On September 14, members of the FDU Vancouver community joined students, mentors, mentees, volunteers, and business professionals at the VIFF Centre for the 2026 Leaders of Tomorrow Awards.

Presented by Greater Vancouver Board of Trade’s Leaders of Tomorrow (LOT) Program, the event celebrated leadership, mentorship, professional development, and the achievements of emerging leaders across Metro Vancouver.

Students, alumni, staff, university leaders, and student ambassadors represented FDU Vancouver. The evening gave the community a chance to celebrate achievement and strengthen connections with Vancouver’s business community.

Celebrating the 2026 Leaders of Tomorrow Awards

The LOT program connects post-secondary students with experienced professionals through mentorship, leadership development, networking, and volunteer opportunities. These experiences help students build confidence and expand their professional networks.

Kira Straesser, Career Services Manager at FDU Vancouver, attended with FDU Vancouver executives and student ambassadors. Their participation reflected the university’s continued support for students as they build their professional journeys beyond the classroom.

Throughout the evening, LOT mentees, mentors, volunteers, alumni, and former FDU Vancouver students also reconnected and built new relationships.

Recognizing FDU Community Achievement

A highlight of the 2026 Leaders of Tomorrow Awards was the recognition of outstanding LOT participants across several award categories.

Foroozan Firoozan and Thaisa Bertelli, both MAS alumnae, represented FDU Vancouver as finalists. Foroozan was a finalist for Mentee of the Year, while Thaisa was a finalist for Excellence in Leadership.

FDU Vancouver staff were also recognized for their contributions to the LOT Communications Committee, with Nazmul Hasan (Himel) named as finalist for Team Impact and Patricia Bonghanoy named as finalist for Excellence in Leadership.

These recognitions reflected the leadership and contributions of FDU Vancouver community members within the LOT program. During their time with LOT, they built professional connections and contributed to Vancouver’s wider business community.

For current students, conversations with alumni, mentors, and working professionals offered insight into different careers and industries. These connections also showed how mentorship and professional networks can support growth beyond the classroom.

Learning Beyond the Classroom

The Leaders of Tomorrow Awards also gave FDU Vancouver student ambassadors an opportunity to volunteer and represent the university in a professional setting.

By supporting the event, they connected with alumni, mentors, and industry professionals. They gained hands-on experience in networking and communication while strengthening their teamwork and community engagement skills.

Students also heard different career stories and learned from experienced professionals. These conversations helped them build confidence in a real-world setting.

Their involvement showed how volunteering and community engagement can strengthen professional networks and build practical skills for future opportunities.

Supporting Student Career Growth

Overall, the 2026 Leaders of Tomorrow Awards showed how career development can extend beyond the classroom through mentorship, networking, volunteering, and community involvement.

At FDU Vancouver, we help students build confidence and leadership skills. We also create opportunities for students to expand their professional networks and gain real-world experience that can support their careers.

Students interested in getting involved can learn more about the Leaders of Tomorrow program through the Greater Vancouver Board of Trade. They can also contact FDU Vancouver Career Services at careerservices@fdu.edu for more information.

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