The Newcomers Podcast

In today's episode, I'm speaking with Abdullah Sharief, Co-Founder and CMO of Panda Hub, North America's leading mobile car detailing platform. Abdullah studied medicine in Turkey, came to Canada in 2018, and has gone on to build arguably Canada's biggest car care platform. Abdullah is a straight-shooter, and I do appreciate folks like him. Launching Panda Hub with his co-founder, Reza Ahmadi, means they've dealt with Canadian VCs firsthand.His assessment? A lot of them are slow, small-minded, and are always looking for safe bets. And if we stay the same way we are, we're going to be left behind eventually.----------Abdullah and I also chat about: Giving up his medical degree The door-to-door sales experience that changed everything for himStarting a business during COVID Why you shouldn't celebrate your wins too earlyWhat he's hoping Panda Hub looks like by year 10----------Dozie's NotesA few things that struck me as I listened through this week's conversation:Being honest in business is a practical and moral position. In the early years of building a business, when everything is messy and relationships are fragile, honesty and consistency is worth more than any short-term advantage a lie could give you."Extract as much as you can from the opportunity in front of you" seems to be a better framework than goal-setting. Goals are useful, but they also create a scorekeeping mentality where you either hit the number or you didn't. Abdullah approaches it differently. He looks at whatever opportunity exists right now and asks: what's the maximum value I can pull from this? That mindset kept him from stalling when COVID killed his agency and when door-to-door sales hit a ceiling It's forward-looking without being rigid because there's always more value to extract.Survival jobs can be more than placeholders. Abdullah's door-to-door sales job was some experience; commission only, no base salary, and dealing with constant rejection. However, it taught him to connect with strangers, handle "no" without crumbling, and figure out quickly what language makes people trust you enough to buy. Those are skills that have come in handy today as he works on Panda Hub.----------Official Links✅ Connect with Abdullah Sharief on LinkedIn✅ Check out Panda Hub✅ Read our profile on Abdullah ShariefOne AskIf you found this story helpful, please consider sharing it with one immigrant you know.

In today's episode, I'm speaking with Maria Kamila González, the co-founder of Finanzo, a non-profit organization in Toronto that believes in making newcomers financially aware and has impacted the lives of 100,000 immigrants in the US and Canada.Maria is a psychologist by training, which means that when she talks about money, she doesn't start with budgeting or spreadsheets. She starts with your childhood, your parents, and the patterns you inherited from them, as well as the patterns your culture or society drilled into you about money.In her words, "How you treat money is how you treat everything else." Worth pausing on that for a bit, people. ----------Maria and I chat about:The baseline assessment every newcomer should do before anything elseHow banks profit from immigrants' ignorance about how credit worksHow to handle "black tax" and family remittances Why financial planning is best done progressivelyThe Finanzo origin story----------Dozie's NotesA few things that struck me as I listened through this week's conversation:With money, we're often struggling with the money habits we inherited from our parents and our culture's relationship with worthiness. To solve bad money patterns, one needs to tackle these two layers; the family and cultural layer. The family layer, which is what your parents modeled for you as a child, consciously or not. And the cultural layer, which is what colonisation embedded in entire populations about who deserves wealth and who doesn't. Money is tied closely to our identity.Most people know the right financial move. Where it falls apart is actioning it. Most of us already know that high-interest credit card debt isn't great. But we keep collecting those credit cards like the souvenirs we buy at the duty-free shops. This behaviour is why Maria treats financial literacy as therapy.The first step in taking control of your finances is understanding your baseline. Before any financial tool works, you need to understand where you stand, not just financially but psychologically. How much debt do you carry? How much are you sending home? But also: are you afraid of money? Do you feel you deserve wealth? Do you repeat the same financial mistakes every few years?----------Official Links✅ Connect with Maria Kamila González on LinkedIn✅ Check out the Finanzo websiteOne AskIf you found this story helpful, please consider sharing it with one immigrant you know.

In today's episode, I'm chatting with Mustafa Ansari, Director of Marketing of Toronto Business Development Centre (TBDC), who's made it a personal mission to get more immigrants into trucking and the skilled trades.Mustafa moved from Pakistan to Canada in 2018. After completing his master's degree at Smith School of Business, Queens University, he couldn't find a job in his preferred industry; economic development. So he bounced around a few temporary and contract jobs, and eventually took a junior social media position at TBDC just to get his foot in the door. They then handed him two industries that had zero creative marketing and no public appeal (trucking and skilled trades) and told him to go figure it out. And Mustafa went on a roll.----------Mustafa and I chat about: Why some of the most overlooked careers in Canada might be the smartest career choices for immigrantsThe myths that pervade the skilled trades sector Why he disagrees with the perception that skilled trades are for people who couldn't make it elsewhereUsing video game design principles on the TBDC career websiteHis advice to his younger self if he were to make the immigration journey again----------Dozie's NotesA few things that struck me as I listened through this week's conversation:Women are often told these industries aren't for them. The women inside say otherwise. Mustafa and his team at TBDC now run women-focused programs where they invite other women practitioners to come share their stories and possible pathways to joining the industry.Field trips have done wonders for getting people interested. Mustafa got tired of watching people fall asleep or look glazed during bootcamps. Now he gets them talking directly to people in the industry, riding along in the truck, joining "show-me-how-you-do-it" workshops. We need to find a way to make these jobs cool. The public image is costing everyone. People don't realize that their are companies in these industries that are properly organized, have well-run HR departments, and growth paths to executive roles. The perception is stuck in an older era. And until that changes, the talent gap keeps widening.A three to five week course can change everything. You don't need a four-year degree or have tens of thousands of dollars stashed away for tuition. A few weeks of training, pass the test, and you're earning. As an apprentice, you also make money while you learn.----------Official Links✅ Connect with Mustafa Ansari on LinkedIn✅ Read the Starter Guide to Skilled Trades for Newcomers in OntarioOne AskIf you found this story helpful, please consider sharing it with one immigrant you know.

In today's episode, I'm talking with Diana Palmerín Velasco of the Canadian Chamber of Commerce about how we go about rebuilding trust in Canada's immigration system. Diana moved to Canada in 2011 with all the credentials you'd think would make settling into the country easy. She had a PhD and five years of UK work experience. It still took her two years to land her first job. And she only got it because someone she knew referred her.That was almost 15 years ago, and not much has changed. We are still underutilising talent. And now we have a public trust crisis on top of it.----------Diana and I chat about:The communities across Canada that are desperate for people and can't get themHow the Chamber network is advocating for regional immigration strategiesThe global war for talent and why Canada risks being left behindWhy she believes immigrants are being blamed for problems they didn't createThe paradox of selecting for PhDs when most job vacancies require a high school diplomaWhat the business community can do to bring Canadians back on sideWhy immigration success happens at the local community level----------Dozie's NotesA few things that struck me as I listened through this week's conversation:We need to recover public trust before anything else can work. Diana frames this as the foundation. If immigrants land in communities and don't feel welcomed and valued, everything else falls apart. We all just end up retreating into ethnic enclaves which ends up causing more damage to an already fractured society. The work now is about showing Canadians that immigration benefits everyone, not a few regions or employers , but everyone.When Diana spent two years unemployed, she lost. But Canada lost too. Those were two years where she wasn't paying taxes or contributing to the economy. We talk about immigrant resilience like it's a badge of honour. But the question we should be asking is: should it be this hard? And what does it cost us all when talented people are stuck on the sidelines?We've allowed immigrants to be blamed for systemic failures. Diana says the silence from government on this hasn't been helpful. Housing, healthcare, education—Canadians keep pointing to immigrants as the cause. But that isn't exactly true. The youth unemployment piece, for example, is far more complicated than "immigrants took the jobs." AI is eliminating entry-level roles. Trade uncertainty has businesses freezing hiring. None of these issues deserve simple answers, but simple answers are all we keep getting.Immigrants are not a monolith but the Canadian immigration system tends to treat them like they are. It's frustrating to see people assume all immigrants are the same: desperate, penniless, struggling with English. The reality is wildly different. Canada attracts some of the most talented and experienced people. Folks with advanced degrees, global networks, and multinational work experience. The settlement sector, the policy system, the public conversation just seems to collapse all this diversity into one box. And then we wonder why nothing works.---------Official Links✅ Connect with Diana Palmerín Velasco on LinkedInOne AskIf you found this story helpful, please consider sharing it with one immigrant you know.

