Jase Avec Moi

Hello beautiful people! So this is my last episode for Season 1, and I have the privilege of being interviewed by Fabiola from Episode 5. I felt that it might be appropriate to sit on the other side of the mic for once, so that you can learn more about me!:D It has been a moment of reflection on my journey growing up abroad and trying to settle down, how I went from a career in retail to tech, and on my attempt to document the stories of Africans in the diaspora and the questions that we ask ourselves. I hope you enjoy it :)    03:00 - On why I always center my interviews around the third culture kid (TCK) identity, and whether I identify as a TCK or not 09:00 - On curiosity and the different paths that life takes us on, and how I would have never thought that I would one day work for a tech company - because I wasn’t an engineer   [I don’t really limit myself in what I can explore - Michaella]    14:00 - On how my failures have taught me to be adaptable, and how I almost moved to Kenya   [I wanted to be part of the decision makers - Michaella]    27:00 - On how I accepted an entry level job, with the goal of changing roles once I had my foot in the door  32:15 - On how unconscious bias showed up as I started in my new role, and my attempt to fit in  37:30 - How I chose a mentor to guide me, give me a different perspective of the workplace, and to help my attempt at moving internally  45:00 - Why I started the podcast out of feeling isolated in the workplace, even though I’m not making money from it    [I wanted to find people like me, who are trying to figure it out… We don’t know what we’re doing when we come here - Michaella]    56:00 - Learnings from running a podcast, and what I will explore going forward    [At the core of it, it’s a beautiful story of humanity - Michaella ]    What did you think of the episode? Please share your thoughts with us in the comments, and if you liked it – share it with your friends

Hello beautiful people! I wanted to check in this week, and talk to you about the progress of the podcast, as well as give you a roundup of the best episodes based on the feedback that I have received. I hope you’re staying safe, and you and your families are well.

Cette semaine je parle avec Aissata Sylla, une jeune Ivoirienne qui habite à Montréal depuis maintenant 8 ans. On parle de ce qu’elle a appris en vivant dans plusieurs pays Africains, son amour pour l’Afrique et comment elle le partage dans ses multiples projets, entre autre Korofolie - et l’expérience qu’elle a eue lorsqu’elle est rentrée en Côte d’Ivoire pour y travailler pendant quelques mois. Avec son humour subtile, Aissata vous fera rire tout en partageant son expérience avec candeur :D   01:10 - Aissa s’introduit, nous parle de son enfance, et ce qu’elle a appris des différents déplacements dans sa vie de la Côte d’Ivoire, au Togo, Cameroun, et l'Afrique du Sud.    [Le changement c’est quelque chose qui, avec le temps, ne me fait pas beaucoup peur dans la vie - Aissa]   09:05 - Pourquoi elle a choisi Montréal pour ses études, et ce qui l’a poussée à cofonder la Desautels African Business Initiative - la première conférence sur le monde des affaires en Afrique, organisée par des étudiants, au Canada  26:00 - Ce qui l’a finalement poussée à rester à Montréal au lieu de rentrer 30:00 - Comment elle a profité d'un des avantages de sa compagnie, un programme pour aller en mission à l'étranger, pour faire un projet en Côte d’Ivoire et s’essayer au retour en Afrique    [Ça m’a rappelé que je veux rentrer, que that’s what I’m working towards - Aissa]   38:30 - Les leçons apprises, l’adaptation à un nouveau contexte de travail, et le plaisir d'être chez soi  49:50 - Ce que Korofolie veut dire en Malinké, et l’intention derrière le blog: présenter différentes facettes de l'Afrique   [Écoutons nos instincts au maximum, et puis entourons-nous de personnes qui ressortent le meilleur de nous-mêmes - Aissa]   56:15 - Conseils à l’Aissa d’il y’a 5 ans, la vision des 5 prochaines années, et pourquoi elle a choisi Mansa Aissa comme son nom sur Instagram    [Je ne pense pas que la vie soit faite pour qu’on atteigne tout tout seul, et qu’on prenne toutes nos décisions tout seul sans l’aide de personne - Aissa]   Vous pouvez trouver Aissa sur son blog, Twitter, et Instagram  Suivez-nous aussi sur Facebook, Instagram, et où on trouve les podcasts: Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts et Stitcher Qu’avez-vous pensé de cet épisode? Partagez vos pensées avec nous dans les commentaires, et s’il vous a plu: partagez-le avec vos ami(e)s

