About Coded Minds Canada

Coded Minds Canada is a global iSTEAM and Leadership Development education technology company that is empowering the next generation of leaders with the skills to be successful in the 21st century. Children, youth, and the adults who inspire them, require a stimulating and nurturing environment to be able to develop the skills required for a successful future. Our programs and curriculum are designed to provide quality, developmentally appropriate, interactive iSTEAM experiences, and care to children of all backgrounds all around the world.

Coded Minds is a global iSTEAM Leadership company that is empowering millions of children in different parts of the world.

Our Mission

Engage children, youth, and the adults who inspire them, in creative iSTEAM learning experiences that ignite curiosity, foster relationships and competencies with Human/Technology interactions, while building a diverse community of capable learners through empowered play.

 

Our Vision

To be the revolutionary platform of choice for educating the next generation of leaders in the 21st century.

 

Our Values

We believe that education needs to be fun, innovative, purpose driven, human-centered, and iSTEAM focused.

 

To bring iSTEAM or Leadership Development to your school, institution, or organization please contact us below.

Meet the Team

Omar Farooqui - CEO & President, Coded Minds Global

Omar Farooqui

Founder & Executive Chairman, Coded Minds Global

Meet Omar

Omar Farooqui

Founder & President, Coded Minds Global

Omar Farooqui is an entrepreneur, investor, and startup enthusiast. He is the Founder & President of Coded Minds. Wanting to disrupt the education industry from the ground up, not just through pedagogy but also price, through his vision of merging public and private education as one. With this mission, he created Coded Minds in 2017. Omar is a careered finance professional in a previous life spanning two decades. His two previous ventures were Green Sands Equity out of San Francisco and previously CapInvest (latterly CI Holdings), which was a joint initiative with the asset management arm of United Overseas Bank Singapore. He was also on the Mutual Funds Board of Saudi Fransi Capital for several years. His corporate life was split between Algebra Capital, Deutsche Bank & NCB Capital out of Saudi Arabia. An avid tennis player, he invests and ventures through his investment vehicle, Five Rivers Holdings.

John Kao - Senior Advisor & Council of Advisors, Coded Minds Global

John Kao

Senior Advisor, Coded Minds Global

Meet John

John Kao

Senior Advisor & Council of Advisors, Coded Minds Global

John has been called "Mr. Creativity" and "A Serial Innovator" by The Economist. He is a thought leader, practitioner and advisor, who has played a leading role in the fields of innovation and business creativity for over 30 years. He taught at Harvard Business School for 14 years and also served as visiting faculty at the MIT Media Lab and Stanford. John's belief in the capacities of young people led him to launch EdgeMakers, a learning experience focused on innovative thinking.

Nik Zetouni, Manager, Online Education

Nikolas Zetouni

Head of Canada Operations

Meet Nikolas

Nikolas Zetouni

Head of Canada Operations

Nikolas Cavalheiro Zetouni holds a MSc in Laboratory Medicine and Pathology focused in Environmental Toxicology and a BSc in Biological Sciences.

For 8 years, Nikolas taught Sciences and Biology in his home country, Brazil, achieving 3 "Best Teacher Awards" in 3 different schools. Understanding how education can change people's lives, Nikolas founded and operated his own school, preparing undereducated students for Brazil's university admission exams.

Once in Canada, he changed career paths and obtained a MSc in Medical Sciences, another passion of his. During his 4 years at the University of Alberta, Nikolas won 8 research presentation awards, acted as a formal mentor to new students, and participated in 2 teaching assistantship programs.

Currently, he works for Coded Minds, North America, in Calgary, AB, Canada, where he develops innovative in-person and online courses, curriculum, acts as a subject matter expert in online delivery and creates engaging activities for students around the world.

Email Nikolas at nikolas@coded-minds.org.

Lin Farnholz, Executive Director, Business Operations

Lin Farnholz

Executive Director, Business Operations

Meet Lin

Lin Farnholz

Executive Director, Business Operations

For three years, Lin has been with Coded Minds Canada, encouraging growth and understanding in tomorrow's leaders. Through her efforts, Coded Minds has been able to build and maintain programs that exceed Alberta licencing standards.

