Becoming CEO and co-founder Argentum Electronics

According to Bolis Ibrahim, rule number one of engineering: Don’t design a solution to a problem that doesn’t exist. Unfortunately for the electrical engineering alumnus, he had to learn this lesson the hard way as an undergraduate student.

After noticing the hot dog vendors on Gould Street were using gasoline generators to power their lights, the engineer wanted to find a more efficient way to electrify all of the street carts in Toronto based on the City’s permit system. 

“I realized that it was a really bad idea because there are not enough [vendors] to sustain this business in Toronto, it's seasonal and hot dog vendors are resistant to change,” said Ibrahim. 

Thankfully, his initial idea didn’t go to waste. In fact, it was just the start of an idea that would eventually lead Ibrahim to build a company with his peers.

Watching his father work as a master electrician and assisting him with installations growing up, Ibrahim says this inspired him to pursue electrical engineering.

“I grew up with a passion and love for engineering things, which is really just taking concepts, like math or basic physics, and bringing those things into reality,” said Ibrahim.

Today, the CEO and co-founder of Argentum Electronics (external link)  is working to reduce electrical demands in buildings, using modular direct current power distribution and management systems, intelligent building automation and controls, and wireless multi-sensor networks.

“30 percent of the money you pay to power most electrical devices like your phone and LED lights is wasted to heat in the conversion process from AC to DC power, and that’s especially bad in the summer because then you have extra cooling load wherever you live or work,” said Ibrahim. “That's really where the inspiration came from; trying to figure out how to make our electricity systems more sustainable.”

Through Argentum, Ibrahim is focusing on creating ways to distribute power more efficiently. “Everyone was focused on electricity systems from the top down, so beginning from the utility, making the electricity, and distributing and delivering it,” said Ibrahim. “But not a lot of people are focusing from the bottom up, like how we use the electricity once it's distributed.”

After completing his undergraduate and graduate degree at FEAS, what is the alumni’s biggest advice for engineering students? Know your worth. 

“Engineers are the builders of society. We take research and make it into something that is actually feasible,” said Ibrahim. “Everything we use, from our screens to our buildings, to our games—it’s all engineers.”

“So, value your time, and always build value in yourself by continuing the lifelong journey of learning that is so crucial for engineers. Take this seriously, because your job is critical to the functioning of today’s society.”

* Bolis is a three-time Norman Esch Award Winner - and is a member of both the CUE and IBZ Zone (part of TMU's Zone Network.)