Supporting Student Leadership Through Experiential Learning

Enactus SLC – St. Lawrence College

Role: Dan Hendry

Year: 2010–2016

For over six years, I served as a Faculty Advisor for the Enactus program at St. Lawrence College (SLC). Enactus brings together students from a wide range of academic programs and encourages them to use entrepreneurial thinking to address social and community challenges. My role focused on supporting students as they transformed early ideas into projects they could confidently share beyond the classroom.

As an advisor, my work centred on coaching, preparation, and student support. Many of the students I worked with were initially nervous about presenting their work in front of large audiences. A significant part of my role involved helping students develop scripts, prepare presentations, and build confidence in telling the story of their projects. Watching students find their voice and take pride in what they had created was one of the most rewarding aspects of this work.

Images Supplied By: Enactus SLC

I also played a key role in coordinating the logistics required for students to participate in regional and national Enactus events. This included organizing travel to cities such as Toronto and Vancouver, arranging transportation and accommodations, and ensuring students felt safe and supported while representing the college away from campus. I also helped prepare the technical aspects of presentations so students could focus fully on delivering their message.

Through this role, I supported students working on a wide range of initiatives, from early‑stage business ideas to larger social impact projects. These experiences provided students with hands‑on exposure to leadership, teamwork, and public storytelling, while reinforcing the value of applied, experiential learning.

My time with Enactus SLC reinforced for me how transformative mentorship and encouragement can be. With the right support, students moved from uncertainty to confidence, standing on stage and sharing their work with audiences far beyond campus. In 2016, I was honoured to be named a John Dobson Enactus Fellow, a recognition that reflected my ongoing commitment to student leadership and entrepreneurial learning

Related Links & Media: Enactus Canada | Empowering Student Leaders for Social ImpactEnactus St. Lawrence College - YouTube