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Alumni Spotlight: Shania Muthu on Turning Discomfort to Growth
Building with Purpose, Leading with Heart
For Shania Muthu, Junior Achievement was more than an introduction to business. It was the beginning of a journey that would shape how she approaches entrepreneurship, leadership, and the opportunities ahead.
Since her time in JA, Shania has continued to build an impressive path of her own. After graduating with two degrees from the University of British Columbia, she launched her own startup focused on helping students navigate internships and new graduate opportunities. She has also joined the investigations team at Wealthsimple and is preparing for her next chapter: an accelerated law degree at Queen Mary University of London.
Through it all, Shania credits JA with helping spark her excitement for business and, more importantly, teaching her to connect entrepreneurship with a deeper sense of purpose.
“JA played a pivotal role in my excitement for business, and more specifically, continuing entrepreneurship with a true meaning behind my ‘why’ in the startup.”
But perhaps one of the most lasting parts of her JA experience was the people she met along the way. Her advisors and fellow students have remained some of her closest connections, continuing to offer advice and support years after their Company Program ended.
Embracing the Chaos
Looking back, Shania describes her JA journey as “chaotic”, but in the best possible way.
There were moments of uncertainty, last-minute changes, unexpected pivots, and the challenge of learning how to step fully into a leadership role while making sure her team felt supported and motivated.
Rather than seeing those challenges as setbacks, Shania now sees them as some of the most valuable parts of the experience.
One of the highlights was being able to meet with her team at their advisor’s office on Saturdays, in addition to their regular weekly meetings. Those extra hours gave the team a chance to huddle together, work through challenges, and ultimately see the results of their efforts come to life.
For Shania, those moments captured what entrepreneurship is really about: figuring things out together, adapting when things don't go according to plan, and continuing to push forward.
Your JA Network is Bigger than You Think
If Shania could give one piece of advice to current JA students, it would be to take advantage of every opportunity JA gives you.
That means more than just participating in the Company Program. It means making friends, building relationships with advisors, asking questions, and being willing to put yourself out there.
“Don’t be afraid to make friends, grab coffee with your advisors, because you won’t realize how close they become part of your network and how they still continue to support you past your time in JA.”
For Shania, those relationships have lasted far beyond her time as a JA student. The people she met through JA have become an important part of her personal and professional network who continue to support her as she takes on new challenges.
Be Uncomfortable. That's Where You Grow.
Shania also encourages students to feel genuinely connected to what they are building.
Whether it's a product, a business, or a team, she believes young entrepreneurs shouldn't be afraid to voice their thoughts and feelings throughout the process.
“It’s okay to feel uncomfortable in the growth you get!”
Entrepreneurship rarely comes with a perfectly clear path. There will be uncertainty, difficult decisions, and moments when you aren't sure whether you're doing things right. But according to Shania, that discomfort is part of the process. Embracing it can be where some of the greatest growth happens.
Today, Shania continues to carry those lessons forward: building a startup with a meaningful “why,” growing her career at Wealthsimple, and preparing to enter law school in London.
Her journey is a reminder that JA doesn't just teach you how to build a company. It can teach you how to build yourself as a leader, an entrepreneur, and someone willing to take on whatever comes next.