Cette semaine, j’ai l’honneur de parler avec Lynda Egnonam Dongo aka Mlle Lynda. Lynda est une Afro-Québécoise, du Togo, qui habite maintenant à Montréal depuis 5 ans. Elle travaille en tant que conseillère senior en crédit, et mène aussi Iloubiya Togo, une organisation à but non-lucratif. C’est aussi une grande passionnée du vin, des voyages, et de la lecture. Dans cet épisode, nous parlons un peu de tout: de l'évolution de nos multiples identités, de la précarité mensuelle des jeunes filles, de l’usage de crédit et de vins. Comme vous pouvez le voir, Lynda a de multiples facettes et j'espère que vous apprécierez de les découvrir :)  1:15 - Lynda s’introduit et nous parle de l’influence que sa grand-mère a eu sur son implication sociale  4:25 - Les objectifs d’Iloubiya, son organisation à but non-lucratif, l’impact de la précarité mensuelle sur les jeunes filles, et l’importance de la sensibilisation sur les règles   Voici la campagne pour des dons de serviettes hygiéniques réutilisables    9:10 - Ses premières impressions de son arrivée au Québec, comment vivre à Montréal lui a fait réaliser qu’elle avait déjà plusieurs identités culturelles, et l'évolution de son identité    [Quand tu quittes ton pays natal pour une autre terre, si tu n’arrives pas à faire ce pays-là une maison, ce sera très difficile pour toi de pouvoir vivre dans cette société - Lynda]   16:13 - Comment elle s’est retrouvée en économie et politique, au lieu de la médecine  19:20 - Sur les discussions politiques et sa relation tumultueuse avec le Togo, et le débat si on rentre ou on reste ici    [Rentrer est une des plus grandes décisions de vie de quelqu’un qui vit en diaspora, et ne doit pas être prise sur l’influence des autres personnes - Lynda]    28:12 - Son travail en tant que conseillère en crédit, ce qu’elle a appris basé sur son expérience personnelle, et un peu de crédit 101 sur l’usage des cartes de crédit    [L’argent de la carte de crédit n’est pas ton argent - Lynda]  *Correction: Lorsque vous utilisez une carte de crédit au Canada, il faut la payer en 21 jours total pour ne pas payer les intérêts sur vos dépenses (et non 21 jours ouvrables comme on le dit dans l'episode).* 35:45 - Sur son amour du vin et de la lecture - et comment distinguer entre un vin de consommation et un vin de conservation   [C’est quoi l’objectif principal de ton vin? Est-ce que tu l'achètes pour de la consommation, ou tu l'achètes pour de la conservation? - Lynda]   Livres mentionnés et à explorer: Fleur du désert et For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Politics    44:55 - La vision des 5 ans, and conseils à la Lynda d’il y’a 5 ans     [“L’espoir c’est vivre” - Lynda]    Vous pouvez trouver Lynda sur son site web, et sur Instagram  Vous pouvez aussi suivre Iloubiya sur Facebook et Instagram  Et finalement, la campagne pour des dons de serviettes hygiéniques réutilisables    Suivez-nous aussi sur Facebook, Instagram, et où on trouve les podcasts: Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts et Stitcher Qu’avez-vous pensé de cet épisode? Partagez vos pensées avec nous dans les commentaires, et s’il vous a plu: partagez-le avec vos ami(e)s

This week I have the honour of speaking with Zuwa Matondo, a son of Africa and sun of Zimbabwe (zu-wa means sun(shine) in the Zimbabwean Shona dialect). I have known Zuwa for the last 12 years, and he has become a big brother to me.    Audacious in nature, Zuwa believes in everyone's ability to create a space for themselves to achieve their unique purpose. Facing his fears despite the possibility of stumbling, he has constantly sought growth outside of his comfort zone having gained experience in corporate law, finance and governance.  In that journey with ups and downs he has worked with various governments, international organizations and within a Global 500 financial company. Zuwa especially has a heart and passion to serve, believing gifts, big or small, are not to be kept but shared in order to uplift others.    Zuwa's desire to pursue an impactful career has been best expressed by his founding of Gov-Enhance Africa, a platform for policy thinkers and governance innovators to create out-of-the-box policy solutions to ultimately help the continent's citizens. I hope this conversation inspires you.   02:00 - Zuwa introduces himself and explains why he doesn’t define himself by his job or career path anymore   [You’re not this circumstance, you’re not this situation. Keep things moving in a positive direction - Zuwa]    07:15 - How active citizen engagement was modeled through his childhood and how it influenced his profound love of Zimbabwe  11:25 - How coming to Montreal, and meeting the greater African community, further affected his Pan-Africanism point of view 16:10 - Leadership lessons from running the McGill African Students Society (MASS) and other student activities  20:40 - Why Zuwa chose policy as his way of serving and the role of the African youth  25:00 - On how we can make policy easier to digest for the everyday person, and how Gov-Enhance was created as a result    [We always want to be at the table, but sometimes you have to build your own table first - Zuwa]   30:00 - On how to start small where you are: at the county, city, province level; and grow from there  32:30 - How law prepared him for governance and policy, and on his experience working in China    [Ambition is climbing the ladder, but purpose is making sure that ladder is on the right wall - Zuwa]    38:00 - The current Covid-19 crisis, and how it’s a current example of the importance of public policy and trusting our governments   40:00 - Lessons learned from starting Gov-Enhance Africa, on building teams and running an organization   45:50 - Message to his younger self and what drives him to keep going when times are hard    [You know and learn by trying, you have to do it, and you can’t be afraid to fail - Zuwa]   You can follow Zuwa on Twitter, and Gov-Enhance Africa on the website and Twitter   What did you think of the episode? Please share your thoughts with us in the comments, and if you liked it – share it with your friends