From an educational standpoint, she has two Bachelor's degrees from Nipissing University. The first, a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology with a minor in English; the second, a Bachelor of Education specializing in primary/junior division, or K through Grade 6.

On the personal side of things, Lin was a full time teacher and part time after school educator, but after the recession resulted in numerous cuts to the education industry, Lin sought a different kind of opportunity to continue encouraging growth in youth. This led her to Coded Minds, where her adaptability and problem solving skills have helped her grow in a company that she believes in and is passionate for.

She knows that a proper education with strong leaders is what this world needs, which has led her to believe another mantra: "We rise by lifting others."

Email Lin at lin@coded-minds.org.

Tazeen Naveed - Area Manager

Tazeen Naveed

Senior Area Manager, Operations

Meet Tazeen
Born in Pakistan, Tazeen moved to Ontario with her family in her early years. She has over 7 years of experience working in Early Childhood Education programs, as this is where her passion lies. She completed her diploma in ECE and worked with the YMCA of GTA Out of School Care programs for several years. After moving to Alberta in 2017, she realized that her experience and passion in ECE could be beneficial in a leadership capacity and she actively started pursuing it. She successfully ran a childcare program for a multinational educational conglomerate, until the Alberta recession pushed corporate to close their operations in Canada. She joined as a Program Supervisor at Coded Minds in 2019 and successfully integrated structure, enhanced quality and achieved program goals through dedication and commitment with her team and is very excited to have taken on the role of Area Manager this year. She always knew that working with children was her passion and therefore chose Early Childhood Education as her career path. In all her experiences in ECE, she endeavors to continuously provide exceptionally high-quality programs to foster a lifelong passion for learning and growth of our future leaders. She firmly believes that educators are an integral part of children’s lives, and the connections they build with students have the capacity to be the most memorable and influential in their lives. Outside of work, Tazeen is passionate about travelling and exploring new places, reading, and continually learning about the science of nutrition and active living.
4-min

Ola Fasuba

Sales and Marketing Manager

Meet Ola

Ola is a Sales and Marketing Professional and Wellness Entrepreneur. Ola holds a Bachelors of Arts Degree in Psychology and a diverse scope of work experience spanning various sectors including: charities, insurance, financial services, and nutrition and fitness. Ola is passionate about personal development and making an impact in the world; in fact, she believes that is her purpose in life. Growing up as an immigrant and raised in a single parent household with three other children, Ola understands the importance of education and the innate ability it has to empower and elevate individuals beyond their circumstances. Her upbringing and personal mindset growth has made her who she is today. With over eight years of experience in Sales and Business Development, people often wonder why Ola chose a degree in Psychology. The reason is because Ola is enamoured with the intricacies of the human thought process. The edge Ola possesses is her eagerness to understand what the client’s wants and needs are and to deliver on them. Notwithstanding, her commitment to listening and solving problems. As the newest member to the Coded Minds Canada managerial team, Ola adds her impregnable leadership, speaking and presentation skills to the organization. She also brings her professional sales experience, marketing know-how and her ability to build lasting relationships to the Coded Minds organization in order to help expand Coded Minds territories and make an impact in more lives nationally and around the world."

Andres Porras - iSTEAM integration specialist (under me)

Andrés Porras

iSTEAM Integration Specialist

Meet Andrés
Andrés Porras is a pre-service teacher with a background in business, journalism, and photography. He’s worked for over 10 years with children and is fluent in Spanish and English.
WhatsApp Image 2020-09-01 at 11.28.13 AM

Lucynda Mills

Area Manager, Programming

Meet Lucy
I have done various things in my life but my last position before I left England was having my own practice as a Clinical Hypnotherapist and NLP Counsellor, of which I did have children among my clientele. I came to Canada from England in 2007 and did a full time 2 year diploma in Child Care Education. After I gained my Diploma, I became Director of Daycares with over 100 children and 23 staff. Due to various circumstances, I decided to run my own business for 5 years which I retired from this year. I love working with children and inspiring them to enjoy learning. At this age they are little sponges, with such wonderful open minds, that it is a real joy and so rewarding to offer them as many interesting opportunities to learn without them even realising it. I am very Reggio influenced and like to show children how wonderful their planet is and how to treat each other equally and with respect. This year I am very excited to take on the position of Supervisor at Eric Harvie. I love working with children and ensuring we offer them as many aspects of education and life skills as possible so that they not open their minds to enjoy and have fun learning but to build them into the sort of people that we need to take us into a caring and happy 21st century
Ana McMillan-Assistant Supervisor Ramsay

