The BCIT Alumni Association is proud to spotlight alumni whose journeys reflect the spirit of lifelong connection, professional excellence, and giving back to BCIT and the greater community.
Meet Saboor Meherzad, a BCIT graduate, entrepreneur, and lifelong learner whose journey from the classroom to founding an AI-powered technology company demonstrates how practical education, resilience, and a passion for solving real-world challenges can create lasting impact.
What drew you to BCIT and what ultimately made you choose your program(s)?
Early in my career, I realized that having technical skills alone wasn’t enough to solve real-world problems. My desire to understand how technology, business, leadership, and innovation all come together led me to BCIT’s Bachelor of Technology in Technology Management program.
What stood out to me about BCIT was its practical, hands-on approach to learning. The program wasn’t just about studying concepts from a textbook; it challenged us to apply what we learned to real business situations. Since I was already working in the technology industry, I appreciated being able to immediately put what I learned into practice in my professional career.
Outside the traditional classroom, opportunities such as Enactus BCIT and the Student Innovation Challenge encouraged me to think differently about innovation, problem-solving, and entrepreneurship. Those experiences gave me the confidence to explore business ideas, work with customers, and learn how to turn an idea into something people would actually use.
What key skills or lessons did you learn during your studies?
One of the biggest lessons I learned at BCIT was that great ideas only become successful when they’re tested in the real world.
In the Entrepreneurship course taught by Chang Han, we did more than learn about business theories — we were challenged to develop a business idea, build a business plan, research the market, and pitch our ideas to the class. It was one of the first times I truly experienced what entrepreneurship looked and felt like in practice, and it taught me that building a business isn’t about having a clever idea, it’s about understanding customers, listening to feedback, and constantly improving.
Those experiences eventually led me to develop Divine Natural Bars, my first entrepreneurial venture. Inspired by my Afghan roots, I created a line of natural snack bars that eventually won first place and the $5,000 Entrepreneurship Award at the 2018 BCIT Student Innovation Challenge. Seeing that idea evolve from something I worked on in my parents’ kitchen to eventually being recognized by BCIT and later featured by BCIT Applied Research and LINK Magazine gave me confidence that ideas developed in the classroom really can become real businesses.
Just as importantly, Laura Barreca, Entrepreneurship Manager with the BCIT Student Association and Terry Suen, Program Head of Technology Management, encouraged me to keep learning and continue challenging myself long after graduation.
What are you doing now?
Today, I’m the Founder & CEO of GrowEasy Solutions, an Abbotsford-based technology company developing an AI-enabled software platform designed to help small and medium-sized businesses improve their day-to-day operations.
The company grew out of more than two decades of experience in operations, hospitality, telecommunications, technology, and project management. Throughout my career, I kept seeing the same challenges where businesses often relied on paper checklists, verbal updates, spreadsheets, and manual follow-ups to manage important daily tasks. That frequently led to missed responsibilities, inconsistent execution, communication gaps, and unnecessary stress for managers and employees.
I founded GrowEasy to solve those everyday operational problems in a practical way to help businesses improve communication, accountability, consistency, and operational visibility so managers can spend less time chasing information and more time supporting their teams and serving their customers.
Our vision is to build a Canadian software company that helps businesses across multiple industries operate more effectively while creating high-value technology jobs here in British Columbia.
How are you applying your education in your career?
The Technology Management program taught me to look at challenges from multiple perspectives by considering technology, people, business processes, finances, and long-term strategy together. That balanced approach continues to shape how I lead GrowEasy and make decisions as our company expands.
My time at BCIT also reinforced the value of lifelong learning. After graduating, I continued my education by completing an MBA at Simon Fraser University, where the early concept for GrowEasy Solutions continued to evolve. During my studies, GrowEasy was recognized with the SFU Top Idea Prize, validating both the business concept and the customer-focused approach I had first developed through BCIT’s applied learning environment.
Project management skills developed at BCIT have also become an important part of my work. Building a company requires balancing priorities, managing risks, coordinating people, adapting to change, and making thoughtful decisions with limited resources. Those practical leadership skills remain part of my everyday work.
In what ways are you using your skills or experience to contribute to your industry or community?
I am passionate about helping small and medium-sized businesses become more efficient by providing practical technology that addresses everyday operational challenges. Supporting local businesses ultimately strengthens the communities they serve.
I’m also committed to sharing what I’ve learned with aspiring entrepreneurs. Every stage of my education has reinforced the importance of curiosity, collaboration, and continuous improvement. I enjoy encouraging emerging entrepreneurs to embrace learning, seek mentorship, and turn ideas into practical solutions.
One of the greatest honours in my career far has been being selected as one of only 40 entrepreneurs from across Canada to represent our country at the 2026 G20 Young Entrepreneurs’ Alliance (G20 YEA) Summit in Vienna, Austria. The summit brings together entrepreneurs, business leaders, and policymakers from G20 countries to discuss innovation, economic growth, and entrepreneurship.
What advice would you give to someone who wants to enter your field or follow in your footsteps?
Stay curious and never stop learning. Technology changes quickly, and no one has all the answers. The people who continue to grow are the ones who are willing to ask questions, seek feedback, and keep improving.
Do not to wait for the perfect idea or perfect plan before getting started. Some of the biggest lessons I’ve learned came from simply taking the first step, testing ideas, making mistakes, and learning from them. Entrepreneurship is rarely a straight path, and setbacks are part of the journey. What matters most is how you respond to them.
Develop relationships. Throughout my journey, I’ve been fortunate to learn from mentors, professors, colleagues, customers, and fellow entrepreneurs. Those relationships have opened doors, challenged my thinking, and helped me become a better leader. Never be afraid to ask for advice or accept help when it’s offered.
Finally, remember that success doesn’t happen overnight. It takes patience, resilience, and consistent effort. Keep learning, stay humble, work hard, and focus on creating something that genuinely helps people. If you solve real problems and continue improving, opportunities will follow.
What is next for you and how do you see your BCIT education continuing to support your journey?
My immediate focus is continuing to build GrowEasy Solutions by working closely with business owners and expanding our platform to help more businesses improve their operations.
Representing Canada as one of only 40 entrepreneurs attending the 2026 G20 Young Entrepreneurs’ Alliance Summit is another exciting milestone. I’m looking forward to learning from entrepreneurs around the world and bringing new ideas back to British Columbia’s innovation ecosystem.
Looking further ahead, my goal is to build a globally competitive Canadian technology company while mentoring future entrepreneurs and giving back to the community that helped shaped my own journey. The practical mindset, entrepreneurial experiences, and relationships I built there continue to influence how I approach leadership and problem-solving every day.
