The Freshstart Podcast: Recent Episodes
David Ojeyinka
Freshstart podcast was created with one intent in mind: Your Success. Newcomers often meet challenges upon their arrival they never anticipated. These difficulties range from career transition to securing living arrangements, parenting and battling culture shock.
Freshstart podcast aims to equip newcomers with resources to enhance their success through practical tips, insights, inspiration and advise from real people like you who are achieving success.
To learn more, go to www.thefreshstarthub.com
Dear Immigrants is a 5-10 minute weekly letter to immigrants on varying topics to help them navigate their journey.
The topic of today's episode is “5 ways to develop skills for the future of work” where I shared the top strategies for building the skills that will not only help you succeed, but thrive, in the future of work.
On this week's episode of the Freshstart podcast, I chat with Anthony Viel, CEO of Deloitte Canada.
During our conversation, AV opened up about his personal and professional journey, sharing both the highs and lows that have helped shape him into the incredible leader he is today.
In addition, we discussed the importance of mentorship and sponsorship in one's career, and how they can make all the difference in achieving success.
We also discussed the critical issue of underemployment of skilled immigrants in Canada and how the country can better manage this challenge and much more.
Whether you're a young professional just starting out or a seasoned veteran in the workforce, this episode is packed with actionable insights that you can immediately incorporate into your own life.
Don't miss out on this valuable opportunity to learn from one of Canada's top business leaders and gain a fresh perspective on your own career path.
Listen, enjoy, and share.
On this week's episode of the Freshstart podcast, I chat with Cheesan Chew, Chief Strategy Officer of Manifest Climate. Cheesan shares her personal journey and early struggles, as well as strategies for managing one's career. In addition, we discussed how companies can create a more inclusive workplace, particularly for women and immigrants. This episode is packed with actionable insights that you can incorporate into your life immediately.
Listen, enjoy, and share.
On this week's episode of the Freshstarthub podcast, I delved deep into a topic that hits close to home for me: how to avoid the comparison trap as an immigrant. As someone who has walked the path of a newcomer, I know firsthand how easy it is to fall into the trap of comparing yourself to those around you.
But here's the thing: comparison is a thief of joy. It robs you of your progress, your confidence, and your happiness. And as an immigrant, you already have enough challenges to face without the added burden of constantly comparing yourself to others.
That's why I shared five practical steps in this episode and emotional stories from my journey because I want you to know that you're not alone and that it's possible to break free from the comparison trap.
So listen to this episode, dear friend, and share it with anyone you know who might benefit from these practical steps and emotional stories. Let's break free from the comparison trap and focus on our own unique journeys. Together, we can build a brighter future for ourselves and for each other.
On this week's episode of the Freshstart podcast, I chat with Cheryl Tjok-A-Tam, Vice President of Strategic Initiatives and Change management in the Office of the Chief Financial Officer of RBC Royal Bank.
In this episode, Cheryl shared her career journey and lessons learned. Cheryl shares her experiences and insights on how to navigate the corporate world as a Black woman, and how to overcome challenges and setbacks to achieve success.
Key Takeaways:
- Building strong relationships and networks is crucial for success in the corporate world, especially for Black women who face unique challenges and barriers.
- Soft skills such as communication, collaboration, and emotional intelligence are just as important as technical skills for career advancement.
- It's essential to have a growth mindset and be open to learning and development opportunities.
- Having a support system of mentors and sponsors can be instrumental in achieving career goals.
This episode is perfect for anyone who wants to learn from the experiences and insights of a brilliant leader in the corporate world. It's ideal for professionals who are looking to navigate the workplace and overcome challenges to achieve success.
Cheryl's journey and lessons learned offer valuable insights and inspiration for anyone looking to advance their career and overcome obstacles in the workplace. Her experiences as a Black woman in a leadership role offer a unique perspective on diversity and inclusion in the corporate world.
If you know someone who is looking to advance their career or overcome challenges in the workplace, share this episode with them. Cheryl's story and lessons learned can help inspire and empower others to achieve success in their careers. Sharing this episode can also help raise awareness about the unique challenges faced by Black women in the corporate world and the importance of creating a more inclusive and equitable workplace.
On this week's episode of the Freshstart podcast, I chat with Omo Akintan, Chief People Officer at University Pension Plan Ontario, who shares her remarkable story of building a career from the ground up as a Black woman.
In this episode, we'll delve into Omo's personal experiences and the challenges she faced on her path to founding her passion.
Get ready to be inspired as we explore Omo's trailblazing leadership style, her innovative approach to culture and diversity, and the valuable lessons she's learned along the way.
Whether you're an aspiring entrepreneur or a seasoned professional, this episode is packed with valuable insights to help you achieve your own path to greatness."
Listen, enjoy, and share.
On this week's episode of the Freshstart podcast, I chat with Tene Knibbs, a Partner at Deloitte, who shares her inspiring journey of overcoming challenges and carving her own path in the business world. The discussion goes beyond just Tene's experiences transitioning to consulting, moving to a new country, and growing her career as a woman in corporate Canada. Listeners will also gain valuable insights on hiring skilled immigrants, a topic that is crucial in today's diverse and inclusive workplaces.
Throughout the conversation, Tene candidly shares her personal and professional experiences, highlighting the lessons she learned and the strategies she employed to succeed. Her journey is not only inspiring but also relatable, making it an excellent resource for anyone seeking inspiration or looking to gain insights from a successful leader.
Whether you are an aspiring executive, a seasoned professional, or simply curious about Tene's story, this podcast episode is not to be missed. It offers practical advice and actionable tips for anyone looking to navigate unknown territories and succeed in today's rapidly changing business landscape.
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This is Part 2 of "How to access funding for your startup with Naren Balakrishnan." If you haven't heard Part 1 yet, go back and listen to it. That is the episode before this because you'd need that for context. Now let's dive right into Part 2 of How to access funding for your startup with Naren Balakrishnan
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Startup founders and small business owners are facing difficulties in obtaining capital due to the current economic climate with investors, banks, and consumers becoming more cautious with the recent stock market crash and rising inflation rates.
This has resulted in higher interest rates, making it more expensive to borrow money, and causing investors to seek more secure investment options with guaranteed returns, reducing the appetite for riskier startups.
However, there are alternative ways to secure business support and funding.
On this week's episode, I chat with Naren Balakrishnan, Partner, R&D and Government Incentives at Grant Thornton LLP.
Naren shared how startups can access funds in Canada, and much more.
Listen, enjoy, and share.
Dear Immigrants is a 5-10 minute weekly letter to immigrants on varying topics to help them navigate their journey.
The topic of today's episode is “is “Be willing to go through the process” where I shared five ways to help you enjoy the process.
This is Part 2 of How to Rebuild A Business Empire After Losing it All with Tareq Hadhad. If you haven't heard Part 1 yet, go back and listen to it. That is episode 103 Season 1 because you'd need that for context. Now let's dive right into Part 2 of How to Rebuild A Business Empire After Losing it All with Tareq Hadhad
Listen, enjoy, and share.
Dear Immigrants is a 5-10 minute weekly letter to immigrants on varying topics to help them navigate their journey.
The topic of today's episode is “is “Be kind to yourself” where I shared four ways to be kind to yourself.
Listen, enjoy, and share.
Dear Immigrants is a 5-10 minute weekly letter to immigrants on varying topics to help them navigate their journey.
The topic of today's episode is “Believe in yourself” where I shared a very important trait of highly successful people.
Listen, enjoy, and share.
Dear Immigrants is a 5-10 minute weekly letter to immigrants on varying topics to help them navigate their journey.
The topic of today's episode is “You Are More Powerful Than You Think” where I shared one principle that all successful leaders understand its importance.
Listen, enjoy, and share.
Dear Immigrants is a 5-10 minute weekly letter to immigrants on varying topics to help them navigate their journey.
The topic of today's episode is “You have what it takes” where I shared 3 principles that have helped me.
Listen, enjoy, and share.
Dear Immigrants is a 5-10 minute weekly letter to immigrants on varying topics to help them navigate their journey.
The topic of today's episode is “Congratulations, you made it” where I discussed two important principles that can help you on this journey.
Listen, enjoy, and share.
They had lived an absolutely beautiful life in their homeland in Syria, in the city of Damascus.
In his homeland of Syria, his family owned a chocolate empire that was lost in a war. He was an aspiring physician. He was trying to finish his medical degree.
Then the Syrian war broke out and his family lost everything through the bombing of their chocolate factory.
