Name: Daryl D’Souza
Career/Title: Co-Founder & Executive Manager, Lou Dawg’s B-B-Q; Part-Time Instructor at Ryerson University
Education: Bachelor of Computer Science (Ryerson); MBA (in progress)
As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?
Astronaut
What was the first thing that you were ever paid to do?
Toronto Star Delivery
What was your favourite subject in high school?
Math
Did you continue to study it in post-secondary school?
Yes – as part of a computer science degree
Which post-secondary school did you attend?
Ryerson: Bachelor of Computer Science, 4 years
Laurier: Masters in Business, 3.5 years
Did you ever change (or consider changing) programs?
No… although I did not enjoy Computer Science, I never thought of leaving something I started. Instead, I looked to the future for a PMP and MBA to marry the worlds of computers and business.
When you think about your college/university experience, is there a particular memory that comes to mind?
Making a robot in my robotics class, having my 4 roommates baffled by what I was doing in my program
What was your favourite part about your post-secondary experience? Least favourite?
Favourite: my community of friends
Least Favourite: commuting for the first 2 years of the program
When you graduated, did you receive a job right away?
Yes – I was hired by BCE Emergis as a Programmer Analyst in April 2001, 2 months before graduation.
Did you pursue another degree?
I completed a PMP in March 2004 and I also started an MBA in 2004
Was your first job out of school related to your degree?
Yes, eHealth Programmer Analyst for BCE Emergis
Which of your skills do you find to be the most helpful in your line of work?
Communication and organization
What is one skill that you wish you possessed?
Patience
What advice would you give to students who are interested in pursuing similar opportunities?
Entrepreneurial life takes dedication and perseverance. (Much like the Computer Science degree and the part-time MBA.)
What do you see yourself doing ten years from now?
Playing guitar on a beach
If you could go back to the end of high school and do things over again, would you change anything?
No
What do you wish you had known in high school, before you began to pursue your education/career?
A better understanding as to what is involved in a ‘career’