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Shana Dalby Althaus

Western student turns everyday challenges into entrepreneurial impact

Western student turns everyday challenges into entrepreneurial impact

Sep 3, 2026

Entrepreneurship is often described as the pursuit of big ideas, but Enya Law is more interested in the smaller problems that go unnoticed – and yet, shape everyday life.  Law was drawn to health care, business and work that builds community. Rather than choosing between them, a dual degree at Western University allowed her to explore how all three can work together.   “It’s a strange intersection,” said Law, now heading into the fourth year of her dual degree in health science and honours business administration at Ivey Business School. “But that’s what I love about it. It keeps every door open.”  Looking for ways to merge her passions, Law sought out the Founders Program at the Morrissette Institute for Entrepreneurship, Powered by Ivey. The Founder’s program builds skills and empowers entrepreneurs through education, mentorship, a $20,000 tuition bursary and the opportunity to grow networks on campus.   Initially, she was intimidated. She didn’t come from a traditional business background. But Law said she found that entrepreneurship thrives on different perspectives. Her background in health sciences gave her a unique way of approaching challenges.  “People think entrepreneurship is just tech and startups, but there’s so much of it in community work, in art, in food – aspects that don’t always get recognized.”    Within the Founders Program, entrepreneurship was not just framed around outcomes, but around a willingness to try, adapt and continue pushing despite hurdles.  

“Your first idea probably won’t work. It’s about whether you’re willing to keep going anyway.” – Enya Law, fourth-year dual degree student and Founders Program president 

Recently elected president of the Founders Program, she’s now helping to lead and support future student entrepreneurs who are starting the same journey she did just a few years ago. Her focus is on creating a supportive community for all.  “Becoming president feels a little surreal because I’m now helping shape a program that once gave me an opportunity I wasn’t sure I was ready for,” Law said. “I think some of the most meaningful entrepreneurial journeys start before someone even considers themselves an entrepreneur, and I’d love for the Founders Program to be the place that sparks that realization for someone else.”   

Turning ideas into action 

In high school, Law surveyed student perceptions of women’s health. Many of her peers were uncomfortable discussing it or lacked basic information. She realized it could be an opportunity to make a change.  That moment led to the creation of the Purple Project, a nonprofit initiative focused on raising awareness around women’s health through community events and social media campaigns. When Law brought the project to Western, its scope expanded.  At Western, she continued to look for small, overlooked issues. As a Residence Don, Law noticed piles of clothing, bedding and kitchen supplies being left behind when students moved out. She organized a Fashion and Food Drive across Western’s 12 residence buildings with colleague Peter Dani. The first drive collected more than 700 pounds of clothing, 200 bedding items and over 1,000 kitchen supplies for those in need.    

Investigating women entrepreneurs in South Africa

She took the same approach in other facets of her life.   During a summer internship with a luxury hotel chain in Hong Kong, Law developed a colleague recognition initiative designed to strengthen the workplace. The idea came from observing gaps in connection and recognition within the organization.   As a research assistant in the Faculty of Health Sciences, she’s tackled projects on gender-based humanitarian studies and investigated how misinformation on social media influences perceptions of women’s health. The research pushed her to think more critically about the platforms and systems behind the issues she cares about.  “It has made me aware of my own biases,” she said. “You start to think about what might be missing – who isn’t being considered – and how that affects the outcome.”     Law is now pursuing new entrepreneurship-focused research under Ivey professor Laurel Steinfield. She is helping to map the entrepreneurship ecosystem in South Africa and studying why women-led ventures fail at higher rates than those led by men.  “I’m especially interested in understanding where entrepreneurs are falling through the cracks and why those gaps continue to exist,” Law said. “Ultimately, I want this work to contribute to a more inclusive entrepreneurial ecosystem where someone’s gender, race, background or circumstances don’t determine how far their idea can go.”  Through all her experiences at Western, Law has learned that entrepreneurship is not limited to starting a business. More important is the mindset: seeking out solutions to problems big and small.   Through the Founders Program, she’s learned how to apply those skills in everyday situations, approaching challenges with curiosity. “You never really know where you’ll find your passion,” she said. “Just try things; you might be surprised by what you discover.”  Learn more about how Western is preparing future leaders and global citizens.