They spent three years as refugees, with little opportunity or hope.
The Hadhads moved to Canada as refugees, they had to start from scratch like newborn babies.
They built a thriving company called Peace by Chocolate. They are now one of the biggest employers in Antigonish, Nova Scotia, Canada.
In this week's episode, I chat with Tareq Hadhad, CEO & Founder of Peace by Chocolate.
Tareq shared how they reinvent themselves, how they rebuilt their business in Canada despite being newcomers, how they maintained a positive mindset despite the challenges they faced as immigrants in Canada, and much more.
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This is Part 2 of how to find your voice as an immigrant woman in the workplace with Iris Tam. If you haven't heard Part 1 yet, go back and listen to it. That is the episode right before this because you'd need that for context. Now let's dive right into Part 2 of How to find your voice as an immigrant woman in the workplace with Iris Tam.
According to a study done by Jennifer Jagire titled "Immigrant Women and Workplace in Canada: Organizing Agents for Social Change", Immigrant women in Canada are marginalized in the workplace, overworked, discriminated against, and pushed to the periphery through exclusions and exploitation. However, regardless of these hostile structures and environments, immigrant women have learned some coping strategies that see them organizing in resisting workplace injustices of exclusions, discrimination, and marginalization to overcome their predicament.
The term “Immigrant women,” in this context, refers to women born outside Canada and not from Western Europe.
Despite these challenges immigrant women face, there are role models like Iris Tam who are paving the way for other immigrant women and showing that it is possible to find your voice and grow your career to a senior leadership level.
In this week's episode, I chat with Iris Tam, Partner, Commercial Real Estate at Fasken.
Iris shared what started her interest in a career in law, strategies she used to climb the corporate ladder in Canada as a woman and visible minority, and much more.
Listen, enjoy, and share.
According to a study done by Jennifer Jagire titled "Immigrant Women and Workplace in Canada: Organizing Agents for Social Change", Immigrant women in Canada are marginalized in the workplace, overworked, discriminated against, and pushed to the periphery through exclusions and exploitation. However, regardless of these hostile structures and environments, immigrant women have learned some coping strategies that see them organizing in resisting workplace injustices of exclusions, discrimination, and marginalization to overcome their predicament.
The term “Immigrant women,” in this context, refers to women born outside Canada and not from Western Europe.
Despite these challenges immigrant women face, there are role models like Iris Tam who are paving the way for other immigrant women and showing that it is possible to find your voice and grow your career to a senior leadership level.
In this week's episode, I chat with Iris Tam, Partner, Commercial Real Estate at Fasken.
Iris shared what started her interest in a career in law, strategies she used to climb the corporate ladder in Canada as a woman and visible minority, and much more.
Listen, enjoy, and share.
Some of the most successful entrepreneurs are immigrants. Many of them are billionaires. And the companies they founded have created trillions of dollars in value for shareholders, employees, and customers alike.
There’s Google co-founder Sergey Brin, born in communist Russia. The man who could take us to Mars, Elon Musk, from South Africa. Arianna Huffington, founder of the eponymous news site, from Greece. (And the list goes on.)
There are lesser-known names, too, of course. Like Jenny Q. Ta, CEO of Sqeeqee, who’s from Vietnam. Tomas Gorny, CEO of Nextiva, from Poland. Claudia Mirza, founder of Akorbi, from Columbia.
In Canada, among the leading Greater Toronto Area employers across the public, private and non-profit sectors, only 6 per cent of executives — those at the level of vice-president or above — are immigrants, according to a 2015 survey of 92 employers conducted by Canadian HR Reporter in partnership with TRIEC.
There is hope in sight because, in this week's episode, I chat with Zabeen Hirji, Strategic Advisor - Private & Public Sector, Executive Advisor, Future of Work at Deloitte, and former Chief Human Resources Officer, RBC Royal Bank.
Zabeen shared how she grew her career from a teller to senior roles spanning Retail Banking, Operations, Credit Cards, Human Resources and then becoming the Chief Human Resources Officer of RBC Royal Bank until her retirement from the bank in 2017, how she juggled family and career, how organizations can build a future of work that works for immigrant talents, and much more.
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The fashion industry embodies a huge effective number of women. Globally, it is estimated that 85% of industry workers are female.
In this week's episode, I chat with Elle AyoubZadeh, founder of Zvelle, a brand that appeals to women and champions their stories of passion, determination, and success.
Elle shared why she relocated to Canada, what started her interest in entrepreneurship, what made the wife of Canada’s Prime Minister to order her shoe brand, and much more.
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An increasing number of newcomers arrive in Canada every year. The Royal Bank of Canada (RBC) is connecting early and building life-long relationships by helping newcomers navigate banking in Canada, become homeowners, and make connections in their new communities.
RBC Meeting Place, a first-of-its-kind branch, is staffed with employees who bring a rich sense of culture, diversity, and empathy to newcomer clients, as many were newcomers themselves. They have also partnered with community organizations to help newcomers find meaningful work and get advice.
In this week's episode, Marina Gerges and Shorouq Alkayyali. They both came to Canada as internationally trained professionals and they are both paying it forward by helping newcomers transition into Canadian society. They are both Assistant branch managers at the Royal Bank of Canada meeting place. In today’s episode, Marina and Shorouq shared strategies they have used to navigate their career as visible minorities, how RBC newcomer center is benefiting newcomers, and much more.
This week's episode is sponsored by RBC - Royal Bank of Canada
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This is Part 2 of how to build the career of your dreams as an immigrant woman with Candice Maxis. If you haven't heard Part 1 yet, go back and listen to it. That is the episode right before this because you'd need that for context. Now let's dive right into Part 2 of how to build the career of your dreams as a woman with Candice Maxis.
Although you may have heard stories of people stumbling into their dream job or discovering their life's calling through unexpected events, the truth is that for the vast majority of people, planning your career and taking deliberate steps toward success is a much more likely path to achieving the career of your dreams.
In this week's episode, I chat with Candice Maxis, an Executive Director, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion at Deloitte. Candice shared how hiring managers and organizations should consider candidates with foreign-trained credentials and experience, the kind of future she sees for diversity, equity, inclusion, and much more.
Listen, enjoy, and share.
Although you may have heard stories of people stumbling into their dream job or discovering their life's calling through unexpected events, the truth is that for the vast majority of people, planning your career and taking deliberate steps toward success is a much more likely path to achieving the career of your dreams.
In this week's episode, I chat with Candice Maxis, an Executive Director, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion at Deloitte. Candice shared what lead her to study Human Resources Management at the University, some of the major hurdles she faced in her career and how she overcame them, and much more.
Listen, enjoy, and share.
This is Part 2 of Practical steps to land your dream job as a skilled immigrant with Shade Ladipo. If you haven't heard Part 1 yet, go back and listen to it. That is the episode right before this because you'd need that for context. Now let's dive right into Part 2 of Practical steps to land your dream job as a skilled immigrant with Shade Ladipo.
Landing your dream job in 2022 is no easy task. A lot of immigrant job seekers are using outdated information, and it’s costing them dearly. Landing your dream job as an internationally trained professional and international student takes a lot of self-awareness, perseverance, and creativity.
I chat with Shade Ladipo, an Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Manager at Capital Power. Shade shared how organizations can build a future of work that works for immigrant talents, the unique value immigrants bring to Canada, and much more.
Listen, enjoy, and share.
Landing your dream job in 2022 is no easy task. A lot of immigrant job seekers are using outdated information, and it’s costing them dearly. Landing your dream job as an internationally trained professional and international student takes a lot of self-awareness, perseverance, and creativity.
I chat with Shade Ladipo, an Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Manager at Capital Power. Shade shared how she relocated to Canada, the practical steps she used to land her dream job, and much more.
Listen, enjoy, and share.
This is Part 2 of Creating opportunities for black talents in the technology sector with Jermaine L. Murray. If you haven't heard Part 1 yet, go back and listen to it. That is the episode right before this because you'd need that for context. Now let's dive right into Part 2 of Creating opportunities for black talents in the technology sector with Jermaine L. Murray
As Canada recovers from its most recent economic downturn, experts see the technology sector as the engine of recovery. Jermaine has been a consistent advocate for ensuring that Black tech talent is fairly represented in our technology-driven future.
In this week's episode, I chat with Jermaine Murray, a Technical Recruiter at Wealthsimple. Jermaine shared what the black experience is like to get ahead in this world, how organizations can show that they are committed to DEI, how to network successfully, how to use being an internationally trained professional to your advantage, and much more.