Ana McMillan

Supervisor

Meet Ana
Hi! My name is Anastasia (Ana) and I am so incredibly excited to be a part of your children’s learning journey! I am eager to share your child’s learning experiences and create relationships with you! I am originally from Saskatchewan and moved to Alberta last year. I am currently enrolled in my second year of Elementary Education through the University of Regina. In my free time I enjoy reading, writing, travelling, visiting the zoo, and spending time with family and friends. I am so excited to be a member of Coded Minds; I cannot wait to see what this year has in store for us! Here’s to an exciting year of playing, building, learning and growing!
DSC00043

Garima Chopra

Supervisor

Meet Garima
My name is Garima Chopra. I have been working with children for the last 27 years and in childcare for the last 10 years. In addition to my ECE II, CDW, and almost-completed CDS, I also have a science and technology background. I am qualified with a Master’s in chemistry, M. Phil in soil Chemistry (2 year post-masters research program) as well as an honours diploma in systems management. This is my 4 th year working with Coded Minds since its conception time while the company was called STEM Learning Lab. I love working with children and watching them learn and grow. I love inspiring children to enhance creativity and wonder. My hobbies are yoga, gardening, reading, travel, and listening to music.
LiJun Zhou - Tuscany

LiJun Zhou

Supervisor

Meet LiJun
My name is LiJun Zhou. I have a B.A in Developmental Studies from University of Winnipeg in Manitoba. I learnt the big impact of quality child care and education programs on human development, family stability, and community well-being. In addition, I am a certified early childhood educator level 3 with four years of experience in child care centres. I was responsible for ensuring the safety and well-being of children; helping children develop social skills, and encouraging children to explore their interests. I love working with children, it is my joy to see children grow and develop. I would use my care and my knowledge to enhance children’s interests, as well as assisting their families. I am excited to be part of the team, I am looking forward to learn and assist children with my knowledge; to provide children a fun and learning experience.
DSC00013

Souheila El-Tasse

Supervisor

Meet Souheila
Hi, my name is Souheila El-Tasse. I have my Early Childhood Education and Development Diploma from Bow Valley College and my Educational Assistant Diploma from Lebanon. I have been working with children in the education field for over 20 years. I started out in 2000 as a substitute teacher in Lebanon and taught full time as an English language teacher from 2008-2016. I moved back to Calgary in 2016 and began working as an Early Childhood Educator. My hobbies are sewing, crafting, and just recently began gardening. I enjoy going for walks and bike riding.
Mandeep Kaur Makkar

Mandeep Makkar

ELCC Educator

Meet Mandeep
Hi, I am Mandeep Kaur Makkar. I have a Bachelor's degree in Education and Masters in Commerce. I am currently working as an ELCC Educator at Simons Valley School. Working with children is my passion and my love for being with them is the main reason for me being in this profession from the last 6 years. I believe that learning is an ongoing process and while we are teaching children new concepts, they in return teach us valuable lessons.
David Peachment Head Shot

David Peachment

Social Media Specialist

Meet David
David recently graduated from the University of Lethbridge with a Bachelor of Business Management in Marketing. He received numerous awards for academic excellence given to the top 1% of students during his degree. In addition to his regular schooling, he also participated in multiple extracurricular activities such as involving himself in school marketing initiatives, being a student representative of the school academic council, and was a key member of the Alberta Deans of Business Case Competition Team. During the final years of schooling, David set up and designed his own Social Media Management Agency. While working in this agency, he assisted several clients in social media management and marketing, SEO, and general marketing strategy. He's joined Coded Minds to improve and grow his marketing skills and bring a level of specialization to their marketing efforts.
Gopa De - Tuscany

