2025 Tech Industry Panel: Navigating Tech Careers – From Academia to Industry and Entrepreneurship

Watch the Full Video on YouTube
(This event was held on March 13, 2025)

The 2025 Tech Industry Panel was hosted at the University of the Fraser Valley by the School of Computing. This year’s event brought together an inspiring lineup of thought leaders and trailblazers who offered valuable insights into the evolving landscape of tech careers, providing students, aspiring entrepreneurs, and professionals with a unique opportunity to explore diverse career pathways, learn from real-world experiences, and gain practical advice on navigating the tech world.

Meet the Panelists

Each panelist brought a unique perspective on transitioning from academia to thriving in industry and entrepreneurship:

Prashant Agrawal – Founder of Be Pacific, a multi-venture entrepreneur with a passion for building impactful businesses across industries.

Raza Mirza – Software Development Manager and Engineering Coach at Amazon, offering deep insights into team leadership and what tech giants look for in talent.

Isabelle Schmidt – Fractional CIO at improvingIT., helping startups and SMEs harness tech for growth and innovation.

Jason Wong – Founder of Beta Collective and Co-founder of Coworking BC Society, championing co-working spaces and community-driven innovation.

Key Topics Explored

The conversation was packed with thoughtful takeaways, including:

Career Pathways in Tech – From research labs to boardrooms, panelists shared the non-linear journeys that led them to where they are today.
Skills and Experiences That Matter – What does the industry really value? The panel broke down both the hard and soft skills that make candidates stand out.
Entrepreneurship: Challenges and Opportunities – Real talk on the highs and lows of launching and scaling tech ventures.
The Future of Tech – Insightful predictions on emerging trends, the impact of AI, and how to stay ahead in a fast-moving field.

Whether you’re a student exploring options, a researcher eyeing a shift to industry, or an aspiring founder, this panel was packed with gems to help you level up.

Want more tech career advice and industry insights?
Create a LinkedIn profile and connect with our panelists to stay updated on upcoming panels, events, and expert perspectives that can help shape your career journey.