This week I have the honor of speaking with Clarence Quarcoo, known by most as CQ. I met him while working at Target Canada, and we have remained friends over the last 8 years. He is a global nomad in every sense of the word. Tracing his roots to Ghana, he was born in Kenya and grew up between there and Uganda before relocating to Toronto. Today, he is a Supply Chain Director for a Fortune 500 company. He is also the Co-Founder of The Peppeh Company, a boutique creative branding firm. He is passionate about elevating brands and people, and this comes through our conversation. CQ is one of those relentless optimists, always finding the opportunity in hard times, and I hope this conversation inspires you :) 02:00 - Clarence introduces himself and we share our experience working at Target Canada and launching 120 stores in one year  [You should never be defined by what you do, you should be defined by who you are - CQ] 10:00 - How Clarence learned that Target Canada was closing, and how he approached his next steps: choosing between brand management, management consulting, and internal consulting  [I realized you can learn anything, if you put your heart into it and if you’re committed - CQ] 13:30 - Clarence explains why he chose to do the MBA program that he did, and we compare taking two years off vs. working and studying at the same time 20:40 - On his childhood as a Ghanaian who grew up in Uganda and Kenya, and how he navigates the world with his multiple identities  24:30 - How his parents influenced the way that Clarence approaches work, and how he plans for the future 29:40 - On how Peppeh Co started, and the importance of finding business partners with complementary skills  [Sometimes we say we want things but we are not willing to do what it takes to get them - CQ] 39:00 - The vision for the company,where the naming came from, and his favorite part running Peppeh  46:00 - On building relationships, and identifying the right clients at the right time  [Don’t service today at the expense of tomorrow - CQ] 48:00 - Advice to his younger self and the 5 year plan  [Continue building strong relationships and invest in people that you love - CQ]  Check out The Peppeh Company, you can also find it on Instagram Follow Clarence on his Instagram, Twitter, and Gimme Hot Coco  Finally if you want to stay in touch of all things African podcasts, follow Africapodfest and Paula Rogo’s media company, Kali Media.   What did you think of the episode? Please share your thoughts with us in the comments, and if you liked it – share it with your friends

This week, I'm speaking with Mo, from The More Sibyl Podcast. Mo is a professor of pharmacy, conducts cancer research, and also runs a podcast. She is also Nigerian, and lives in Oklahoma. We talk about culture, how speaking out can not only help you, but can also help others and build community, amongst many other things. This was deep and personal, so grab a seat and tune in to listen to her story. 01:45 - Mo introduces herself as a Nigerian-born, US-educated, Korean-speaking, and wandering intellectual 03:35 - How Mo got into podcasting and how she keeps up the pace with a whooping 93 episodes in 2 years 05:55 - On her curiosity and how it has led her to speak about important life subjects 11:55 - Her experience arriving in the US and how she had adapt to the education system 17:30 - How her frustration working as a pharmacist in the field, led her to becoming a professor [School had taught me about what the drugs did to the body... but not enough about learning why patients didn't take their medications - Mo] 27:55 - The challenges of being a professor and her thoughts on diversity 40:35 - How her love of Korean culture begun, and when she started learning the language 52:50 - Why she uses the tagline "for Blacks and Asians and those who love them" for her podcast, as well as lessons learned [There is a need for people to be real again - Mo] 59:00 - The 5 year vision and the impact Mo hopes to have in the world :) Check out her podcast and writings on Mosibyl.com You can also find her on Instagram What did you think of the episode? Please share your thoughts with us in the comments, and if you liked it – share it with your friends

This week I am speaking with Sophina Kio Lawson, a cybersecurity analyst, and the co-founder of SheSecures.org. We talk about how she discovered the field of security, her first time using computers, and what led her to create an initiative empowering other young women to join her in this field. Tune in :)  01:45 - Sophina introduces herself, and She Secures, her initiative to empower young women interested in cybersecurity 05:00 - How she stumbled into security by following her interests, when she hadn't even used computers before 09:15 - How she got her first job in cybersecurity, and how that led to other opportunities [Most of the time you might not learn on the job, you have to back it up with self-development, trying to learn on your own, and backing it with real life scenarios that the job provides you with - Sophina] 14:10 - How Sophina keeps learning in order to remain on top of where the industry is going [Take what works for you, what's of interest and most important and ignore the rest, to avoid information overload - Sophina] 18:30 - On where she gets information and the people who guided her in the field 23:00 - How being open and honest, not being afraid to say what she wants has led her to today 25:25 - How an initial hackaton meetup She Secures, and the different activities that the organization provides 29:15 - A list of the different opportunities that exist in cybersecurity 30:00 - The biggest challenges in driving the organization and lessons learned [Just keep pushing, and driving as much impact as you can - the right partners will come - Sophina] 35:30 - What she's most proud of and her hopes for the next 5 years 41:50 - Advice to younger people who want to follow a similar path You can follow the She Secures organization on the website, Twitter, and Instagram You can find Sophina on LinkedIn, Instagram,and Twitter If you are in Kenya, you can also explore She Hacks Kenya What did you think of the episode? Please share your thoughts with us in the comments, and if you liked it - share it with your friends :) Follow us on Facebook: Jase avec Moi, and where podcasts are found: Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Play, and Stitcher In the meantime keep striving, keep thriving, and keep shining! Michaella

