What an innovation-focused university president looks like

Innovation is the key to staying ten steps ahead and requires a relentless drive to push the bar higher and higher. And while a good leader is fine with the status-quo and tried-and-true methods to solve problems, innovative leaders embrace change, drive transformation and welcome disruptive ideas.

Serving as Toronto Metropolitan University’s (TMU) President since 2016, President Lachemi has been a driving force for DMZ’s success. Championing a culture of challenging the status quo, TMU today is known for being a pillar of entrepreneurship and innovation across Canada and as the home of DMZ.

Formally known as the Digital Media Zone, DMZ became the national benchmark for incubating tech startups and thanks to President Lachemi, DMZ evolved into a global startup ecosystem.

We’re not just supporting founders locally; we’re empowering entrepreneurs across continents by collaborating with organizations globally to drive impact through entrepreneurship. DMZ would never have achieved its current reach and impact without President Lachemi; he believed in our vision and took a massive leap of faith alongside us.

An absolute icon, President Lachemi has championed innovation across the university ecosystem, and we wanted to highlight four of his initiatives that embody innovation-focused leadership.

Taking innovation international – putting TMU on the global stage. 

Global thinking is essential for fostering innovation and expanding influence. President Lachemi was the mastermind behind becoming a global urban university and under his leadership, DMZ established global hubs around the world including Japan, Qatar, Innisfil and Vietnam.

The result? TMU has a global reputation making it more attractive to students, faculty and researchers from around the world, offering a more dynamic and inclusive university experience. Plus, TMU’s global network allows us to offer startups a deep understanding of different markets and countries while simultaneously attracting international startups to set up shop in Canada.

Charting new ground – creating not 1, but 2 new schools.

Visionary leadership and a commitment to pushing the boundary drives innovation and President Lachemi is no stranger to forging new paths. He led the development of not one but two new schools in law and medicine, each with a deliberate focus on innovation and technology.

The Lincoln Alexander School of Law is a different kind of law school that’s molding lawyers who can support the growth of Canada’s innovation economy. In partnership with the law school, DMZ launched the Startup Legal Support program to provide legal support to founders. This program makes sophisticated legal services accessible at a time in their startup journey when formalizing legal processes is crucial.

Future proofing – fueling cybersecurity. 

Anticipating future needs and preparing for them is crucial for sustainable innovation. At a time when technology is evolving rapidly, President Lachemi has fueled multiple initiatives that equip Canadians with the skills they need to thrive in the new economy.

He oversaw the launch of the Rogers Cybersecure Catalyst, a national centre for cybersecurity that offers programs and services that provides individuals the knowledge and tools to succeed in a career in the field.

Recognizing the need to support tech talent and aspiring entrepreneurs, President Lachemi championed DMZ’s efforts to develop its Talent Academy arm. DMZ’s Talent Academy programs, which includes SkillHouse, Basecamp, Masterclass and others, teaches upskilling professionals tech and business foundations, empowering them to kickstart their own ventures or become tech talent for growing companies.

Championing entrepreneurship – encouraging risk taking. 

Encouraging calculated risk-taking is vital for transformative innovation and President Lachemi’s support with DMZ Ventures’s recently launched pre-seed and seed investment fund is a testament to his commitment to support the startup economy.

Capital plays an imperative role in the startup ecosystem, and by establishing a fund through DMZ’s for-profit-arm, DMZ is empowering innovators to transform their ideas into viable businesses and scale.  By encouraging risk taking and backing founders, President Lachemi’s efforts and the establishment of the fund is bridging the gap between ideation and commercialization – a gap a lot of universities fail to fill. 

Creating a more inclusive ecosystem – leveling the playing field. 

President Lachemi’s unwavering commitment to inclusivity has been instrumental in shaping a more equitable entrepreneurial landscape. His leadership spearheaded the development of DMZ’s Black Innovation and Women Innovation Programs, two groundbreaking initiatives that have set DMZ apart in the startup ecosystem.

These programs were born out of the recognition that not all founders begin their journeys from the same starting line and they aim to level the playing field by providing tailored support, resources, and opportunities to underserved founders.

President Lachemi’s leadership at TMU has fueled transformative growth. And it’s not just team DMZ singing his praises, the broader community has recognized him for his efforts through multiple prestigious accolades.

His contributions have earned him the Order of Ontario, recognition as one of Canada’s Top 25 Immigrants, and a spot among Toronto’s Top 50 Most Influential People.

Leaders, take note. We can all learn from his example to push boundaries, embrace change, foster global connections and encourage bold moves.

Are you a leader looking to reach the next level in your career and hone in on your innovation-focused leadership style?? Check out DMZ’s SkillHouse for courses that will give you an advantage in today’s rapidly evolving workplace at dmz.to/SkillHouse.