The Newcomers Podcast 🎙️ (Dozie Anyaegbunam)

Discover real-life immigrant stories on The Newcomers Podcast! Hosted by Dozie Anyaegbunam, each episode will feature a guest sharing their journey of moving to a new country — from their struggles to lessons to inspiring moments. Join us for a raw and emotional exploration of the determination, resilience, and hope that drive immigrants to chase their dreams.

Dapo Ajeniya moved with his family to Calgary, Canada, just before the world went into a COVID-19 lockdown.

In this episode, we chat about:

* His first night

* Opening up one’s mind to new cultures

* Pressing the reset button with his kids

* Adjusting to the demands of parenting in the West

* Parenting in Naija vs. parenting in Canada

Enjoy!

P.S. If this podcast left you feeling inspired, do me a huge favor and tell one person to subscribe.

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Nishila Babu quit her job and moved to Canada to start a new life.

In this episode, we chat about the following:

* Missing home

* Dealing with the fear of starting afresh

* Settling into a new country while the world grappled with the pandemic

* The differences between the Indian and Canadian educational system

* Treating immigration as a second chance in life

Enjoy!

P.S. If this podcast left you feeling inspired, do me a huge favor and tell one person to subscribe. Or share with someone who might find it useful.

How do you keep a piece of home with you when moving to a new country?

For Ukwori, it meant shipping her favorite Aso oke woven chair to her new home in Calgary.

On the 3rd episode of The Newcomers Podcast, Ukwori opens up about:

* Raising kids in Canada

* Job hunting and her way around the “Canadian Experience”

* Launching her immigration consultancy business, Numa Immigration & Citizenship Services

* The first night feels, and more!

Enjoy!

P.S. If this podcast left you feeling inspired, do me a huge favor and tell one person to subscribe.

Assured, upbeat, and cheery. Chatting with Chika Offiah was a dose of fresh air.

On the 4th episode of The Newcomers Podcast, Chika talks about:

* Not missing Nigerian food 🫡

* Taking advantage of immigration platforms, organizations, and YouTube videos to ease her and the family’s settling down into their new home in Calgary, Canada

* Cultural systems and how they affect our approach to parenting

* Building confidence as an immigrant, and more.

Enjoy!

P.S. If this podcast left you feeling inspired, do me a huge favor and tell one person to subscribe. Or share with someone who might find it useful.

Oyin Ajibola is a multi-hyphenate.

She’s co-published a book (Courage, Change, Faith & Leadership: Inspiring Narratives of Black Women Leaders), runs an immigrant magazine (The Immigrant Muse), actively advocates for the Canadian immigrant community, and works as a Senior Operational Policy Analyst with The Government of Saskatchewan.

She joined me on the 5th episode of The Newcomers Podcast to talk about:

* Dealing with the fear of things not going as she planned after uprooting her life in Nigeria

* The benefits of starting afresh where you have a community

* Dealing with covert racism

* Adjusting to the Canadian credit system

* Her motivations for launching the Immigrant Muse, and more.

Enjoy!

P.S. If this podcast inspired you, do me a huge favor and tell one person to subscribe.

“Everywhere I go, I’m a foreigner.”

I still can’t stop thinking about this statement by Nino Melikidze. It perfectly captures an emotion immigrants struggle with - always feeling out of place.

Nino is an experienced immigrant. Her first experience with immigration was as a five-year-old.

Since then, she’s moved to the United States, Colombia, and now lives in Canada.

Nino joined me on the 6th episode of The Newcomers Podcast to talk about:

* Why moving abroad is probably done best as a student

* Dealing with cultural differences as you move across different countries

* The exact moment she realized she wasn’t in the comfort of her home anymore

* Dealing with the existential immigrant question - will I ever stop feeling like an immigrant?

* Why fellow immigrants make the best friends, and more.

Enjoy!

P.S. If this podcast left you feeling inspired, do me a huge favor and tell one person to subscribe.

In one of the most vulnerable episodes I have recorded so far, Amir and I try to explore some of the existential feelings we immigrants face or deal with while settling into a new country.

We chat about:

* The immigrant’s concept of home

* Dealing with an identity crisis as you shed your old self and adapt to your new society

* Rebuilding self-confidence as you struggle to fit in

* Dealing with the feeling of being culturally completely out of place, and more.