In today's episode, I'm talking to the brilliant and straight-shooting Ruairi Spillane, who runs Moving2Canada and Outpost Recruitment. Ruairi is one of the OGs when it comes to helping newcomers move to Canada, find jobs, and settle in nicely. So he was a must-have on The Newcomers Podcast. As someone who's been recruiting local and global talent for Canada for over a decade, he's seen what works, what doesn't, and he's not afraid to tell you the difference. And he dished out dollops of that tough love on this episode. ----------Ruairi and I chat about:The red flags that tell him an immigrant is likely to struggle in the job searchThe three risks employers are evaluating you on during the interview processWhy Canadianizing your resume is about the content, not the formatHow to proactively address your immigration pathway in an interview----------Dozie's NotesA few things that struck me as I listened through this week's conversation:"I can do anything" is a red flag, not a selling point. It screams you haven't done the research. Pick one or two job titles that match your skills in Canada and build your resume around those. Spraying and praying something sticks is exhausting. Canadian employers are evaluating three risks you probably aren't addressing. Settlement risk: Will you stay? Immigration risk: Can you stay? Local experience risk: Can you adapt? Ruairi says employers in professional roles aren't hiring for six months. They're investing in training you for three to four years. If your answer to "How long will you be in Canada?" is "I have a two-year work permit, we'll see if we like it," you've just told them you're a flight risk.Refusing to adapt your resume can mean you might struggle to adapt to the role. Ruairi says it's a pattern he's seen over the last 12 years. When he suggests improvements and a candidate says "my resume is fine the way it is" or "I paid someone to edit this so I'm not changing it," he steps away. Time and time again, that response has usually meant the individual might not be exactly willing to adapt to a new way of doing things in a new country. Brutal? Right?----------Official Links✅ Connect with Ruairi Spillane on LinkedIn✅ Check out the Outpost Recruitment Jobs Board✅ Join the 170K+ strong newcomer community on Moving2CanadaOne AskIf you found this story helpful, please consider sharing it with one immigrant you know.

In our first episode of 2026, I'm speaking with Rodrigo Cotrim de Carvalho, a Brazilian food researcher and educator who left Rio de Janeiro for Ottawa, Canada, through the now shuttered Startup Visa program.There's a lot to reflect on here, folks. But I think the one I kept coming back to was the point Rodrigo makes about all that gets lost in translation as you go through the messy process of fitting into your new home.---------------Rodrigo and I also chat about:Feeling like a prisoner while waiting for PR approvalWhat it means to think in Portuguese but converse in EnglishThe gap between what Canadian immigration promises and what it deliversThe impossibility of being mediocre when you've left everything behindThe three F's that immigrants miss the most---------------Dozie's NotesA few things that struck me as I listened through this week's conversation:Your immigration pathway can sometimes become your identity, even when it shouldn't. Rodrigo finds himself introducing himself through his Startup Visa pathway because it's the easiest thing for people to understand. However, that's just how he got here, not who he is. One person should not define how you see a country. It's easier said than done when you're raw and sensitive as a new immigrant. Hold onto that principle though, it does wonders for your mental health.Autonomy is something we immigrants take for granted before we land. The freedom to be yourself without wondering if you're fitting in or getting it right usually disappears once you start over.---------------Official Links✅ Connect with Rodrigo Cotrim de Carvalho on LinkedIn✅ Check out Babette Food Experiences✅ Listen to Rodrigo's Due Tramonti PodcastOne AskIf you found this story helpful, please consider sharing it with one immigrant you know.

In the last episode of 2025, I'm chatting with Deanna Okun-Nachoff, an immigration lawyer and host of the Borderlines Podcast, about where Canada's immigration system stands six months into the Carney government. Any sense of accountability by the government for where we are today with immigration has been largely absent from the raging public debate. The now-infamous “come to study or work, come to stay” messaging was pushed hard at some point. And it worked. Hundreds of thousands of temporary residents moved to Canada with the intention of earning permanent residency. Now, the government can't fulfil those promises for some very obvious reasons. Yet, the blame for everything wrong with the process through which these folks came into the country has landed squarely on their shoulders. The big question I hope this episode helps kickstart is: What kind of nation do we want to build? And are the decisions we make going forward grounded in those values?Deanna believes that whatever path Canada chooses, it must be fundamentally grounded in being upfront, truthful, direct, fair, and accountable.Deanna and I also talk about:The TikTokification of immigration narrativesThe exhausting policy whiplash of the past 20 monthsWhy she thinks public trust has collapsedWhy she thinks good, fair, humane decision making is expensive

In this episode, I'm speaking with Aashrit Parvangada, a historical nerd based in Berlin, and one of the best folks to chat with about geopolitics, nationalism, and immigration.I must say this was a sobering conversation, but also an enlightening one for me. Aashrit is not one to hold back on what he thinks about the world and how geopolitics and history shape most of what we've seen in recent times.And for someone who's lived in Dubai, India, Canada, the United States, Germany, and speaks English, Hindi, Japanese, and German, he has the lived experience to back up his takes.Aashrit and I talk about:Why he thinks the West has always struggled with multiculturalism and diversityWhy he believes the current anti-Indian hate is actually a lesson for IndiansThe “great divergence” that made the West wealthy, and the “great convergence” happening nowWhy the question of a multicultural future belongs to the West, not immigrantsWhat he finds exciting about the world's trajectory

In this episode, I'm chatting with Rania Younes, who grew up as a third-culture kid in Kuwait, attended the American University in Cairo, and built a career in Dubai before ultimately settling in Canada.When Rania's family moved to Canada, she had to stay behind to complete her university studies. However, watching her parents struggle to settle into the country and find their footing meant that when it was time to return, she hesitated.She came over anyway, years later, because watching her siblings integrate gave her hope that Canada could give her kids something she had never had…a place to call home.Then she lost her baby brother in 2010.And processing that loss made Rania realise that she had been mourning an imagined version of herself for the last ten years. A trajectory of a self she should have been. The social circles and friends she had to leave behind to move to Canada.Rania and I chat about:Why children of immigrants grieve belonging while parents grieve statusHow moving from a collectivist to an individualist culture creates frictionWhy understanding matters more than acceptanceThe difference between systemic acceptance and social acceptanceHow civic engagement builds belonging faster than job hunting

In this episode, I'm chatting with Dapo Bankole, a project manager and founder of Mentorfy. His viral TEDx talk, “The Hidden Struggles and Triumphs of Immigrant Professionals in Canada,” is painfully relevant to loads of immigrants looking to settle in Canada.My primary reason for interviewing Dapo on the podcast was to learn the story behind his TEDx talk.The version that includes the number of times he choked up in tears during rehearsals. The version where he describes a 19-year dream that started before he'd even applied for immigration. The version where he describes the day his family had to decide between gas and food.The one where he gets moody, irate, and flares up at the small things.Dapo and I dig into:The moment he realized the struggle of the Canadian immigrant professional is systemicThe day his Nigerian credit card saved him at a Canadian ATMStarting his podcast (The Immigrant Life) to sort out the mess in his own headBuilding Mentorfy to connect immigrant professionals with mentors who get itThe one thing he'd do differently if he were to start over

In this episode, I'm chatting with Precious Kolawole, who moved from Nigeria to Canada through the Shopify Dev Degree program, and has also seen her TEDx talk “How coding can change your life-and the world” go viral.There's a trap that awaits most immigrants. It's subtle, and it sounds like self-awareness: Maybe they won't pick me because of my accent. Maybe I don't belong here. Maybe I should expect less.Precious knows this too well. She describes sitting before a performance review at Shopify, telling herself to calm down, preparing for disappointment despite knowing she'd worked harder than anyone. When her supervisors told her she'd earned the highest rating, she screamed on the call. They paused, confused. Why this reaction? Because she'd already decided she wouldn't get it. “It's very funny how we think,” she says. “We think too much. We're immigrants.”But what makes Precious different is how she reorients herself. She traces it back to coding, specifically, to debugging. When you debug code, errors are problems that always have a solution, that's if you're willing to keep looking.And that mindset has carried into how she approaches her immigration journey in Canada.Precious and I dig into:Leaving behind a medical degree, a Microsoft Nigeria offer, and communities she foundedHow her family stays connected across four countries through mandatory Sunday callsWhy Canada's talent visa puts power in employers' hands, and what that costs the countryThe Nobel Prize effect and the danger of letting success make you comfortable

In this episode, I'm speaking with Bryan McInnis, who moved from the United States to Kampala, Uganda with his wife and two daughters.Every immigrant has felt the tension of the pull towards your people as you settle into the new country. The comfort of shared references, familiar jokes, conversations that don't require any literal or cultural translation.Bryan McInnis was no different. But he and his wife left the United States specifically to give their kids a more robust picture of the world. You can't do that if you only hang out in the expat bubble.And so 6+ months into life in Kampala, Bryan's learning about cultural differences that only show up if you dig in.Bryan and I chat about:What it's like to move the United States to UgandaThe trip that kicked off everythingThe Ugandan entrepreneurial impulse that defies the “Africa is slow” stereotypeWhat it means to raise third-culture childrenWhy he thinks his family is more intentional now than ever

