The journey of a thousand miles begins with the first app

Natasha Gilani is building technology so you can hail a ride for your goods.

As Senior Manager in Digital Marketing Innovation at RBC, Natasha Gilani works closely with entrepreneurs. “RBC Ventures is a collection of startups, and I help each with their marketing.”

With a BSc in Information Technology and an MBA, Natasha joined the MEIE program to learn how to launch her own start-up. She can work during the day and then attend school and meet with her team at night.

“My group had a lot of ideas, including one we ditched because its scope and cost were spiralling. But that’s part of the program. We went through the whole process, learned a ton, and now we’re more clear and confident – and developing another idea.”

Natasha describes that idea as “Uber for a trucking fleet.”

“We are looking to maximize cargo space optimization by the use of augmented reality and artificial intelligence analytics,” she says. “ This will provide real-time load handling and an efficient, on-demand service for logistics operators – people who need to move goods – to connect with truck drivers. It’s transport truck hailing rather than ride hailing. A company like this doesn’t currently exist.”

Natasha is not sure where she’ll land professionally after graduating from the MEIE program. “I could help innovate at RBC as an intrapreneur. I could run my own company. Or both. There are lots of possibilities ahead.”

 Natasha Gillani received a Toronto Metropolitan University Queen Elizabeth II Graduate Scholarship in Science and Technology (QUII-GSST).