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As Canada recovers from its most recent economic downturn, experts see the technology sector as the engine of recovery. Jermaine has been a consistent advocate for ensuring that Black tech talent is fairly represented in our technology-driven future.
In this week's episode, I chat with Jermaine Murray, a Technical Recruiter at Wealthsimple. Jermaine shared how to switch careers without traditional experience, how to communicate your value to employers, and much more.
Listen, enjoy, and share.
This is the Part 2 of How To Harness The Power Of Community with Janet Adesina. If you haven't heard Part 1 yet, go back and listen to it. That is the episode right before this because you'd need that for context. Now let's dive right into Part 2 of How To Harness The Power Of Community with Janet Adesina.
The pandemic's social distancing has left a void for ways for people to feel connected and like they belong. The impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on our mental health has received a lot of attention in the media. Why do people want to be a part of a community, and how can immigrants best capitalize on this innate desire to belong?
In this week's episode, I chat with Janet Adesina, a community builder. Janet shared a personal story of failure, how to overcome our own biases, and much more.
Listen, enjoy, and share.
The pandemic's social distancing has left a void for ways for people to feel connected and like they belong. The impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on our mental health has received a lot of attention in the media. Why do people want to be a part of a community, and how can immigrants best capitalize on this innate desire to belong?
In this week's episode, I chat with Janet Adesina, a community builder. Janet shared her expectations versus her reality in Canada, the role mentors played in her life, why belonging to the right community is important for internationally trained talents & international students, and much more.
Listen, enjoy, and share.
This is the Part 2 of The Blueprint of Successful Start-ups with Gbemi Akande. If you haven't heard Part 1 yet, go back and listen to it. That is the episode right before this because you'd need that for context. Now let's dive right into Part 2 of The Blueprint of Successful Start-ups with Gbemi Akande.
Many aspiring entrepreneurs have it backward. They believe that launching a massively successful business is as simple as snapping their fingers. A good genie in the sky will appear out of nowhere to bless their idea and suddenly fill their bank account with billions. It's time to wake up!
In this week's episode, I chat with Gbemi Akande, an industry expert who provides advisory service to founders. Gbemi discussed extensively what separates founders that fail and founders that succeed, factors investors look at before investing in a startup, innovation hubs and accelerators founders can access grants, and much more
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Many aspiring entrepreneurs have it backward. They believe that launching a massively successful business is as simple as snapping their fingers. A good genie in the sky will appear out of nowhere to bless their idea and suddenly fill their bank account with billions. It's time to wake up!
In this week's episode, I chat with Gbemi Akande, an industry expert who provides advisory service to founders. Gbemi shared some proven traits that separate successful founders from those that fail, he shared the event that lead to him moving to Canada, strategies he uses to land good jobs without formally applying, and much more.
Listen, enjoy, and share.
Today's episode is about our plans for 2022. Listen, enjoy and provide feedback. Please share with everyone you think might benefit.
Today's episode is a solo episode talking about some of our 2021 successes and initiatives for 2022.
Some of our 2021 successes includes:
- Over 42 members of our community landed well-paying jobs
- We had $3.2M in economic impact for internationally trained talents
- We launched our job board
- We launched our free career tools and templates portal
- We launched our free career accelerator bootcamp
- We hosted over 15 mentorship sessions with industry professionals
- We had over 11K podcast listens & downloads
- We hosted 32 events
- We collaborated with 15 leading organizations
- We shared over 300 resumes of Freshstart hubers with recruiters
Thank you.
This week's episode is all about how to make 2022 your best year ever. I spoke about the excerpt of a book titled; "Your Best Year Ever" and how you can utilize some of the principles from the book to make 2022 your best year ever.
This is the Part 2 of Making the Leap to Entrepreneurship with Precious Ile. If you haven't heard Part 1 yet, go back and listen to it. That is the episode right before this because you'd need that for context. Now let's dive right into Part 2 of Making the Leap to Entrepreneurship with Precious Ile.
Getting a startup off the ground can leave you vulnerable — emotionally and financially — especially for those without a safety net and immigrants.
This week's episode is all about how to make the leap to entrepreneurship. I discussed extensively with Precious what started her interest in entrepreneurship, how to distinguish between volunteering and being extorted, what entrepreneurship is all about, and much more.
Getting a startup off the ground can leave you vulnerable — emotionally and financially — especially for those without a safety net and immigrants.
This week's episode is all about how to make the leap to entrepreneurship. I discussed extensively with Precious what started her interest in entrepreneurship, how to distinguish between volunteering and being extorted, what entrepreneurship is all about, and much more.
Chasing passions and following dreams is becoming the norm as people begin to move away from the traditional nine to five, towards the goal of doing what they love.
This week's episode is all about how to convert your passion to profit and build a business you love. I discussed extensively with Dr. Shahab why he chose a different path after medical school, the difficulties he faced as a newcomer, the top three skills needed to be a successful immigrant entrepreneur, and much more.
Job-hunting can at times be stressful, and it can be even more so when you thought you aced an interview only to get rejected for the position.
This week's episode is all about how to deal with job search rejection. I shared some of the tips I use to deal with rejections.
This is the Part 2 of How to Make Strides As An Immigrant in Canada and Beyond with Norman Musengimana. If you haven't heard Part 1 yet, go back and listen to it. That is the episode right before this because you'd need that for context. Now let's dive right into Part 2 of How to Make Strides As An Immigrant in Canada and Beyond with Norman Musengimana.
In our world today, it is easy to get discouraged, and even to feel despair. But one of the best ways of fighting back against discouragement and despair is to find the things we can do in our own lives to make the world more just, more compassionate, and more kind.
This week's episode is all about how to make strides as an Immigrant in Canada and beyond. I discussed extensively with Norman his journey to Canada, his journey to entrepreneurship, and much more.
In our world today, it is easy to get discouraged, and even to feel despair. But one of the best ways of fighting back against discouragement and despair is to find the things we can do in our own lives to make the world more just, more compassionate, and more kind.
This week's episode is all about how to make strides as an Immigrant in Canada and beyond. I discussed extensively with Norman his journey to Canada, his journey to entrepreneurship, and much more.
The 500,000 international students who come to Canada every year for college and university studies are just the tip of the iceberg. Thousands more travel here to go to elementary or high school, to take part in exchange programs, or attend language school. Canada is a great place to grow and thrive as a student but adapting to a new environment takes time. Although each person's experience is different,
This week's episode is all about how international students can navigate their journey in Canada. I discussed extensively with Mary how to deal with peer pressure as a student, the importance of relevant work experience for students & skilled immigrants, and much more.
This is Part 2 of “Keeping Your Eyes on The Goal with Raj Kothari” If you haven't heard Part 1 yet, go back and listen to it. That is the episode right before this because you'd need that for context.
What will keep you motivated toward your goal? The answer, keep your eyes on it. Never lose sight of what you are working toward. Look at the picture and the reward you will reap when you finally reach your goal. Goals seem so far in the future and so hard to reach unless you break them down into small steps that allow you to track your progress.
This week's episode is all about how to keep your eyes on your personal and professional success. I discussed extensively with Raj how he was able to climb to the top of his career despite the challenges and microaggression he faced along the way.
As new immigrants continue to form part of the Canadian multicultural fabric they must fully understand their obligations as a Canadian resident/citizen. They must understand and accept that they are expected to contribute to national safety, stability, and social harmony.
This week's episode is all about how immigrants can engage the Canadian culture. I discussed extensively with Charles the importance of role models, how to engage the Candian culture, Charles’ advice as a Human Resources executive, and much more.
There's no right or wrong way to create the life you want, but there is your way!
The challenge is that it requires you to pause and listen to your own intuition and soul guidance - and what that looks like is different for everyone.
This week's episode is all about how immigrants can forge their career paths. I discussed extensively with Sharon how she landed a job in journalism despite the challenges she faced, the role of allyship for career success, and much more.
This is Part 2 of A Life of Adventure with Sorin Mihailovici. If you haven't heard Part 1 yet, go back and listen to it. That is the episode right before this because you'd need that for context. Now let's dive right into Part 2 of A Life of Adventure with Sorin Mihailovici.
“Life is inherently risky. There is only one big risk you should avoid at all costs, and that is the risk of doing nothing.” ~Denis Waitley
This week's episode is all about how immigrants can live an adventurous life. I discussed extensively with Sorin how he got appearances in major movies as an immigrant in Canada, the importance of hard work and patience, the benefits of keeping your end goal in sight, and much more.
