The Cansbridge Fellowship is a prestigious program that cultivates future leaders by fostering innovation and leveraging a strong network for change. Tailored for undergraduate students currently enrolled in Canadian colleges or universities, this fellowship offers a unique blend of opportunities, including international work experience in Asia, participation in a conference hosted in San Francisco, and access to the expansive Cansbridge Global Network. Founded on the principles of embracing risk-takers and entrepreneurs, the fellowship encourages individuals to think creatively and make significant contributions in diverse fields.
Miklos Sunario is a dynamic individual with a passion for problem-solving and innovation. From Indonesia, he is currently pursuing his undergraduate studies in Canada. Miklos is an aspiring engineer and entrepreneur who is driven by a desire to create meaningful solutions to real-world challenges. In this interview, Miklos shares insights into his background, journey with EduBeyond, and transformative experience with the Cansbridge Fellowship.
Can you tell us about your background? What inspired you to pursue engineering in undergrad?
To start from the beginning, I was born in Indonesia in 2003 but moved to Chilliwack, Canada, in 2015. Growing up, I was far from an outgoing child, and moving to a small, rural town in Canada only exacerbated that. As I grew, however, I slowly adapted and understood human relationships and dynamics. I started out as that nerdy, only Asian kid who ended up becoming president of the student council in my last year of high school.
Initially, I was also interested in studying business because of its focus on the human component. I became so entranced with it. However, the more I thought about it, the more I realized that focusing on simply navigating human relationships in business was not the primary goal. I realized that, for example, being student council president did not feel like a tremendous achievement. Although I had some competency in business, it did not allow me to do what I wanted to do: solve problems.
In high school, I learned that engineering is not just about numbers; it is very much about solving problems, working in teams, and critical thinking. Engineering was a place where I could make a difference in the world by honing my problem-solving skills.
What I took away from these experiences in grade school was that being business-savvy could take you to a place of power to make an impact, but it did not equip me with the skills to do something meaningful once I reached that stage. Thus, becoming a technical engineer was critical for me because my end goal isn’t simply to reach a place of “power” but to use such a position to formulate proper, scalable solutions.
Can you share how you found your startup EduBeyond, and what inspired you?
I started EduBeyond initially as a simple high-school project. During the pandemic, at a time when education came to a standstill, my friends and I decided to fill in the roles of teachers.
I quickly realized that I loved teaching. I poured hours and hours into it because nothing could inspire or give me as much fulfillment as watching my adorable students go from barely pronouncing English vowels to having full-blown conversations about climate change by the end of our studies together.
You see, my students were orphans from Indonesia. By simply dedicating a bit of my time each week, I was able to transform their future prospects exponentially. I preached this far and wide so that others would have the same privilege of enacting such change.
Before I knew it, our small project spread to 6 countries and helped over 6,000 students. It wasn’t meant to last; however, because of its volunteer-driven nature, the supply of teachers would never be able to keep up with the demand for learning.
So now, EduBeyond stands as a Generative AI startup within the field of education. With our newfound tech-based approach, we’ve been able to deploy and maximize our impact. Our inspiration has never changed, however: our ultimate goal is still to shape today’s talent and prepare them for the challenges of tomorrow.
Our efforts with the EduBeyond project even won us the prestigious award from Moonshot Learning for our work in accelerating the learning process in English and technological literacy for youths in developing regions.
What then led you to apply for the Cansbridge Fellowship?
During my second year at the University of British Columbia (UBC), I was lucky to meet Coralie, an upper-year Cansbridge fellow I worked alongside in my first year. She told me about this wonderful community of the most impressive yet down-to-earth group of people I’ll ever meet. She said it was unlike anything I’d ever seen. I was understandably skeptical. Although I’d been involved in clubs or initiatives before, I hardly ever stayed engaged. However, I decided to give it a shot and attended an info session on Cansbridge.
I was blown away. Coralie was right: it was like no other club or initiative. The Cansbridge fellowship stuck out to me as unique for the following reasons:
- $10,000 funding award. Who could say no to that?
- A 9-day boot camp at an entrepreneurial hub. For me, it was San Francisco: I received mentorship from some of the most successful entrepreneurs who have come out of Silicon Valley and bonded with other Cansbridge fellows.
- A compulsory Asia internship. Having spent my foundational years in Canada, I yearned to be more connected with my cultural roots and to expand my worldview.
