Three social entrepreneurs follow a passion to give back | Waterloo News

While founding Canada’s next tech startup or discovering a major research breakthrough are the impetus for some University of Waterloo changemakers, others use their curiosity and imagination to find ways to unlock social impact locally and globally.

In many cases, the first steps towards making a difference happen at Waterloo where students immerse themselves in a culture of curiosity, entrepreneurship and global stewardship. It’s at Waterloo where a sense of belonging and a responsibility for others can really take root.

Meet three Waterloo social entrepreneurs driven to give back to the communities they serve.

1. Karima Ladhani (BMath ’10): From finance to public health

For Ladhani, Waterloo provided an environment that enabled her to find her true calling. As a Math and Business major, Ladhani was pretty sure of where her future career would take her. “I got the job on the trading floor that I was aiming for, and had my whole co-op experience through there, but there was something that clicked for me along the way where I realized that it wasn’t the career path that I wanted to pursue.”

Instead upon completing her undergraduate degree, she turned her attention to public health as a research assistant. With the support of Dr. Geoffrey Fong, she translated her math and business acumen to this space. “I learned that the skills I had were very much applicable to that world.”

Her research work at Waterloo led her to pursue  her grad studies in Public Health at Harvard. There, Ladhani founded Barakat Bundle, a non-profit now into its second decade that works with local communities in India to create life-saving health and education bundles for mothers and newborns.

Born in Canada to parents who were forced to flee Uganda in the 1970s, Ladhani never took her privilege growing up lightly. “It has always felt very obvious to me that progress on its own is one thing, but it doesn’t feel like progress unless everyone is progressing together.”

Ladhani says when she embarks on a new pursuit, she makes sure to integrate the concept of human-centered design to ensure that the communities and people they serve have input into the work being done. “The idea is that it’s not just the end product that has impact where we want it to have impact, but along the way we’re ensuring we are having a positive impact.”

Today, Ladhani is in the midst of launching a sleepwear collection called Kulsum, named after her maternal grandmother, that weaves social impact into its business model.

The eco-friendly, value-based supply chain focused collection, designed by a female designer in India, is intended to replace one’s entire pajama drawer with mix-and-match items that adapt for all seasons. “The idea is that a portion of all proceeds support Barakat Bundle, so by supporting, women’s wellness in North America, we can also support women’s health and wellness in India.”

“So as much as I can do in my lifetime to try and correct inequity in the world, whether it’s in maternal and child health, whether it’s in supporting other entrepreneurs, and so on, that’s what motivates me,” Ladhani says.

2. Ahmed Mezil (BASc ’14): Serving clients and employees

When Mezil launched Hellamaid with his business partner, it was more than just a side hustle from his job as an engineering lab instructor.

Mezil’s undergraduate experience studying and exploring co-op at Waterloo shone a light on who he was as a person and his desire to explore entrepreneurship.

“Waterloo was an important part, a building block, that led me to create Hellamaid and have success today,” Mezil says. “Giving back has always been important to my partner and I. For me, it comes from my faith. Do good, and good will come back to you. Some people call it karma, I call it blessings from God.” 

Hellamaid is a Canadian cleaning service giving back through their certification with the Living Wage Network and contributions to the Canadian Cancer Society.

By paying their more than 200 cleaners well above the provincial minimum wage, Hellamaid maintains its certification with the Living Wage Network.

“We believe the living wage network is a win-win-win for us, the cleaners, and the clients. By going above and beyond with cleaner wages we make our people happier, this reflects in the work they provide the customer, and the customer loves this service and they book again.” 

Over the seven years that Hellamaid has been in business, they have contributed a portion of their online bookings to the Canadian Cancer Society totalling more than $15,000. They also participate in other initiatives like supporting the food bank, local home shelters in their communities and funding anti-poverty and water programs overseas.

“I think real success has to include impact,” Mezil says. “It’s easy to get caught up in numbers and growth, but if the people around you aren’t better off because of what you’re doing, then what’s the point? Giving back keeps me grounded and humble, so I don’t lose myself as we keep growing.”

Mezil says as the company continues to grow, they plan to scale their social impact along with it. “Whether that’s through more donations, building partnerships with local non-profits, or creating cleaner career pathways for those who often get overlooked, the bigger we get, the more we want to give.”

3. Sananthan Kassiedass (MES ’16): Creating a spicy connection

Sananthan Kassiedass  has taken a beloved family recipe to market and in the process found a way to pay tribute to his late father and give back to the community.

Founded in Burlington in 2023, Red Cap Hot Sauce Company was created to share authentic Trinidadian heritage. The small-batch sauce recipe uses no water, only fresh lemon and lime juice along with locally grown scotch bonnet and habanero peppers for a vibrant, long-lasting flavour.  The sauce is available at Goodness Me, Nature’s Emporium, Healthy Planet (online), among other retailers.

For the past two years, the company has supported several charities including Big Brothers Big Sisters Toronto, Second Harvest and Joseph Brant Hospital Foundation. Kassiedass has volunteered with Big Brothers Big Sisters for nearly a decade and says he has seen the impact it has on kids.

“While I grew up in a family that lived below the poverty line, we never went without food although we came close on occasion,” Kassiedass says. “My family and I feel very fortunate to be able to give back through our success today.”

Those lessons were reinforced during his studies at Waterloo, as he learned about sustainability management and how important connections are to a strong and vibrant community.

“I view giving back as an activity with spiritual importance – it’s something we all need to do,” Kassiedass says. “I am also inspired to give back to ensure that I leave the planet a better place for my daughter.”

Red Cap Hot Sauce runs several campaigns each year where a portion of their proceeds are directed to charity. During the holiday season for every bottle of Peppa Sauce sold, Red Cap will provide a meal to a person in need through Second Harvest.

These inspiring stories of giving back remind us that institutions like the University of Waterloo are more than hubs to advance learning and knowledge. They are launching pads for people and ideas that can truly make a difference in the world.

Whether supporting mothers and their newborns in South Asia or employees and communities across Canada, Waterloo alumni are making a lasting social impact.