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. Listen, enjoy, and share.

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 Listen, enjoy, and share.

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. Listen, enjoy, and share.

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. Listen, enjoy, and share.