“Life is inherently risky. There is only one big risk you should avoid at all costs, and that is the risk of doing nothing.” ~Denis Waitley
This week's episode is all about how immigrants can live an adventurous life. I discussed extensively with Sorin how he got appearances in major movies as an immigrant in Canada, the importance of hard work and patience, the benefits of keeping your end goal in sight, and much more.
The world has become so competitive, doing well in your job and moving forward with your career is more important now than ever. Career advancement and recognition are on every professional's list of goals. But what sets the exceptional professionals apart?
This week's episode is all about how immigrants can make it to the top of their careers. I discussed extensively with Hua the importance of mentors & sponsors, how to cultivate a mentor-mentee relationship, and much more.
This is Part 2 of Carving your own path as an international student with Christopher Evelyn. If you haven't heard Part 1 yet, go back and listen to it. That is the episode right before this because you'd need that for context. Now let's dive right into Part 2 of Carving your own path as an international student with Christopher Evelyn.
Have you ever felt weird?
It’s as if everyone was doing one thing, and here you were, doing something completely different. Whenever you choose to do something different — whether it’s moving somewhere abroad, starting a business, or embarking on a personal journey — someone, somewhere will have an opinion.
And often, the opinion won’t be positive. If it’s something unusual, your family and friends will express their concerns or try to convince you to do something else. Strangers might give you that wary sideways glance and wonder about you.
But if you want to be extraordinary, that means doing something out of the ordinary. So, accept that doing something for yourself might make other people uncomfortable.
This week's episode is all about how you can carve your own path as an International student. I discussed extensively with Christopher how failure can lead to success, how to thrive in the face of uncertainties, and much more.
Have you ever felt weird?
It’s as if everyone was doing one thing, and here you were, doing something completely different. Whenever you choose to do something different — whether it’s moving somewhere abroad, starting a business, or embarking on a personal journey — someone, somewhere will have an opinion.
And often, the opinion won’t be positive. If it’s something unusual, your family and friends will express their concerns or try to convince you to do something else. Strangers might give you that wary sideways glance and wonder about you.
But if you want to be extraordinary, that means doing something out of the ordinary. So, accept that doing something for yourself might make other people uncomfortable.
This week's episode is all about how you can carve your own path as an International student. I discussed extensively with Christopher how failure can lead to success, how to thrive in the face of uncertainties, and much more.
You’ve made the decision to study in Canada, now what? There’s a lot that goes into student success, like building the right professional relationship and understanding the Canadian job market is a real advantage for international students in Canada.
No matter what you’re studying or where you study, being properly prepared gives you a real advantage as an international student in Canada.
This week's episode is all about how you can succeed in Canada as an International student. I discussed extensively with Pat how to overcome the language barrier as an international student, how international students can position themselves professionally, how to master skills that would help you stand out in the job market, and much more.
To live without a plan is to live a casual life and those that live casual lives often become casualties of the challenges in the world. This is why "planning" is very crucial to the success of anyone.
This week's episode is all about how to design a good plan for your career journey and taking hold of opportunities when they show up. I discussed extensively with Diogene what lead him to relocate to Canada from Belgium, how to find mentors, the value immigrants bring to the Canadian economy, and much more.
This is Part 2 of Career Success Through Lifelong Learning with Clare Dai. If you haven't heard Part 1 yet, go back and listen to it. That is the episode right before this because you'd need that for context. Now let's dive right into Part 2 of Career Success Through Lifelong Learning with Clare Dai.
Lifelong learning has been a topic of conversation for some time, but it’s never been more important or relevant than today. The rate of change experienced in the workplace continues to accelerate. Uncertainty runs rampant. Artificial Intelligence looms large, causing many professionals to wonder what it means for them and their future. And, most industry sectors continue to experience heightening competition in the marketplace.
Life is also longer today, putting greater emphasis on lifelong learning.
This week's episode is all about how we can achieve career success through lifelong learning. I discussed extensively with Clare how to have difficult conversations at work, the importance of mentorship, and much more.
Lifelong learning has been a topic of conversation for some time, but it’s never been more important or relevant than today. The rate of change experienced in the workplace continues to accelerate. Uncertainty runs rampant. Artificial Intelligence looms large, causing many professionals to wonder what it means for them and their future. And, most industry sectors continue to experience heightening competition in the marketplace.
Life is also longer today, putting greater emphasis on lifelong learning.
This week's episode is all about how we can achieve career success through lifelong learning. I discussed extensively with Clare how to have difficult conversations at work, the importance of mentorship, and much more.
This is Part 2 of Winning Against All Odds with Gaurav Upadhya. If you haven't heard Part 1 yet, go back and listen to it. That is the episode right before this because you'd need that for context. Now let's dive right into Part 2 of Winning Against All Odds with Gaurav Upadhya.
If a tiger was chasing you, you will not be looking towards a motivational speaker to guide you. You will run. We can hear all the motivational speeches and read motivational books we want, but the forces within us should push us to get things done.
Gaurav got polio at age 3 years when the vaccine he had didn’t work. Even though Doctors told Gaurav’s parents that he wouldn’t be able to walk but with help from his mother he was able to overcome it. The result was that he was eventually able to walk with crutches and leg braces.
This week's episode is all about how we can win against all odds. I discussed extensively with Gaurav how he was able to achieve career success despite all the challenges life threw his way.
If a tiger was chasing you, you will not be looking towards a motivational speaker to guide you. You will run. We can hear all the motivational speeches and read motivational books we want, but the forces within us should push us to get things done.
Gaurav got polio at age 3 years when the vaccine he had didn’t work. Despite the fact that Doctors told Gaurav’s parents that he wouldn’t be able to walk but with help from his mother he was able to overcome it. The result was that he was eventually able to walk with crutches and leg braces.
This week's episode is all about how we can win against all odds. I discussed extensively with Gaurav how he was able to achieve career success despite all the challenges life threw his way.
Using your voice for change can be simple or complex. Your voice is a powerful tool.
Incredible people throughout history have used their voices to create change. Maya Angelou was a poet and an activist who used her voice in support of the Civil Rights Movement. Jazz Jennings is a teenager who got her claim to fame by becoming an American YouTube personality as an LGBT rights activist and a transgender woman.
The misconception is that you don’t have to be famous or have a million followers on Instagram to be able to empower someone or make a difference in the lives of others. There are many ways, both big and small, you can use your voice for the betterment of communities throughout the globe, despite how young or old you may be.
This week's episode is all about how we can use our voice for the betterment of communities, despite how young or old we may be. I discussed extensively with Onome how she is using her voice to positively impact adding value to others and bringing lasting health change in Africa.
What will keep you motivated toward your goal? The answer, keep your eyes on it. Never lose sight of what you are working toward. Look at the picture and the reward you will reap when you finally reach your goal. Goals seem so far in the future and so hard to reach unless you break them down into small steps that allow you to track your progress.
This week's episode is all about how to keep your eyes on your personal and professional success. I discussed extensively with Raj how he was able to climb to the top of his career despite the challenges and microaggression he faced along the way.
A wage gap between newly landed immigrants and native-born Canadians may be quite natural for a variety of reasons, but do immigrants narrow this wage gap as they become more attuned to local market conditions? One measure of economic assimilation by immigrants is their wage growth relative to that of other Canadians.
This week's episode is all about how to close the immigrants’ wealth gap in Canada. I discussed extensively with Rajan how he is using RBC Investease to help immigrants close the wealth gap.
If you are feeling overwhelmed, you’re not alone. That’s because humans crave certainty. There are many things out of our control right now, including the severity of the coronavirus pandemic, the duration of social-distancing measures, the economic and financial impact, and government policy. What we can control is our own response to the current crisis.
This week's episode is all about how you can prepare and learn to be comfortable with career uncertainty. I discussed extensively with Daniella how she was able to navigate her career despite the uncertainties thrown her way.
This is Part 2 of “Future-proofing Your Career with Helen Peng” If you haven't heard Part 1 yet, go back and listen to it. That is the episode right before this because you'd need that for context.
The prospect of job losses has led to rising concerns about job security. A majority (53%) of survey respondents report that their employees are “very” or “fairly” concerned about their short-term job security, while 25% of survey respondents say their employees are “not at all” concerned. These figures show significantly higher levels of concern, compared to two years ago. In MindEdge’s 2019 Future of Work survey, just 32% of managers said their employees were “very” or “fairly” concerned about losing their jobs, and fully 38% said they were “not at all” concerned.
