Aly Virji wears many hats: detective sergeant, consultant, certified executive coach, certified business coach, father, and husband. Virji is also a graduate of Centennial’s part-time Leadership and Inclusion program — where he is now imparting the importance of equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) to the next generation of leaders as an instructor.
“I have taught in various post-secondary environments for the past 10 years, and Centennial’s Leadership and Inclusion program is undoubtedly one of my favourites,” says Virji, who became a Centennial instructor in December 2020. “What makes this program so special is the quality of students we attract and their willingness to share their experiences. I learn so much from each cohort.”
Facilitated in a fully-online and asynchronous format, Leadership and Inclusion is ideal for people managers and those interested in managing people, Virji says. Its delivery allows students who have multiple priorities to move through the Centennial College program’s four courses with flexibility at the forefront. Virji is not only teaching in the online learning program; he is also using the opportunity to ensure the curriculum is aligned with the latest EDI best practices.
“We are currently updating the course content,” he says. “This is super exciting because things are progressing so quickly in the EDI space that we are thrilled to add updated content, articles, and case studies to an already fantastic program. This will be a game changer.”
As the program evolves, Virji says he hopes to continue to bring a coaching approach to his course facilitation. This, he says, is especially important in a digital learning environment, where instructors engage with students through message boards, emails, and other technological mediums.
“I’ve taken many courses while working full-time and managing multiple priorities, and I know that sometimes life gets in the way,” he says. “I know that flexibility, empathy, and compassion can have a significant positive impact on student success, which is my primary focus as an educator.”
Since he graduated from the Centennial College program in 2018, Virji has applied his EDI learnings to numerous professional roles. The content, he says, has dramatically shaped his teaching, coaching, consulting, and policing careers by instilling new perspectives that allow him to better support the people he teaches and coaches. It’s also impacted his personal life.
“I’m able to help people be a little more self-aware and intentional as they manage organizational changes related to equity, diversity, and inclusion,” says Virji, who attended the online learning EDI program when he was seeking to be better equipped for an interim position in the Toronto Police Service’s Diversity and Inclusion Unit. “What I learned has also been extremely beneficial with both my partner, Kayleigh, and my son, Aydin. In fact, Aydin, only 10 years old, is already asking outstanding questions about important issues such as discrimination, racism, and implicit bias. The breadth and depth of knowledge gained from the program have allowed me to show up as a more confident parent.”
While teaching and continuing his policing career, Virji is looking to add more roles to his already hefty resumé. He has accepted a teaching position with award-winning Canadian coaching company Essential Impact and is continuing to expand his footprint within the EDI and leadership space through speaking engagements, corporate training, and individual and group coaching.
“I’m excited to continue this work because it gives me so much purpose, and I’m passionate about helping others succeed,” he says.
Written By: Izabela Shubair