Institute team
Ray DePaul
Executive Director
Ray DePaul is the inaugural Executive Director of the Institute for Innovation and Entrepreneurship at Mount Royal University. Ray has launched many innovative products in his 30-year career. He has been a successful entrepreneur, selling his company to Intel, and was also a key member of the team that brought the iconic BlackBerry to the world. He is currently a volunteer on the board of Platform Calgary, a board member at Attabotics and Trico Homes, and is a member of the prestigious A100. He is also on several private sector advisory boards and is proud to be a mentor to many young entrepreneurs. Ray holds a Bachelor of Mathematics in Computer Science from the University of Waterloo and a Masters of Business Administration from Wilfrid Laurier University.
Tracy Pfeifer
Administrative Assistant
Tracy has dedicated over 17 years to Mount Royal University. She provides administrative support to both the Institute for Innovation and Entrepreneurship and the Institute for Community Prosperity. Tracy plays a critical role of being the interface between the Institute’s team of impatient entrepreneurs and the university’s many policies and procedures.
LaunchPad Student Programs team
Diana Grant-Richmond
Associate Director, LaunchPad Student Programs
Diana is a graduate of Mount Royal's General Management program (2017), a former founder, a LaunchPad alumna, and an experienced mentor. She is passionate about entrepreneurship, volunteering, social innovation, technology, and supporting female-identifying innovators and entrepreneurs, particularly in creative disciplines. Diana brings 16 years of experience in entrepreneurship, finance, and energy to her role.
Erin Creegan-Dougherty
Entrepreneur Development Officer
Erin, a Métis entrepreneur and Entrepreneurship Development Officer at the Institute, was raised in Calgary, Alberta, surrounded by the breathtaking Canadian Rockies. Her deep love for nature and cooking fueled her ambition to launch a backcountry food venture. Inspired by family and friends who were successful entrepreneurs, she embraced her Métis heritage and founded Maskwa Backcountry Foods. With a mission to share Métis culture through food, Erin remains dedicated to her passions for the wilderness, her cultural heritage, and cooking while eagerly pursuing business opportunities on a national and international scale.
Sydney Harder
Entrepreneur Development Officer
Sydney is an Entrepreneur Development Officer at The Institute for Innovation and Entrepreneurship, Mount Royal University. She is also a Mount Royal alumna from the Business Administration program with a minor in Social Innovation, as well as Innovation and Entrepreneurship. With a background in launching her own sustainable arts company and working at a local user experience startup, IncluCity Calgary, she has developed a deep understanding of entrepreneurship and program development. Sydney's career journey has been marked by her dedication to community building and using business models to create social impact. She is particularly inspired to support Mount Royal’s community of changemakers, innovators and entrepreneurs, especially those in creative disciplines. Sydney is available for anyone looking to explore their emerging ideas, innovations, or new ventures.
Tianna Going
Administrative Assistant
Tianna is a graduate of Mount Royal University, where she completed a Bachelor of Communication with a minor in Innovation and Entrepreneurship. Tianna has experience working in leadership roles for two MRU alumni start-ups — Inspired Go and Flahmingo — where she managed, scaled, and operationalized the growing teams of each organization. She is passionate about scaling start-ups, finding innovative solutions for business problems, and mentoring individuals as they begin their entrepreneurial journey. MRU has provided Tianna with a wealth of opportunities post-graduation, and her goal is to give back to the student community as it was given to her. If you are interested in chatting to Tianna about what it's like to work in a start-up, what it takes to get your idea off the ground, or an ideation brainstorm, her door is always open.
Scale-up and Growth Programs team
With his magnetic presence and innovative thinking, Peter creates an exceptional experience for our participants. With his unique approach, he inspires the team to push boundaries and embrace creativity. A disruptor by nature, Pete drives impactful change wherever he goes. He joined the Institute in the Fall of 2022.
Research Projects team
Dr. Simon Raby
Associate Director, Institute for Innovation and Entrepreneurship
Director, Growth Compass
Academic Director, Growth Catalyst
Dr. Simon Raby is a “pracademic” working as an Assistant Professor of Innovation and Entrepreneurship at Mount Royal University Bissett School of Business and co-founder of Business Improvement and Growth (BIG) Associates Ltd. BIG identifies the drivers of growth, challenges convention and offers practical ways for ambitious business owners and their organizations to achieve sustained growth and performance.
Simon’s research program is focused on uncovering the strategies, practices and methods of support that enable business growth, leadership transitions and people’s performance. Most recently, Simon delivered a program of research on the growth of Alberta’s small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to understand the drivers of growth, innovation and diversification for these firms. This research has since led to the creation of The Leader’s Growth Mindset.
Simon is a trustee and board member for the Institute of Small Business and Entrepreneurship, a large, well-established network that enables excellence in small business and entrepreneurship, and builds bridges between research, policy and practice. Simon serves on the editorial board of the International Journal of Entrepreneurial Behavior & Research.