I hesitated a lot on doing a special episode for Black History Month and/or Women's History Month because 1. they are also every day history, and 2. the show's purpose is to highlight Black people, including women, every day. However, I also recognize that these two months are an opportunity to slow down and reflect, and to recognize amazing people from the past and the present that have contributed to our society. So I will be reflecting on three of the events that I attended in February, and lessons learned. 01:25 - Thoughts on the Advancing Women in STEM initiative by Yes Montreal and some of the feedback from the organizations that tried their recommendations 05:30 - My mini rant on white fragility and how as Black people/POC/minorities, we have to be careful on how we talk about diversity 07:45 - How do we reach people, and how can we practice more empathy all over the board? 08:45 - Reflecting on the money moves and building wealth in the Black community event After fact-checking, the statistics mentioned seem more of a myth (re: money stays in the Black community for 6 hours, vs. other communities), so please use them as a reference story to illustrate the point 11:17 - The culture of convenience and how we have to make adjustments when we want to support small, Black, local businesses 13:35 - On Black professionals in tech, and the story of how I "accidently" became a diversity and inclusion ambassador 15:55 - Our roles as internal change agents in the companies that we work for, and why I strongly believe in recommending other Black people 18:55 - How being part of a network gives me access to funds and resources, as we had discussed in Fabiola's episode 20:20 - What is your personal brand, and does it align with your goals? 21:40 - How can we recognize our privilege, and how we can each do our part to help the next person? 24:00 - Where can you have the most impact with the resources that you have, and where do you find the most fufillment?   The organisations that were mentioned in this episode are: Yes Montreal and the Black Professionals in Tech Network (BPTN) What did you think of the episode? Please share your thoughts with us in the comments, and if you liked it - share it with your friends :) Follow us on Facebook: Jase avec Moi, and where podcasts are found: Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Play, and Stitcher In the meantime keep striving, keep thriving, and keep shining! Michaella 

Cette semaine, je parle avec Reine Kizy qui a récemment lancé sa propre agence de planification de mariage, Reine Prestige Events. Originaire du Gabon, elle a commencé sa carrière dans le secteur bancaire. Après avoir planifié son propre mariage, elle a réalisé qu'elle pouvait le faire professionnellement. Écoutez jusqu'à la fin parce qu'elle partage avec nous vraiment de vrais secrets de la vie!  00:45 - Reine s'introduit et nous parle un peu de son expérience de vie  02:39 - Le déclic qui l'a motivé à vouloir se lancer dans la planification d'évènements, d'un hobby à une entreprise 04:45 - Sur ce qui la passionne le plus dans ce travail 08:00 - La quête de l'équilibre dans sa vie entre la famille et l'entreprise 12:27 - Sa passion pour l'autonomisation des femmes (women empowerment) et l'indépendance financière 17:00 - L'histoire du jeune homme qui lui a fait repenser ce qu'elle faisait de sa vie [Des fois, un seul évènement peut créer le déclic chez toi - Reine] 26:25 - La vision des 5 ans et comment ça va lui donner plus de flexibilité 29:30 - Leçons apprises sur la comparaison et comment cela sème le doute [Quand tu te mets en compétition avec toi même, c'est là que tu te mets la pression: tu te dis non, ce que j'ai fait hier c'est bon, mais demain je dois pousser! - Reine] 32:10 - Comment elle se motive pour continue à pousser quand les temps sont durs [L'être humain, nous sommes faits d'émotions. Donc à chaque fois que tu te mets dans une situation de stress, tu finis par l'adopter - Reine] 34:45 - Sur les sports extrêmes et comment ils vous poussent à vous défier mentalement Vous pouvez trouver Reine Kizy sur Reine Prestige Events sur Facebook, Instagram, et son siteweb Pour revisiter son ancien contenu qui inspire, vous pouvez aussi visitez Reine Inspire Suivez-nous aussi sur Facebook, Instagram, et où on trouve les podcasts: Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts et Stitcher Qu’avez-vous pensé de cet épisode? Partagez vos pensées avec nous dans les commentaires, et s’il vous a plu: partagez-le avec vos ami(e)s

Helloooo beautiful people! This week I am speaking with Naomi Haile, the co-founder of Find Your Tribe and of the Power of Why Podcast. Naomi is a community builder in Ottawa, and she really has a gift for rallying people. She is passionate about walking into your purpose, and after speaking with her, you just feel like you can take on the world. I hope that she inspires you to keep pushing in the direction of your dreams :)  01:30 - Naomi introduces herself, and the work that she's been doing  04:45 - On how she developed such a clear vision of her life 08:45 - The turning point that made Naomi want to delve deeper into her Ethiopian culture 16:45 - How Find Your Tribe was started out of a need to build a community of young professionals, and how she met Samukele Ncube, her co-founder.  19:45 - On the different ways you can pivot your work, and how that led to Inclusively 30:35 - On the Power of Why Podcast and what led Naomi to start it 39:45 - On patience and how we can both practice it better 46:50 - What Naomi enjoys, how she learned to interview, and ask the hard questions 51:45 - Naomi's '5-year plan' and how she realizes it will depend on the systems and habits that she has in place 56:45 - Advice to her younger self [Always remember that yourself in 20 years is relying on you to be smart right now, relying on you to work hard and to be diligent. Hustle in the way that feels right for you - Naomi] You can find Naomi on LinkedIn, her website, Instagram, and Twitter   What did you think of the episode? Please share your thoughts with us in the comments, and if you liked it - share it with your friends :) Follow us on Facebook: Jase avec Moi, and where podcasts are found: Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Play, and Stitcher In the meantime keep striving, keep thriving, and keep shining! Michaella

