About

A scientist who learned to think like a strategist. Then like a builder.

Dr. Avi Sheshachalam holds a PhD in Cell Biology and brings 15+ years of experience spanning drug discovery research funded by the Gates Foundation (Netherlands), VP of Product at a biotech company in Edmonton, and workforce strategy at a post-secondary institution. The thread throughout: rigorous thinking applied to problems that matter, and commercial instinct that follows the evidence.

Calm Growth Studio draws on all of it. The scientific rigour. The commercial instinct. The policy literacy. The experience of working inside organizations at every scale — and knowing when a problem needs a strategist, when it needs a facilitator, and when it needs someone who has actually done the thing they are advising on.

Scientific Training · 3 ContinentsIndia · Netherlands · Canada
VP, Biotech · Drug DiscoveryCell Biology · Cancer Research · IP Strategy
Drug Discovery & DevelopmentVectors · Pathogens · Autoimmune · Cancer
Post-Secondary Workforce StrategyEdmonton · Program Development · Revenue Growth
Commercialization FacilitatorEarly-Stage Companies · Canada
AKFC Global Leadership ProgramLeadership Lens Feature
Recognition & Features
Featured in: Leadership Lens — Aga Khan Foundation Canada
Selected as part of AKFC's Global Leadership Program series — a Q&A feature spanning artists, finance executives, and medical doctors dedicated to strengthening Canada's role in a more pluralistic world.
Aga Khan Foundation Canada · Global Leadership Program Read Feature →
Panelist — National AI Literacy Day · AMII · March 2026
Dr. Avi Sheshachalam on panel at AMII National AI Literacy Day, March 2026, with Dr. Carrie Demmans Epp and Allan Cheung
Invited panelist at AMII's National AI Literacy Day — a national live event on the skills of the future and AI value capture. Joined by Dr. Carrie Demmans Epp, Associate Professor & Killam Fellow, U of A, and Allan Cheung, Agile Specialist, Enbridge.
Alberta Machine Intelligence Institute (AMII) · March 2026
Dr. Avi Sheshachalam, Founder and Principal Consultant of Calm Growth Studio Ltd, Edmonton Alberta
Dr. Avi Sheshachalam — Founder & Principal
In the Field

Facilitation that leads to action.

Selected work from events where the outputs were programs, reports, and decisions — not just conversations.

Dr. Avi Sheshachalam moderating a panel at a MacEwan University Higher Education Future of Work and Industry Listening Night

Panel moderation · Higher Education Future of Work & Industry Listening Night — this event led to reports, program development, and CE programming aligned with AI training and community market needs

Full room audience at MacEwan University event on AI, data education, skills, and workforce alignment

High-impact facilitation · MacEwan SCE · AI and data education, future of work, and workforce alignment with market needs

Dr. Avi Sheshachalam on-camera interview with MacEwan University advanced videography students on workforce development and AI in higher education, 2026

On-camera interview · MacEwan University advanced videography students · Workforce development and AI in higher education · 2026

Dr. Avi Sheshachalam facilitating a panel at Inventures 2025 hosted by Alberta Innovates on the skills of the future and where human skillsets trump AI

Facilitating · Inventures 2025, hosted by Alberta Innovates · Skills of the future: where human skillsets trump AI