Alumni Profile: Andrew Kussy

Mon. Apr. 27, 2026

Non-profit: a rewarding career, not a compromise

Major: 4-year BBA, HR/Organizational Behaviour (+ BA in Rhetoric)
Graduated: 2014
Student groups: Business Administration Student Association (BASA), JDC West
Role today: Executive Director, The Dream Factory

A career in the non-profit sector was never part of the original plan for Andrew. Like many business students at The University of Winnipeg, he imagined himself heading straight into a corporate boardroom. That changed with one unexpected conversation. He was approached by a business professor who suggested he might be well suited for the nonprofit sector. “At the time, I genuinely thought that just meant asking people for money and I wasn’t interested,” Andrew laughs. “But the idea stuck.”

This conversation became the starting point for a career built around purpose. Today, he serves as Executive Director of the Dream Factory, a Manitoba-based children’s charity dedicated to supporting kids battling life-threatening illnesses.

For many, a career in non-profit comes with concerns about financial viability and room to grow. “I think it’s a bit of a myth,” counters Andrew, “there's such a market for talented professionals in the non-profit space. If you invest in professional development, you can be at the cutting edge of the sector and hone your skills.”

While he cherishes the opportunity to make a difference in individuals’ lives, he also emphasizes the importance of understanding your role. “Our responsibility is to deliver joy,” he says, “if we carry everything else, we’re not doing the job we’re meant to do.” For Andrew, leadership in this space is about stewardship. “We have to ensure that we can deliver the best possible service to families and that we’re doing it in a way the community believes in. Every dollar comes from someone who thinks this work matters.”

Known to be a prolific fundraiser, Andrew recalls his early experiences sourcing corporate sponsorships with BASA as intimidating, noting that “asking people you don’t know to believe in what you’re doing is scary,” but also one that taught him how to build trust in a supportive student environment. Over time, those fundraising asks became less about transactions and more about relationships. “People you meet as a student will cross your path again and again,” he says, “and the relationships you build now really matter.”

That emphasis on connection came to life through the campus experiences Andrew helped create, including a BASA street hockey tournament that brought students and professional athletes from local sport teams together. He fondly remembers it as a moment when students were eager to try something new, connect with industry leaders and come together around a shared experience. Seeing how engaged and excited people were made him realize the value of creating initiatives that resonate with the community.

One of Andrew’s proudest student achievements was to start the UW chapter for the JDC case competition. “It was a lot of work to get that up and running. We had to go and audit one of the competitions. So, we just went to watch and learn what it was about.” He feels a sense of pride whenever he sees JDC and BASA involvement on resumes, knowing that his own student engagement changed the university experience of hundreds of FBE students after him.

Looking back on 15 successful years, his advice to students considering their own paths is simple: be curious, be intentional and don’t be afraid to ask. “Find people doing work you admire, build relationships and tell them what you want to learn or where you want to grow,” he says. “You won’t get the opportunities you don’t ask for.” And most importantly, never underestimate where a single conversation might lead.