Ed Ishida

Background

About Ed Ishida

I'm a serial entrepreneur passionate about Sustainability, Technology and Design as tools to empower humanity. I have graduated in Media Techniques & Marketing Communications and Graphic Design at BCIT (British Columbia Institute of Technology), and UX Design at RED Academy Toronto. I started my first company with 17 y.o, an Automotive Hi-fidelity Sound Consulting that lead me to study Industrial Design at Mackenzie University. During University, I co-founded a Graphic Design/Signage company with classmates offering services as merchandising decals and Visual Graphic/Printing services to my previous clients. After one year of high growth, I sold my share of the company and started a new internet venture. The year was 1998 when I launched my first internet startup. Hai-net was the first ethnic, social network in Brazil, launched on March 21st, I was the CEO and Product Designer at Hai-net for six years when a new partner joined the society, and I left the chair to pursue new challenges and opportunities. My role was to think strategically, based on market research, analysis, and User-Centred Design Thinking, making customer discovery and managing the Design Team. I am committed to create a better world, volunteering for multiple non-profit organizations such as JCI (Junior Chamber International) where I acted as the local President in 2012, and also volunteered for Sao Paulo Chamber of Commerce, Rotary Club, the City of Vancouver and Burnaby organizing events and mentoring Startups and Emergency and Social Services programs.