From business basics to bold moves: How Laurier shaped two entrepreneurial siblings

When Aamna Coskun (BA ’14) entered the Bachelor of Business Administration program at Laurier, she was proud, but also unsure of what she wanted to do with her degree. She thought maybe she’d follow in the footsteps of her older brother, Talib Contractor (BBA ’11), who was building a career in accounting at that time.

“We both shared a deep love of business and were heavily involved in DECA (a program for emerging leaders and entrepreneurs) throughout high school and university,” says Coskun. “In fact, we both served on the Laurier DECA executive team, four years apart, but sharing the same passion for strategy, competition and community. It was a thread that connected us to Laurier in a really meaningful way.”

In Coskun’s second year, she hit what she describes as a “major bump” and was required to leave the BBA program because she hadn’t been achieving academically. She then found herself questioning her life path.

“Was business still part of my story?” she asked herself.

That’s when she discovered Psychology, and pivoted to this popular program, while continuing in business through a minor in Business Management.

“That combination, understanding people and thinking strategically, became the foundation for everything I’ve done since,” she says. She spent the next decade building a career in HR and recruitment and then took the leap to create her own HR consultancy.

After some years in accounting, her brother also became an entrepreneur, leading product teams in the tech world.

“Laurier gave us more than a degree,” says Coskun. “It gave us confidence, community and a chance to discover what we were capable of. That’s something both Talib and I carry with us every day.”

Laurier Alumni chatted with Coskun and Contractor about their lives, their careers and their advice for new graduates.

How has being Laurier grads and siblings made a difference in your lives?

Contractor: We overlapped at Laurier: me wrapping up accounting, my sister starting the BBA. Having each other there during that time made a big difference. Now in Toronto, we still lean on each other for career and life advice. Laurier gave us a shared foundation and helped us grow side by side.

Coskun: It was comforting to have a piece of home with me while navigating such a big change.  And now, full circle, he’s just a 10-minute walk away—still grounding me in the big city of Toronto.

How did your Laurier degree and experience help you get to where you are today?

Coskun: Laurier gave me room to explore. It wasn’t a straight path, but it was mine. DECA Laurier was also a turning point. That’s where I found my confidence in pitching, presenting and figuring out what it means to tell a story that sticks.

Contractor: Laurier gave me more than just a business foundation—it gave me community. Being part of DECA, an Icebreaker and student leadership taught me how to lead, build teams and stay adaptable. These are skills that fuel my work today.

Tell us about your job/career/passion project and what you love about it.

Coskun: I run PocketHR, a boutique HR consultancy for startups and nonprofits. I help small teams set up strong foundations – recruiting, onboarding, policies and everything in between. But really, I just love helping people work better together. No corporate jargon, no endless docs – just practical, human-first HR that actually works.

Contractor: I’m a Product Lead at Aviron, a connected fitness company making workouts fun through gamification. I also run a photography business (TinderPhotography.ca). I’ve enjoyed building products and being entrepreneurial at the same time.

What has inspired you along your career path?

Coskun: I started off in recruitment—meeting people, hearing their stories, and figuring out where they could thrive. That part never got old. I’ve always been fascinated by what makes a team click (or not), and recruitment gave me a front-row seat to that. Over time, I realized I didn’t just want to help companies hire –I wanted to help them build the kind of workplaces people want to stay in. Supporting people through the highs, lows and messy middle of work is what keeps me going.

Contractor: I started in audit (CPA, CA life) but found myself more excited about product and user experience than spreadsheets. I’ve enjoyed talking to customers about their problems and seeing how we can solve them using tech. 

What’s next for you professionally?

Coskun: I’m focused on growing PocketHR and scaling it into a team that becomes the first call when a founder or nonprofit leader says, “Okay … we need HR.” I want us to be known for being hands-on, practical, and people-first—no bloated playbooks, just real support that moves things forward. And eventually, I’d love to teach. HR is so much more than policies—it’s systems, strategy and shaping how people experience work. I want the next generation to feel excited about that.

Contractor: I’m focused on scaling Aviron’s platform while growing my side ventures. Long-term, I want to build something that blends fitness, psychology, and AI—something useful, impactful and actually sticky.

What advice would you give to alumni pursuing a similar career?

Coskun: Careers change like seasons. In your early 20s, maybe you’re all about that title or climbing the ladder. But by your 30s, you might want to be an individual contributor again—or step into a totally different field. And that’s okay. You’re allowed to evolve. What you want can change—and it should change.

Contractor: Start before you’re ready. Build things, test ideas and stay curious. Product is a craft—you learn by doing and just really pushing yourself into the unknown.