In this episode, I'm speaking with Simon Trevarthen, who leads the Toronto Region Immigrant Employment Council (TRIEC). A big part of their work is helping helping immigrants see their skills through a different lens while helping employers access talent they desperately need.And so the big question I hoped to answer with this episode is one I have been noodling on for a bit, which is:"How do we help more immigrants see that their skills are exponential, not linear? And that the work you did in your home country can apply across multiple industries here.”Simon and I also chat about:The hidden job market and how TRIEC helps immigrants access that pool of opportunitiesHow informational interviews can help you land a job in CanadaWhy networking is non-negotiable for immigrantsWhy work connects to identity and how that complicates the immigrant experience when you have to take a role beneath your qualifications

In this episode, I'm speaking with Aman Chawla, who moved from India to Fredericton, New Brunswick in 2023.Canada wasn't Aman's first choice when he and his wife started considering immigrating. He wanted Ireland. The time-zone difference wasn't much. Flights back home lasted about 13 hours.But the pandemic meant that didn't happen. They also considered Australia. That didn't work out too. So Canada it was. His wife moved over first for an MBA.Aman and their toddler followed along six months after. But this was only possible because a member of parliament stepped in to help with the family reunification.Aman and I chat about:Making Fredericton, New Brunswick homeLanding a job within weeks through preparationWhat four months of unemployment taught himWhy he believes immigrants need to stop complaining and start contributing

In this episode, I'm speaking with Yauhan Mehta, a career coach who's helped 750+ immigrants land jobs they love at global companies.A major part of his success is an interesting approach he takes to career coaching. He won't start coaching with resume work. Instead, he begins with a soul-searching session to identify what people want.Then, if they have the financial means, they can focus on getting their target role. If they don't have savings, they get something quickly that's still somewhat related to their profession or has transferable skills.1 like that. Because more often than not, immigrants take jobs that are not in sync with who they are or their skillset, and then continue doing that for many years.Yauhan and I also chat about:His journey from India to Dubai to CanadaHow he dropped out of engineering and ended up as a career coachWhy he's passionate about helping fellow immigrants get their best jobsHow long it took him to settle somewhat into Canada

In this episode, I'm speaking with Selene Ricart, who moved from Argentina to Canada five years ago.There's this unspoken rule about being the good and perfect immigrant. Don't say too much. Stay in your box. Be grateful. And if you ever step out of line, if you ever start speaking up about stuff you think could be better, someone will curtly remind you to go back and fix your country.And sadly, it happens to immigrant women more often than not. It happened to Selene on LinkedIn.But after five years in Canada, here's Selene's biggest lesson: belonging does take time, but you can't wait until you belong to use your voice to advocate for good. And I agree. Your voice matters. And if you're going to make Canada your home, you need to shape what that home becomes.There's this quote Selene loves that captures this sentiment beautifully: first understanding, then adjustment. As immigrants, we've already done the first part.We've listened. We've observed. We've learned how things work here. We're more empathetic, more adaptable, because we've had to be. Now comes the adjustment part. And that requires you speak up and offer perspectives that come from a place of understanding.That's the advantage you have as someone who's lived in multiple cultures.Selene and I also chat about:Language as identityWhy she always makes pasta from scratchWords as emotion, not just communicationHow immigrating forces us to start thinking of things we took for granted, and more

In this episode, I'm speaking to Rim Aoude, marketer, poet, and all-round amazing human.Rim moved from UAE to Canada as a teenager. And we explore what it means when you're born without a place to call home. Her granddad left Palestine. Her parents were born in Lebanon as refugees. She was then born in UAE with refugee documents. And her kids, they were born Canadian. The first in three generations to be born with citizenship. “It was a huge deal in our family,” she says. She talks about arriving in Canada at 17. Her dad had gotten sick in UAE, and couldn't pay her school fees. Which meant she couldn't certify her high school diploma. She went to Concordia, told them her situation. And they said, “You're Canadian. You have the right to education.” They enrolled her immediately. That's when she knew, she could do well here.But being in Canada did something else. It allowed her to become who she actually was. She became more Palestinian in Canada than she ever was in the Gulf, where saying you're Palestinian wasn't something you advertised.Rim and I also chat about:The lessons she's gathered from living across three countriesWhy her kids speak French but she doesn'tMoving back to Canada from Qatar and starting overHow struggle makes you attached to your identity

In this episode, I'm speaking with Kundan Joshi, Founder and CEO of TheAppLabb & AI Labb, a leading app innovation firm that boasts of clients like Unilever, Samsung, Dell, Suncor, Petro Canada, RBC, TIFF, among others.However, Kundan fell into entrepreneurship by accident. He needed a summer job after first year as his Dad was struggling to find work. He looked for software engineering jobs but couldn't find any.But not having a job wasn't an option as he had to support the family. So Kundan took the best option at the time; sales.And so, door-to-door energy sales. Selling credit cards at the intersection of Yonge and Dundas. Then a mall kiosk selling high-speed internet. He did so well that the owner told him, “You won't make this much money in a year after you graduate. Why go back to school?”But Kundan went back to school. But he also became a franchisee for Rogers, selling high-speed internet at Weston St, London, Ontario.Kundan and I chat about:How failures expose your blind spotsWhy approaching every person you meet without judgement is freeingHis entrepreneurial journey Why every crisis is also an opportunity

In this episode, I'm speaking with Jennifer Aikoroje, host of the Inside Your Finance podcast. Jennifer and I explore what happens when you're too young to grasp the full weight of immigration, when you don't have the words to explain the churning feelings inside you. But then you grow up. You become an immigrant yourself. And suddenly, your parents' impossible choices start to make sense.She talks about that moment when her dad left her in Canada and returned to Nigeria for two more years. As a teenager, she felt like he had abandoned her. Now she gets it. Especially after making sure she secured a job before she moved to the United Kingdom.But we don't only talk about heavy stuff.Jennifer and I also chat about:Taking professional risks when you don't feel readyWhy showing up beats being perfectImmigrating to the UK as an adult and the lessons she learned

In this episode, I'm speaking with Imole Ashogbon, a fractional HR consultant who helps small and mid-sized businesses, executives, and HR teams when they need senior-level HR leadership, without the cost of a full-time executive.Imole and I explore a nagging question I have about Canada's much-talked about productivity decline: Are we declining in productivity because we lack talent OR because our broken systems aren't able to take advantage of all the talent we have seating around in Canada?Imole thinks we've created a strange contradiction. We bring in immigrants through Express Entry (a competitive immigration pathway meant to attract young, educated, upwardly mobile individuals.) Then we act like we're doing them a favor. Like immigration is charity work. It's not.45% of recent immigrants have university degrees but work in jobs that don't require post-secondary education. Which is an absurd waste of talent in my opinion.Imole and I chat about:Why businesses need to culturally integrate just as much as immigrantsWhy immigration is investment, not aidHow to build systems that actually deploy immigrant talentThe misalignment between immigration policy, employment strategy, and economic growth targets

In this episode, I'm speaking with Jerry Onyegide, who built a tax business by accident, just from answering questions about Canadian taxes on Twitter for years.Jerry never intended to formalize his knowledge. He'd see misinformation about Canadian taxes, correct it with detailed explanations, and move on with his day. People stopped arguing and started asking more questions. Eventually someone told him, “You need to formalize this. We don't have anyone in the community who explains taxes this way.”And that's how he launched Tax Whiz. Still, he was surprised by the number of people who booked consultations.Jerry and I discuss common tax mistakes immigrants make. We also explore:How his service differs from traditional tax consultantsThe confusing Canadian tax systemWhy your tax planning needs to start in January instead of May

In this episode, I'm speaking with Roy Ratnavel, a retired financial services executive and the author of the #1 Canadian national bestselling book Prisoner #1056.Roy's philosophy for life seems simple but I think it's a hard one for most of us to adopt: fix yourself before you fix the world. If you're a good husband, you raise good kids. Good households create good communities. Strong communities build strong societies. Strong societies make stronger countries.And I think Canada needs a lot of this at the moment. Everything is ground up, not top down. The government can't control what goes on in your head or within the four walls of your home. No regulation can stop that. So it comes down to individuals—not as a selfish notion, but as a recognition that you need to fix your flaws before pointing out others' shortcomings.Roy spent a decade after arriving in Canada blaming everyone else for his struggles. At 31, he realized he was the problem. He went to war with the man in the mirror, sought therapy for PTSD, and completely changed his approach to life.Roy and I chat about my biggest lessons from reading his book. We also explore:Why the 2010 Winter Olympics was the most Canadian he'd ever feltHow Canada can unite people across differencesWhy we need to lower the barrier but not the barMoral exhibitionism vs. real solutionsLying to yourself versus being honest about mistakes

