ANKIT WADHWA
IEC Student Assistant
Ankit is a second year MBA in Community Economic Development at Cape Breton University. Prior to moving to Cape Breton for his higher studies, Ankit was in India working as a Client Success Manager, to help provide right solutions that lead to their success. Ankit has always been passionate about community building and has been well engaged and integrated within community during his time in India, United States and now in Canada.
Ankit received his undergraduate degree in Mechanical Engineering from University of California, Irvine and worked as an Application Engineer for a big chunk of his career. During this time in States and India, Ankit has been involved with various not-for-profit organizations supporting local community. Currently Ankit is serving as Co-chair for CBRM Welcome Group at Cape Breton Partnership and is also on the Board of Directors at New Dawn Enterprises. During his spare time, Ankit can be seen hosting networking and social events through his organization Cape Breton Influencers, that he co-founded in 2022. Ankit is also an active volunteer in many community events and is a volunteer dance fitness instructor at YMCA of Cape Breton.
XIAOFEI (FAY) XU
IEC Student Assistant
Fay is the Student Assistant of Innovation and Entrepreneurship Centre and the Treasurer of Encatus at Cape Breton University. She is also an entrepreneur and the founder of Pawsitive portraits. As an international student in the MBA in Community Economic Development program at Cape Breton University, she has a wealth of volunteer experience in both CBU and local communities. She is volunteering in bookkeeping for Sport and Social Club CBRM Society. She is passionate about entrepreneurship and community development.
She is good at communicating with different people and coordinating issues between different departments. She is currently responsible for the operation of IEC’s social media and website. Maintains active contact with various departments of CBU, as well as local organizations such as CBICI, Cape Breton Partnership, SSCC, CBRM, etc.. She has also been involved in several entrepreneurship programs. This summer she won first prize in 2023 Study and Stay Entrepreneurship program Final Pitch Competition at Saint Mary’s University. She hopes that through our center’s help and communication of information, more CBU students will stay in Cape Breton after they graduate to start up and develop our community.