Interning at LocAlley for the 2022 Winter Term!

Date: April 1, 2022

Written by Kourosh Jam, edited by Leena Saleh

“Working with LocAlley is a beneficial experience that I would highly recommend to other students interested in developing skills and gaining experiences related to entrepreneurship and business!”

– Kourosh Jam

My name is Kourosh Jam, and I am the Events Associate of the Ryerson Entrepreneurship Association. I am currently working as a student intern with LocAlley as a Grant Writer during the Winter 2022 semester. 

When I was first looking for a venture to get involved with, I was given the opportunity to work for 10 different positions in a myriad of companies. However, I felt as though LocAlley was the best option considering it would suit my learning goals and career aspirations working in the financial field. I hope to work in Project Management and as a result I found my time on LocAlley to be extremely valuable through the grant writing position, I’ve been able to hone my research skills by experiencing new platforms and resources related to financing and business such as Pocketed, Ontario Grants and HockeyStick. Additionally, through interacting with an early stage startup, I’ve grown accustomed to the entrepreneurial setting, learning how to collaborate well with others and gaining unique experiences. 

Another key aspect working alongside LocAlley was being able to contribute to the local community. LocAlley is working on developing a network of small local businesses through an emphasis on developing resources focused on funding and marketing support. It felt like a great way to personally connect with and support the local community.

Working alongside a small business provides a realistic view as to what it’s like working in a fast-paced, constantly changing environment. It’s well known that pursuing opportunities in business is overwhelming, especially while being a full-time student! But the LocAlley team was very supportive and understanding in regards to student schedules; they made sure to provide a welcoming environment! All in all, LocAlley provides a student-friendly way to gain real life experience within the business atmosphere. 

Working with LocAlley is a beneficial experience that I would highly recommend to other students interested in developing skills and gaining experiences related to entrepreneurship and business!