In this episode, I'm speaking with Nisrine Maktabi, a trauma-informed coach and registered psychotherapist with over a decade of experience supporting newcomers, international students, and multicultural professionals in Canada and globally.Nisrine usually works with newcomers and second-generation immigrants, helping them work through something most immigrants don't recognize as trauma: people-pleasing.Surprised? I was too. She says people-pleasing isn't about being nice or accommodating. It's a survival response called “fawning”—your nervous system's way of keeping you safe by making others happy. For children of immigrants especially, people-pleasing becomes how they survive in families where belonging feels conditional.Conditional on you operating within the rigid rules about behavior, identity, and cultural adherence.Nisrine and I chat about why your nervous system adapts to keep you safe. We also explore: The coconut effect and why strict parenting backfiresCanada's systemic barriers for highly educated newcomersWhy discrimination triggers old wounds, and how to process themHow to connect your children to their roots without imprisoning them

In this episode, I'm speaking with Kristina McPherson, who moved from Jamaica to Canada in 2014, and now runs As Told By Canadian Immigrants, where she's the guide she wishes she had before she moved to Canada.There's a lot to unpack in this episode, but the part I can't stop thinking about is when Kristina talks about “post-immigration stress disorder,” a term she coined to describe what many immigrants go through as they try to settle into their new home. I believe it's also called Ulysses Syndrome.There's the constant anxiety. There's the uncertainty that has you feeling unsettled. There's the mental load of running two parallel tracks—getting through today while worrying if you'll even be here tomorrow.For Kristina, it was LMIA complications. Provincial nominee programs that wouldn't work in time. Express Entry launching with 800-point cutoffs. Submitting her PR application two months before her work permit expired, then living on implied status for months.During that time, Christina lived with two pots, two plates, two glasses. Everything she owned fit in a suitcase. Because if immigration forced her to leave, she wanted it to be easy.Kristina and I chat about the emotional toll of living in limbo for years. We also explore: Living two and a half years out of a suitcaseWhy she started “As Told by Canadian Immigrants”Why we need to put boundaries around how one consumes immigration information on social mediaBeing ‘in-betweeners' caught between cultures

In this episode, I'm speaking with Paul Bakhmut, who moved from Ukraine to Edmonton, Canada 15 years ago as an international student and is now running for mayor. Paul is big on first impressions. And he still remembers his first impression of Edmonton: no bus from the airport to the city. You had to drive or find a cab. Even now, the bus only goes to the train station, not downtown. His vision for Edmonton in two years if he wins? A city that looks and feels alive, not one littered with "for lease" signs. A place that feels safe, not just in police statistics but in actual lived experience. But Paul is practical in how he expects to achieve all these goals. He accepts that Edmonton needs to get more competitive with business taxes and become an open, smart, and fun city that attracts businesses and sets a cultural tone that values what newcomers bring.

Please forward this to ONE friend today and tell them to subscribe here.In this episode, I'm speaking with Keely Cronin, Co-Founder of WorkSpark, where they support professionals who have migrated to Canada as well as anyone looking to make a mid-career transition. One conversation she has over and over again with the folks she coaches is the gap, or more like valley between your qualifications, experience, skillset, and the infamous first survival job most newcomers have to start with in Canada. Keely's point of view is even if you're a deep-sea engineer working at Tim Hortons, you should see that time as valuable Canadian experience. And as roles that immerse you in everyday Canadian culture. Which means you should put them on your resume and frame them as work experience that shows you have soft skills to fit into your potential new job like a glove.In this conversation, Keely and I chat about the soft skills you develop in such jobs. We also explore:* Why she thinks Canada's immigration narrative doesn't match reality* Culture and self-promotion* Why moving countries makes you a baby again (but with baggage)* Why it's a good idea to experience Canada before job hunting ( but them bills don't wait though)Dozie's NotesA few things that stuck with me as I listened through this week's conversation:* During the immigration process, the focus is usually on what the immigrant brings to Canada. However, once we land, the narrative seems to shift to all Canada is giving you. This weird shift seems to be creating an environment where the public doesn't recognize the talent or contributions of immigrants to the economy and the country.* Structural barriers need policy solutions, not resilient individuals. We should celebrate resilience. But…individual resilience and networking can only go so far. Issues like inconsistent credential recognition across provinces and unclear processes need government fixes. * Moving to a new country literally resets you to ground zero. You are like a baby experiencing the world again. Except this time around you carry the burden of your previous life's experiences and expectations. Accept this reality. That's the first step towards turning this mental burden into a strength.Official Links✅ Connect with Keely Cronin on LinkedIn✅ Schedule a free career assessmentOne AskIf you found this story helpful, please forward or share it to one immigrant out there.Or join us as we explore the bitter-sweet world of the immigrant. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thenewcomerspod.com

Please forward this to ONE friend today and tell them to subscribe here.In this episode, I'm speaking with Mher Mardoyan, a career coach who's been helping newcomers to Canada find jobs with a 90%+ success rate.With the rise and rise of AI in job applications, it's beginning to seem like traditional online job applications are a losing game for newcomers to Canada. Because for every job posting, there are thousands of applicants and only a tiny weeny number get called in for interviews. Mher thinks its about 2%.The way out, Mher believes, is the hidden job market. This is where majority of the hiring happens. And the only way to access these opportunities is through networking and referrals.Because people help people they know and trust, not strangers asking for favors.In this conversation, Mher and I chat about his seven-step coaching process. We also explore:* Why applying for jobs should be your last resort, not your first* The importance of celebrating small wins during your job search* His one tip for standing out in today's competitive job market* Why investing in your career pays off faster than waiting for free helpDozie's NotesA few things that stuck with me as I listened through this week's conversation:* Networking is like banking; you first deposit then you withdraw. That someone accepted your connection request on LinkedIn doesn't mean you should ask them if they can help you find a job immediately. I personally think it's cringe. Spend some time investing in the relationship. And in due time, you'll build up enough social credit that allows you ask for help with your job hunt or a referral.* Tell your story. Mher thinks if your story demonstrates how you save employers time, money or increase profit, you'll be in demand. Methinks same too.* Job hunting in today's market is emotionally exhausting. Take breaks. Celebrate small wins. Ask for help.Official Links✅ Connect with Mher Mardoyan on LinkedIn✅ Book a career consultationOne AskIf you found this story helpful, please forward or share it to one immigrant out there.Or join us as we explore the bitter-sweet world of the immigrant. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thenewcomerspod.com

Please forward this to ONE friend today and tell them to subscribe here.In this episode, I am speaking with Ben Joffe, a French native who's lived and worked across Japan, Korea, China, Singapore, Malaysia, Hong Kong, United States, Germany, and currently Portugal. Ben also speaks fluent French, English, Japanese, pretty bad Korean and Chinese, and average Portuguese (thanks to high school Spanish classes).Talk about being a global citizen. This lived experience means Ben has developed a great understanding of how much our default cultural programming defines how we see and interact with the world. Having your default cultural programming turned on is not necessarily a bad thing. However, it's important we recognize that we all have these underlying prompts which influence our language structure, our views on material success, personal relationships, and more. Especially when we move to a new country.In this conversation, Ben and I explore why some cultures lead with “what do you do?” while others consider that question rude. We also chat about:* Local comedy and why it's a great way to understand cultural nuances and codes* Why he's more focused on teaching his kid curiosity than nationality* The phone call that changed his understanding of Korean culture* Why he doesn't identify as an immigrant or expat despite living in 7+ countriesDozie's NotesA few things that stuck with me as I listened through this week's conversation:* The same word can mean different things depending on where you are from. A major barrier to cross-cultural understanding isn't a lack of shared language but the hidden cultural codes behind words. A term like “friendship” or “car” has a completely different meaning in Korea, the U.S, or France. Learn to ask “What do you mean?” whenever possible.* Cultural fluency which then leads to proper integration is an everyday activity. To truly understand a new country or society requires deliberate effort. Learn the language, watch local stand-up comedy, volunteer, engage in local activities. Being a passive observer rarely helps.* Your multicultural identity is additive. A multicultural identity is not about losing a piece of one culture to gain another. Instead, it's you adding new layers to your identity that end up creating a human that's more than the sum of their parts.Official Links✅ Connect with Ben Joffe on LinkedIn✅ Check out Ben's vibe coding course✅ Consider reading The Culture Code by Clotaire RapailleOne AskIf you found this story helpful, please forward or share it to one immigrant out there.Join us as we explore the bitter-sweet world of the immigrant. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thenewcomerspod.com

