Malik Idrissi (World Studies, 2010)

A Senior Product Owner at Cossette, Malik Idrissi is responsible for liaising with his client, Bombardier Recreational Products, on behalf of one of the country’s top creative agencies.

Idrissi, who holds a bachelor’s degree in Marketing from HEC Montréal and an MBA from Université Laval, has long been interested in marketing and communications work.

A Cavaliers soccer player at Champlain, Idrissi began his career working in the field of sports, working first as a Sports & Entertainment Agent at DULCEDO Management and then as Manager of Corporate Partnerships at CF Montréal.

“Everything was on a roll. I was travelling the world, attending the FIFA World Cup, the Olympics, and FIS Freestyle Ski World Cups. Everything was going well and then my life completely changed in 2021,” he said.

In an incident that made local news headlines, Idrissi and his father were electrocuted by 25,000 volts while trying to retrieve a drone from a tree that was close to a Hydro Quebec line.

Idrissi and his father were rushed to hospital where they were told it was a miracle they’d survived.

“The fact that we’re both alive to this day is quite extraordinary,” he said.

Idrissi was told by doctors that there was a high possibility that he would never walk again. Having been a Varsity athlete and being accustomed to having an active lifestyle, Idrissi was determined to get his mobility back no matter what it took.

Following the accident, he spent almost three months in the hospital recovering and pushing himself through hundreds of hours of physiotherapy and rehab.

“From that point I quickly understood that I would need a lot of courage to accomplish the big dreams that I had for myself,” he said.

“Now I enjoy each and every single moment to the fullest. I make sure to give everything I can, to give back, to take care of my family, which is the most important thing in my life.”

 

Idrissi said that despite this major derailment of his plans, he came out of the experience more motivated than ever to pursue his goals and continue on his path.

“I plan on accomplishing all my dreams in spite of this very dramatic experience,” he said.

In speaking to a group of Champlain students at the recent Student Engagement Gala, Idrissi told the audience that courage comes in different forms, and that fighting against the odds to regain his ability to walk has proved a defining moment in his life.

“The notion of courage is really rooted deeply in my heart and my DNA,” he said.

He said his journey is only beginning and, as he continues to work through the aftermath of the accident, he is confident that the best is yet to come.

Idrissi’s advice for current students and recent grads: “Fail forward. Make sure that you fail. Failure is part of life. If you fail, you’re doing something. Think of the positive aspects and continue to move forward. Go all in. Focus on what you want to accomplish. You can make a difference in this world. We need young people to bring value to this world. Believe in yourself. Surround yourself with people who will actually elevate your game. Be sure to focus on the present and the future, not the past.”