2004 ALUMNI RECIPIENTS

Jim Pedersen, 39

Biggest achievement: As Ellistar's founder and president, I led our team to four entrepreneurship competition victories, most notably the 2002 Eastern Ontario Student Technology Venture Challenge.

Best skill: Unwavering faith in the power of destiny

Most admired businessperson: Silken Laumann for her courage, determination and strong sense of purpose.

Biggest business lesson learned: Innocence of character is often confused with childish naiveté, when, in fact, it is the cornerstone upon which novel and timely business visions must be built. Innocence combines the relentless power of conviction with the tempered strength of unfettered intellect. As important as technical innovation may be to a society's industrial progress, there must be equal measures of "character innovation" in business. Whenever I question the path to take, be it to motivate my employees, reassure my stakeholders or prepare a critical proposal, I first go to my children. They invariably show me the way.

Favourite charity: HOPE - Helping Other People Everywhere

Professional recognition that would mean the most: To be asked to speak at Carleton University's engineering professional practice seminar series.