Gopa De

ELCC Educator

Meet Gopa
My name is Gopa De. I graduated from Calcutta University in India with a Bachelor of Science degree and have also obtained an Electrical Designing and Drafting certificate from SAIT. Alongside my science background, I received the childcare level one certificate from Bow Valley College and have since then dedicated over ten years of my life working with children and loving every minute of it. My hobbies are my love for music, cooking, and spending time with my two kids. For the last three years I have worked at STEM Learning Lab and shared great moments while getting to know all of the staff and children!
Aruna Baliga

Aruna Baliga

ELCC Educator

Meet Aruna
Aruna is an ELCC educator for Coded Minds
Hannah Coveney

Hannah Coveney

ELCC Educator

Meet Hannah
Hannah is an ELCC Educator with Coded Minds
Sara Calesso - Eric Harvie

Sara Calesso

ELCC Educator

Meet Sara
Hi, I am Sara Calesso and I am currently in my third year at Mount Royal University in the Bachelor of Child Studies majoring in Early Learning and Child Care. I currently am a Child Development Worker, and I have four years of experience with children of all ages. This is my second year with school age children in a before and after school program, and my second year with Coded Minds. Having the opportunity to work for Coded Minds has allowed me to fulfill one of my biggest passions in my career which is allowing children to learn new concepts through fun activities. I believe children are motivated to learn new concepts if it is done in a fun and engaging way, especially if they are allowed to get their hands dirty. Through play, we are able to see children’s interests and watch them grow emotionally, physically, and most importantly intellectually. I cannot wait to meet all the new families entering the program and see the returning families, and to create fun and engaging activities.
Lena Anderson - ELCC substitute

Lena Anderson

ELCC Substitute

Meet Lena
Lena is an ELCC Substitute with Coded Minds
Anna Ang - Eric Harvie

Anna Ang

ELCC Educator

Meet Anna
My name is Anna Ang. I was born in Taiwan. I have two years of experience in childcare. I love to be with children. They give me hope and energy. During my free time, I do sewing, knitting, baking and biking. I am looking forward to working with my team members.
Asma Shehzad - Eric Harvie

Asma Shehzad

ELCC Educator

Meet Asma
My name is Asma Shahzad. I did my Bachelor’s in Fine Arts from Pakistan. I have 9 years of voluntary experience working with kids in various grades at Tuscany School and CBE in general for ONE year as a Lunch Supervisor. Also, I have been with Coded Minds as an ELCC Specialist for the last year and excited to join again within the same role. I look forward to helping kids learn and grow through trusted relationships and fun activities.
Brittney Stewart - Tuscany

Brittney Stewart

ELCC Educator

Meet Brittney
My name is Brittney. I have been working with children of various ages for the last five years in many environments from gymnastics to summer camps and now Coded Minds. I have been working with children from the ages of eighteen months to twelve years old. I have a Bachelor of Arts with a major in Law and Society and a minor in Psychology from the University of Calgary. I am starting my Bachelor of Education this year at St. Mary’s University to become an elementary school teacher. I adore working with children.The best part of working with children is seeing their confidence grow in one area, as this then transfers to all other areas of their lives. My goal is to ensure that each child feels safe and comfortable in their environment where there is mutual respect between staff and children. This positive relationship, between staff and kiddos, is key to see this confidence growth. I believe that children should be in an environment that is fun and engaging which is facilitated by caring teachers. I look forward to working with you and your family during this school year!
Kristen Moncks

Kristen Moncks

ELCC Educator

Meet Kristen
Kristen Moncks My name is Kristen. I am so excited to be teaching at Coded Minds Ramsey in the hopes to build positive relationships and build into the community there. I grew up in a small town and from a young age I’ve been involved with multiple sports and programs which allowed me to eventually succeed as a Team Canada, varsity and professional athlete. I experienced, first-hand, the positive impact of community and participating in strong, developmental programs. I have spent the last seven years on the Canadian Women’s National Indoor Volleyball Team and after graduating university with a bachelor of Kinesiology I have been playing professional volleyball for the last four years. Each country I have lived in- Romania, Philippines, and Finland I have been able to get involved in the community, learn about each different culture and through this learnt the importance of understanding each unique individual and how to cultivate a positive environment. I have a strong passion for working with our younger generation and I’m excited for the opportunity to work with the amazing people at Coded Minds.
Sarvpreet Rattan

