8 minute read
Class Acts
Jeremy Even ’15 & Anita Svadzian ’07, Pre-U ’08
Jeremy Even ’15: An Unconventional Journey
I believe that I am on the right track now, and will work toward leaving the planet in a better state.
BY DANA KOBERNICK, Communications Manager
For Jeremy Even ’15, the path to finding his real purpose was not a straight line. After exploring different careers that never quite felt right, and travelling the world to immerse himself in different ways of life, he finally found his calling in the field of sustainability. Today, as a partner in Primal Soles — a business founded by his brother David — Jeremy is channeling his passion and business savvy into building a company that makes a positive impact on the planet.
Currently based in Amsterdam, Jeremy’s native city, the entrepreneurial duo has garnered many awards for shaking up the footwear industry, manufacturing recyclable insoles and slippers made of Portuguese-grown cork. “We only use what nature gives us,” he says. “With the bark of cork oak trees, a material which has great properties for our feet, combined with discarded footwear, we can create products that are fully circular.”
Jeremy has found that there are numerous applications for this innovative and sustainable design, but currently he is focused on the hospitality sector, producing slippers for hotels around the world. In a study conducted with one hotel company client, Primal Soles found that it successfully diverted 400 pairs of used slippers from landfills in just one month by sending them for recycling.
Despite this impressive statistic, Jeremy finds it difficult to pinpoint a single crowning achievement across his personal, academic, and professional journeys. “I believe that I am on the right track now, and will work toward leaving the planet in a better state,” he says, “but I don’t feel like I have accomplished anything significant just yet.”
He does recognize, however, that overcoming the challenges he encountered during his school years was, indeed, an achievement. When Jeremy moved to Montreal from Amsterdam, he entered LCC in grade 7 and had difficulty fitting in. “I spoke no French and my English wasn’t great,” he says. “Eventually, I found my place primarily through my involvement in sports, and built lasting friendships with my classmates, some of which remain strong to this day.”
He also credits LCC with giving him much needed structure at a time when, in his words, he was a wild child who often misbehaved. He believes that in a less structured environment, he likely would have been expelled from school and would not have reached the productive path he is on today. “I’m pretty sure that Mr. Neal and Mr. Hirtle would be surprised to see where I am now,” he says with a laugh.
The struggles that he had fitting in with any one group — even beyond LCC, whether at Dawson College, Concordia’s John Molson School of Business, or when he returned home to Amsterdam — have served more as opportunities than hurdles, according to Jeremy. They shaped his identity, and now he embraces a nomadic lifestyle, where he meets like-minded people and is enriched by the freedom it allows. He loves travelling, and since he is able to work from anywhere, he never stays in one place for very long. Last year he was based in Argentina and Sri Lanka. Soon he will be headed to Italy, after which he will return to Montreal to visit his sister.
Reflecting on his experiences thus far, Jeremy is happy that he stepped out (pardon the pun!) of his comfort zone and took time for himself, enabling him to discover what would bring him real fulfillment. “I know I could have earned twice as much in a job that I wouldn’t enjoy,” he says. “That’s enticing for a young man, but what I gained in the process was a clear vision for my future.”
Anita Svadzian ’07, Pre-U ’08: Modern Renaissance Woman
It takes a village, not just to raise a child, but to build a successful career.
BY LYNA MORIN, Writer
Anita Svadzian ’07, Pre-U ’08 has always embraced both the arts and sciences, reflecting the curiosity and versatility of a true lifelong learner. Striving to contribute meaningfully to her community and the world at large, she has never shied away from exploring uncharted territories.
After graduating from LCC, Anita embarked on a transformative year at Bader College, the UK campus of Queen’s University located at Herstmonceux Castle. During her time at Bader, she broadened her horizons in the liberal arts, and continued to do so at McGill University, where she completed a double major in art history and history, while taking electives in math and science.
Initially drawn to medicine, Anita discovered her true calling in clinical research and public health, leading her to pursue a master’s degree at Boston University in the field of public health with a focus on the epidemiology of infectious diseases. “I loved it so much in my first few months that I knew I would do my PhD and go down this research route,” she says. “I was accepted in an exciting program at University College London, but then Brexit happened, and potential funding issues arose because of it. Since your happiness during a PhD program is contingent on your supervisor and the funding you have, I decided to come back to McGill to work with a wonderful supervisor.”
Anita’s academic journey continued with a PhD in Infectious Disease Epidemiology at McGill, focusing on tuberculosis (TB). Her research took her to India, where she worked with organizations like the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, which funded her thesis work, as well as the WHO, and the United Nations. Fearlessly pursuing her passion posed certain challenges. “India is a beautiful country, but conducting fieldwork as a young female researcher meant I had to be accompanied to sites because of the inherent risks as a solo female traveller in remote parts of the country,” she recalls.
Focusing her research on TB melded her interest in history, social determinants of health, and health inequality. “I wanted to understand why TB continues to be a problem while the disease is completely treatable,” Anita explains. “People in Western countries think TB doesn’t exist anymore, but it affects one in three people in the world. TB can be seen as a kind of litmus test for how society is doing. If we think about Canada, the populations that have the highest degrees of TB are sadly within our Indigenous and unhoused populations.”
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Anita’s expertise in respiratory infectious diseases proved invaluable to her. The pandemic resulted in hiring freezes in academia, prompting her to explore other career options. “It was the first time that I started thinking about what I could do with my life if I wasn’t a scientist,” she says. “How could I best utilize my skill set and also do work that I’m passionate about?”
Drawn to problem-solving on a larger scale, she transitioned into consulting, joining McKinsey & Company, a global management consulting firm, in 2022. “I’ve gotten to travel a lot, work with really interesting people and, every two or three months, I explore complex questions with other experts. My practice focuses primarily on health systems strengthening, diagnostics, medical technologies, and pharma. That’s my sweet spot, and I also do large-scale transformations of businesses as well.”
When asked about her achievements, Anita humbly acknowledges her PhD as a significant milestone, including navigating funding hurdles. However, she considers her greatest achievement to be the friendships she has maintained since her LCC days. “I’m still extremely close to both my elementary and high school friends. They’re my most beautiful and supportive network,” she notes.
Anita credits LCC for shaping her path. She was the first female “lifer”, spending 13 years at the school, from kindergarten to Pre-U. “I had the most wonderful time at LCC! I loved all my teachers. They really cared about us. Even my elementary school teachers came to my high school graduation!” Teachers like Mr. Olive, Mr. Armstrong, Mr. Salkeld and Ms. Shadley played crucial roles in nurturing Anita’s passion for science and providing guidance. Anita recalls that there weren’t many girls in the advanced STEM classes. “I’m glad it’s changed since then,” she reflects. Anita offers valuable advice to graduating students: be humble, thankful, and appreciative of the support network around you. “Explore your passions realistically,” she advises. “It takes a village, not just to raise a child, but to build a successful career. Surrounding yourself with people who believe in you is the best secret sauce you could have on the planet.”