In this week's episode, we are speaking with Imanzi Kayitare. We chat about his work as a public servant, how he is always involved in some form of community building, and what inspired it all. Enjoy :)   01:45 - Imanzi introduces himself, his background, and how he started being involved in the community  06:25 - Why politics are important, and the value in being involved and navigating these spaces 12:20 - How Imanzi started his career in government and how he kept discovering and growing throughout the years [Start with your community, start with what interests you and you will find plenty of opportunities to get involved - Imanzi] 20:15 - On joining non profit boards, and what he is learning from them  29:00 - How Imanzi's parents' involvement in the Rwandan community led to his own involvement  38:50 - His work with the Casa Foundation Friends of Africa Economic Development Summit, and how that's a way of contributing to the African continent 45:45 - My awkward question on how Imanzi identifies as Rwandan-Canadian and how he embraces both  54:00 - How I'm learning to be Canadian and Imanzi reassuring me that all is well (lol) 58:00 - What keeps him motivated to keep pushing in his endeavours  64:00 - Advice to his younger self and others, as well as his plans for the next couple of years  Since this episode was recorded, Imanzi has now launched Rwandapreneur, a project to amplify Rwandan entrepreneurs. You can also find them on Instagram and Twitter.  If you liked this episode, you might also like Moses's - another Rwandan servant leader interested in politics!  Last but not least, if you are interestered in joining a board of directors, you can visit onBoard Canada   What did you think of the episode? Please share your thoughts with us in the comments, and if you liked it - share it with your friends :) Follow us on Facebook: Jase avec Moi, and where podcasts are found: Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and Google Play In the meantime keep striving, keep thriving, and keep shining! Michaella

Bonjour tout le monde :D Ma petite pause est déjà terminée et je suis ravie d'être de retour avec une interview de Sandra Gasana alias Umuruta. Aujourd'hui, nous discutons comment elle a décidé de se lancer dans sa carrière d'artiste/chanteuse, quand le déclic s'est produit, et de son nouveau projet avec Aly Keita - D'est en Ouest - Partitions d'Afrique.  1:15 - Sandra s'introduit et nous parle de ses débuts en musique 4:50 - Le déclic et quand elle a décidé de recommencer à chanter 8:15 - Le choix d'Umuruta comme son nom d'artiste [Umurutasate - Better than her, what would it look like? Mieux qu’elle, à quoi ça ressemble?] 10:45 - Ses premiers cours de chants et comment cela l'a aidé à avoir confiance en son talent 13:00 - Umuruta nous partage l'expérience de son premier concert et le début de sa collaboration avec Aly Keita  16:15 - La vision derrière "D'est en Ouest: Partitions d'Afrique"  19:20 - Comment ils choisissent leur répertoire et la musique qu'ils interprètent 22:15 - L'idée derrière le Volume II, le spectacle du 14 Février 2020: Voies féministes | D'Est en Ouest: Partitions d'Afrique (vol.II) 25:00 - Ce que Sandra a appris au cours de la dernière année et les belles surprises de cette expérience [Il faut apprendre à se connaitre, et trouver ce qu'on aime vraiment... Ne pas se donner de limites - Umuruta] 31:15 - La vision des 5 ans et leçons apprises :)   Retrouvez Umurata sur Instagram et Facebook. Suivez aussi son nouveau project: D'est en Ouest - Partitions d'Afrique.

Happy New Year!  I cannot believe that we’re in 2020 already! This week, I am speaking with Sarah Somian, a holistic nutritionist and wellness coach, about how to live a life with intention. I met her through Fiona, after she mentioned how positive and inspiring she was. We chat about she got into nutrition from initially wanting to be a doctor, and her love for travel. I hope that this episode inspires you, to go within yourself, as you plan for the new year :) 01:45 - Sarah introduces herself and her many interests 03:00 - How Sarah got into food from wanting to initially be an OBGYN, public health, and studying psychology rather than medicine 14:00 - How we have learned to take life’s challenges to learn the lessons within them 17:30 - On realizing that nutrition could be the main hustle rather than the fun project [Just because you have an interest in something doesn’t mean that you will love working in that - Sarah] 23:30 - Why Michaella cares so much about people do, and how they feel in what they do [Life is short and you want to live it for yourself, and not for anyone else - Sarah] 36:00 - The moment that made Sarah realize it was time to move on, and how she approached it  49:00 - How we can settle intentions that are more flexible and make room for the magic to happen  [Take everyday as a beautiful gift, and an opportunity for you to have fun, to explore, to experience - Sarah]   Check out Deliciously Vibrant to learn more about Sarah’s work. You can also find her on Instagram :)  Workaway, the resource that can help you travel abroad   May 2020 be the year where you have peace, as Landry mentioned ;)   Follow us on Facebook: Jase avec Moi, and where podcasts are found: Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and Google Play What did you think of the episode? Please share your thoughts with us in the comments, and if you liked it - share it with your friends :) In the meantime keep striving, keep thriving, and keep shining!  