Sarvpreet Rattan

ELCC Educator

Meet Sarvpreet
Sarvpreet is an ELCC educator with Coded Minds.
Kelly Minchin

Kelly Minchin

ELCC Educator

Meet Kelly
My name is Kelly and I come to Coded Minds with a child development worker certificate and a degree in Kinesiology from the University of Lethbridge. I was born and raised in Calgary. When I'm not at Ramsay school you will probably find me playing or watching sports. I have played soccer for 16 years and still love to kick a ball around. I am a Calgary Flames fan and a die hard Saskatchewan Roughriders fan!! I also really love spending time with my family and friends. I am really excited to be a part of Coded Minds and look forward to working with the amazing staff and children we have in our program!
Alissa Coulter - Ramsay

Alissa Coulter

ELCC Educator

Meet Alissa
My name is Alissa. I’m so excited to be teaching at coded minds Ramsey and building relationships with all of you. I love being active and hope to have adventures discovering all the ways we can be creative in movement and learning. I have a bachelor of kinesiology and will soon be going back to start my education degree. Before teaching here I was a professional volleyball player, playing for team Canada and overseas in Europe. I lived in Denmark, Greece, France and Belgium playing volleyball and enjoy bringing those experiences to the classroom. Today in my spare time I love coaching, cooking, art (especially drawing), playing the ukulele and spending time with my dog Winston. I can’t wait to learn with you.
Julie Lake

Julie Lake

ELCC Assistant Supervisor

Meet Julie
|My name is Julie and I enjoy teaching children new things in a fun and exciting way. I have a Bachelor's degree in Early Childhood Education from McGill University and studies and at the Master’s level in Educational technology, which was done at Concordia University. My daycare, preschool and elementary school teaching experience have prepared me for this position at Coded Minds. I have also volunteered with the Girl Guides of Canada as a program leader and district commissioner for many years. In my spare time I love to read, garden, cook and spend time outdoors going for long walks. I also enjoy cheering my favourite sports teams on as I watch the games.
DSC00051

Alexssa Villanueva

ELCC Educator

Meet Alexssa
Hi, my name is Alexssa villanueva. I am very excited to be here and be part of an amazing program at Banting and Best. I have my Level 1 in Early Childhood development, my first aid and 4 years of experience working with kids. I am from Chile and speak fluent Spanish along with English. I have worked with all ages of children and loved each experience.
Desiree Dupuis - Ramsay

Desiree Dupuis

ELCC Educator

Meet Desiree
Hello Everyone! I come to Coded Minds with a Level One Certification for Childcare. The past 7 years, I have been an emotional agility coach working with adults and children teaching self awareness through mindfulness practices that include somatic awareness, contemplation, reflection and meditation. Recently, I completed the Mindful Educator Essential program with Mindful Schools. My goal over time is to include The Science of Mindfulness in the curriculum we provide in our after school care program. In addition to being a Teacher, I am a Mother, Poet, Writer, Seeker, Daughter, Sister and Friend. I adore this great big wonderful world! When I am not at Ramsay School, you may find me in my kitchen cooking a delicious meal for my children and friends. Deep conversations and big belly laughs with everyone well fed, brings me much joy. Being in the mountains, spending time with my horses, walking or riding in the forest accompanied by my pup, are some of the many things that fill my cup. As a caregiver and educator of your child, I believe I am an extension of you. Please feel free to make suggestions, ask questions and discuss any concerns you may have about your child, at any time.
Micah Kutzley

Micah Kutzley

Supervisor

Meet Micah
My name is Micah, and I have a Diploma in Human Service Work from Okanagan College in Vernon, BC, as well as working on my RMT Diploma from Mount Royal University. I have worked with Coded Minds since December 2019, previously at the Ramsay location, but have a handful of years working with kids with different agencies such as The Boys and Girls Club of Calgary and Heartland Agency. My biggest passion is music, and I am hoping to find a way to integrate it into programs. I am very excited to see what this school year will hold, and getting to know all the kids.
Carol Photo

