Fatemeh Azimzadeh
Certificate in Visual Design specializing in Interior Design
What started as an opportunity for Fatemeh Azimzadeh to take some interior design courses for her own enjoyment grew into a foundation of learning that has launched a building and design business for her family.
"I had no idea when I started this program that I would be using it to go into business, but with every course I took I loved interior design more, and that made me realize that I wanted to start a business," says Fatemeh, a recent graduate of the Certificate in Visual Design specializing in Interior Design.
Although she already had a Bachelor of Arts degree from Iran, Fatemeh believes it was the knowledge she gained through Continuing Education's Visual Design program that gave her the confidence to start the business.
"The courses and the people at U of C convinced me to start this business. I was in an unfamiliar culture but I got the confidence I needed. The courses gave me the skills, and the instructors gave me inspiration."
Fatemeh and her husband came to Canada in 2003, seeking a better education for her two high-school-aged children. "I'd heard many good things about Canada, and that Canadians were nice people, and now from my own experience, I know it's all true."
Shortly after arriving in Canada, Fatemeh enrolled in English-as-a-Second-Language courses. In 2008, the family officially immigrated and bought a struggling health food business to give them their footing as entrepreneurs in this country.
"Once the health food business was doing well, I started taking courses at the university," says Fatemeh. "I found the Visual Design program, enrolled in my first courses and loved them. I was able to finish them all because they were available in the evenings."
It took Fatemeh five years to complete the program, and partway through, she made the decision to go into business with her son – building and designing upscale homes. Her son is the builder, and together they share the design responsibilities. Her husband, a retired engineer, has deals with the technical aspects of the business.
The company began building their first house in the community of Killarney, and soon after, started another project in Kensington. At the same time, they were making plans to expand into a renovations business.
"Some of the students I met became my best friends. We still get together regularly and we hope to work together in the renovations business," Fatemeh says.
"At times, I thought I'd taken on too much, but I wanted to do it all. Doing this made me feel stronger. To make it possible, I cut back on social life, TV, and vacation. But now, I can go back to that... now that I'm seeing the results."