Dr. Elham Marzi: #LaidlawConference23 Speaker Spotlight

🌟 Laidlaw Scholar Conference Speaker Spotlight🌟

Dr. Elham Marzi: Bridging Engineering and Business with Passion and Innovation 

In the vast expanse of academia, there are educators who not only instruct but inspire. Dr. Elham Marzi, an Assistant Professor in the Teaching Stream and the Director of the Engineering Business Minor and InVEST, stands tall among them. With a mission to bring the best of both worlds - engineering and business - to her students, she is a force of transformative change.  

A Stalwart in Diverse Disciplines 
Dr. Marzi's expertise spans a spectrum of subjects inclusive of Organizational Behaviour, Human Resource Management, Strategy, and Negotiations. This versatility is what makes her approach to teaching in the Engineering Business Minor and Certificate Program both comprehensive and innovative. 

Innovation in Teaching 
True teaching goes beyond just traditional instruction; it's about engagement, curiosity, and real-world connection. Dr. Marzi has ardently embraced technology-enhanced learning, consistently striving to adopt innovative teaching techniques. The goal? To profoundly enrich students' experiences and learnings within the four walls of the classroom and beyond. 

Bridging the Gap with Real-world Opportunities 
Acknowledging the essential crossover between engineering and business in the modern world, Dr. Marzi has pioneered two groundbreaking projects aimed at providing engineering students with hands-on business experiences: 

• International Virtual Engineering Student Teams (InVEST) Project: A visionary initiative, InVEST facilitates collaborations between students and faculty across global universities. They come together in virtual teams, working on research projects that harness the strengths of each participant and transcend geographical boundaries. 
• Engineering Business Futures Program: With a focus on the future, this program introduces engineering students to a myriad of opportunities and career paths in the business realm. Whether it's through career panels, case competitions, site visits, or networking events, Dr. Marzi's mission is clear – open doors for students to the limitless potential that lies at the intersection of engineering and business. 

A Legacy of Excellence 
Dr. Marzi's dedication to the academic and professional growth of her students hasn't gone unnoticed. She's a two-time recipient of the Best Instructor Awards from XCulture (2016; 2017) and has been recognized by Rotman Commerce for Teaching Excellence in both 2015 and 2016. 

Further testament to her interdisciplinary impact is her membership in numerous associations across Business, Education, and Engineering. Among them are the Canadian Industrial Relations Association, Canadian Engineering Education Association, Canadian Psychological Associate, the Academy of Management, and various divisions in IEEE. 

As we look forward to her insights at the #LaidlawConference23, there's much to anticipate and learn from this luminary in the fields of engineering and business.