La semaine dernière dans la première partie, Akpe et moi avons parlé de notre quête d'identité, de notre volonté de suivre une voie différente de celle de nos diplômes professionnels et de sa participation à la COP 22. Cette semaine, elle nous explique comment elle demande de l’aide aux gens, son travail de tous les jours, et nous parle de son nouveau projet sur comment vivre une vie consciente et payer respect à l’environnement. J’ai hate à ce que vous écoutiez cette deuxième partie! 01:00 – Comment Akpe a approché une négociatrice qui l’avait impressionnée  08:30 - Doit-on toujours faire un suivi quand on rencontre de nouvelles personnes? Comment peut-on faire pour créer des connexions authentiques? [N’ayez pas peur de frapper à la porte des gens, et de leur demander de l’aide – Akpe] 14:00 – Akpe explique comment elle a eu son role, et ce qu’elle fait en tant que consultante en environnement 23:55 – Ce qu’elle trouve dur dans son domaine, et ce qui la motive              27:15– La perte d’une amie lui a fait réalisé que la vie est courte, et qu’il ne fallait pas hésité dans nos projets, d’où son nouveau blog 31:30 – Conseils pour les personnes intéressées en droit et en environnement [Ça c’était un petit non, mais après les oui que j’ai eu… si je m’étais arrêtée je n’aurais pas eu la belle expérience que j’ai eu pendant 3 ans – Akpe] 42:00 – Nos ambitions pour les prochaines 5 années    Retrouvez Akpe sur Twitter et consciouslyawovi pour suivre son parcours Suivez-nous aussi sur Facebook, Instagram, et où on trouve les podcasts: Apple Podcasts, Spotify, et Google Podcasts Qu’avez-vous pensez de cet épisode? Partagez vos pensées avec nous dans les commentaires, et s’il vous a plu - partagez-le avec vos ami(e)s

Cette semaine, je parle avec Akpedze Komassi, et elle partage son expérience avec nous: son parcours de ses études en droit à son travail en tant que consultante en environnement. On parle aussi d'identités et du questionnement que nous avons eu sur ce sujet-là. Akpe explique ce qui l'a poussée à écrire sur l'environnement en Afrique, et ses participations à des conférences comme la COP22 (Conférence de Paris sur le climat). Et dans tout cela, elle m’a aussi posée de bonnes questions :)  01:00 – Akpe s’introduit et nous parle de son profil: sa formation en droit, son travail en environnement, et comment elle combine les deux 06:00 – On partage nos premières expériences au Canada, le choix de langues d'instruction, et le choc culturel 11:10 – La quête de l'identité et une discussion sur nos relations avec nos communautés d'origine 17:15 – Comment Akpe a commencé à chercher des personnes qui avaient étudié le droit, mais faisaient d'autres métiers, et comment cela l’a emmenée à commencer à écrire des articles 22:30 – La pression des diplômes professionnels, et comment ils nous poussent vers des chemins prédéfinis [Je me rassure aussi en disant, j’ai le droit de changer d’avis. Si un jour je veux changer d’avis, je peux le faire – Akpe] 30:00 – Comment je me suis auto-sabotée pour dire que j’avais essayé alors que je savais pas que ce n'était pas la bonne voie  31:35 – Le déclic qui l’a poussée à se décider et à retourner à l’école pour des études en environnement, et sa participation dans la COP22 (Conférence de Paris sur le climat) 35:45 – Où Akpe trouve la confiance d’écrire et de contribuer sur les questions d’environnement en Afrique, à partir de Montréal [Mon défaut, je ne veux pas déranger les gens, parfois j’ai peur de demander… Les fois où je me suis forcée à ne pas penser comme ça, le résultat a été extraordinaire. Et donc aujourd’hui, je n’ai pas peur du non – Akpe] Si vous êtes arrivé(e)s jusqu'ici, merci! J'espère que cette conversation vous a plu et qu'elle vous a laissé matière à réflexion. Rejoignez-nous la semaine prochaine pour en savoir plus sur ce qu'Akpe fait réellement dans son travail quotidien et le nouveau projet sur lequel elle travaille, consciouslyawovi Retrouvez Akpe sur Twitter pour suivre son parcours    Suivez-nous aussi sur Facebook, Instagram, et où on trouve les podcasts: Apple Podcasts, Spotify, et Google Play Qu’avez-vous pensez de cet épisode? Partagez vos pensées avec nous dans les commentaires, et s’il vous a plu - partagez-le avec vos amis

On this episode I speak with Moses Gashirabake. Moses is truly an example of what it means to be a go getter, and to go above and beyond in all that you do. He is very involved in both the Canadian and Rwandan communities on top of his demanding work schedule, and I can't wait for you to hear more about him. I basically want to be like him when I grow up :) *forgive this recording, I was still figuring out my sound* 04:40 - How his experience growing up as a refugee in Kenya influenced his career choice as a lawyer, and his realization that a law degree is a tool 08:50 - The need to share and open up a dialogue, and why following your heart is still the way to go [I knew I wanted to become who I am today, but I really had to seek advice. It's not a destination, it's a constant need. We need to constantly seek knowledge... - Moses] 13:25 - We talk about business law, philanthropy law and what they actually entail. Then what he loves, and finds challenging about his work 20:25 - Moses tells us how he got involved in Canadian community work, and how small actions add up when you do the work you are interested in 29:35 - The work of the Canadian Race Relations Foundation, and how it started with the Japanese Community 36:55 - How the International Rwanda Youth for Development (IRYD) came about after a visit to Rwanda 42:20 - Words of advice and lessons learned from 'failures' [We can use what we have, however little, to get a lot of what we don't have. And along the way we are helping people, we are being happy, we are creating change, inspiring other people and living life to the fullest - Moses] You can Find Moses on LinkedIn, check out his organization IRYD on Facebook and on the website Follow us on Facebook: Jase avec Moi, and where podcasts are found: Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and Google Play What did you think of the episode? Please share your thoughts with us in the comments, and if you liked it - share it with your friends :) In the meantime keep striving, keep thriving, and keep shining! Michaella

