A scholar interviews a mentor – Victoire Kpade meets Jaspreet Grewal
In between being a delegate to the recent Women’s Canada Trade Mission to the UK, meeting clients for her business, and paying it forward by mentoring other Canadian companies, I had the privilege to sit down with Ms. Jaspreet Grewal to learn about this accomplished Canadian researcher and businesswoman taking up Canada and the UK by storm.
Education is key “Chance favours the prepared mind,” said Jaspreet as she recounted the many ways in which she had prepared for the successful path that she now walks. Born in Calgary with Punjabi roots from a family who has spent generations in East Africa and the United Kingdom, Jaspreet grew up enjoying the Canadian Rockies and spent much of her upbringing playing sports, volunteering and excelling in public speaking and debate. Academically, her passions for research, innovation, and public service, as well as her ambition, led her to study in various institutions across the world; from undergraduate studies at the Universities of Calgary and of Saskatchewan, to graduate school at Georgetown University Medical School, where she then specialized in ophthalmology and did a Master’s in Clinical Vision Sciences. After a few years in clinical medicine and experience working as a lobbyist during her training, Jaspreet sought to learn more about the business and research aspects of medicine to impact populations on a wider scale. She then did an executive certificate in Public Health at Harvard University, a certification to become a Clinical Research Professional, and then an executive MBA at the London School of Economics (LSE).
Becoming a breakthrough entrepreneur Equipped with knowledge, confidence, and a growing network across different countries, Ms. Grewal co-founded the Knowde Group in April 2020. Knowde helps companies in emerging areas of Lifesciences break into the field as they often do not have the same resources as big pharmaceutical companies to develop their projects. Knowde Group has three principle focuses. First, to facilitate the design, access, and resources for companies to be able to conduct clinical trials. Second, to conduct the regulatory affairs to ensure research processes run smoothly. And thirdly, to provide strategic consulting to help companies build their research plans and connect them to potential investors.
In September 2022, after completing her MBA at LSE and with prior consulting experience in the UK and other countries, she and her Co-Founder, Sabrina Ramkellawan, expanded the company into the UK. She recounts having had a lot of success building relationships in the UK with people being very open and receptive to wanting to see new business ideas succeed. The UK regulators have more amenable regulatory guidances and policies for trade, as well as a streamlining of services which facilitates trade, communication, and access to services. This provides great opportunities for Canadians who want to be involved in trade to come to the UK to develop their networks and build their organizations.
Giving back, community values While splitting her time between Canada and the UK, Ms. Grewal is also involved with various advisory boards in Canada including sitting on the Board of Directors of BioAlberta, Heroic Hearts Canada, and Operation Eyesight Universal. In addition to her board positions, Jaspreet is an Entrepreneur in Residence at Innovate Calgary, the University’s innovation hub, and Global Life Sciences consultant to Calgary Economic Development.
Mentoring and Canadian Values/Sikh Values Wherever she is in the world, Ms. Grewal embodies Canadian values which she describes as being able to show up as her authentic self in all rooms as a courteous and truthful Sikh woman who stands up for justice. She carries these values in all aspects of her life and ensured that these are reflected in the Knowde Group by hiring a team consisting of mostly women and persons of colour who have been historically excluded from scientific and business spaces.
Finally, Ms. Grewal emphasized the role of mentorship in her success, and the ever-changing nature of mentorship which she subcategorized into mentorship, leadership, and stewardship. From clinicians to researchers and venture capitalists, many of whom she still speaks to regularly, Jaspreet credits her education and diverse network, with varying voices and perspectives, along with some great mentors, as the driving forces behind her ability to trust herself and follow her passions.
As Ms. Grewal and her team celebrate three years of Knowde Group this April, we wish them all continued growth and success within their organization. We look forward to seeing where Ms. Grewal will take this company as she continues to further relationships between Canada and the UK.
About the author: Dr. Victoire Kpade, a 26 year old from Ottawa originally hailing from Togo, is a 2022/23 CMF scholar, currently studying at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine. In August 2023 she returns to her medical residency in Kingston Ontario.”