Sharn Kandola
Faculty of Applied Science & Technology
Degree: Systems Analyst Co-op
Year of graduation: 2001
From Technology to Communications to Entrepreneurship
In 2013, after moving into the same Oakville, Ontario community a few years ago, Sharn Kandola and three of her neighbours compared notes on their home buying-selling experiences and were shocked to find there was such a large discrepancy in the real estate commissions they each paid. Seeing a significant difference (literally thousands of dollars!), they agreed there had to be a better way for home-owners to negotiate commissions and at the same time work with reputable real estate professionals.
Featured on Global News in October, CBC’s The National, and in the Financial Post, the company they co-founded, www.feeDuck.com, has real estate agents competing for listings in a real-time auction. Having started out in Ontario in January 2015, feeDuck has since launched in all major Canadian cities and is increasing their agent and homeowner base every month, said Sharn.
“We are thrilled about the overwhelming response we've received from both homeowners and real estate professionals from across the country! We are adding new areas every month and we are running full steam into 2016.”
The world of entrepreneurship is not new to Sharn who owns consulting firm Euroleaf which helps a wide range of businesses build and execute Technology and Marketing strategies. Among her clients are Microsoft Canada, Samsung Canada, CNIB, YMCA, Habitat for Humanity, Whole Foods, Town of Milton, City of Burlington and Loblaws. Sharn started Euroleaf in 2008, while leading the eCommunications strategies for the Health Council of Canada, welcoming the chance to broaden her scope.
“It’s exciting to work in different industries to bring unique perspectives from one project to the next,” said Sharn. “It's easy to settle into one state of mind when you're working on the same type of project over and over again. I carry over strategies from one industry to the other - often to find that the fresh perspective adds to my client's campaigns.”
Sharn has recently been appointed the Director of Startup Grind Toronto, a startup community with over 170 chapters globally. Through monthly events in Toronto, she brings together individuals and companies in support of the entrepreneurial eco-system. “The startup community in the Toronto area is vibrant and innovative. I love nothing more than helping individuals find that missing piece to help them move forward – whether that be a co-founder, marketer, investor, advisor or just connecting with others who are in the same boat.”
Her long-time fascination with the intersection of technology and communications led Sharn to Sheridan over 15 years ago. A 2001 graduate of the Systems Analyst Co-op program, she started her career with a technical focus before veering toward communications and project management. In 2015, Sharn earned a Graduate Certificate in Strategic Management, Marketing from Harvard University.
Learn more about Sheridan’s Applied Computing programs
Read about feeDuck in Global News
Hear about feeDuck on CBC's The National and CHCH News
Follow Sharn on Twitter: @Gursharn
In 2013, after moving into the same Oakville, Ontario community a few years ago, Sharn Kandola and three of her neighbours compared notes on their home buying-selling experiences and were shocked to find there was such a large discrepancy in the real estate commissions they each paid. Seeing a significant difference (literally thousands of dollars!), they agreed there had to be a better way for home-owners to negotiate commissions and at the same time work with reputable real estate professionals.
Featured on Global News in October, CBC’s The National, and in the Financial Post, the company they co-founded, www.feeDuck.com, has real estate agents competing for listings in a real-time auction. Having started out in Ontario in January 2015, feeDuck has since launched in all major Canadian cities and is increasing their agent and homeowner base every month, said Sharn.
“We are thrilled about the overwhelming response we've received from both homeowners and real estate professionals from across the country! We are adding new areas every month and we are running full steam into 2016.”
The world of entrepreneurship is not new to Sharn who owns consulting firm Euroleaf which helps a wide range of businesses build and execute Technology and Marketing strategies. Among her clients are Microsoft Canada, Samsung Canada, CNIB, YMCA, Habitat for Humanity, Whole Foods, Town of Milton, City of Burlington and Loblaws. Sharn started Euroleaf in 2008, while leading the eCommunications strategies for the Health Council of Canada, welcoming the chance to broaden her scope.
“It’s exciting to work in different industries to bring unique perspectives from one project to the next,” said Sharn. “It's easy to settle into one state of mind when you're working on the same type of project over and over again. I carry over strategies from one industry to the other - often to find that the fresh perspective adds to my client's campaigns.”
Sharn has recently been appointed the Director of Startup Grind Toronto, a startup community with over 170 chapters globally. Through monthly events in Toronto, she brings together individuals and companies in support of the entrepreneurial eco-system. “The startup community in the Toronto area is vibrant and innovative. I love nothing more than helping individuals find that missing piece to help them move forward – whether that be a co-founder, marketer, investor, advisor or just connecting with others who are in the same boat.”
Her long-time fascination with the intersection of technology and communications led Sharn to Sheridan over 15 years ago. A 2001 graduate of the Systems Analyst Co-op program, she started her career with a technical focus before veering toward communications and project management. In 2015, Sharn earned a Graduate Certificate in Strategic Management, Marketing from Harvard University.
Learn more about Sheridan’s Applied Computing programs
Read about feeDuck in Global News
Hear about feeDuck on CBC's The National and CHCH News
Follow Sharn on Twitter: @Gursharn