I hope you enjoy listening to/watching this episode as much as I enjoyed chatting with Amir.

P.S. If this podcast left you feeling inspired, do me a huge favor and tell one person to subscribe.

Is Canadian work experience still a thing?

Should you move your family to Canada and stay back in Nigeria?

Bona and I answer these questions and more on the 8th episode of The Newcomers Podcast.

He also shares:

* Why he chose Canada?

* How Canada makes you a hands-on parent

* His first day in Calgary, and more.

Enjoy.

P.S. If this podcast left you feeling inspired, do me a huge favor and tell one person to subscribe. Or share with someone who might find it useful.

Look, folks, this episode was long. But every minute was worth it.

Sam is the Founder and CEO of Fleri Health. And he’s a super interesting human. We chat about:

* His journey from New York to Columbus, Ohio, to the United States military

* Empowering immigrants to thrive and why he launched Fleri Health

* Dealing with the identity of work as an immigrant and why jaiye can be much more fun when we are back on our continent

* The immigrant’s tendency to glorify hardship

* Raising kids and dealing with the effects of watching police brutality on your kids’ psyche.

Enjoy.

P.S. If this podcast left you feeling inspired, do me a huge favor and tell one person to subscribe.

Bolaji Oyejide is a griot, author, podcaster, and an all-around amazing human.

He joins me to chat about:

* Losing cool points on his first night in college

* Finding his confidence through dancing

* The advantages of going to a historically Black college

* Being the “other” as an immigrant

* And seeing your dual identity as a strength.

Enjoy!

P.S. If this podcast left you feeling inspired, do me a huge favor and tell one person to subscribe.

Kamil Rextin is not just a badass B2B marketer. He’s also a straight shooter. One you can trust to tell you as is all the time. This conversation had me smiling all through while editing.

We chat about:

* Raising biracial kids

* Parenting in Canada vs. parenting in Pakistan

* The advantages and disadvantages of collective and individualistic cultures

* The advantages you get by immigrating as a student

* Never fitting in as a kid in Pakistan

* And missing home and how we carry a romantic memory of our home country around

Enjoy!

Thank you for listening to The Newcomers Podcast. If this podcast inspired you, do me a huge favor and tell one person to subscribe. Or share with someone who might find it useful.

Vlogger, content strategist, and agency owner, Folasade Daini, a former veterinarian turned brand storyteller, is one of the most authentic and enigmatic personalities I have interviewed on this pod.

We chat about:

* The tax system

* Missing her siblings and Naija food

* The different phases of settling into a new country

* Cultural differences an immigrant has to adjust to

* Her sweet daughter

* And the one thing she would have done differently.

Enjoy!

Thank you for listening to The Newcomers Podcast. If this podcast inspired you, do me a huge favor and tell one person to subscribe. Or share with someone who might find it useful.

Embrace your uniqueness as an immigrant. It's your superpower.

Ingrid Polini, CEO of SafetyDocs Global, embodies that statement. Startup mentor, business owner, and podcast host, Ingrid understands what it means to be an immigrant founder.

She joins me on The Newcomers Podcast to chat about:

* Dealing with Canadian Experience as an immigrant founder.

* People thinking you know less because you speak in a different accent.

* Collective vs. individualistic cultures.

* How culture influences business.

* Her secret sauce for networking in Canada.

This episode was short and sweet. Enjoy!

Thank you for listening to The Newcomers Podcast. If this podcast inspired you, do me a huge favor and tell one person to subscribe. Or share with someone who might find it useful.

Experienced adman, Osibo Imhoitsike, joins me on The Newcomers Podcast to chat about moving his family out of Nigeria.

We also explore:

* The various triggers that led to migrating to Canada

* Dealing with the stress of living apart from his family

* Walking away from a career on the up

* His biggest cultural shock.

Enjoy!

Thank you for listening to The Newcomers Podcast. If this podcast inspired you, do me a huge favor and tell one person to subscribe. Or share with someone who might find it useful.

Community is everything. And Grand Komanda is no stranger to the beauty of tapping into your community as an immigrant. In this episode, we chat about:

* The origins of the Nigerian-Canadian comedy club

* The things he misses most about Nigeria

* Tips for Nigerian/African acts looking to immigrate to Canada

* Using his immigrant experience as fuel for his jokes.

Enjoy!