Bienvenue à notre premier épisode en Français!!! Où il y’aura un peu de Franglais bien sûr ;) Aujourd’hui on parle avec Hikmath (Hiko) qui a commencé HibisKo. Elle nous parle un peu de son parcours, son arrivée au Canada, son idée avec HibisKo et sa vision pour le futur. 1:15 - Hiko nous parle de son parcours pour arriver jusqu’a Montréal, et comment elle a géré le changement de son programme universitaire 07:15 - Comment HibisKo a commencé tout doucement durant ses études 17:30 - Comment Hiko à su saisir une opportunité pour pouvoir se lancer à temps plein 21:30 - La direction vers les incubateurs pour lui donner les informations qui lui manquaient, et comment elle les a trouvés 26:45 - La définition d’un incubateur et comment ils peuvent nous aider dans nos projets 29:30 - Le besoin de clarifier le “pourquoi” d’Hibisko et la vision redéfinie [Le bien-être c’est vraiment tout, c’est vraiment que les gens se rappellent que le bien être c’est à la fois physique, et à la fois mental... on ne fait pas l’un, et on oublie l’autre- Hiko] 34:45 - L’ expérience qui a été le catalyseur de toute la vision37:00 - Ce a quoi elle s’attendait le moins, et comment elle a apprit à gérer ça  41:25 - Conseils pour les entrepreneurs qui viennent de commencer, et l’Hiko d’il y’a 5 ans  46:40 - Où on peut trouver les produits HibisKo et son produit favori 48: 45 - Le mot de la fin et la philosophie HibisKo [Du moment où on accepte que tu dois apprendre des autres pour grandir, tu ne peux pas les voir comme un obstacle - Hiko] Vous pouvez trouver les produits HibisKo sur le site web, Olly Fresco’s au centre ville, et l’IGA Picard à Brossard Suivez l’aventure HibisKo sur Facebook, et Instagram

In today’s episode, I speak with Fiona, the founder of Anaya Arts. She shares her experience growing up in multiple countries, and her love for art. Then she delves deeper into how she slowly realized she was an artist, and decided to launch a business out of it. I hope it inspires you to discover what you’re passionate about, and to pursue it :) 1:30 - Fiona talks about her childhood, being Kenyan and growing up in Ivory Coast, and how her mother sees the beauty in winter 8:00 - How Fiona started by doodling and the people that encouraged her growth into Anaya Arts 15:20 - The day that Fiona realized Anaya Arts could become a business, and the steps that she took to further develop it by listening to the feedback [Do what you love and the rest will take care of itself - Fiona] 24:00 - Fiona shares a tip on how you can figure out what your passion is 25:30 - What she’s most excited about, as well as how she tackles the challenges that come  36:30 - Where Fiona gets her inspiration from, and advice she would give to other aspiring artists [Believing in someone else’s belief in me: my mom believed in me, and I believed her - then I believed in myself - Fiona]  54:00 - We share last words and our goals for the next coming months  Find Anaya Arts on Instagram, on Facebook, and her online shop and make sure to order in advance for your Christmas shopping

In Part 1 last week, we spoke about who Fabiola was, what drives her, and how a spark was ignited when she arrived in Montreal. For this episode, join us as we learn more about what she does in her day to day life, her work with Oxfam Québec, as well as tips and tricks on how to take care of ourselves. 1:00 - Fabiola explains what it means to be an organizational health consultant, what she does in her day to day, and how it helps her reassess her life 09:30 - How managing the finances of her organization impacted her own relationship with money  11:45 - Living with dyslexia has made her realize we all learn differently, and that she’s not bad with math  15:30 - Her work with youth boards, and how we can leverage the resources of larger organizations to achieve our community goals 20:00 - On the importance of us being involved in all types of spaces, and recognizing that we bring a lot of value  [As we enter new spaces, we can leave the doors open and encourage each other to join] 26:30- Advice and lessons learned 31:00 - Fabiola’s 5 year vision including art and creativity, and how we both made a plan for Year 31