This week's episode is all about strategies to future-proof your career with the world of work changing at an ever-increasing rate. I discussed extensively with Helen the career development strategies she has used to future-proof her career.
The prospect of job losses has led to rising concerns about job security. A majority (53%) of survey respondents report that their employees are “very” or “fairly” concerned about their short-term job security, while 25% of survey respondents say their employees are “not at all” concerned. These figures show significantly higher levels of concern, compared to two years ago. In MindEdge’s 2019 Future of Work survey, just 32% of managers said their employees were “very” or “fairly” concerned about losing their jobs, and fully 38% said they were “not at all” concerned.
This week's episode is all about strategies to future-proof your career with the world of work changing at an ever-increasing rate. I discussed extensively with Helen the career development strategies she has used to future-proof her career.
After being forced to leave war-torn Sri Lanka and immigrating to Canada, Roy started as a mail clerk at CI Global Asset Management and over the span of 30 years, has made the leap to Executive Vice-President at CI Financial as well as the Head of Distribution for CI Global Asset Management.
This week's episode is all about strategies Roy Ratnavel used to climb the corporate ladder in Canada. I discussed extensively with Roy the strategies he used to navigate his career and how he leveraged his unique attributes to stand out in his professional and personal life.
Beliefs are like road signs that point you in the right direction. Without beliefs to guide, it would be impossible to know how to act. However, you need to learn how to overcome limiting beliefs when they are negative because they’ll drag you down.
This week's episode is all about strategies Arlene Ruiz uses to overcome limiting beliefs as a newcomer. I discussed extensively with Arlene how she is helping her clients to overcome insecurities.
It takes a dedicated amount of time and energy to build good, strong, lasting business relationships today. They are such an integral and necessary part of success, but people don’t seem to want to put in the work.
This week's episode is all about strategies Isaac Garcia-Sitton used to build quality and long-lasting personal & professional relationships with others. I discussed extensively with Isaac what has helped him to foster relationships and how you can do the same.
If you take everything the media says at face value, you might think young people — and especially millennials — are hopeless when it comes to money. The portrayals the media sells about today’s young adults aren’t always accurate.
This week's episode is all about when & how to invest as a young adult. I discussed extensively with Reni Odetoyinbo the strategies she is using to build wealth at a young age.
This is Part 2 of “Leveraging Your Uniqueness As An Immigrant to Succeed with Faham Rashid” If you haven't heard Part 1 yet, go back and listen to it. That is the episode right before this because you'd need that for context.
The job market is so competitive, so how do I differentiate myself? Differentiation is what sets you apart from the crowd and creates a sustainable, competitive advantage. There has never been nor will there ever be another individual exactly like you. You are unique and your talents, thoughts, ideas, beliefs, and contributions cannot be duplicated. Therefore,differentiation is how you communicate and apply your unique gifts.
This week's episode is all about how Faham Rashid used his international experience to his advantage. I discussed extensively with Faham what he did to set himself apart and how immigrants can bring their unique international experience and skillsets to the Canadian corporate environment to succeed.
The job market is so competitive, so how do I differentiate myself? Differentiation is what sets you apart from the crowd and creates a sustainable, competitive advantage. There has never been nor will there ever be another individual exactly like you. You are unique and your talents, thoughts, ideas, beliefs, and contributions cannot be duplicated. Therefore,differentiation is how you communicate and apply your unique gifts.
This week's episode is all about how Faham Rashid used his international experience to his advantage. I discussed extensively with Faham what he did to set himself apart and how immigrants can bring their unique international experience and skillsets to the Canadian corporate environment to succeed.
This is Part 2 of “A Quest for Gender Parity with Caroline Codsi.” If you haven't heard Part 1 yet, go back and listen to it. That is the episode right before this because you'd need that for context.
Research shows that the world has a long way to go to achieve gender equality. Despite decades of progress, millions of women and girls still deal with violence and discrimination. Steps like closing the gender pay gap and promoting girls’ education make a huge difference. While most believe that gender equality is a worthy goal, why is it good for everyone? Why should it be such a high priority?
This week's episode is all about how Caroline Codsi is helping women to advance their careers and sit on boards. I discussed extensively with Caroline how she is making space for women at the top and what lead her down this path.
Research shows that the world has a long way to go to achieve gender equality. Despite decades of progress, millions of women and girls still deal with violence and discrimination. Steps like closing the gender pay gap and promoting girls’ education make a huge difference. While most believe that gender equality is a worthy goal, why is it good for everyone? Why should it be such a high priority?
This week's episode is all about how Caroline Codsi is helping women to advance their careers and sit on boards. I discussed extensively with Caroline how she is making space for women at the top and what lead her down this path.
This is Part 2 of “Risking it all with Dr. Chika Onwuekwe, Q.C.” If you haven't heard Part 1 yet, go back and listen to it. That is the episode right before this because you'd need that for context.
It takes advice and support to be a successful immigrant. But it’s one thing to have the resources and another thing to use them – to listen to the advice and take action.
This week's episode is all about how Dr. Chika risked it all to pursue his dreams in Canada. I discussed extensively with Dr. Chika the practical strategies that have helped him navigate his career journey to a senior leadership level.
It takes advice and support to be a successful immigrant. But it’s one thing to have the resources and another thing to use them – to listen to the advice and take action.
This week's episode is all about how Dr. Chika risked it all to pursue his dreams in Canada. I discussed extensively with Dr. Chika the practical strategies that have helped him navigate his career journey to a senior leadership level.
Everyone aspires to have purpose or meaning in their career but how do you actually do that? What practical steps can you take today or this month to make sure you’re not just toiling away at your desk but you’re doing something you genuinely care about?
This week's episode is all about how to build a meaningful career. I discussed extensively with Natasha the practical steps she took to do something she genuinely cares about.
The road to a “new normal” after the COVID-19 pandemic is likely to be long, uncertain, and bumpy, building resilience will be vital. Resilience is a capacity to recover and grow as a result of challenging times. Newcomers and immigrants need to incorporate strategies that would enable their rapid career recovery through upskilling and reskilling.
This week's episode is all about how Farah is leading the way forward as an exemplary leader. I discussed extensively with shared Farah the practical strategies that have helped her to climb the corporate ladder as a young immigrant.
It seems like we have two options in life: succeed or fail. Get what you worked for and you're a success. Fall short of that, and you're a failure. We think about these two outcomes as if they were binary.
But maybe it's time we rethink failure. That is, how we can use failure to provide advantages that we might not gain otherwise. In this week’s episode, you’ll learn about how to reframe failure.
This week's episode is all about how you can bounce back from failure quickly & easily. I discussed extensively with Naki Osutei strategies she used to reframe failure.
There may come a time in your working life when you decide to change careers. Career changes happen for several reasons, but when they do, there are advantages to being strategic about it.
For example, a strategic career change will likely lead to greater job satisfaction. In this week’s episode, you’ll learn about why someone might change career paths.
This week's episode is all about how you can plan your next career move. I discussed extensively with Farhana Mahbub strategies she used to switch her career path.
Research shows that companies in the top quartile for executive-team gender diversity were 21% “more likely to experience above-average profitability than companies in the fourth quartile.” You have to wonder: Why are we not seeing more progress?
Women face challenges, stubborn stereotypes, and stigmas that are roadblocks to their advancement. Understanding those dynamics is the first step toward a more equal and productive workplace.
This week's episode is all about how immigrant women can be pulled up to senior leadership roles. I discussed extensively with Alma Arzate how she is making way for other women and giving other women a chance.
You'll Learn:
- How to take accountability.
- How to repackage an original idea.
- How to break the language barrier.
- How to overcome your inner doubts as a woman.
- How to turn negative experiences into positive outcomes.
This is Part 2 of breaking the glass ceiling with Eva Lee Kwok. If you haven't heard Part 1 yet, go back and listen to it. That is the episode right before this because you'd need that for context.
Glass ceiling is a metaphor for the evident but intangible hierarchical impediment that prevents minorities and women from achieving elevated professional success.
The term was first popularized in the 80s to describe the challenges women face when their careers stagnate at middle-management roles, preventing them from achieving higher leadership or executive roles.
Glass ceiling is a metaphor for the evident but intangible hierarchical impediment that prevents minorities and women from achieving elevated professional success.