Carol Estephan

ELCC Assistant Supervisor

Meet Carol
Hello! My name is Carol Estephan. I attended Mount Royal University and obtained a diploma in Early Learning and Child Care. I have been lucky enough to have worked in many different positions in the field. I worked in an inclusive program, as a support staff/child aid, a summer camp leader, and as a lead teacher in a Reggio Emelia based classroom. What I love about early childhood development is being a guide and a witness of emotional, social, and intellectual development in young children during their crucial stages of building these fundamental skills to maximize their future well-being. I strive to create a safe and stimulating environment for the children to explore, learn, and connect to the world around them. I am thrilled to have joined this special and dynamic team at Coded Minds and look forward to learning with everyone!
no-avatar

Jasmeen Khosa

ELCC Educator

Meet Jasmeen
Jasmeen is an ELCC educator with Coded Minds
20210324_143835

Abdullah Malik

ELCC Educator

Meet Abdullah
“Hi, my name is Abdullah Malik! I am currently working towards completing my Bachelor's degree in Biological Anthropology with foundations in Biomedicine at the University of Calgary. I have experience working with children in many settings owing to past work as a tutor and holding teaching positions in summer schools. I have only recently joined Coded Minds Canada, and I feel like I have fit right in. I have enjoyed my experience at CMC so far, as it has allowed me to rediscover the fun eccentricities and energy that children bring about, answering their questions and feeding their curiosity, all packed in a fun and rich environment. I hold high regard for the process of preparing our younger generations for the challenges of the future by providing a balance of stimulation and nurture, often in the process, improving myself.
Karlie Sloan

Karlie Sloane

ELCC Educator

Meet Karlie
Hi, my name is Karlie! I have a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Psychology. I have been working with kids for 3 years in a sports development atmosphere! Volleyball is my favorite sport, and I just started coaching kids 12 and up! I am going back to school to get a Masters in Education to become a school psychologist. I have my certification as a childcare assistant, and I love working with children. I am originally from Merritt British Columbia! I moved to Calgary 3 years ago and decided to stay after I graduated university. I have had dogs as a family pet my whole life, and I currently live with 2 dogs, Sage and Onyx. Also, my sister’s dog, Donna, is featured in my photo with me! My hobbies include hiking, snowboarding, volleyball and reading! I have recently started to learn how to crochet and have made a couple blankets for my family. I am very excited to get the school year started and getting to know everyone!
no-avatar

Raheela Butt

ELCC Educator

Meet Raheela
I am Raheela. I have three Masters Degrees in the field of Education, World History and Educational Planning and Management. I have two years of M.Phil. Degree in Educational Planning and Management. I also have specialization in the field of Pedagogical Practices in Early Childhood Education from Australia. As an educationist, I served more than 25 years (10+ years as an elementary & high school teacher and over 15 years as a college & university professor) in various parts of the world. In these years I served global communities and tried to make a positive difference in their lives in a meaningful way. I do have a national and international level of contribution to improve the quality of education and increase the enrolment ratio of girls in schools in Asia. To me, working with children is a great opportunity to serve the community because the children of today are the leaders of tomorrow. They are mighty learners, capable of most things, eager to experience and explore the world around them, soaking up new information and skills like sponges. They enjoy their surroundings and each other, which creates an atmosphere of fun and happiness. I love children and find boundless joy in hearing their voices and seeing their faces lighting up with fervour each time they learn something new. It is a wonderful feeling to get the opportunity to be a member of Coded Minds Canada Team and to work with young children at the start of their educational journey and help them to develop Critical Thinking, Coding Skills and Problem Solving.
no-avatar

Megan Nowlin

ELCC Educator

Meet Megan
My name is Megan Nowlin and I come to Coded Minds Canada with a degree in Social Work and a degree in Anthropology. I also have my Level 3 Child Development Certification. For the past 10 years, I have had the opportunity of working closely with children of all ages and from different backgrounds and cultures. My biggest interest, my passion is Early Childhood Development and providing nurturing care to children I work with. In my free time, I love to run, walk, read and socialize with family and friends. I am so excited to be part of the Coded Minds team as I believe strongly that we must empower the next generation of leaders by providing them with the skills of tomorrow, today.

Questions?

For more information, or to inquire about bringing us to your school, email us at canada@coded-minds.org or click on the button to complete the inquiry form.

Contact Us

Connect With Us