About Us

Origin

Originated by MBA students studying at the Rotman School of Management at the University of Toronto in 2015. The high school entrepreneurs’ program was delivered at 5 high schools and mentorship was provided to 102 high school students up until the discontinuation of the program in 2018

In 2020 Summit Leaders was acquired by Rina Lamba. Rina, a recent Graduate at the time, from the Schulich School of Business (’19) participated in the Summit Leaders program during her studies at Schulich where she provided mentorship to grade 11 marketing students at C.W. Jefferys Collegiate Institute.

Rina branded the High School Entrepreneurship Program as a Summit Leaders Program. During the COVID-19 response, she adapted and delivered a virtual program that was delivered to high school students in the GTA. Since 2015 the program has been offered to over 300 High School Students.

What we do

Our not-for-profit organization levels the playing field for youth from marginalized communities by leveraging the power of connection to build community, nurture aspirations, and dismantle barriers to help create a more equitable society. We achieve this by placing our emphasis on expanding student networks through facilitating connections with professionals and enhancing visibility to future opportunities.

According to Robert Waldinger, 50% of job opportunities arise from personal connections. Recognizing the evolving nature of the modern job market, we acknowledge that building a successful career relies not only on skills and knowledge, but also on the ability to access networks and foster relationships. By actively facilitating connections, we empower students to overcome obstacles, boost their confidence, and unlock their untapped potential. This is the essence of our approach to connectivity. We establish a direct line of communication between students and industry experts, enabling them to cultivate relationships through engaging conversations, knowledge exchange, and valuable feedback.

Through a series of targeted programs, such as Summit Leaders High School Entrepreneurship Program, Peer Forward and InspireConnect our goal is simple: provide greater impact through individualized support to Canada’s next generation leaders. A structured approach allows students from across Canada to receive mentorship, build connections, develop a business idea, and a business case. The world of business administration and entrepreneurship becomes an option – a goal, an aspiration.

As they soak up real-world business expertise, our students also discover more about themselves – about skills they never knew they had or thought they might never get to use. They refine and reset personal and career goals. Most importantly, we help them open doors to new possibilities and see the future in a different light.