As an entrepreneur, Harpreet Singh (University Transfer, Bachelor of Commerce '04) knows that the odds won't always be in his favour. We asked the 2023 Distinguished Alumni Award recipient and founder of successful real estate firm Amrik Developments what keeps him going when things get tough.

You say your first land development project was plagued with hurdles. Tell us more. Everything that could go wrong inevitably went wrong. There were many times in the process when I just wanted to throw in the towel, including a point early on when I was nearing bankruptcy. It didn't seem worth all the time and energy I was expending, and I was left questioning my entire career direction. But, I quickly learned that every project has obstacles. Some of our most rewarding wins as a company have been the toughest battles with the most wounds. 

What does that kind of adversity teach you? That failure gives us the unique opportunity to begin something again, but with more experience and wisdom. As an entrepreneur, my biggest lesson has been to spend less time worrying about why something negative happened and more time finding an effective solution.

You are literally a community builder. How does the idea of "place" fit into your work? It's paramount when deciding whether or not a community will be viable. Accessibility to transit, shopping amenities, schools, hospitals, parks and places of worship attract homeowners, but social cohesion is equally important. We focus on building communities that spark a feeling of belonging, embracing diversity and ease so that no matter a person's age, ethnicity or lifestyle, they truly feel that they are part of a larger community that they can feel safe and take pride in.

Pride is an important part of your company's philosophy? So is being thoughtful and generous community members. We are privileged to live in a community as diverse and robust as Edmonton. When my parents moved to Canada right before I was born, this city gave us a safe place to call home. Nothing makes me more proud than to say I was born and raised here. But being a member of this community also means I feel a responsibility to give back – I would not be where I am today if not for the support and kindness of others. I firmly believe that giving sparks a chain reaction and that I have an obligation to a community that has given me so much. 

And you have already achieved so much. Is there something you still want to accomplish? One of my favourite proverbs is, "We never arrive." I want our company to grow, our team to grow, and our skill set and project sizes to grow. Equally important, I want Amrik to grow in a philanthropic way. We currently have the privilege of joining forces with some amazing charitable organizations – including MacEwan, where we support bursaries for community-minded Bachelor of Commerce students – and I want our company to grow this list exponentially and do what we can to help make our community a better place. 

Speaking of students, do you have a favourite MacEwan moment? It was a long time ago, but I will never forget the feeling I had in my first accounting class. I walked in thinking I had no interest or strength in the subject – I just needed to tick that class off the list to complete my program. But I quickly discovered that I was quite good at it and that accounting is the love language of business. I ended up changing my major and, to this day, can safely say that my accounting classes are where I learned the most. 

What does being recognized with a Distinguished Alumni Award mean to you? It's an incredibly humbling and distinctive honour. Being recognized by the place where my career path started is especially meaningful. I hope my story helps students remember that education is truly the foundation of their future. It's also the one thing no one can take away from you.