An entrepreneur with a passion for innovation is being recognized with an Outstanding Young Alumni Award from Kwantlen Polytechnic University (KPU).
Manvir Deol, who graduated from KPU's Bachelor of Business Administration in Marketing Management program in 2018, will be honoured at the university's convocation ceremonies on June 11.
"I'm incredibly honoured to receive the Outstanding Young Alumni Award," he says. "It's a full-circle moment to be recognized by the university that played such a big role in shaping who I am as an entrepreneur. I'm deeply grateful to the faculty, mentors and peers who supported me along the way."
Deol runs two successful and growing businesses one being Plan Your Space, an architectural showroom that helps homeowners gain a clear vision of their ideal floorplan before starting construction. The idea came to him when he was building a home for his family.
"When I got to the framing stage, I realized the house wasn't what I had envisioned in the original plans, which ended up costing me nearly $15,000 in changes," he says. "I wanted to create a space where clients can walk through their dream home or business and see how it feels before they break ground."
Just three years since its launch, Plan Your Space has completed over 350 floor plans with portfolios including single family homes, restaurants, medical clinics and financial institutions such as Vancity.
Drawing on his bachelor's degree and marketing background, Deol also founded a marketing agency in 2014 called CLIQMedia, which has collaborated with developers across Canada and is responsible for all of the marketing done at Plan Your Space.
Deol's success at a young age earned him a spot on the BCBusiness magazine's 30 under 30 list, which celebrates young leaders who are innovating in their industries and finding new ways to create change. For Deol, no dream is too big.
"Life is too short not to try new things or chase the ideas that excite you," he says. "Taking risks, even when the outcome is uncertain, has been the most rewarding part of my journey. Growth happens when you step outside your comfort zone that's where vision becomes reality."
Deol's connection to KPU has remained strong since his graduation. He's currently employing and mentoring a KPU student intern, and strives to continue to find ways to provide students with opportunities to grow, learn and eventually lead. He's been an inspiration to current students, says Nancy Armitage, Director of Alumni Affairs at KPU.
"Manny is a role model to students who have a dream of starting their own business and making a difference in their community or industry at a young age," she says. "His drive, determination, resilience and courage truly set him apart and we could not be prouder of what he has accomplished."
The Outstanding Young Alumni Award recognizes KPU alumni who are under 30 years old, have demonstrated excellence professionally or through community service and have been involved with KPU or alumni activities since graduation.