Please forward this to ONE friend today and tell them to subscribe here.In this episode, I'm speaking with Gabriela Casineanu, author of Job Fairs: How to Get the Most of Your Participation, and founder of Introverts Academy.A big part of why I wanted to chat with Gabriela is because I believe that when you move, you temporarily become an introvert. She did disagree with my theory. She thinks immigrants or newcomers become quiet or withdrawn because when you face a lot of rejection while job hunting, you become shy or afraid to speak up.There's more. And she breaks it down in great detail. But you have to listen to the episode.In this conversation, Gabriela and I chat about detaching your identity from your profession. We also explore:* Why immigration is an opportunity to ask yourself what you really want to do* Her one-word advice for immigrants struggling to integrate* How to focus on what you can control in the job search process* The importance of bringing your “human side” to the job search, not just your diploma or degreeDozie's NotesA few things that stuck with me as I listened through this week's conversation:* A lot of us move physically but don't move mentally. In that case, you really haven't immigrated. Integration starts when you become curious and adopt a beginners mind. That's how you start learning the rules of your new home.* Proactive connection beats passive application. Sending resumes are great but they can only get you so far. Reach out, book informational interviews, volunteer at conferences. These tactics help you build visibility, trust, and launches you into the hidden job market where there's less competition.* "Reframing" is the ultimate immigrant hack. Learn to reframe your challenges. By changing a negative statement (I hate networking) into a curious question (Who can I ask for information?), you alter your energy state, your actions, and the outcomes.Official Links✅ Connect with Gabriela Casineanu on LinkedIn✅ Learn more about Introverts Academy✅ Get the Job Fairs: How to Get the Most of Your Participation book for FREE to learn more about reframingOne AskIf you found this story helpful, please forward or share it to one immigrant out there.Join us as we explore the bitter-sweet world of the immigrant. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thenewcomerspod.com

Please forward this to ONE friend today and tell them to subscribe here.In this episode, I'm speaking to Sweta Regmi, who's lived in Canada for over two decades.Two decades is a while, and Sweta says if she were to compress all she's learned over those years into one piece of advice for new immigrants, it would be "ASK FOR HELP."I agree. I learned this the hard way. And maybe someday I'll tell that story. But yes, ask for help. Don't try to figure it out all on your own. But there are caveats here. As Sweta puts it, "Watch out for folks who who project their own limitations onto you, like someone who tells you that making six figures is impossible."I think the key message Sweta is passing on here is find people who have lived the life you want to live. This isn't about finding someone with a PhD or a fancy title, but someone with relatable, lived experience who can offer genuine guidance.In this conversation, Sweta and I chat about the importance of finding mentors who are honest about their struggles. We also explore:* Why she sees her 25-year journey in Canada as beautiful* The origin story behind her business, TeachnDo* Why she resisted celebrating Canadian holidays at first, and what changed her mind* Why you shouldn't compromise your identity just because you want to fit inDozie's NotesA few things that stuck with me as I listened through this week's conversation:* Not judging anyone, but those little compromises you make to fit in can often backfire. Integrate all right, but don't erode your sense of self in the process. You have a heritage that's beautiful in its own right. * Continuing from above, moving means you can curate the culture you want to uphold or live by. You can choose to discard the negative aspects of your heritage or home culture (like gender biases in Sweta's case) and replace them with the positive elements from your new culture. The result is a new personalized way of life. Sounds utopian, but it's doable.* The source of your advice can make or break you. I would go further to say the folks you speak to within the first two weeks in the country can limit or propel you forward. Official Links✅ Connect with Sweta Regmi on LinkedIn✅ Check out the free career resources on the TeachnDo websiteOne AskIf you found this story helpful, please forward or share it to one immigrant out there.Join us as we explore the bitter-sweet world of the immigrant. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thenewcomerspod.com

Please forward this to ONE friend today and tell them to subscribe here.In this episode, I'm speaking with Shriya Ghate, who moved from India to the UK, back to India, and finally to Canada.Shriya and I explore a theme that's often ignored; the starting line is different for immigrants. And for immigrant women, it's often miles behind everyone else.She talks about being seated at a networking event for women, and as she listens to the challenges faced by women who grew up in Canada, she realizes that before she can even think about networking or getting better at small talk, she has to first figure out the basics:* Where to buy food* How to pay for the bus * How to feel safe in a new placeBut it's not all gloomy. Shriya believes starting over is also a chance to build a new life with some intention. An opportunity to decide who you want to be as a professional and as a person, away from the cultural expectations of your home country.Shriya and I explore the lessons she's gathered from immigrating twice. We also chat about:* The difference between moving as a student vs. a permanent resident.* The psychological burden of the immigrant job search.* Why Canada felt more like home than the UK.* How to find your place in the world after leaving home* Why small talk can be a hurdle for many immigrantsDozie's NotesA few things that stuck with me as I listened through this week's conversation:* Progress compounds but it comes from showing up, fully prepared or not. The feeling of not being ready, of not knowing what to say, or do, or wear can be paralyzing. But they say courage is action in the face of fear. And it's one thing you have to embody as an immigrant. Show up and learn by doing.* Cultural norms around social interactions are real. So give yourself some grace. Is small talk hard? That's okay. Don't beat yourself up about it. But keep an open mind to learning the new social norms or create ways to navigate them.Official Links✅ Connect with Shriya Ghate on LinkedInOne AskIf you found this story helpful, please forward or share it to one immigrant out there.Join us as we explore the bitter-sweet world of the immigrant. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thenewcomerspod.com

Please forward this to ONE friend today and tell them to subscribe here.In this episode, I'm speaking with Stefana Sopco, who moved from Romania to the Netherlands seven years ago. Stefana had never thought of leaving Romania. But after her husband moved to the Netherlands for better job opportunities, she reluctantly followed; with €80 in her pocket and a lot of anxiety. Now, this isn't a zero to hero story. What I loved about Stefana is how she absolutely refuses to romanticize the immigrant experience. She reminds me of Anam Zakaria of Qissa. She talks about the depression, the anxiety, and the identity crisis that comes with trying to find belonging and acceptance in a foreign culture. Like Stefana, maybe we all need to stop trying to fit into boxes that weren't made for us. Because life is usually much better once we accept ourselves—strange accent and all.In this conversation, Stefana and I chat about the impact immigration can have on one's mental health. We also explore:* Why immigrants find it easier to make friends with other immigrants* Accepting herself and its benefits* The permanence of being an in-betweener* The guilt and heartbreak that comes with watching your parents age from afarDozie's NotesA few things that stuck with me as I listened through this week's conversation:* Every immigrant's biggest fear is getting the dreaded call that something has happened to their parents. And then depending on when you last travelled back home to see them, you'll lash yourself with guilt for months or years. * It can be exhausting trying to perform as someone else because you are desperate to fit in. I don't think there's anything like being perfectly integrated, except you are a 4yo kid. * You are never going to fully belong to your new country or the old one. I am not sure, but maybe accepting that is the best thing we can do for ourselves. That liminal space is not a problem to solve. It's an identity that we'll carry forever.Official Links✅ Connect with Stefana Sopco on LinkedInOne AskIf you found this story helpful, please forward or share it to one immigrant out there.Join us as we explore the bitter-sweet world of the immigrant. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thenewcomerspod.com

Please forward this to ONE friend today and tell them to subscribe here.In this episode, I'm speaking with Neel Parekh, the Founder and CEO of MaidThis® & MaidThis® Franchise, which helps homeowners and short-term rental hosts (Airbnb, VRBO, etc.) with their cleaner needs. I'm usually curious about two kinds of immigrants; second-gen immigrants because I am trying to understand some of the challenges my kids might face, and immigrants who migrate from the Global West to the Global South. Neel ticks both boxes. His parents moved from India to the United States in the early 80s. And then after seven years of backpacking and running his cleaning business remotely, Neel decided to settle down in Rwanda for a bit. Neel and I chat about the differences between the Western “go go go” culture and Rwanda's pace where nothing feels as urgent. We also explore:* Falling in love with Rwanda* Building community as an immigrant* Growing up in an immigrant household and now understanding his parents better* Why he's thinking of splitting his time between East Africa and Los AngelesDozie's NotesA few things that stuck with me as I listened through this week's conversation:* I wish I spent more time trying to learn or at least have an idea of Canada's communication style before I moved. Neel talks about moving from America's low-context culture (direct, literal communication) to Rwanda's high-context culture (implied meanings, indirect answers) and the friction it came with. I suspect that a lot of the frustrations we encounter early-on in a new country are usually miscommunication issues.* Maybe it's time to accept that most people are never going to understand the immigrant experience until they've lived through it. I'm saying this because part of why I launched this publication was to also help non-immigrants sorta understand their immigrant neighbours better. But I guess experience is the best teacher in most situations, immigration included.Official Links✅ Connect with Neel Parekh on Twitter✅ Chat with Neel about franchising One AskIf you found this story helpful, please forward or share it to one immigrant out there.Join us as we explore the bitter-sweet world of the immigrant. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thenewcomerspod.com