- A diverse network of truly remarkable yet warm people. The fellowship consisted of all sorts of characters: some were successful multimillionaire founders, and others were trailblazers in their respective fields of study. The common thread? Everyone was actively changing the world in their own way. Their kindness was also evident in that they were always willing to have you spend that night at their homes if you ever were in their hometown.
Never before had I put so much effort and energy into a competitive application with 3 rounds of rigorous interviews.
What do you hope to gain from this fellowship? What has been a highlight so far?
My main goal with this fellowship was to make genuine connections and friendships, and I’ve definitely achieved that. Meeting folks like Vanessa, who’s just this bundle of energy and always up for an adventure, and Kerem, a Turkish student who’s not only hilarious but also a coding wizard, has been such a blast. And then there’s Jessica, Chris, Sam, Alison, and so many others – hanging out with them has been a mix of fun and learning.
Plus, I’ve had this unexpected growth spurt in maturity. Despite being just 19, diving into the diverse cultures during my summer stint in Asia has been eye-opening. It’s like breaking out of my North American bubble and seeing a whole new world with its own rules and vibes. The challenges I faced there really pushed me to grow and adapt. It was through this period of hardship, loneliness, and focus that I was able to grow mental years in just a matter of months.
For the Asia component of the Cansbridge Fellowship, what project did you work on?
Last summer I headed off to Indonesia and took part in an internship last summer, focusing on EduBeyond. It was an intense yet incredibly rewarding experience. My team and I poured our hearts into it, working tirelessly from dawn till dusk, often enduring marathon seven-hour meetings and battling exhaustion.
But the results were beyond anything we could have hoped for. EduBeyond experienced exponential growth over the summer, earning recognition from CNN Indonesia as the “Future of education,” securing our first clients, and even gaining support from the office of the Presidency. And beyond the professional milestones, the journey brought us closer together as a team. We started as colleagues but left Indonesia as brothers-in-arms, united by our shared mission.
Despite the challenges, I wouldn’t change a thing about it.
What do you think your next step will be? Whether that’s in the fellowship, undergrad, or plans after graduating.
For my personal plans, one thing is for sure: my future will be directly tied to EduBeyond. We’re gaining traction, and our technology is changing learning as you know it. I am confident that we can keep this wrecking ball rolling for a long time. EduBeyond’s goal is to shape talent today to shape tomorrow, and there’s no way I let down the people who put so much faith in our collective mission.
My plan for the Cansbridge Fellowship is clear-cut: to continue being part of it and giving back where I can. I’m still getting to know the other 200+ fellows out in the world, and with our numbers increasing yearly, it’s likely a task that will keep me busy for a long time to come. Nonetheless, getting to know my fellows individually and one by one is definitely one of my favorite pastimes.
As for the giving back part, I’m willing to put time into helping with tasks here and there. Whether it’s promoting Cansbridge here on ProFellow or conducting interviews for the next batch, I’m happy to contribute to this program, which has given me so much. You see, Cansbridge isn’t a one summer thing. It’s a lifelong network that keeps on evolving.
And finally, what advice would you offer to others?
When you apply to be a Cansbridge Fellow, we want to see who you truly are. When we ask you a question, we don’t look for half-answers that focus on some trait or career flex you think we want to see. We look for the real you: the one who has gone through human experiences that shape you into who you are today. I think this applies to all other applications or just life: the best character in a movie or book isn’t the picture-perfect, nothing-has-ever-gone-wrong “Mary Sue” character. It’s the character forged through hardship and pain, yet still strives for perfection despite their flaws. That’s the kind of people who Cansbridge—no, the world—looks for.
Interested in other entrepreneurial fellowships? Check out Social Entrepreneurship Fellowships for Innovators and bookmark your favorites to your ProFellow account!
Miklos Sunario, a prospective Engineering student at the University of British Columbia, represents the fusion of business, technology, and social impact. As Co-Founder of EduBeyond, he leads AI-powered initiatives to revolutionize personalized learning. His start-up was recognized and received the Moonshot Learning Award for facilitating English and technological education in developing countries. In 2023, he was selected as a Cansbridge Fellow for leadership and entrepreneurial development. With a commitment to transformative change, Miklos thrives at the intersection of academia and entrepreneurship, inspiring collaborative endeavors toward a brighter future.
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