Eli Fathi

Q&A

Tell us your life story in five words.

Immigrant to caring hi-tech leader.

What fuels your passion?

My “why” or passion is about making a difference in the lives of people. My mantra is to help people in the community, near and far, thru mentoring and guidance to open their eyes to the available opportunities and strengthen their resolve to become successful. Always seek to better yourself and the community you live in, as the adage says, “Rising tides lift all boats.”

How did Algonquin College support and prepare you for success?

My association with Algonquin goes back to being a student and the continued bond with the people of the College. The relationship goes far beyond just academic learning but rather the connection with many people who bestowed upon me knowledge, advice, mentoring and support for the various initiatives since graduation. There was always a strong collaborative relationship with people at the College. Algonquin was an instrumental partner in bringing to life the Corporate and Community Social Responsibility Conferences for five consecutive years with hundreds of attendees. As well, Algonquin was a key partner to making the Impact AI conference a big success for two years.

What advice would you give to young people in your industry today?

My key advice to everyone is to believe in yourself! As an individual, regardless of the levels of talent and education you have, your overall behaviour and performance are viewed thru the lens of the only two aspects under your control: action and attitude. An action is binary, either done or not complete and thus can be easily measured. Attitude determines your ultimate success; you must have a “can do” belief in your ability to climb mountains to reach your goals.

What is one specific hope or dream for your future?

My hope for the future is to spend more quality time with my family and grandchildren in a world in which people are kinder and gentler to one another while I assist individuals to realize their dreams helping to change the world one person at a time.