Please forward this to ONE friend today and tell them to subscribe here.In this episode, I'm speaking with Miracle Inameti-Archibong, who moved from Nigeria to the United Kingdom 18 years ago.We don't often talk about the costs of immigration. And by costs here, I don't mean the financial costs (I think we all have a fair idea of that most times and we somehow hope the move means that won't matter in the long run).I'm talking about realizing that your kids will never had what you had growing up; the beautiful chaos of Christmas mornings with cousins everywhere, the ability to drop by without notice at your sister's home; the ability to just exist within family without having to organize, plan, or explain yourself.This conversation with Miracle left me with more questions than answers.In this conversation, Miracle and I chat about the cultural code-switching that never stops. We also explore:* How she found her voice in the corporate world* Parenting in-between cultures* The subtle ways cultural misunderstandings knock your confidence* The difference between existing and thrivingDozie's Notes A few things that stuck with me as I listened through this week's conversation:* Overt racism is bad, but it's not the thing that usually wears immigrants down. It's the small misunderstandings, the cultural references you miss, the microaggressions, the fact that you have to explain your background over and over again, and the subtle signals that you don't quite belong here.* The biggest cost of immigration, especially for those of us who grew up in collective cultures, is how moving across countries breaks down family connections across generations. * The biggest paradox of being an immigrant is you can succeed by conventional metrics (career, financial stability, opportunities for your kids) while simultaneously losing something irreplaceable (extended family connections, cultural belonging, community rituals).Official Links✅ Connect with Miracle Inameti-Archibong on LinkedIn✅ Book Miracle to come speak about all things SEO and digital marketingOne AskIf you found this story helpful, please forward or share it to one immigrant out there.Join us as we explore the bitter-sweet world of the immigrant. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thenewcomerspod.com

Please forward this to ONE friend today and tell them to subscribe here.In this episode, I'm speaking with Anam Zakaria and Haroon Khalid of Qissa, one of the most interesting immigrant storytelling platforms I have come across in recent months.Qissa's flagship project, "Driving Canada," started as casual conversations with Uber drivers as Anam and Haroon navigated doctors appointments, daycare, and all the stuff new parents have to deal with. Almost all the drivers were immigrants. Almost all were overqualified. Almost all had stories about the systemic barriers that shoved them into the gig economy.The shitty thing about all this is you sometimes see people term this struggle as a "rite of passage." We call it resilience. And instead of pushing for policy changes that fix the system, we celebrate the immigrants ability to survive it. With no care for its toll on the individuals, their loved ones, their community, and Canada.In this conversation, Anam, Haroon, and I explore the cost of resilience. We also chat about:* Why most immigrant settlement programs serve yesterday's immigrants, not today's* Why we need to fix the system instead of glorifying the struggle* Launching Qissa* The power of storiesOfficial Links✅ Connect with Anam Zakaria on LinkedIn✅ Connect with Haroon Khalid on LinkedIn✅ Read the Driving Canada ReportOne AskIf you found this story helpful, please forward or share it to one immigrant out there.Join us as we explore the bittersweet world of the immigrant. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thenewcomerspod.com

Please forward this to ONE friend today and tell them to subscribe here.In this episode, I'm speaking with Robert Ndoping and Oumar Dicko of Windmill Microlending, Canada. When Robert and Oumar tell you that Windmill has funded over 14,000 skilled immigrants to get re-credentialed in their professions, with an average loan size of $10,183, totaling nearly $146 million in approved loans, and a repayment rate of 95%…You'll probably go, ‘Wow, that's impressive.'When you hear the story of the ENT surgeon driving Uber in Toronto while kids wait months for surgery, you realize that it isn't just impressive, it's necessary. There are a lot of things Canada does right about immigrant settlement. But there are also a lot of areas in which we could do better. The skilled immigrant credential recognition is one of those areas. And Windmill Microlending is proof that Canada wins when we make sure skilled immigrants can contribute to the economy as fast as possible. Because for every 10,000 clients Windmill empowers, an additional $3.6 billion in lifetime tax revenue is generated for Canada.In this conversation, Oumar, Robert, and I chat about Windmill Microlending's loan model. We also explore:* Walking the talk when it comes to skilled immigrant settlement* Why the work is personal for both of them* The human impact of their work* Why we need to move the immigrant conversation from “immigrant struggling” to “untapped potential”* Why immigrants don't need savingOfficial Links✅ Connect with Robert Ndoping on LinkedIn✅ Connect with Oumar Dicko on LinkedIn✅ Read Windmill's Impact Report ⤵One AskIf you found this story helpful, please forward or share it to one immigrant out there.Join us as we explore the bitter-sweet world of the immigrant. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thenewcomerspod.com

Please forward this to ONE friend today and tell them to subscribe here.In this episode, I'm speaking with O'Nell Agossa, who moved to Canada from Benin as a nine year old. At 13, a lady on a bus told O'Nell to “go back to where you're coming from.” But he's refused to give that experience the power to define who he was or who he has grown up to be. Instead, he thinks that the confusion others feel is not your problem to solve. You don't owe anyone an explanation of who you are. You don't need to fit into their narrow categorizations that make them feel comfortable. You just need to be.In this conversation, O'Nell and I explore curiosity as a way of life and why he's writing a book about the trait. We also chat about:* Why the immigrant experience is about hope and renewal* Immigrants as bridges between worlds* The weight immigrant parents carry* Why you don't need to ask permission to belongOfficial Links✅ Connect with O'Nell Agossa on LinkedIn✅ Follow along as he prepares to publish his book, Curiosity and IOne AskIf you found this story helpful, please forward or share it to one immigrant out there.Join us as we explore the bitter-sweet world of the immigrant. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thenewcomerspod.com

Please forward this to ONE friend today and tell them to subscribe here.In this episode, I'm speaking with Kelly Boyi, who left Canada for the United States after 12 years of building a life here.First off, this isn't a "Canada bad, America good" story. Kelly spent over a decade in Canada. His entire family lives here. He credits Canada for giving him his first job, first relationship, and first house.But when you're an ambitious individual watching the best minds from UofT and Waterloo migrate south, when you hear that you could get better pay while working with folks building potential rocket ships, you would be forgiven for getting a tad introspective.I also like that Kelly didn't mince words about our flaws as a country. Look, Canada is a fantastic country. But we aren't moving forward if we don't get good at having uncomfortable conversations about the kind of country we want to build for those coming after us.In this conversation, Kelly and I explore why loving Canada isn't enough to stay anymore. We also chat about:* The grant system's interesting “apply early” secret* Why Canadian monopolies and bureaucracy are stifling innovation and ambition* The famous Silicon Valley “energy”* Why you can't afford to be complacent as an immigrantOfficial Links✅ Connect with Kelly Boyi on LinkedIn✅ Speak to Kelly for career coaching and other related servicesOne AskIf you found this story helpful, please forward or share it to one immigrant out there.Join us as we explore the bitter-sweet world of the immigrant. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thenewcomerspod.com

Please forward this to ONE friend today and tell them to subscribe here.In this episode, I am speaking with Ritika Saraswat, Founder & CEO of Re-Defined, a members-only community for international students by international students. The past 18 months haven't been exactly fair to international students in Canada. They've been blamed, labelled, and threatened. They've had to deal with policy changes, uncertainty, and expiring permits. And while all that sounds depressing, Ritika has a refreshing take on all the chaos: Come to Canada. Learn. Make new friends. Build connections. And if you get the chance to stay and contribute, great. If not, take what you've learned back home. I know this is easier said than done. You probably have nothing to go back to back home. You probably can't even afford to relocate back home. But where there's a will, there sometimes is a way.In this conversation, Ritika and I chat about why international students need to focus on what they control. We also explore:* How to get feedback from your Canadian colleagues or counterparts* Why playing the long game matters more when planning to immigrate* Why you can't afford feeling like a victim as an immigrant* What she's learned after seven years in Canada* Why she thinks immigrants have a responsibility to come prepared, do their research, and contribute to their new societyOfficial Links✅ Connect with Ritika Saraswat on LinkedIn✅ Join the Re-Defined communityOne AskIf you found this story helpful, please forward or share it to one immigrant out there.Join us as we explore the bitter-sweet world of the immigrant. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thenewcomerspod.com

