Alumni Testimonials
Since the Lab’s founding in 2012, many accomplished former analysts and student leaders have graduated. Many Lab alumni continue to stay involved with the Lab as mentors, advisors and guest speakers. Lab alumni also remain connected through a LinkedIn group and many remain strong friends well after graduation. Read more about how the Lab has helped alumni get to where they are today below.
Kevin Lass
Kevin is a Senior Consultant at Rabin Martin, a global health strategy consulting firm based in New York. He has several years of experience in both health care policy and management consulting. Previously, he advised Ontario’s Minister of Health on the Province’s COVID-19 response and recovery strategies as well as the development of broader health care policy. Kevin graduated with a Master's in Global Affairs at the University of Toronto's Munk School and with an Honors BA in Political Science at Western.
How has the Lab helped you get to where you are today?
"Everyday I advise health sector clients on key global and regional trends, implications, as well as risks and opportunities. Demo Lab was the first time I put myself into a client’s shoes when thinking about a real-world business problem, which is critical for many Demo Lab members who will often work in client environments in the future.
For many pursuing degrees in social sciences, you can separate yourself from the rest of the pack by proving to prospective employers that you have experience synthesizing research, analyzing the key points that matter most, and presenting recommendations."
Sharon Low
Sharon is a Master of Global Affairs candidate at the Munk School of Global Affairs. She has also worked as an Operations Manager at the Global Ideas Institute and as a Junior Policy Analyst for Global Affairs Canada.
How has the Lab helped you get to where you are today?
"Research papers are very important when applying to post-grad programs; having research also helps justify your specialization in a particular issue/region of the world when applying to future opportunities. The project proposal phase and outline is very reminiscent of OGS and SSHRC research applications! It was great having done that process before when I applied to OGS successfully earlier last year."
Nikhil Pandeya
Nikhil holds a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in Political Science from Western University, and recently graduated from Queen’s University with a Master of Arts in Political Studies. Nikhil is broadly interested in studying whether Canadian political institutions respond effectively to the diverse society they govern. His coursework focused on the politics of identity and inequality, federalism, and Canada’s Constitution. Beyond the classroom, Nikhil served as a Peer Advisor at Western’s Writing Support Centre and as a member of the Equity Issues Committee at Queen’s. Nikhil is currently participating in the Parliamentary Internship Program in Ottawa.
How has the Lab helped you get to where you are today?
"The Lab taught me how to use the skills you build in school beyond the classroom. Not all employers will have time to read a 20-page paper, and you might not have 6 weeks of warning before it is due. Quickly researching a political risk topic you might know little about, and delivering well-reasoned recommendations in a succinct and accessible way are two things that any work in political spaces requires, and are also tasks that the Lab asks analysts to tackle.
Being able to talk about your experience working with political risk outside the classroom has been helpful for me. Not only does the Lab give you research and writing skills, it also asks analysts to deliver recommendations to an interested party. Practising seeing issues from a perspective that someone else holds has been a skill I use regularly as a non-partisan intern and in my everyday life."