Thank you for listening to The Newcomers Podcast. If this podcast inspired you, do me a huge favor and tell one person to subscribe. Or share with someone who might find it useful.

Grit.

That's the feeling you leave with when you speak with Tunde Omotoye. The brilliant founder of SchooliplyHQ to chat about:

* Settling into Canada as an international student

* Launching a startup focused on helping international students

* Red flags to look out for when hiring an immigration consultant

* Life changing moments as an immigrant, and much more.

Enjoy!

Thanks for listening to The Newcomers Podcast. If this episode inspired you, do me a huge favor and tell one person to subscribe. Or share with an immigrant who might find it useful.

Sahar Rahmani could run rings around you all day if you both talked about cybersecurity, fraud prevention, and data science. But that didn’t stop her from feeling overwhelmed by the milk aisle on her first visit to a supermarket in Canada.

She ended up calling a friend to ask which was the one closest to what they had back home in Iran.

I had a similar experience - only mine was with Benylin, the cough expectorant.

It’s wild how the things we take for granted back in our home countries suddenly become tripwires as we go through the motions of settling into our new country.

But that’s not the only thing Sahar and I talk about. We also explore:

* The importance of finding your community

* Passing on the beauty of your culture to your kids

* Her saddest moments as an immigrant in Canada

* The one thing she would have done differently

* The tradeoffs she has had to make, and much more.

Enjoy!

Thanks for listening to The Newcomers Podcast. If this episode inspired you, please do me a huge favor and tell one person to subscribe. Or share with an immigrant who might find it useful.

Being an immigrant means we always feel we are on the clock.

We have goals we need to hit within specific time frames. And if you're African, you also have black tax playing a harmonic orchestra in your head all the time.

Gulsun Demirezen is no stranger to struggling to level up as an immigrant. We talk about the feeling of never feeling settled in a new country.

We also explore:

* Dealing with grief when you’re far away from home

* How being on a work visa can have you feeling like you’ve got a return date

* Her lessons after six years as an immigrant, and much more.

Enjoy.

Thanks for listening to The Newcomers Podcast. If this episode inspired you, please do me a huge favor and tell one person to subscribe. Or share with an immigrant who might find it helpful.

There’s so much stuff to unpack in this conversation with Suhas Pai, the Co-founder and CTO of Hudson Labs.

Have you ever heard of the honeymoon phase of immigration? The phase of your immigration journey where everything seems rosy and romantic? And then reality hits you like a truck loaded with sourdough flour.

Or his take on how the pressure of home ownership in North America affects how we approach money. It’s hard to ignore that point.

Suhas moved from India to The Netherlands as a student, and then, 8+ years later, he moved to Canada. You’ll enjoy his insights on:

* Canada’s diversity and its approach to immigration

* The cultural differences between Canada and The Netherlands

* The European approach to credit and how that’s defined him

* Why he doesn’t want to own a car or a big house, and more.

Enjoy!

If you’ve gotten this far, you should probably subscribe.

And our conversation didn't disappoint.

Mo joined me on The Newcomers Podcast to chat about:

* Moving to Canada as a 16yo

* The Canadian Uber joke

* Then moving back to Nigeria to help set up Andela

* Launching the first online MBA in Nigeria

* The beauty of the Nigerian hustle

* And the three skills he thinks every immigrant needs to succeed.

Some resources he shared during the conversation:

* Tobi Oluwole’s LinkedIn storytelling course

* $100m Offers by Alex Hormozi

* The Millionaire Fast Lane by MJ Demarco

* The Power of Self Discipline by Brian Tracy

Enjoy!

If you’ve gotten this far, you should probably subscribe.

Dotun Bamisaiye moved to Canada long before moving to the Great White North became a thing.

Back then, he would be the only one speaking Yoruba on his train ride to work. Today, he says the train ride hosts a medley of Pidgin, Yoruba, Igbo, and other African languages.

He joined me on The Newcomers Podcast to chat about:

* Leaving Nigeria reluctantly

* The black nod

* The danger of a single story

* Finding a job when most Canadian employers weren't looking to hire Nigerians

* How best to prep for the Canadian tax season and more.

Resources

If you’re looking to do your taxes, Dotun is a great guy to speak to about the best tax planning and compliance approach.

He also offers a personal tax course for people new to Canada who want to understand Canadian taxation and how to plan for income tax.