On this episode, I speak with Fabiola Mizero and we had so much fun that we went overtime, and I split the episode in 2. For today, we will talk about Fabiola's background, and how a spark that was ignited once she started volunteering Montreal led her to being very active and creating organizations. 01:15 – Fabiola introduces herself, the countries she's lived in, the different activities that she is involved in from fundraising to consulting - and why she calls herself an activist 05:00 – How a spark was ignited once Fabiola helped at an event, and started wondering what else she could be doing [What are the other things that I’m good at, that I don’t even know? – Fabiola] 10:45 – How the African Student Association at Université de Montreal was created as a response to an incident on campus, and the lack of a safe space 16:45 – How the student activities that Fabiola was involved in led to her getting the jobs she did [ And, when you want something, all the universe conspires in helping you to achieve it. – Paulo Coelho, The Alchemist] 22:00 – On unpaid internships and how they disqualify people immediately, and on the importance of building a network through activities 31:00 – On the importance of mentorship, and how Fabiola grew her relationships organically 35:00 – How Imposter Syndrome and Dyslexia led to moments of doubt, and how Fabiola works to overcome them [There's power in saying that you don't know something, and it allows others as well to say they don't know either – Fabiola] I hope that you enjoyed part 1 of our conversation. Come back next week for Part 2, where we will talk about what she does exactly in her day to day life, her work with Oxfam, as well as tips and tricks on how to take care of ourselves. Check out: AfrikaWaly, COCo – The Centre for Community Organizations Follow Fabiola’s awesome Instagram feed Follow us on Facebook: Jase avec Moi, and where podcasts are found: Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and Google Play What did you think of the episode? Please share your thoughts with us in the comments, and if you liked it - share it with your friends :) [In the meantime keep striving, keep thriving, and keep shining!] Michaella

In this episode, I'm speaking with Landry Kigabiro, also known as Kiga - and I can't wait for you to hear about his experience in music and art, and his transition from being a DJ to producing music. 02:00 - Kiga introduces himself, when he knew he wanted to be a DJ, and why he DJs 11:00 -  The shift into producing to expand his vision and his artistry through Kuruza, and the difference between a beatmaker, a producer, and an executive producer 21:00 - Advice to other artists on how they can differentiate themselves from others 24:00 - On mastering the art of storytelling, and how that led to the creation of a clothing line 29:00 - How him wanting to be a great father, influences how he approaches life today 32:00 - How he finds inspiration when he is stuck, and his goals for the next couple of years 36:00 - Mots de la fin, lessons learned and additional advice: May we all be free and find peace!   Follow Landry on Instagram, Mixcloud, Facebook, Twitter @kigaland, and his party Kuruza on Instagram and Spotify Follow his clothing line, @mwami.co     Follow us on Facebook: Jase avec Moi, and where podcasts are found: Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and Google Play What did you think of the episode? Please share your thoughts with us in the comments, and if you liked it - share it with your friends :) [In the meantime keep striving, keep thriving, and keep shining!] Michaella

Last week in Part 1, Gisele told us about how she got introduced to the world of technology and hackathons. This week, we continue talking about how the need for more Black People in Tech, especially Africans, and how we can claim our space in this industry. 03:30 -  Gisele goes on to talk about having diversity as the core of your company and how hiring people in your network can become a constraint to hiring diverse teams 07:30 - Stepping out to create a community of hackatons in Europe as a Black woman 10:30 - On the need for us to be present in these spaces, including conferences whether we are creating them or joining existing ones 23:00 -  Recommendations on how to get involved in the tech space, i.e. challenge-driven hackathons [You don't have to be the person with the technical skills, you can find partners and build together] 31:00 -  Technology is a tool to resolve problems, everybody can therefore build a tech company!      Follow Gisele on Instagram and Twitter: GiseleIKarekezi Follow us on Facebook: Jase avec Moi, and where podcasts are found: Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and Google Play What did you think of the episode? Please share your thoughts with us in the comments, and if you liked it - share it with your friends :)   [In the meantime keep striving, keep thriving, and keep shining!] Michaella

On this episode I speak with Gisele Karekezi, one of my long time friends and we discuss how she went from a bachelor's degree in Political Science and African Studies to the Technology world. 01:45 - Gisele's initial interest in science and how the Obama election influenced her views on politics and media representation 06:00 -  How she kinda fell into a hackathon to organizing the largest wearables and IoT (internet of things) hackathon. 10:45 - We talk about how you can be in the tech world, without being a software engineer, and how access to information is everything! 12:30 - The importance of having a digital footprint, owning your story, and reaching your audience digitally. 19:00 - How she transitioned from organizing a hackathon into doing it full-time, and how volunteering can help you build your brand and expand your network 23:00 - Your passport matters [Luck is when Preparation Meets Opportunity] 26:00 - Working for early stage startups gives you agency and you can see how your decisions impact the organization directly 29:00 - What motivates and drives her, and how we can take it and try to apply it to an "African" context 35:00 - On the importance of having people say our last names and some of the challenges that Gisele has experienced in the space Tune in next week for Part 2, where Gisele will continue speaking about why we need more Black people, especially Africans, in technology.   Follow Gisele on Instagram and Twitter: GiseleIKarekezi Follow us on Facebook: Jase avec Moi, and where podcasts are found: Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and Google Play. What did you think of the episode? Please share your thoughts with us in the comments, and if you liked it - share it with your friends :)   [In the meantime keep striving, keep thriving, and keep shining!] Michaella

Hello everyone, Jase avec Moi means Chat with Me in Québécois French. In this trailer, I explain why I am starting this podcast and what I hope to achieve with it. At times, it feels lonely to be a young Black woman in Corporate America/Canada. As a third culture kid (TCK), I have learned to analyze and observe the world around me, trying to find the best way to fit in. This podcast is for me, for us to share our experiences, the wins and the losses, to create a community where we are encouraged and empowered to keep pushing for more.  Keep striving, keep thriving, and keep shining! Michaella