How the Ryerson connection was the “dream maker” for one TRSM alum

TRSM Business Technology Management graduate and serial entrepreneur Sunny Mokha always had an interest in real estate.  But it wasn’t until he connected with someone in the TRSM community that his dreams became a reality. 

Mokha initially met Isaac Olowolafe Jr., founder of the real estate investment firm Dream Maker Inc. (external link, opens in new window)  and Honorary TRSM Real Estate Management Advisory Council member, when they were new fathers and their children were in the same program.  Through their conversations, they realized their shared Ryerson connection.

As a proud graduate (2005), Mokha attended events at Ryerson and would sometimes run into Olowolafe there. In addition to sitting on a few councils at the school, Olowolafe donated funds to create the Isaac Jr. Olowolafe Digital Media Experience Lab at the Student Learning Centre and a Black Innovation Fellowship at the DMZ (which has Shopify and BMO as partners).  A friendship between the two grew organically from there, along with a business partnership. 

Mokha, an entrepreneur who created companies such as Jobloft.com (featured on Dragons’ Den), soEnvy and Wish Sourcing Global (external link, opens in new window) , was interested in getting into real estate, and Olowolafe was interested in getting into technology.  “The school was starting to bring us together at events, and then we figured out we could start working together,” Mokha explains. “So, Isaac pushed me into real estate, and I helped him navigate the tech start-up world.”

Together they created a project called INCEPTION (external link, opens in new window) , which is the luxury arm powered by DreamMaker™.  The project focuses on real estate development and building custom homes and properties that are suited for higher-end lifestyles.   

“Real estate is something that I missed out on at Ryerson and I wish I learned more about it,” explains Mokha.  “When I was in school, I just focused on work, work, work, and didn’t have the piece of understanding of alternative investments.”

Mokha explains that as a child of immigrant parents, he only knew one way of investing: putting money in the bank so it will be safe.  But he wanted to learn about how to build wealth, and these were the types of things that Dream Maker was teaching. “Meeting Isaac made me a student all over again,” he says. 

“Good people know good people,” Mokha points out. “Through Ryerson, you meet a lot of like-minded individuals.  I think it was the Dean [Daphne Taras] that said Ryerson is a melting pot.  It’s everybody from everywhere in one place.”  

“My story with Isaac is the ultimate example of what can happen when you bring purpose behind all of this, and it was at the footing of the school,” Mokha explains.  “Isaac has become a great friend, mentor, business partner and more.”

In fact, Olowolafe presented Mokha with the Entrepreneur Award at the 2019 TRSM Alumni Awards in May, which Mokha was very touched by. 

Olowolafe says that the values he and Sunny share tie them together.  These include their upbringings, family values, work ethic from their immigrant parents and career goals beyond work, which includes giving back.  “The best founders surround themselves with entrepreneurs,” Olowolafe says.  “That is not only about celebrating the successes, but it is also to overcome challenges.”

“From a business perspective, Sunny is a trusted advisor for me for all things Ryerson and technology,” explains Olowolafe.  “And on a personal level, we are good friends and our daughters have frequent play dates.  It’s a blessing we found each other in life.”