Please forward this to ONE friend today and tell them to subscribe here.In this episode, I'm speaking to Aishwarya Khanduja, who moved from India to Canada at age 12, learned English watching Hannah Montana during her first Canadian summer, and has permanently left Canada to build her venture fund in New York.This conversation left me with a bittersweet feel. Canada keeps losing its best and brightest to the south of the border. It sucks because we aren't just losing talent. We are losing the future.And it's a worrying trend that seems to be accelerating by the day. We talk a big game about immigration being a talent pipeline. But it means nothing if the immigrants end up leaving for other countries because their chances of succeeding are higher outside Canada. As Aishwarya puts it, "Canada doesn't have the resources for me to thrive." This is what the Canadian brain drain looks like up close.In this conversation, Aishwarya and I chat about what Canada loses when builders leave. We also explore:* How immigration helps build anti-fragile societies* What you need to qualify for the O-1 visa * Why she's all for building a life she doesn't have to escape from* Watching her parents sacrifice everything and start from zeroOfficial Links✅ Connect with Aishwarya Khanduja on LinkedIn✅ Follow Aishwarya Khanduja on Twitter✅ Explore her personal blog✅ Check out what she's building with AnalogueOne AskIf you found this story helpful, please forward or share it to one immigrant out there.Join us as we explore the bitter-sweet world of the immigrant. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thenewcomerspod.com

Please forward this to ONE friend today and tell them to subscribe here.In this episode, I'm speaking with Oluwaseun Ayebiwo, who moved from Lagos, Nigeria to Halifax, Canada with a ready-made community. Most immigrants wait till they get to Canada before they start building a community. Taking this approach means they start with zero social capital, they have no one to turn to when trying to understand the unspoken cultural rules, and they find integrating slow and frustrating. Well, Oluwaseun rolls different. The dude connected with 40+ people who were all moving to Nova Scotia from Lagos at the same time. They planned their trips together, some even flew on the same aircraft, and they've been supporting each other ever since. What started as finding "one person and the other" quickly became a coordinated movement of 40+ people from Lagos, all planning their new lives together. That community has grown to over 700 people over the years. In this conversation, Oluwaseun and I explore his community-first approach to immigration. We also chat about:* How their success attracted and transformed Halifax's existing Nigerian community* Finding people in your new country who share your values and goals* What it means to serve on IRCC's Advisory Council for newcomers* Why Halifax is a geographical hidden gem for NigeriansOfficial Links✅ Connect with Oluwaseun Ayebiwo on LinkedInOne AskIf you found this story helpful, please forward or share it to one immigrant out there.Join us as we explore the bitter-sweet world of the immigrant. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thenewcomerspod.com

Please forward this to ONE friend today and tell them to subscribe here.In this episode, I'm speaking with Saïd M'Dahoma, neuroscientist turned pastry chef.For reasons I can understand, people love to flatten the immigrant experience into simple or monolithic narratives. Be one thing so we can understand you.Saïd's story pushes back against this oversimplification. Growing up in Paris as the son of Comorian parents, he had to be French, full stop. His parents' heritage was something to minimize, not celebrate. Integration meant a silent erasure.Then he immigrated to Canada. “I think I am French. I am Comorian. I am Canadian,” Saïd says. “Sometimes people ask you to choose, like, what are you? Which one are you out of the three? I think I'm all of them at the same time.”Saïd's story isn't just about Canadian multiculturalism being nice in practice. It's a story of what happens when we allow individuals to accept the various parts of themselves, to be complex, and luxuriate in all the nuances that come with being human.In this conversation, Saïd and I chat about how long it takes to feel like you've truly settled into your new country. We also explore:* His journey from a PhD holder in neuroscience to pastry chef* Why food is one of best ways to pass on cultural heritage* The immigrant as a monolith* Why the immigrant experience resists categorizationOfficial Links✅ Connect with Saïd M'Dahoma on LinkedIn✅ Learn how to make pastry the French wayOne AskIf you found this story helpful, please forward or share it to one immigrant out there.Join us as we explore the bitter-sweet world of the immigrant. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thenewcomerspod.com

Hello, I'd really like to grow this email list. If you enjoy this newsletter, it would mean the world to Jola and I if you encouraged one friend/fellow immigrant/colleague to subscribe…Very likely, the the only thing you will get in return is warm fuzzy feelings, and if I can attribute it to you, I'd personally send you a thank you email.Join us as we explore the bitter-sweet world of the immigrant.In this episode, I'm speaking with Victoria Patenaude, a communications coach who helps immigrants find their voice. Literally.For most immigrants, especially the non-native English speakers, they think the reason they struggle to express themselves clearly is due to a limited vocabulary, poor grammar, or a bad accent. Well, Victoria thinks otherwise.And she's not just talking as a coach, she has the lived experience. Victoria grew up constantly code-switching between Polish, Greek, and English cultural contexts. By her twenties, she was what she calls “a very careful person.”That hypervigilance followed her through university and through moves between Quebec and the United States. Even as a successful professional with advanced degrees, she still carried the emotional burden of never feeling quite confident in her communication. Her breakthrough came when she realized confidence isn't something you earn through perfect pronunciation. It's a choice you can make right now, regardless of your skill level. Now she helps other immigrants break free from the same patterns.In this conversation, Victoria and I chat about a teenage years embarrassment that led years of anxiety whenever she tried to speak French. We also explore:* How we pass on our immigration-induced anxiety to our kids* The science behind her method of coaching* Practical tips you can try out for building language confidence* And why we need to stop assuming negative intent when we have cultural misunderstandingsOfficial Links✅ Connect with Victoria Patenaude on LinkedIn✅ Work with Victoria on your communication skills✅ Check out her TEDx talk on Why We're Connected To The Internet, But Not Each OtherOne AskIf you found this story helpful, please forward or share it to one immigrant out there. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thenewcomerspod.com

Hello, I'd really like to grow this email list. If you enjoy this newsletter, it would mean the world to Jola and I if you encouraged one friend/fellow immigrant/colleague to subscribe…Very likely, the the only thing you will get in return is warm fuzzy feelings, and if I can attribute it to you, I'd personally send you a thank you email.Join us as we explore the bitter-sweet world of the immigrant.In this episode, I'm speaking with the amazing journo, Alyanna Denise Chua, who moved from Philippines to Canada in 2019 to study at University of Toronto.One of my biggest gripes with the dominant immigrant conversation is we often seem to disregard the human in the loop. Policies change overnight (for good reasons they say), and suddenly folks who have followed all the rules find themselves stranded.That is Alyanna's story. She moved to Canada, paid 10X the fees of domestic students to study, excelled academically, gained Canadian work experience, and integrated into the country.She did everything the immigration system told her to do. But by the time she graduated, Canada had moved the goalposts. The same pathway that led to permanent residency now led to... uncertainty.In this conversation, Alyanna and I explore what it felt like to watch the rules change. We also explore:* Missing home while building a new life* Immigrating as a student vs. a PR* Why Canada's rhetoric shifted from “we want you to stay” to “study doesn't guarantee residency”* The unfairness of retroactive rule changes* How Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie inspired her journalism careerOfficial Links✅ Connect with Alyanna Denise Chua on LinkedIn✅ Read her piece on The Walrus; Pay Tuition, Follow the Rules, Then Pack Your BagsOne AskIf you found this story helpful, please forward or share it to one immigrant out there. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thenewcomerspod.com

Hello, I'd really like to grow this email list. If you enjoy this newsletter, it would mean the world to Jola and I if you encouraged one friend/fellow immigrant/colleague to subscribe…Very likely, the the only thing you will get in return is warm fuzzy feelings, and if I can attribute it to you, I'd personally send you a thank you email.Join us as we explore the bitter-sweet world of the immigrant.In this episode, I'm speaking with Gabriela Gutierrez, who's lived in seven cities across four countries.Gabriela believes that the gift of immigration is the opportunity to become a better version of yourself for the world. A kinder human. A more resilient human. An individual who's a bridge between cultures.I personally think being an immigrant is a superpower. But Back to Gabriela. This philosophy has guided her as she's journeyed from Honduras to Spain to Canada and now the United States.And it's why she insists that before you move to a new country, you should “Connect with your purpose. If you're thinking about immigrating, why? What motivates you to be there? How do you see yourself in five years in that new country, in that new city?” In this conversation, Gabriela and I chat about watching her MBA classmates do great things while she was making minimum wage in Canada. We also explore:* Why she's kept her minimum wage stub 10 years later* How to deal with immigrant imposter syndrome * Why she thinks immigration is a net-positive to the world* Why focusing on what you control is the best thing you can do for yourself while settling into your new countryOfficial Links✅ Connect with Gabriela Gutierrez on LinkedIn✅ Sign up for Gabriela's Personal Growth newsletterOne AskIf you found this story helpful, please forward or share it to one immigrant out there. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thenewcomerspod.com

