In the historic Maggie Jean Chestnut building, leadership was less about hierarchy and more about humanity.

As a student at Renaissance College (now the School of Leadership Studies), Devin Patterson (BPhil’15) learned that leadership isn’t reserved for titles alone. It lives in relationships, reflection and a willingness to try new things. Occasionally, it also shows up over a cup of coffee and a well‑timed bowl of soup.

Finding his footing after graduation

It wasn’t long before those lessons followed him beyond the walls of Maggie Jean.

Shortly after graduating from UNB, Devin started working as a project manager for Cape Wrath Consulting. In his first few months there, an unexpected opportunity arose that helped shift his trajectory.

“I ended up in technology and startups, which I didn't expect to, but I had a chance meeting with an individual that was starting a company.”

That company was Kogntiv Spark. Founded by one of the leaders at Cape Wrath just a few months after Devin joined the firm, the Fredericton-based global technology company specializing in secure, reliable augmented and mixed reality solutions to frontline workers operating in demanding industrial environments. While still employed at Cape Wrath, Devin became involved early in Kogntiv Spark’s journey.

“It was an amazing experience to be in on the ground floor of a startup in an emerging field. I had to be adaptable and learned to do everything from user testing and quality assurance to basic marketing, product demos, training and so much more. I ended up honing in on customer relationships and that led me to where I am today."

Building relationships in a rapidly evolving field

Today, Devin now leads the customer success team at Beauceron Security, a Fredericton-based cybersecurity company that helps organizations strengthen their security cultures through phishing simulations and security awareness training. As part of Beauceron’s customer success team, Devin supports clients, including UNB, by building strong relationships and guiding adoption.

His role blends relationship building, problem‑solving and communication — skills he traces back to his time at Renaissance College. “We did a lot of discussion-based learning, moderated by our facilitators.”

A program for students still figuring it out

Devin decided to apply to Renaissance College after attending his sister’s graduation and speaking with the dean, who described it as an ideal place for students still figuring out their path.

“He kind of convinced me it was a great place to start if you didn't quite know what you wanted to do. The topic areas that we focus on are so different and make you a well-rounded individual. I really liked the idea of the internships. He sold me on that, especially the international internship and all the wonderful opportunities it provides.”

Learning through reflection and experience

The program’s emphasis on reflection, experiential learning and leadership-in-action stuck with Devin, especially the year‑long class, integrative forum, which encouraged students to track not just what they learned, but how they grew.

“I don’t know how to describe it. It changed a lot of my perspectives right out of the gate. It takes you through a whirlwind of topics and it changes your view even on how to learn. It was really quite a formative experience.”

Stepping outside the Fredericton bubble

One of the most impactful moments of Devin’s Renaissance College experience was his internship in Bhutan, where he worked with students, immersing himself in the culture and encountering different ways of thinking. “It really takes you outside of your comfort zone. Fredericton is a great bubble, and in so many ways. There’s lots to do here and it’s hard to leave, but spending two and a half months outside of the country and in a very different environment... I think it’s something that every program should consider doing. It helps you think about things in a different way.”

Leading beyond campus

That perspective has followed Devin ever since. A former competitive speed skater and Canada Games medalist, he’s served on numerous boards and committees, from sport organizations to cultural festivals. Currently, he is the chair of the New Brunswick Highland Games Festival.

“The Highland Games is a big event. It's been going on for over 40 years, and I really didn't have any interest in taking on the chair role or joining the committee. One of my friends who was the chair at the time really wanted some help coming back from COVID. They were struggling to get the committee back up and running. So, he asked me to take on the marketing and after a couple of attempts I accepted."

Devin ended up taking on the chair role, which he describes as a great opportunity. "It's been a lot of fun to put my creative side together and recruit more friends to be part of the event... it has helped us kind of push it into a new era.”

In his role as the chair, he recently came back to the School of Leadership Studies as a community partner in the Community Problem-Solving and Research Project course. This course pairs small groups of students in their third-year with community organizations to put their problem-solving skills to the test, with the students in this group creating recommendations on the festival's future that were presented to Devin and the organization's board of directors in April.

Leadership as connection

Whether performing music at Renaissance College coffee houses or sharing food with classmates, Devin credits the college with showing him that leadership often starts with bringing people together.

“We did a lot of coffee houses, at least once per semester, and I loved being part of those. A lot of time gets spent in the kitchen. People are making a cup of tea or coffee and just chatting before or after class and getting to speak outside of class with your classmates and the staff. I think it's a really, really important part of the campus.”

Looking ahead

As he looks ahead, Devin says he’s keeping his options open — maybe starting a business one day or venturing somewhere completely different. What matters most to him is staying open.

“I’ve spent a lot of time focusing on my leadership style and what I admire about leaders. A lot of great leaders are best at looking at their teams, looking at the groups that they work with and applying different approaches to people based on what they react to and how they receive feedback.”

“I think that's really crystallized in my mind since my time at Renaissance College is just not treating everyone the same. It's really looking at what makes people tick and what they need to get the most out of their performance, which I do my very best to try to do as a manager in my career and also with the boards that I sit on too.”

It’s a mindset shaped early on at Renaissance College. One that values connection and care over titles and hierarchy and sees leadership in the simple act of bringing people together. Sometimes, all it takes is an open mind, a cup of coffee and maybe even a bowl of soup.