January 18, 2021- Meet alumnus Steven Banick, Vice-president of the Technology Strategy & Transformation Office at TELUS, JABC Board Member, and JABC volunteer.
Steve was an enthusiastic participant in the JA Company Program in Edmonton, Alberta when he was in high school. “I still have clear memories of participating in two years of the Company Program and of the impact the volunteers and my student peers had on me. I have close friendships forged during that time that I still have today. Undoubtedly, the experience with JA encouraged me to have the confidence to start my own business after I left school.”
After some time as an entrepreneur and working for technology start-ups, Steve joined TELUS and now leads the strategy and investment decisions for the organization’s significant technology footprint as it continues to evolve in today’s rapidly changing world. He says, “It was JA that taught me the basics of what it means to be a successful business, and what it takes to work with others to achieve the business goals. It was a fun experience that also planted important lessons that would later benefit me in my career. It’s for that reason I was so excited to give back and be involved with JABC in the hopes that other youth can have the same great experiences and opportunities I did.”
Steve continues, “As a father of three daughters, preparing youth for the future is personal to me. Learning resilience, adaptability, and how to effectively collaborate with others is key to a successful life. The Company Program is a great setting to start with a great idea and learn, along with others, the importance of perseverance and adjusting approaches based on normal setbacks and challenges.”
While Steve loves that JA teaches youth about the basics of business, more importantly he loves that it prepares youth to work with others and for future learning. “Lifelong learning, in all forms, will help lead to a rich and rewarding life, and JA can open eyes to new types of experiences and opportunities that a young person may not have previously been aware of. That’s what happened to me, and I am incredibly grateful for the role those JA volunteers played in my life over 30 years ago.”
Thank you Steve for giving back to JA!
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