By Shanya Samuel
Every summer, Altitude Accelerator has the privilege of welcoming emerging talent into our organization, and this year is no exception. We’re thrilled to introduce three new team members who each bring a unique background, a passion for community, and a drive to make an impact. Meet Tireni, Shanya, and Ashwin.
Tireni Babs-Olorunfemi, Environmental Program Coordinator
Tireni is a Bachelor of Commerce student at the University of Toronto, joining Altitude with a strong record of student leadership, community advocacy, and equity-focused programming. As Racialized Student Coordinator at the UTM Students’ Union, he managed programming that engaged over 800 students during Black History Month and helped establish a Racialized Coalition to amplify student voices on campus. As Co-President of the African Student Association, he has led large-scale collaborative initiatives, built networking opportunities for students, and developed operational systems to support his team. He also mentors youth through Big Brothers Big Sisters.
At Altitude, Tireni is excited to deepen his understanding of innovation ecosystems, build meaningful connections, and bring his passion for community and collaboration into a new space.
Shanya Samuel, Digital Marketing Specialist
Shanya is a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) student in Economics at Queen’s University, joining Altitude with a background spanning student governance, social advocacy, and corporate operations, all shaped by a commitment to creating more equitable opportunities for underrepresented communities. She served as a Student Senator for the Dufferin-Peel Catholic District School Board, completed a Corporate Lending Operations internship at TD Securities, and collaborated through SHAD Canada on developing an app designed to support newcomers to Canada. She has also been mentored by Dragon’s Den investor Wes Hall and former MP Celina Caesar-Chavannes.
At Altitude, Shanya is looking forward to contributing through storytelling and digital engagement, helping amplify the work of the founders and investors in the ecosystem while deepening her understanding of how ideas become impactful ventures.
Ashwin Sasidharan, Environmental Impact Analyst
Ashwin is a third-year Finance student at Toronto Metropolitan University joining Altitude with a strong analytical foundation and a growing interest in the intersection of sustainability and business strategy. He is well-positioned to evaluate and communicate the environmental dimensions of the ventures Altitude supports.
At Altitude, Ashwin is looking forward to engaging with a diverse portfolio of startups, building meaningful relationships with founders, and developing a professional profile that bridges environmental insight with commercial strategy. He sees this experience as a pivotal step toward a future in finance, consulting, or banking, and is excited to contribute to the conversations shaping the next generation of purpose-driven innovation.
Welcome to the team, Tireni, Shanya, and Ashwin! We’re excited to see the impact you’ll make this summer.
