Motivated Mensan

Financial Analyst, Mentor

Will Buchkowsky isn’t your average 24-year old. He’s a member of Mensa, the international high-IQ society for people with a proven intelligence in the top two percent of the population.

He earned his Bachelor of Commerce with a major in finance at the University of Alberta. During his fourth year, Will worked at Blackmont Capital Inc. where he was exposed to companies looking for start-up financing.

“I’ve always been interested in unique ideas, and how companies can take an idea and turn it into… something concrete.” After graduating, he joined Deloitte and Touche LLP, an international accounting firm, where he works with the firms nation leader of biotechnolgy. As an analyst with the firm’s corporate finance group, he assists companies with mergers and acquisitions, partnerships, valuations and due diligence.

“In line with my interests, I started the clean technology report at Deloitte. It’s a pretty ambitious project because what it intends to do is detail the clean technology industry in BC, Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba, as well as companies that use clean technologies. It surveys big oil and gas companies to find out how much they’re devoting to acquiring clean technology.”

To produce the Deloitte/SDTC Western Canadian Cleantech Report, Will had to acquire outside sponsorship. The report is nearing completion, and will be available free on-line. He also will be presenting his findings at various business and environmental forums. “It’s intended to attract attention to the effectiveness of existing companies and technologies and to build their businesses. I’m hoping it will bolster our reputation world-wide, and raise the profile of how companies are adopting clean technology.”

Will serves on the TEC Edmonton source panel, a group of business, financial, legal and scientific advisors who work budding with entrepreneurs. He also is a mentor to participants in the 2009 VenturePrize, the city’s most prominent business plan competition.

As a Mensan, Will is committed to providing a “stimulating intellectual and social environment” for community minded Edmontonians. To this end, he and a colleague at Deloitte, Nathan McQuay, founded the Emerging Business Leaders Group. It brings diverse business oriented individuals together once a month to hear inspiring speakers, discuss innovations, and even find partners to execute ideas. As well, Will is a committee member of ArtScene, an organization which strives to connect young professionals with emerging artists.

Will is dedicated to technology commercialization, and to creating a nurturing environment for the leaders of tomorrow. And, he’s using his superior intelligence to further his agenda.

- Written by Lauren Henrie, Edmontonians 2009