The Environmental Musician started as a dream for UM alum alum Emily Thoroski. // Photo by Mikaela Mackenzie for the Free Press, used with permission of the photographer.
Turning a passion project into a side hustle business
Entrepreneurship doesn’t always look like building the next tech giant or running a large company. Sometimes, it starts small with a dream, a passion, and the courage to take a first step.
For the University of Manitoba alum Emily Thoroski, that step came when she decided to combine her two biggest loves: music and the environment.
“The Environmental Musician started as a dream through my passion for music and the environment while studying at the University of Manitoba,” Emily explains.
While completing her thesis in Environmental Science, Emily asked biologists why wildlife mattered to them. Those answers inspired her to create something unique: writing songs that brought research, science, and stories about nature to life through music to inspire children to think positively about the environment. Through performing in schools across the province, Emily makes her side hustle business as The Environmental Musician with a mission to connect people, especially children, to the environment in new and meaningful ways.
But even with a clear vision, Emily knew there were gaps in her knowledge. She had spent years immersed in science, but not in business. That’s when she discovered the Stu Clark Centre for Entrepreneurship’s How to Start a Side Hustle Course, sponsored by The Asper Foundation, a six-week virtual workshop open to UM students, faculty, staff, and alumni who want to explore entrepreneurship on their own terms.
“Being a part of the How to Start a Side Hustle Course gave me the business knowledge to get me started in my side hustle that I never had,” Emily says. “I’ve attended the University of Manitoba for several years, but never knew the business side, which is where this course has helped me the most.”
Photo by Mikaela Mackenzie for the Free Press, used with permission of the photographer.
For Emily, the course was more than a crash course in entrepreneurship. It was a space for personal growth.
“I was a shy kid my whole life, but when I saw this opportunity come up, I knew I had to go for it, and I’m so excited I did,” she shares. “Seeing the excitement on children’s faces when I perform, and how it opens their eyes, it feels like the start of something bigger for the future.”
Since its launch in September 2024, the How to Start a Side Hustle Course has already welcomed over 250 applicants and supported 60 participants, all exploring their own unique passions and ventures. For Emily, being part of that growing community has been just as valuable as the skills she learned.
“The Side Hustle community has been helpful not only for the business side, but also in growing connections with entrepreneurs from other industries,” she says.
Looking back, Emily is glad she took the leap into the How to Start a Side Hustle Course.
“My advice to anyone thinking about this course is don’t be afraid—just go for it,” she says. “You won’t know what you’ll get out of it or how it can help your business until you try. I’m so glad I did.”
—
Applications for the Fall 2025 cohort of the How to Start a Side Hustle Course are open until September 19, 2025. Learn more on the Stu Clark Centre for Entrepreneurship website.