* Canadian Tax in 60 Mins

Enjoy!

If you’ve gotten this far, you should probably subscribe.

Did you read it?

We launched a new section called Restart, which features long reads about the good, the bad, and the human side of starting afresh in a new country.

We’ve also launched a section called The Pantry, a collection of tips, how-tos, stories, and jokes about the immigrant experience.

If you got this email in error or no longer wish to receive emails from The Newcomers Podcast, Substack has a sweet and easy way to unsubscribe.

Siamak Riahi, Founder and CEO of Riahi Patents, likens the early days of his immigration journey to standing in the middle of a tornado and being thrown from one place to another by the strong winds.

Despite feeling that way in the early days, Siamak has gone on to move a whopping 14 times across different cities and from the United States to Canada.

He joins me on The Newcomers Podcast to chat about:

* Underestimating our support system

* The importance of community

* How each move changes us

* Switching from an academic career path to entrepreneurship

* Dealing with the immigrant survival mentality, and more.

This was a masterclass on how to approach immigrating mentally, especially if you are moving to a new country at a much older age.

Enjoy!

If you’ve gotten this far, you should probably subscribe.

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There are a ton of reasons we, as immigrants, feel compelled to work all the time.

* You just spent all your savings moving to a new country

* You probably took a couple of steps down the career ladder

* You’ve got black tax to remit every other month.

Lola, the Afroedmontonian, is on a mission to change that. She joined me on The Newcomers Podcast to chat about:

* The ‘Deadmonton Myth”

* One of her most embarrassing moments during her first week in Edmonton

* The abrupt end to the honeymoon phase of her immigration journey

* Launching the Afroedmontonian during her maternity leave

* Inspiring immigrants to let loose and enjoy themselves

* Why you should move to Edmonton if you are planning to immigrate to Canada, and more.

Enjoy!

If you’ve gotten this far, you should probably subscribe.

Resources

And if you’re looking to visit Edmonton sometime this year, we’ve collaborated with Lola to curate a calendar of events happening in Edmonton through the rest of 2024:

Did you read it?

If you got this email in error or no longer wish to receive emails from The Newcomers Podcast, Substack has a sweet and easy way to unsubscribe.

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 Anna Otroshchenko, COO of Otrofy Inc, who moved from Ukraine to Canada.

The Canadian wait time for almost anything is the stuff of legends. But despite how frustrating it can be, I love how Anna deals with hiccups like this. Talking to her felt like I had booked a session with a therapist on the mindset an immigrant needs to adopt when trying to settle into a new country.

In this conversation, Anna and I chat about:

* Feeling at home in Canada

* How to settle in quickly

* Canadian culture vs. Ukrainian culture

* Her views on the meaning of “home.”

This was a fun one. If there’s one thing you should learn from Anna as an immigrant, it’s always to remember that we are in control.

No matter how chaotic things might feel, focus on what you can control, take baby steps, and you’ll find your way to the sunlight.

Official Links

✅ Connect with Anna on LinkedIn

Did you read it?

If you got this email in error or no longer wish to receive emails from The Newcomers Podcast, Substack has a sweet and easy way to unsubscribe.

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 Ayo Owodunni, Kitchener City Councillor - Ward 5, Associate Professor at Conestoga College, and author of Inclusive Leadership - The Immigrant View.

I had goosebumps listening to Ayo as he told me the story of Election Day…Gosh. Yes, it was an experiment. Yes, he didn’t expect to win. Yes, they had no idea what they were doing.

But listening to his backstory, this win was years in the making.

In this conversation, Ayo and I chat about:

* Overcoming his fear of knocking on doors

* The power of systems

* The value of building immigrant communities

* Stamping out the suffering Olympics mentality of older immigrants

* The four types of networks you need to succeed as an immigrant, and more.

Ayo Owodunni is an inspiration. Nuff said.

Official Links

📚 His book on Inclusive Leadership - The Immigrant View is a great read on helping immigrants thrive in any organization.

👋🏽 You can follow him on LinkedIn here.

📚 He also has a new book coming out soon titled “Dear Immigrant, Soar!”

Enjoy!

