What is something that has surprised you about your career path?
My entire career has been a surprise. The idea that I could build startups based on university inventions wasn’t remotely on my radar while growing up or even during my PhD. It wasn’t until a happy accident, while I was finding my feet outside the university gates, which led me to an interview at TandemLaunch as a technology scout, that this dynamic, challenging, and exciting world opened up to me. That it has also brought me so much fulfillment is something I’m grateful for every day.
 
If you weren’t involved in tech transfer, what do you think you’d be doing?
I’ve always been drawn to technological frontiers and the role of scientific research in pushing their boundaries, but as an extreme extrovert, staying cooped up in a lab was never going to be a long-term fit. I don’t know exactly where I would have landed—see above, career serendipity—but I’d like to think I would have found my way into a deep-tech startup, where science meets real-world impact.
 
What is your favorite memory from an AUTM event?
I have two connected memories. At one of AUTM's Annual Meetings, I had the chance to connect with a TTO we were negotiating with for a new investment. I had always wondered why equity was such a difficult prospect for certain universities. Luckily, he was particularly insightful, walking me through the unique complexities of managing equity for a public university. Later in the conference, I spoke on a panel about effectively marketing technologies, where I shared a framework we use to create investment narratives. Afterward, an audience member approached me to say how valuable the insight had been.
 
That moment reinforced how much we don’t know—and how much we assume—about the motivations and constraints on the other side of the licensing table. There’s a huge opportunity to improve technology transfer, and by extension, global economic productivity, by reducing that information asymmetry.
 
What does a typical work day look like?
My day is a mix of supporting entrepreneurs in their venture development, working with university partners on new and existing licenses and investments, and tackling the endless challenges that come with building pre-seed deep-tech ventures. No two days are the same, which is exactly what makes it so exciting.
 
What superpower do you wish you had and why?
To learn anything immediately and remember it forever. The gap between my reality and my aspirations—whether it's my reading list, keeping up with the news, or finally making a dent in my Netflix Watch List—is immense. If I had this superpower, I might finally feel caught up…at least for a day
 
As the former Chair of the AUTM Membership Development Committee and recipient of an AUTM Service Award, what advice would you give to someone considering joining an AUTM committee?
Jump in with both feet! AUTM committees are filled with people who genuinely want to make a difference in the field. It’s easy to underestimate the impact you can have just by participating in discussions, so don’t be afraid to speak up. Through these committees, I’ve met incredible leaders across academia and industry and gained a wealth of insight from their experiences. The mix of people at different stages of their careers—where new ideas collide with established wisdom—creates a dynamic, creative environment that elevates not just the organization, but the entire tech transfer ecosystem.
 
What is at the top of your must-visit list?
Japan. The landscapes are breathtaking, from the neon-lit streets of Tokyo to the serene temples of Kyoto. But beyond that, I’m drawn to how fundamentally different the culture is from my own—every conversation, every interaction offers a new perspective. Japan’s unique relationship with technology also fascinates me; where else can you experience cutting-edge robotics alongside centuries-old traditions, sometimes on the same street?
 
What excites you about the current tech transfer ecosystem in Canada?
The growing ambition. Canadian universities have always been home to world-class research, but there’s a noticeable shift toward translating that research into real-world impact. More institutions are thinking beyond traditional licensing and exploring startup creation, direct industry collaboration, and equity-based models. There’s also an increasing recognition of the need for better alignment between researchers, investors, and commercialization partners. The ecosystem still has challenges—securing growth-stage funding, evolving risk appetites—but the momentum is real. If we can keep pushing toward more founder-friendly policies and stronger industry ties, Canada has the potential to be a global leader in deep-tech commercialization.
 
What professional achievement(s) are you especially proud of?
The jobs we’ve helped create through building companies. Every startup we’ve helped launch represents opportunities—not just for the founders, but for engineers, scientists, and entire teams that get to push the boundaries of innovation. I’ve had the honor of working closely with incredible entrepreneurs, each bringing a unique mix of vision, resilience, and ingenuity to transform cutting-edge research into real-world solutions. And, perhaps most rewarding of all, successfully collaborating with universities to turn a story of invention into a story of societal impact. Seeing technology transition from lab to market, creating value far beyond academia, is what makes this work so fulfilling.
 
What do you find most rewarding, or challenging, about being a chief technology officer?
The most rewarding part is seeing an idea evolve into something tangible—watching technology go from an early-stage concept to a real product with real impact. Working at the intersection of cutting-edge research and commercialization means I get to help shape that journey, guiding entrepreneurs through the technical and strategic hurdles of building deep-tech ventures. The ingenuity and drive of the founders I work with never cease to inspire me.
 
The challenge? Balancing vision with execution. Deep-tech startups operate in high-risk, high-uncertainty environments, where technical breakthroughs are only part of the equation. Navigating funding constraints, scaling bottlenecks, and ensuring that technology aligns with market needs—all while keeping teams motivated—is an ongoing puzzle. But that challenge is also what makes the work so fulfilling.