Lucas Skoczkowski (Loran scholar ‘92) co-founded Redknee, a mobile software company, when he was twenty-six years old. The company, headquartered in Mississauga and listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange, now employs more than 400 people worldwide and has annual revenues of $50 million. Lucas was recognized as an Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year in 2004 and selected as one of Canada’s Top 40 Under 40 in 2005.

As Redknee’s CEO, Lucas drives the execution of the company’s corporate strategy. In doing so, he works with Chris Newton-Smith, a 1995 Loran scholar, who heads up Redknee’s operations in Europe, the Middle East and Africa. Redknee has hired several other Loran scholars as interns or full-time staff. As Lucas puts it: “Loran scholars are all high capacity people with great potential for leadership, and they have already been screened.”

Prior to Redknee, Lucas sought out and gained considerable experience in sales, operations, and business and product development with a variety of companies such as George Weston Ltd., Nortel Networks and Clearnet Communications Inc. “Diverse experiences in business and other areas of life really help to prepare you to lead in the face of uncertainty, which is critical.” He fully supports the Loran Awards summer program, which includes three distinct kinds of experiences – enterprise, public policy and personal or community development – for this reason.

Lucas also believes strongly in mentoring. He mentors Stephen Lake, a 2007 Loran scholar, who, like Lucas, is studying engineering at University of Waterloo.

Reflecting on the impact of a Loran Award, Lucas says, “Being a Loran scholar means a long-term commitment to fulfilling the potential of oneself and maximizing one’s contribution to the community.”

Lucas remains committed to the long-term success of the Loran Awards. In addition to hiring and mentoring Loran scholars, he served on the board of CMSF for several years and has also served as an interviewer. He feels obliged to give back to the organization that gave him so much. He and his wife, Erica, are major donors. Redknee is also a supporter, underwriting a Redknee Loran Award every three years.