The term was first popularized in the 80s to describe the challenges women face when their careers stagnate at middle-management roles, preventing them from achieving higher leadership or executive roles.
This week's episode is all about how immigrant women can break the glass ceiling and achieve senior leadership roles. I discussed extensively with Eva Lee Kwok how she overcame the barriers she faced on her path to senior executive and board director roles.
This is Part 2 of building a more inclusive world for women and BIPOC with Fiona Macfarlane. If you haven't heard Part 1 yet, go back and listen to it. That is the episode right before this because you'd need that for context.
The coronavirus pandemic has exposed serious problems with the ways we have constructed our societies and economies on the backs of women’s unpaid labor. There is an opportunity to rebuild better, with women’s rights at the center, to prioritize care for people and the planet, and to energize progress on gender equality, for the benefit of all.
This week's episode is all about how to create a more equal world for women and BIPOC. I discussed extensively with Fiona Macfarlane how she rose to the top of her career despite the challenges she faced on her path.
The coronavirus pandemic has exposed serious problems with the ways we have constructed our societies and economies on the backs of women’s unpaid labor. There is an opportunity to rebuild better, with women’s rights at the center, to prioritize care for people and the planet, and to energize progress on gender equality, for the benefit of all.
This week's episode is all about how to create a more equal world for women and BIPOC. I discussed extensively with Fiona Macfarlane how she rose to the top of her career despite the challenges she faced on her path.
This is Part 2 of playing the hand you're dealt with Sobhana Jaya-Madhavan. If you haven't heard Part 1 yet, go back and listen to it. That is the episode right before this because you'd need that for context.
Playing the hand you’re dealt is about using what you already have, using the things you’ve been given. Wishing that you had it differently or whining about how unfair your life is only serves to take away your power. The fact is, your life isn’t different.
This week's episode is all about how to play the hand you are dealt. I discussed extensively with Sobhana Jaya-Madhavan the strategies she has used to navigate difficult moments in both her personal and professional life.
You'll Learn: * The true definition of a successful life. * The importance of giving back. * How to start going for something you are passionate about. * How to deal with mistakes. * Sobhana’s advice for newcomers and immigrants. * The benefits of engaging and making friends with other cultures. * Something Sobhana has never shared with the media.
Playing the hand you’re dealt is about using what you already have, using the things you’ve been given. Wishing that you had it differently or whining about how unfair your life is only serves to take away your power. The fact is, your life isn’t different.
This week's episode is all about how to play the hand you are dealt. I discussed extensively with Sobhana Jaya-Madhavan the strategies she has used to navigate difficult moments in both her personal and professional life.
You'll Learn: * The event that changed the trajectory of Sobhana’s career in Canada. * Strategies to navigate your career as an internationally trained professional. * Practical steps and strategies to find mentors. * Strategies for successful parenting as immigrants in Canada.
Women are still substantially under-represented in leadership positions in various industries across the world.
Women who have risen to leadership positions have faced uphill battles to get to the top. How did those women who get to the top do it? What was it that set them apart?
This week's episode is all about how to create opportunities for the next generation of women. I discussed extensively with Racheal Awe how she has navigated her career journey so far.
You'll Learn: * The importance of good role models. * The importance of curiosity. * The importance of doing your own research. * Why asking questions is important. * The danger of comparison. * Why internship is important for students. * The importance of treating everyone fairly and with kindness. * Practical steps to cold email people on LinkedIn. * The role mentorship and sponsorship play for career advancement.
Learn more at www.thefreshstarthub.com/podcast
This is Part 2 of the power of allyship for immigrants with Lovelyn Toyo. If you haven't heard Part 1 yet, go back and listen to it. That is the episode right before this because you'd need that for context.
To have the most successful and well-rounded industry, the representation of marginalized groups in the industry must improve. To invoke this change, the majority must help, support and advocate for the minority. If engaged correctly, allies hold the power and the key to stimulate positive change
This week's episode is all about the importance of having allies for visible minorities in the workplace. I discussed extensively with Lovelyn Toyo how newcomers, immigrants, and international students can find allies that would support their careers.
You'll Learn: * How to integrate into the Canadian corporate culture as an immigrant. * How to take a chance on yourself. * What helped Lovelyn’s family to settle effectively as newcomers to Canada. * The importance of kindness. * Skills required to succeed as an immigrant in Canada. * Advice for people planning to relocate to Canada.
To have the most successful and well-rounded industry, the representation of marginalized groups in the industry must improve. To invoke this change, the majority must help, support and advocate for the minority. If engaged correctly, allies hold the power and the key to stimulate positive change
This week's episode is all about the importance of having allies for visible minorities in the workplace. I discussed extensively with Lovelyn Toyo how newcomers, immigrants, and international students can find allies that would support their careers.
This is Part 2 of embracing diversity, equity, and inclusion in the workplace with Chandran Fernando. If you haven't heard Part 1 yet, go back and listen to it. That is the episode right before this because you'd need that for context.
Diversity in the workplace statistics shows that most companies need to desperately consider aspects of inclusivity to create a diverse workforce.
By embracing people’s differences, we can spark innovation, better understand and serve our customers and gain a competitive advantage.
This week's episode is all about embracing diversity, equity, and inclusion in the workplace. I discussed extensively with Chandran Fernando how newcomers, immigrants, and international students can leverage diversity, equity, and inclusion.
You'll Learn: * How organizations can really embrace diversity, equity, and inclusion. * How immigrants can position themselves for career opportunities. * How immigrants can tap into their story. * Skills that immigrants need to position themselves post-pandemic. * How to find mentors and sponsors. * How Chandran bounced back from challenges. * The three types of people you’d encounter in life.
Diversity in the workplace statistics shows that most companies need to desperately consider aspects of inclusivity to create a diverse workforce.
By embracing people’s differences, we can spark innovation, better understand and serve our customers and gain a competitive advantage.
You'll Learn:
- How to deal with racial slurs.
- How to pursue your passion even when you don’t have traditional experience.
- How a twist of fate lead Chandran down the path of human resources.
- How to bet on yourself.
- How to step outside of your comfort zone.
- How the word “diversity & equity” can be used the right way in corporate Canada.
- The importance of good conflicts.
- How to confront racial discrimination effectively.
As the workforce continues to more closely reflect our actual population demographics, diversity and its sibling, inclusion, are becoming even more important to learn about and understand. “Diversity” is shorthand for the mix of employees when it comes to race, gender, ethnicity, sexual orientation, age, and so on, while “inclusion” is making the mix work.
This week's episode is all about speaking up and speaking out for diversity and inclusion. I discussed extensively with Meryl Afrika how newcomers, immigrants, and international students can master the art of speaking up for diversity and inclusion.
For Sam, winning is a choice. A choice he makes hundreds of times a day. Whether it’s setting goals, training, or eating right, Sam makes each decision with his end goal in mind. These tiny decisions separate him from other elite athletes and give him an edge above the competition.
This week's episode is all about how immigrants can strive for more. I discussed extensively with Sam Effah what has helped him to strive for more.
Immigrants fuel a country's economy as both employees, entrepreneurs, and CEOs.
Despite their eventual success, international students often face unique challenges during their career development.
This week's episode is all about how international students can thrive and overcome the challenges they are faced with. I discussed extensively with Temi Odesanya the strategies that helped her to acclimatize and thrive as an international student.
You'll Learn * How to transition from being a student to being a professional. * How to manage workplace bullying. * How to write a compelling resume. * How to land a job as an international student. * How to network effectively. * The practical process of connecting with professionals on LinkedIn. * How to get the best out of a coffee chat. * How to become a data analyst.
This is Part 2 of “Insuring your career with Naveed Irshad.” If you haven't heard Part 1 yet, go back and listen to it. That is the episode right before this because you'd need that for context.
Whether you've been laid off, thinking about a new job, or you're comfortable in the job you have, a career insurance policy can help take some of the weight from your shoulders. You'll have the basics—money, your professional network, your skills, and an escape plan, all taken care of, so you can focus on deciding what you should do next. In today’s episode, you’ll learn about establishing a solid foundation for your career.
This week's episode is all about how newcomers, immigrants, and international students can get to the top of their profession as Naveed did. I discussed extensively with Naveed Irshad the strategies that helped him to get to an executive leadership position at a global company.