Hello, I'd really like to grow this email list. If you enjoy this newsletter, it would mean the world to Jola and I if you encouraged one friend/fellow immigrant/colleague to subscribe…Very likely, the the only thing you will get in return is warm fuzzy feelings, and if I can attribute it to you, I'd personally send you a thank you email.Join us as we explore the bitter-sweet world of the immigrant.In this episode, I'm speaking with the beautiful ball of positive light called Dennis Agbegha, who resigned from Big Oil and moved to Canada.Dennis is what you would call a super-connector. And while many folks in his shoes would probably worry about not being accepted, Dennis approaches it differently. When he walks into any room, he tries to answer one question, “How can I love and serve these people?”And in his experience, people start seeing him as “one of us” more often than not. I don't think this is naive optimism or toxic positivity. Dennis had to deal with a divorce while settling into Canada, went through the usual immigrant struggles, and dealt with the feeling of being the “other.” But he's refused to carry that as a burden.His approach is simple. Focus on the universal human fundamentals; love, kindness, and service. And let everything else be background noise. The result is he's never met a room he couldn't eventually belong in.In this conversation, Dennis opens up about dealing with a divorce while settling in. We also chat about:* The back-and-forth years and what they taught him* Why cultural obedience can limit immigrants* How to judge beliefs by usefulness, not absolute truth* Why the “spaces weren't made for us” mindset can trap you* Why settling is more than just a change of locationOfficial Links✅ Connect with Dennis Agbegha on LinkedInOne AskIf you found this story helpful, please forward or share it to one immigrant out there. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thenewcomerspod.com

Hello, I'd really like to grow this email list. If you enjoy this newsletter, it would mean the world to Jola and I if you encouraged one friend/fellow immigrant/colleague to subscribe…Very likely, the the only thing you will get in return is warm fuzzy feelings, and if I can attribute it to you, I'd personally send you a thank you email.Join us as we explore the bitter-sweet world of the immigrant.In this episode, I'm speaking with Chris Friesen, Chief Operating Officer at Immigrant Services Society of BC (ISSofBC) about Canada's need for a long-term vision for immigration and why the current system is failing everyone involved. Chris calls Canada a "giant global cohesion experiment." And despite all the challenges that come with our immigration approach in recent years, he thinks we're doing a lot of things well that other countries envy. The challenge now is getting past the current moment where everything feels "grindy." His preferred approach to the immigration conversation? A all-hands-on deck Canadian conversation about immigration. Not screaming or accusing each other on social media. Not electoral soundbites (we recorded this episode before the election). But an informed discussion that considers all the nuances about the kind of country we want to be. The solutions Chris proposes aren't complicated, but require political will. A 10-year population growth strategy. National credential recognition. Better success indicators. Proactive rather than reactive planning. And most importantly, rebuilding public trust by communicating what immigration actually delivers for Canada.In this conversation, Chris and I chat about the economic realities of Canada's population numbers. We also explore:* Moving beyond “us vs. them” to inclusive nation building* Why we need a national vision for immigration beyond reactive policies* How the temporary resident system became a runaway train* The difference between nation building and short-term labor market needs* Building welcoming communities that work for everyoneOfficial Links✅ Connect with Chris Friesen on LinkedIn✅ Newcomer in BC? Check out ISSofBC immigrant settlement servicesOne AskIf you found this story helpful, please forward or share it to one immigrant out there. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thenewcomerspod.com

Hello, I'd really like to grow this email list. If you enjoy this newsletter, it would mean the world to Jola and I if you encouraged one friend/fellow immigrant/colleague to subscribe…Very likely, the the only thing you will get in return is warm fuzzy feelings, and if I can attribute it to you, I'd personally send you a thank you email.Join us as we explore the bitter-sweet world of the immigrant.In this emotional episode, I'm speaking with Stephanie Kubi, who went from having her entire life planned out to becoming undocumented overnight. All this happened while she was six months pregnant with her first kid.Stephanie had done everything by the book. “I had applied for renewal. Nobody got back to me. I had applied for restoration. Nobody got back to me... I was literally applying based on all that. And even when they didn't get back to me, I was like, in case it's a loss in the system, let's apply for restoration,” she says.One day, she's preparing for maternity leave, setting up a nursery, planning for her delivery. The next day, she's holding a deportation notice, wondering if she'll have to choose between leaving everything behind or staying and figuring out what went wrong with the system.In this conversation, Stephanie and I chat about the constant anxiety. We also explore:* The hidden costs of immigration uncertainty beyond the legal fees* The psychological toll of being the “responsible” firstborn who suddenly can't control anything* Finding your village when you need it most* The fragile nature of the immigrant dream, even when you follow all the rules to the bookOfficial Links✅ Connect with Stephanie Kubi on LinkedIn✅ Check out the Kubi Kollective One AskIf you found this story helpful, please forward or share it to one immigrant out there. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thenewcomerspod.com

Hello, I'd really like to grow this email list. If you enjoy this newsletter, it would mean the world to Jola and I if you encouraged one friend/fellow immigrant/colleague to subscribe…Very likely, the the only thing you will get in return is warm fuzzy feelings, and if I can attribute it to you, I'd personally send you a thank you email.Join us as we explore the bitter-sweet world of the immigrant.In this episode, I'm speaking with Clint Boodram, Regional Manager, Business Development for Western Canada at TD Bank. Clint moved to Canada from Trinidad when he was in Grade 9, over 40 years ago. On landing in Toronto, everything looked normal. But on the plane ride to Edmonton, “I found myself surrounded by people I saw on TV,” he says. Immigrating to Alberta at that time meant Clint literally knew every Black person in his community. “I remember walking around going to different events, just going to the gym, hanging out. I kind of knew every Black person," he says. Fast forward to today, Clint struggles to keep up with the new faces he comes across daily. While he's proud of the progress the Black community has made, Clint remains committed to building a welcoming support system for newcomers. His goal? “All I want people to remember is that if they need anything, they can call Clint.”In this conversation, Clint and I explore the concept of systemic change as a marathon, not a sprint. We also chat about:* Transitioning to high school in Canada * Raising kids * Community building and holding space for the next generation* Why we can't recreate the home we often miss* Cultural adaptation without losing your identityOfficial Links✅ Connect with Clint Boodram on LinkedInOne AskIf you found this story helpful, please forward or share it to one immigrant out there. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thenewcomerspod.com

Hello, I'd really like to grow this email list. If you enjoy this newsletter, it would mean the world to Jola and I if you encouraged one friend/fellow immigrant/colleague to subscribe…Very likely, the the only thing you will get in return is warm fuzzy feelings, and if I can attribute it to you, I'd personally send you a thank you email.Join us as we explore the bitter-sweet world of the immigrant.In this episode, I'm speaking with Dots Oyebolu, a paid media professional who moved from Nigeria to Canada and insists immigrants need to think differently about success.The immigrant journey often comes with unsaid rules about what success looks like. Pursue certain kinds of jobs. Buy a house as soon as possible. Get a good car. You know, just fit in.Well, not for Dots. For him, following the ascribed survival routes end up limiting what's possible for immigrants. And while it's hard to break free of the herd mentality and the cultural pressures, “we live somebody else's life,” he says.Now, I think I agree to some extent. However, I also acknowledge that the psychological toll of trying to integrate into a new country makes this doubly hard for an immigrant. It's much simpler to just go with the crowd and reduce the stress of settling in as much as you can.But there's also value in being finding our own path, being open-minded, and being willing to look foolish.In this conversation, Dotun and I chat about his view of identity especially from the lenses of an immigrant. We also explore:* The limitations of cultural obedience* The need to play the long-term game* Why we need to move beyond our obsession with real estate* The balance between adapting vs. changingOfficial Links✅ Connect with Dots Oyebolu on LinkedIn✅ Check out Dots podcast on marketingOne AskIf you found this story helpful, please forward or share it to one immigrant out there. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thenewcomerspod.com

Hello, I'd really like to grow this email list. If you enjoy this newsletter, it would mean the world to Jola and I if you encouraged one friend/fellow immigrant/colleague to subscribe…Very likely, the the only thing you will get in return is warm fuzzy feelings, and if I can attribute it to you, I'd personally send you a thank you email.Join us as we explore the bitter-sweet world of the immigrant.In this episode, I'm speaking with Bukky Wonda, who moved from Nigeria to Canada about 11 years ago, and has gone on to become a successful tech founder in the immigration space.When trying to settle into a new country, finding optimistic people can make all the difference. As Bukky explains, “Immigration is so difficult that you don't want to find people who all they come and do to you is make things worse... Find people who are optimistic, who have agency, who are persistent.”I believe this mindset has been key to her success, from landing her first job at CIBC as a financial advisor rather than starting at entry-level positions to pivoting into entrepreneurship.In this conversation, Bukky and I chat about what it was like to move and settle in Canada 11 years ago. We also explore:* Her transition from accounting to immigration tech founder* Why she describes herself as a “happenstance entrepreneur”* Tips for anyone planning to immigrate to Canada in 2025/2026* Why preparation matters when you're looking to immigrateOfficial Links✅ Connect with Bukky on LinkedIn✅ Request Bukky's immigration servicesOne AskIf you found this story helpful, please forward or share it to one immigrant out there. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thenewcomerspod.com