Finding the right supports

Carille Mendoza — Little Blue Cloud

An alumna of Mount Royal’s Bachelor of Computer Information Systems (BCIS) program who also completed minors in Business Administration and International Business, Carille Mendoza says that her personal definition of innovation is ever-changing.

“I see innovation as a discovery that has an impact on users and the people it seeks to change. It’s an instrument allowing people to evolve — it's part of evolution. Innovation is always growing and finding new ways of changing processes.”

Mendoza entered the BCIS program initially because she was attracted by its half-business, half-technology approach. But other than that, she says she had very little personal direction in terms of what she wanted to get out of her university experience.

“I definitely didn’t think I would be involved in a startup capacity or even in the space of innovation, if I'm going to be honest. That wasn't my goal. I wasn't sure what my goal was.”

After her first year at MRU, Mendoza began to know and understand the innovative spaces that existed for her at the University and became curious about the opportunities they provided.

“I've always sought out goals and learning from the beginning, but there's also the uncomfortableness that comes with it,” she says. “But is it uncomfortable enough for me to not find it interesting? And if it’s interesting enough for me, then why wouldn't I go for it?”

Little Blue Cloud logo

After becoming connected with the Institute for Innovation and Entrepreneurship (IIE) and receiving guidance from Jenn MacDonald, the IIE’s talent and program development manager, Mendoza began developing her startup called Little Blue Cloud, an online/app-based resource for students struggling with depression and anxiety that features an anonymous peer support chat system and a self-help database to provide a comfortable, non-stigmatized environment where users can talk to others facing similar situations. Her software venture ended up winning the grand prize during the 2014 Showcase Showdown. It was the first iteration of the Showcase Showdown, a collaboration between the BCIS program and the IIE, and Mendoza says she wouldn’t be where she is today without that experience.

Carille Mendoza with project partners, being presented their Showcase Showdown award.

“I gained so much value through being challenged. I was really uncomfortable with public speaking and defending my ideas in front of people. But during that entire journey, I essentially learned how to do both and make it effective,” Mendoza says.

Now working as a developer for the Innovation Team at ATB Financial, Mendoza gets to work on Little Blue Cloud as part of an Innovation Project within her role.

“In my current position at ATB specifically, everything has to go through a lot of iteration and ideation in terms of creating ideas as well as backing those ideas up. Because of my time at MRU, I was well-poised and I understood exactly what I was getting into.”

In her third year at MRU, Mendoza went on to validate Little Blue Cloud during the LaunchPad Accelerator course, a self-directed opportunity for students to roll up their sleeves and apply the Lean Startup method to their venture inside a non-traditional classroom. After receiving guidance from Ray DePaul, director of the IIE, Mendoza eventually pitched Little Blue Cloud to a panel of experienced judges and in front of over 200 people in the LaunchPad Pitch Competition, landing $7,500 for her venture.

As a result of her experiences during her undergrad, Mendoza firmly believes that as an institution, MRU embodies innovation.

“I don't really know any other universities that put these kinds of opportunities in their students' reach. Looking back, it’s great to see what was at my fingertips throughout my undergrad. Also with MRU’s small class sizes, you really have the opportunity to essentially show up the way you want to show up. It ultimately comes down to you.”

Mendoza believes she wouldn’t have embarked on her journey without the innovation foundation found at MRU.

“I learned to ask myself, ‘What's the worst that could happen?’ But I think the bigger, more important conversation is all about finding the right people to support you in that journey. Because if you're not supported, you’re setting yourself up for failure,” Mendoza says.

“It all comes down to the people.”

June 1, 2021 — Sarah Green