From Classroom to Career | Meagan Sinclair

When Meagan Sinclair graduated from Dalhousie University in 2022 with a degree in computer and electrical engineering, she already had something many new graduates lack: clarity about the kind of environment where she wanted to build her career. But that clarity didn’t come from the classroom. It came from work-integrated learning.

“I wanted real hands-on experience outside of school,” she explains. “I knew a work-integrated learning opportunity, like a co-op, would give me the chance to actually see how the work happens.”

Through a series of placements, Meagan discovered not only what she enjoyed doing, but the type of organization where she felt she could make the biggest impact.

Discovering the appeal of startups

Before joining NovaResp, a Halifax-based startup developing solutions for sleep apnea therapy, Meagan had already experienced both ends of the corporate spectrum. One co-op term took place at a large company, while another introduced her to the pace and creativity of startup life.

Meagan’s co-op placements with NovaResp were supported by ICTC's Work-Integrated Learning (WIL) Digital program, which provides wage subsidies to employers across Canada’s critical sectors, helping post-secondary students gain meaningful paid work experience through opportunities like co-op placements while still in school. The program is designed to give students access to meaningful, paid work experience while helping employers build future-ready talent pipelines.

“In a larger company, your role is usually very defined,” she says. “You’re working on one specific piece of something.” At a startup, the experience is very different. “You quickly realize that whatever needs to be done, you jump in and help.”

That variety and sense of shared ownership appealed to Meagan, who felt invested not just in her own tasks, but in the startup’s progress. “It really feels like you’re part of building something,” she says.

Tackling real-world problems

NovaResp’s mission also played a major role in Meagan’s decision to join the company for her final co-op term. The team develops algorithms designed to improve CPAP therapy, a common treatment for sleep apnea.

Her work involves helping to develop and test those algorithms, deploying them in clinical studies, and analyzing patient data to understand how the technology performs in real-world conditions. Seeing the results firsthand has been one of the most rewarding aspects of the role. “When we get feedback from patients saying the technology is helping them or improving their sleep, that’s incredibly meaningful,” she says. “At a startup, you can see how your work changes lives.”

While Meagan’s engineering degree provided a strong technical foundation, the workplace introduced a different kind of learning. In school, assignments are often self-contained and theoretical. In a company environment, work is tied directly to long-term goals and real-world outcomes.

Understanding how daily tasks contribute to broader company objectives was one of the biggest adjustments. “In a workplace, you’re not just solving problems for a grade,” she explains. “You’re contributing to something bigger: a product, a study, or a company milestone.”

Mentorship meets clarity

Perhaps the biggest impact of co-op helped Meagan narrow her career focus. Her degree combined electrical and software engineering, and before co-op she was unsure which direction she wanted to pursue. Work experience and the mentorship of her colleagues helped her see that she enjoyed environments where both skill sets intersect. “Co-op helped me figure out that I want to work in roles where I can do both: the hands-on engineering and the software side.”

That clarity shaped one of the most important decisions of her early career. During her final co-op term, Meagan received multiple job offers, including some from larger companies offering higher pay. Ultimately, she chose to remain at NovaResp. “It was a big decision,” she says. “But I’m really glad I chose the startup path.”

Looking back, Meagan encourages students to approach work-integrated learning opportunities, like co-op, as a chance to experiment and explore. “Try different environments and take opportunities even if they don’t seem like the perfect fit,” she says. “Sometimes those experiences lead you somewhere you didn’t expect.” 

 

About ICTC’s WIL Digital Program

ICTC’s Work-Integrated Learning (WIL) Digital program provides eligible Canadian employers with grants to subsidize up to 50 percent of a student’s salary over their term. The program takes place over three terms a year: Winter, Spring/Summer, and Fall. Since 2017, it has facilitated over 23,000 student placements with more than 4,000 employers across Canada, and over 65 percent of placed students identifying as belonging to underrepresented groups. 

ICTC’s Work-Integrated Learning (WIL) Digital program is funded by the Government of Canada's Student Work Placement Program (SWPP).

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