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Helping high school students find their ideal careers

This interview was originally published by InnovED, University of Toronto’s Ontario Institute for Studies in Education on June 26, 2024. Read the original article here.


Can you tell us about your motivations to launch PathtoCareer? What problems, challenges, or opportunities are your organizations engaged to address?

As the pandemic reshaped many careers, including my own, it became evident that the process of planning a career – whether at the beginning of one’s journey or during a transition – has not kept pace with the times. With the advancement in various fields, finding one’s true calling has become more challenging than ever. Yet, within this challenge lies an incredible opportunity. It is our responsibility and our mission to transform this complex landscape into a world of endless possibilities and informed choices.

“Education is a lifeline, not a privilege. It is our responsibility to give every student an equal opportunity.”

Manny Narayanan

At PathtoCareer.com, we firmly believe that every young person should have the freedom to explore, dream and discover their true potential without feeling pressured to make life-altering decisions at such an early age. We recognize the immense pressure both high-school and university students often face to chart their entire life course, a challenge that motivated us to create our organization.

Our mission is to empower students by providing them with comprehensive career guidance, resources, and provide guidance counsellors with the tools that will help them drive students in making an informed decisions about their future.

What product or service are you providing and what stakeholders and systems are you seeking to serve?

PathtoCareer.com, psychology assisted and adaptive AI powered EdTech platform which goes beyond traditional career guidance tools by integrating a vast range of career guides, academic resources, financial literacy and networking opportunities into one comprehensive platform, to help students make informed decisions on education to work transition. Our platform is a digital toolbox packed with resources designed to help high-school and university students navigate their career paths with confidence. It includes a variety of tools from career exploration modules and psychology assessments, lifestyle assessment, financial literacy university mapper along with access to financial advisors and much more.

We understand that as a parent, your child’s future and education are of paramount importance. We’ve created a comprehensive EdTech platform that is available at your disposal that provides parents with insight and understanding into the myriad of career options available today. As parents, you will have direct access to our financial advisor focusing on education. For educational institutions, we offer an integrated solution that enhances their existing career services. Our platform provides institutions with valuable insights into the career interests and trends among their students, enabling them to tailor their curriculum and programs accordingly. Guidance counsellors are a key stakeholder in our ecosystem. We equip them with robust tools and resources to effectively guide students in their career exploration, enabling them to provide personalized advice based on each student’s unique interests, skills, and goals.

In essence, we are creating an ecosystem that bridges the gap between students, parents, educational institutions, and guidance counselors, facilitating effective career planning and decision-making to serve each stakeholder’s specific needs.

What impact do you hope your product will have on the market or industry?

We believe “big things have small beginnings”. We hope that PathtoCareer.com will revolutionize the career guidance industry by making it more equitable, accessible, comprehensive, and personalized, breaking down the barriers that have traditionally made it difficult for students from diverse backgrounds to explore their potential career paths.

One of the key ways we hope to change the industry is by significantly reducing the stress and uncertainty that students often experience when planning their careers. We understand that the traditional education system can often feel overwhelming and confusing, especially when it comes to making decisions about the future. That’s why we’ve designed our platform to provide clear, actionable guidance that can help students navigate these important decisions with confidence.

In the longer term, we believe that PathtoCareer.com has the potential to reshape the entire career guidance industry. By creating a more personalized, data-driven approach to career planning, we can provide students with the resources and support they need to thrive in their chosen careers. We envision a future where every student, regardless of their background, has the opportunity to pursue a career path that aligns with their passion, skills, and life goals.

In essence, we hope that our product will not just impact the market, but will set a new standard for what career guidance should look like in the 21st century.

Is there anything else you’d like to share with our educator and edupreneur community?

We would like to express our profound gratitude to all educators and edupreneurs who tirelessly work to make education accessible, engaging, and transformative for all students. Your work is truly inspiring and plays a crucial role in shaping the future of our society. We also want to encourage you to continue embracing innovation and technology in education, as it is through these advancements we can truly revolutionize learning and career planning. At PathtoCareer.com, we are eager to partner with you in this journey, and together, we can shape a future where every student is empowered to reach their full potential.

Exploring one’s passions and career aspirations is a journey of self-discovery. It’s important to remember that it’s okay to not have all the answers right away. Embrace the process of exploration and learning. It’s also important to not be afraid of failure or making mistakes, as they are just stepping stones on the path to success. Most importantly, always stay true to yourself and your values. Your career should not only be about making a living, but also about making a life that you find fulfilling and meaningful.

Exciting news! Manny has put together a high level guide as your personal compass, guiding you through the thrilling, albeit occasionally bewildering, adventure of uncovering your true north.



Innovation Factory

Innovation Factory is a business accelerator, dedicated to helping Ontario-based businesses launch, scale, and succeed. We provide start-ups, and scaling companies with advisory services, training, mentorship, and strategic connections to help bring disruptive technologies to market, leverage intellectual property, increase revenues, attract investment and create jobs. Serving as the catalyst for tech innovation in the greater Hamilton area since 2011 we are driven to help: Entrepreneurs bring new ideas to life and to market Small/Medium Enterprises (SMEs) get to the next level Hamilton build a dynamic culture and a community of innovation Innovation can happen anywhere. Our goal is to make it work everywhere. We work to elevate key industry sectors including, advanced manufacturing, clean tech, information technology, integrated mobility, life sciences & health care and social innovations.

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