post-secondary education at Mt. St. Vincent University, gaining her Public Relations degree.

After returning to Cape Breton, Jenna soon found herself in the corporate offices in the First Nation community of Membertou in the role of Director of Marketing. Regarded as one of the leaders in Cape Breton in the field of marketing and communications, Jenna also had a passion and love for wedding planning. While looking for a career opportunity after graduation, Jenna established J. Marie Weddings and grew it steadily over six years.

“In the summer of 2019, I coordinated 15 weddings and worked full-time at Membertou, all while trying to be the best mom and wife I could be and keep up with my social life. It was, at that point, that I knew something had to give,” says Jenna. “I put six years of hard work into my business, and I knew one thing for sure; that my desire to plan weddings was stronger than my desire to work in marketing, so I made the decision to focus completely on J. Marie Weddings.”

Another reason Jenna knew that entrepreneurship was the right move for her came from her two years of study in the Master of Business Administration in Community Economic Development (MBA in CED) program at CBU. There, she learned how CED not only drive some of our community's largest businesses, but she also learned how small businesses can thrive when using CED principles.

“The MBA CED program taught me how to think differently about business,” says Jenna. “CBU opened my eyes to unique business practices that I was unaware of and gave me the knowledge to implement them.”

Jenna knew that CBU would always be there for her through the continuation of her studies in the MBA program, as well as through support from her Alumni family, both here in Cape Breton and across the globe. That is why Jenna decided to give back with a monthly gift to CBU.

“I wanted to donate to CBU for the next generation of Cape Bretoners, says Jenna. “I want my son to be able to count on CBU for a great education just like I did – that is why I want to support CBU.”

When asked about what advice she can give to others who are considering a career change or major life decision, Jenna says, “It’s okay to change your mind. You can be something at one point in your life, and then decide that you want to be something else – and that’s okay. It can be scary, but once you understand your fear, you’ll find the courage to make the change.”