Whether you've been laid off, thinking about a new job, or you're comfortable in the job you have, a career insurance policy can help take some of the weight from your shoulders. You'll have the basics—money, your professional network, your skills, and an escape plan, all taken care of, so you can focus on deciding what you should do next. In today’s episode, you’ll learn about establishing a solid foundation for your career.
This week's episode is all about how newcomers, immigrants, and international students can get to the top of their profession as Naveed did. I discussed extensively with Naveed Irshad the strategies that helped him to get to an executive leadership position at a global company.
You'll Learn: * The importance of work experience for students’ career success. * The role fate played in Naveed’s career success. * How to future-proof your career. * The importance of mentorship to career growth. * Why it is important to get outside your comfort zone. * How to move up in your career.
There may come a time in your working life when you decide to change careers. Career changes happen for several reasons, but when they do, there are advantages to being strategic about it. For example, a strategic career change will likely lead to greater job satisfaction. In today’s episode, you’ll learn about why Janey changed her career path.
This week's episode is all about how newcomers, immigrants, and international students can plan their next career move. I discussed extensively with Janey Buzugbe how she strategically made a career switch to an industry she is passionate about.
You'll Learn * The importance of building a diverse network. * How to build relationships with complete strangers. * The importance of understanding Canadian culture and nuances. * How to keep a positive mindset in the face of disappointments. * How to use your “newcomer” label to your advantage. * How to tell your story as a newcomer. * How BIPOC can play an active role in technology. * How to negotiate your worth. * The importance of mentorship to your career success.
When COVID-19 started, I read about the heroic efforts of hundreds of thousands of people, for that, I’m deeply grateful. And I wanted to do my part but I thought, I’m neither a health care professional nor an essential services provider on the front lines.
But then, On June 6, the news of George Floyd’s death filled national headlines and gained further international attention with protests across the world.
About the same time, I read a disturbing report of a study done by YWCA and the University of Toronto called “A Feminist Economic Recovery Plan for Canada.” The report outlined how COVID-19 has disproportionately affected Immigrants, racialized people, and women.
Like the Starfish story, I might not be able to change the entire world, but at least I can change a small part of it, for someone.
This lead me to rekindle a passion for helping newcomers and birth the Freshstart hub which is a platform to provide resources that would enhance immigrants’ success.
Listen to our plans for 2021.
At their very core, dreams are what define you, empower you, and make you happy. Dreams breathe life into everything we do. You can use your dreams to inspire yourself, to shape your life, and to do what makes you come alive.
A vision deep inside that speaks to the very soul. It’s the thing we were born to do. It draws on our talents and gifts. It appeals to our highest ideals. It sparks our feelings of destiny. It is inseparably linked to our purpose in life. The dream starts us on the success journey.
This week's episode is all about how newcomers, immigrants, and international students can relentlessly bring their dreams to life. I discussed extensively with Dr. Thabo Ncube how to find your unique voice and design your roadmap for success.
You'll Learn * How to find your unique voice. * The role mentors play in your journey. * The importance of mentorship in the life of a teenager. * The importance of positive role models. * The importance of education. * How to connect the dots to your purpose. * The importance of service.
This is Part 2 of “Landing a great job with Shawn Huang.” If you haven't heard Part 1 yet, go back and listen to it. That is the episode right before this because you'd need that for context.
Whether you’re just graduating from college or want to change careers, the process of looking for a job without experience can be frustrating.
This week's episode is all about how newcomers, immigrants, and international students land great jobs. I discussed extensively with Shawn Huang strategies that job candidates can use to land a job without Canadian work experience.
Whether you’re just graduating from college or want to change careers, the process of looking for a job without experience can be frustrating.
This week's episode is all about how newcomers, immigrants, and international students land great jobs. I discussed extensively with Shawn Huang strategies that job candidates can use to land a job without Canadian work experience.
You'll Learn: * How to land a great job without Canadian work experience. * How to build quality relationships * How to approach networking the right way * How to go from a full-time job to entrepreneurship
One of the most frustrating aspects of job searching is feeling like you’ve already reached out to everyone you know. Yet, you’re still just as far away from a new role as you were when you started. Self-doubts begin to creep in.
This week's episode is all about how newcomers, immigrants, and international students can stay motivated in a frustrating job hunt. I discussed extensively with Vivian Li strategies that job candidates can use to get their foot in the door.
You'll Learn
- How to stay motivated during a job search
- How to build resilience
- How to reframe your perspective
- The importance of doing a self-reflection
- Why it is important to believe in yourself
- How to use volunteerism to land a good job
- Things that job candidates need to know and do to get their foot in the door
- Strategies to network effectively
- How to craft the right email to connect with someone on LinkedIn
- How to craft your resume even if you have many years of experience from your home country
- How to negotiate your salary
Every decision you make in life has some sort of risk attached. The key to being successful in the long run is taking calculated risks that minimize negatives and maximize positives. Have you mastered taking calculated risks, or are you still working on it?
This week's episode is all about how newcomers, immigrants, and international students can take calculated risks. I discussed extensively with Paul Okundaye how he mastered taking calculated risks.
You'll Learn:
- How to deal with bullying
- How to sharpen your leadership skills from a young age
- The great benefits of extracurricular activities
- The power of goal setting
- How to break into the consulting industry
- How to get interviews at all the top consulting firms
- How students can avoid common mistakes that impede their success
- Things consulting companies look for in candidates
It is important for us to bring to life the best version of ourselves regardless of our limitations.
Being at our best is an evolving process, yet the one true constant is that we improve without settling.
How do you keeping pushing forward when every circumstance is screaming at you to quit?
This week's episode is all about how newcomers, immigrants, and international students can overcome adversity and achieve outstanding success. I discussed extensively with Samra Zafar, strategies that newcomers, immigrants, and international students can adopt to succeed in life.
You'll Learn:
- The power of positive self-talk and self-image
- How to have faith in yourself
- How to create your own definition of success
- How to overcome your fears
- How to turn adversity to success
- The strategies to achieve your goals
Moving to another country is difficult and transitioning from a student to a job market is a major life change.
This transition should not be underestimated – it can often be a very stressful time.
Life-changing events have an impact on human health. Not surprisingly, the loss of a job is listed within the top-10 most stressful life events.
You'll Learn:
- How to get 10 years of work experience within 1 or 2 years
- How to build your own work experience without having traditional work experience
- How to interview with purpose
- Steps to landing a job
- How to get companies to take a chance on you
- How to communicate your value to employers
- How to navigate work after graduation
We live in a world where your presence on the internet is your single greatest asset — and the way we define this asset is by calling it a “personal brand.”
The better your perception, the more likely it is that someone will take you seriously. Those who understand this asset climb the ladder of their industry extraordinarily fast.
This week's episode is all about getting heard in a noisy world and standing out. We discussed extensively how newcomers, immigrants, and international students can reach for bigger opportunities, be seen as more credible, and build an audience.
You'll Learn:
- How to talk about your accomplishments without sounding arrogant
- How to communicate your value as a professional
- How to avoid the comparison trap
- How to build genuine relationships
- The importance of informational interviews
- The importance of strategic planning for career advancement
- Why personal branding matters
- How to brand yourself on LinkedIn
- Why and how Danica advocates for Black Indigenous and People of Color in Tech.
There are a huge number of factors that can contribute to successful and efficient career progression and, like most things in life, there are some aspects that we have no control over and that are hard to predict. That said, there are several really vital things that we can do, which can lead to better career progression, promotions in our work, and successful career ladder climbing.
Today's episode is all about progressing in your career. We discussed extensively how newcomers, immigrants, and international students can advance in their careers and create job security for life.
You'll Learn:
· How to strategically switch industries and career
· How to map out your career plans
· The importance of setting career goals and plans
· The importance of seasonal jobs, co-ops, and internships for students
· How to get out of your comfort zone
· How to develop your leadership skills as a student
· How to be a total person as a student
· How Aziz got into a top MBA program even though his grades didn’t reflect his leadership potential
· The power of your thoughts
· The price Aziz paid to advance his career
· How to network effectively as an introvert
· How to balance your priorities as a student
· The importance of volunteering as a professional..
· How to attract the right people into your life.
· What to do when you are not getting the right opportunity in your organization
· Aziz’s Advice for navigating your career in the pandemic.
The thought of writing a resume intimidates almost anyone. Knowing where to start or what to include is daunting and it can seem like an impossible task.
Today's episode is all about how to write a winning resume that gets you interviews. We discussed extensively how to get a job in an economic downturn.
You'll learn
- The path Alysha took into HR although she doesn’t have a traditional HR degree.
