Meet alumna Meagan Delgado, Provincial Planning Officer at Emergency Management BC and new Entrepreneur. She and her partners are launching a company, Respondkits, which will soon sell small, mobile, seismically focused interim emergency kits.

Meagan’s experience with JA was in her Grade 11 Entrepreneurship class in Powell River, BC. Her group developed a business plan, pitched it to investors and launched their temporary company, a pie stand, at the local farmer’s market. “This experience was fundamental in sparking my interest in business and gave me a foundational understanding of the different strategic and logistic requirements of starting a company. I was very grateful and humbled to have been selected for the 2007 Junior Achievement Leadership of BC award where I had the opportunity to attend a gala in Vancouver to receive the award.”

She credits her teacher for sparking her interest and love for business. “The Junior Achievement program was facilitated through our teacher, Mrs. Hutchings. Mrs. Hutchings is a phenomenal and inspiring teacher and I can still, 12 years later, remember much of her teachings. It wasn’t until I enrolled in the Bachelor of Commerce in Entrepreneurial Management program at Royal Roads 10 years later that I remembered my passion for business done the right way. I have now recently finished the Royal Roads program and am looking forward to launching Respondkits with my partners.

When asked about what advice she would give today’s youth, she said, “Take every opportunity that comes your way. Sometimes it may be nerve-wracking, scary, or time-consuming to take these opportunities, but you can never know where they will lead. Step outside of your comfort zone and surround yourself with people that are smarter and more experienced than you. Learn from them. You will be surprised at the connections you make and the doors that will open for you.”

Thank you Meagan for sharing your story!

Are you a former Junior Achiever?  We want to hear from you! We are collecting stories from British Columbians who feel JA positively influenced their life or career. Tell us your Story.