Jessica's journey led her to the Impact Investing Fellowship, where she worked on the Calgary Propel Impact Fund. This program was a stepping stone that bridged her academic knowledge with the real-world applications of social finance and impact investing. "The real learning happened on the job. Working on real deals gave me firsthand insight into how a venture capital fund operates. Through the due diligence process, I strengthened my market research, financial analysis, and impact assessment skills while learning to evaluate diverse industries and measure social impact effectively." Through these opportunities, Jessica also participated in community engagement, representing the fund at events, connecting with local entrepreneurs and investors, and helping recruit members for the advisory committee. These experiences enhanced her understanding of Calgary's social finance ecosystem. One of the most exciting experiences for Jessica was being part of the fund’s transition during its second year. As the founding team graduated, Jessica was involved in the restructuring of the fund, which later became Propel Impact. “This period of transformation meant that I wasn’t just learning about impact investing—I was actively contributing to shaping the future of the fund.” But the highlight for Jessica was community engagement. “Sitting at the table with ecosystem players—social enterprises, investors, and funders—and discussing how to better support social-purpose organizations was incredibly rewarding.” Jessica’s experience at Propel directly shaped her career trajectory. Today, Jessica works at SVX, a partner organization of Propel Impact, where she leverages the skills, network, and expertise she gained through the fellowship program. "Many of Propel’s alumni go on to work at its partner organizations, including SVX, due to the program’s strong reputation for preparing students for the field. Seeing our fund make multiple investments and watching portfolio companies successfully raise funding has been inspiring.” The hands-on experience Jessica gained at Propel gave her a strong foundation in social finance, emphasizing how finance can be a tool for social change. Beyond technical skills, the program deepened her understanding of finance as a catalyst for social change and highlighted the power of collaboration in strengthening the impact ecosystem.