- How to make your resume stand out.
- How to stand out in the job search as a professional newcomer.
- How to be intentional about building networks on LinkedIn.
- The effective way to land an interview during the pandemic.
- How to apply for jobs in a non-traditional way.
When building a business, capital is necessary, and sometimes difficult to come by. But in today's economy, it is possible to build a successful business on a shoestring budget.
Today's episode is all about how Calum built his company from $4000 in savings and hit $4 million in annual revenue within 10-years. We discussed extensively how he went from a shoestring budget to a marketing marvel.
You'll Learn:
• Why Calum moved from Scotland to Canada
• How to transition from being an employee to an entrepreneur
• The twist of fate that turned everything around for Calum
• The pain of entrepreneurship
• What are the good and bad parts of being an entrepreneur especially as an immigrant?
• What it takes to really succeed as an entrepreneur
Today's show is Part 2 of "From Passion to Profit" with Tomi Gbeleyi. If you haven't heard Part 1 yet, go back and listen to it. That is the episode right before this because you'd need that for context.
The truth is that everyone has a passion (or more than one)—even if you don’t yet know what it is.
Many people don’t believe that you can turn what you love into a viable business enterprise. Yes, you can. In fact, the best businesses are built on passion. It just takes some strategic planning and hard work.
Today's episode is all about the surprising truth about how Tomi went from an international student to building a multimillion-dollar Canadian beauty brand. We discussed extensively how Tomi is building a business that matters.
You'll Learn:
- The role association plays in your success.
- How to bootstrap your business.
- How to build a team in a non-traditional way.
- What it really takes to build a multi-million dollar business.
- Why it is important to build a strong brand.
The truth is that everyone has a passion (or more than one)—even if you don’t yet know what it is.
Many people don’t believe that you can turn what you love into a viable business enterprise. Yes, you can. In fact, the best businesses are built on passion. It just takes some strategic planning and hard work.
Today's episode is all about the surprising truth about how Tomi went from an international student to building a multimillion-dollar Canadian beauty brand. We discussed extensively how Tomi is building a business that matters.
On this week's episode, you'll Learn:
• How to build a business that matters
• How to turn your passion into profit
• How to make beauty products for women of color
• How to leverage LinkedIn to land a job
• How to do a targeted job search
• The importance of amplifying the voices of women of color through make-up
Real opportunities don’t come along very often. And when they do, we need to be ready. In fact, it wouldn’t hurt if we are over-prepared.
But the truth is many opportunities are lost before they even have a chance of being won because people don’t look the part, act the part, and speak/write the part.
When in doubt, do more. Go above and beyond.
In this episode, you'll Learn:
• The importance of being flexible
• Why positivity is important
• The power of a smile
• How to transition from survival job to your dream job
• How to drown out the voice of naysayers
• The true meaning of success
• The real source of happiness
• The meaning of organic network
Today's show is the Part 1 of Winning at Work with Rebecca Pang. If you haven't heard Part 1 yet, go back and listen to it. That is the episode right before this because you'd need that for context.
The starting point of winning is with our attitude. It is more of a philosophy than an outcome. Fixating on winning at all costs, and coming first in everything we do, presents impediments.
We win by being the best we can be, focusing on our improvement and recognizing the achievements we make along the way.
Today's episode is all about how to win at work. I discussed extensively with Rebecca Pang what it really mean to win in the workplace.
You'll Learn:
• How Rebecca set herself apart from the crowd
• The right way to network with others
• How to position yourself for career growth
• The role culture plays in the life of an immigrant/newcomer
The starting point of winning is with our attitude. It is more of a philosophy than an outcome. Fixating on winning at all costs, and coming first in everything we do, presents impediments.
We win by being the best we can be, focusing on our improvement and recognizing the achievements we make along the way.
Today's episode is all about how to win at work. I discussed extensively with Rebecca Pang what it really mean to win in the workplace.
You'll Learn:
• The importance of continuous learning
• What it takes to win at work
• How to move from a survival job to your dream job
• How to develop the right mindset
• The true meaning of luck
• The true meaning of career success
Newcomers and immigrants are always bombarded with career advice when they arrive to another country, and the reality is, much of it is conflicting.
In today’s business environment, where companies are becoming increasingly matrixed, it’s hard to tell which way is up.
We all measure success differently - whether it’s the size of our paycheck, becoming a manager or getting a promotion.
I invited Patrick here to share practical strategies that newcomers, and immigrants can adopt to chart the path to their career success. This is one episode you should not miss and share with everyone you love.
You'll Learn:
• The importance of a growth mindset
• How excellence separated Patrick for success
• The power of humility
• The power of a dream
• The role dreams play in our future
• How Patrick positioned himself for his dream job
• Factors that make dreams come true
• Reasons why having a vision is crucial for success
• Why it is important to love without expectations
Dreams, dreams, dreams. We all have them. As we get caught up in the rush of day-to-day, it's easy to ignore that voice in the back of our minds. Today's episode is all about how to launch your dream.
You'll Learn
• Practical tips to launch your dream career and business
• How to pivot from a survival job to your dream job
• How to formulate winning core values
• How excellence positioned Dami for a life-transforming opportunity
• Key things newcomers needs to make their integration into the Canadian society easy
• How you can leverage personal branding to position you for opportunities
• The power of adequate preparation
• Why excellence is a key recipe for career & business success
• How to let go of fear and go for what you really want in life.
Today's episode is all about giving back and how it helps newcomers to get integrated into the Canadian society.
Dr Jamal is the founder and president of Humans for Peace Institution. Dr. Alsharif is a ‘super-volunteer’ in the local community. As a recent immigrant, it’s amazing to see him not only thrive in the Canadian society but also give back to the community and help other newcomers establish themselves.
I invited Dr Jamal here to share his story of how he has used volunteerism to galvanize change.
You'll Learn
• How Dr. Jamal is leaving his mark on this world
• How active community participation changed Dr. Jamal's life
• How to break down cultural barriers
• How education can transform lives
• The power of kindness
• The importance of learning about the indigenous culture
Today's episode is all about breaking boundaries: How newcomers can break the self-limiting beliefs holding them back from going for their dreams.
Nkechi is an Associate Vice President of Technology at TD Bank Group, where she leads all infrastructure delivery needs for the Channels Technology Solutions (CTS) segment portfolio.
Nkechi is also an entrepreneur, author, professional bodybuilder, podcast host and inspirational speaker, whose "You Matter" speech went viral on several motivational platforms, most recently on Goalcast, with over 5M views, and shared over 10,000 times, worldwide. She has a magnetic personality that serves everyone she meets in the most uplifting way.
I invited Nkechi here to share her story of how she got her start in technology and how she has overcome some of the obstacles life has thrown her way. This is one episode you should not miss and share with everyone you love.
Today's episode is all about influencing the education system in underserved communities around the world: How can this be done and where could be the starting point?
Hakeem, a Social Innovator, is the founder and CEO of 1 Million Teachers, a platform that leverages machine learning and artificial intelligence to provide teachers with a solid foundation of basic subjects, ongoing professional development with effective mechanisms in place to mentor, support, and motivate them - helping them to increase their professional capacity thereby enhancing the learning outcomes of their students.
I invited Hakeem Subair here to share his story of how he integrated to Canada as a newcomer and how he started his entrepreneurial journey as a newcomer. This is one episode you don’t want to miss.
Today's episode is all about living a life of service: why it is important and its transforming power.
Dr Rouba is the founder of the Kanata-Carleton Small Business Network, a non-profit organization to help connect and empower small businesses with essential tools, workshops and inspiration to create sustainable jobs in their community. I invited Dr. Rouba here to share her story and how she learned the importance of giving back to the community.
In this episode, you'll hear Dr Rouba's expert advice for getting actively involved in your community. You'll also hear about the magic that happens when people come together to serve others.
Confidence, like a generator, is a power source, but we must create it ourselves internally. In this regard, confidence isn't really a trait, it’s a muscle, and if we train and protect our confidence, it will grow. Listen to today's episode to learn how to grow your self-confidence.
Freshstart podcast was created with one intent in mind: Your Success. Newcomers often meet challenges upon their arrival they never anticipated. These difficulties range from career transition to securing living arrangements, parenting and battling culture shock.
Freshstart podcast aims to equip newcomers with resources to enhance their success by sharing success stories of newcomers, practical tips, insightful contents and advise from real people that you can easily relate with and adopt into your own life.
Listen and comment.