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By Dianne George
Doucette at the Black Stilt. Photo: UVic Photo Services Working as a barista to fund her university studies has paid off in unexpected ways for biology student—and World Student Environmental Summit co-chair—Jill Doucette. On March 24 she placed first in the national Nicol entrepreneurship competition for her green business consulting practice, which focuses on the coffee, restaurant and retail industries.
“Winning this award is such an honour, and I’ve gained confidence in myself and my business idea,” says Doucette. “Through the mentorship and contacts I’ve made at UVic and at the Nicol awards, I feel I’ve learned what it takes to be an entrepreneur and I’m excited for the next step in the process.”
Doucette’s company, Synergy, focuses on implementing sustainable business practices. Through Synergy, she prepares greenhouse gas inventories, conducts energy audits and sources and supplies products. She also advises clients on how to integrate green ideas into their business strategy and access appropriate environmental funding programs and grants.
Her clients are seeing results. Dave Crothall, owner of the Black Stilt coffeehouse where Doucette got her start, says being green is an ethical choice and an investment in brand building. “Jill’s helped us reduce our landfill waste by over 90 per cent, cut our energy use by 15 per cent, and encouraged us to buy local and switch to compostable cutlery, cups, and cornstarch-based travel mugs.”
The annual Nicol Entrepreneurial Award recognizes the value of the entrepreneurial spirit and the important role it plays in the success of a business. This year, teams from 13 universities participated in the Ottawa-based finals. UVic was the only finalist from western Canada.
“I really appreciate UVic’s support. I especially want to thank Mia Maki and Charlene Zietsma. They invited me to their office for special prep sessions as soon as we heard that I’d been invited to the Nicol’s,” says Doucette.
“Jill’s win at the national level reflects well on UVic’s emerging innovation strategy and illustrates the benefits of exposing all students to entrepreneurship and innovation concepts,” says Dr. Brock Smith, business professor and entrepreneurship champion.
“The Faculty of Business is recognized internationally for its entrepreneurship research and programs, and we’ll be working with senior UVic administrators to further enhance opportunities for all interested students to develop entrepreneurial competencies and get assistance in exploring the viability of new business, product, and service concepts.”
Doucette was invited to participate in the Nicol competition based on her first-place finish in the campus-wide UVic Business Plan competition, which wrapped up on March 6, 2009.
Along with school and developing her business, Doucette is active in the student environmental movement. She and Chantal Orr (business) are co-chairs of the 2009 World Student Environmental Summit. This event, jointly hosted by UVic and the World Student Environmental Network, takes place June 25–28. Students from around the world gather to participate in discussions about climate change and build on an existing student network that was established at the 2008 summit in Kyoto, Japan.
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