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Ann shares her experience of moving to Finland and the challenges she faced in integrating into Finnish society. She discusses the overwhelm that led her to start a YouTube channel and the reasons she chose Finland as her destination. Ann talks about the culture shock she experienced and the difficulties in making Finnish friends. She also highlights the importance of learning the Finnish language and the impact it has on building relationships. Ann reflects on what she misses about Nigeria and the cultural differences between the two countries. She concludes by emphasizing the need for long-term goals and planning when considering immigration to Finland.

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 Kateryna Makysmenko, who’s lived in four countries since she turned 16.

I agree that the immigration journey changes you. I like to call immigrants “the in-betweeners.” We are always in between cultures.

In this conversation, Kateryna and I explore:

* The legendary Canadian kindness

* Moving as a tourist vs. moving as an immigrant

* How moving often means she’s built an automated settling-in routine

* Her first night as a student in Poland vs. her first night as a working professional in Canada

* Why your first month is crucial to easing into your new country

Enjoy!

Official Links

👋🏽 Follow Kateryna on LinkedIn

Did you read it?

If you got this email in error or no longer wish to receive emails from The Newcomers Podcast, Substack has a sweet and easy way to unsubscribe.

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 Nkechi Runsewe, who moved from Lagos, Nigeria to Amsterdam, Holland for work.

Imagine for a moment you are on the metro headed to work. Suddenly, the bus lurches to a stop, and the driver makes an announcement in Dutch. And everyone hurriedly gets down.

You try to ask them, but everyone seems to be in a hurry to get off the bus.

What would you do? I would probably get off the bus scared and all. Nkechi was no different.

“They say everyone in The Netherlands speaks English. But the system is designed for those who speak or can read Dutch.”

In this conversation, Nkechi and I chat about:

* The overwhelming supermarket moment

* Going to a country as a tourist vs. going there as a local

* Dealing with change

* The amazing Nigerian community in Amsterdam and how they helped her settle in

* The tradeoffs when choosing between putting her kids in the Dutch school system vs. the International school system

* The importance of replacing the traditions you took for granted back home with new ones

Enjoy!

Official Links

👋🏽 Follow Nkechi on LinkedIn

Did you read it?

If you got this email in error or no longer wish to receive emails from The Newcomers Podcast, Substack has a sweet and easy way to unsubscribe.

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 Smithe Sodine, former elementary ESL teacher, college instructor, mother, and founder of the handcrafted decorative pillow company Smithy Home Couture.

Smithe is an Amazon. She reminds me so much of my Mom, who passed away five years ago.

Smithe moved to Florida from Haiti as a 16 year old and couldn’t really speak English at the time. She remembers sleeping off in class because there’s only so much stress the teenage brain can take when trying to learn Math or any other subject in a new language.

So it was heartwarming to see that she went on to become an elementary English as a Second Language (ESL) teacher.

In this conversation, Smithe and I chat about:

* The danger of ignoring acculturation

* Dealing with the negative perception of Haiti

* Her Haitian heritage

* Her approach to dealing with cultural differences

* Moving as a teenager, and more

Enjoy!

Official Links

👋🏽 Follow Smithe on LinkedIn

🛏️ Check out Smithy Home Couture

Did you read it?

If you got this email in error or no longer wish to receive emails from The Newcomers Podcast, Substack has a sweet and easy way to unsubscribe.

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 Tosin Thomas, Head of Marketing at Financial Cents.

“I thought it would take 3 - 4 months to get a job when I started applying. But I got my first offer within two weeks and the second offer by the third week.”

This episode with Tosin was a masterclass on getting hired as an immigrant before you set foot on Canadian soil.

In this conversation, Tosin and I chat about:

* Getting the first job offer (she thought it was a scam when the email came in)

* How she set up her resume

* Her approach to upskilling herself

* The importance of prepping for your career switch early

* And how to handle the interviewing stage.

I’ll leave you with this quote from the interview:

“Be confident to accept yourself for who you are. The fact you have an accent doesn’t make you any less. If the individual on the other side sees you any less, its on them, not on you. And that’s somebody you probably shouldn’t be working with.”

I know the above quote can be a problematic heuristic when one is desperate for a job to cover the mounting bills. But keep your chin up. You’ve got this.

Enjoy!

Official Links

👋🏽 Follow Tosin on LinkedIn

🖊️ Book Tosin for a personalized career review and guidance coaching session

Did you read it?

If you got this email in error or no longer wish to receive emails from The Newcomers Podcast, Substack has a sweet and easy way to unsubscribe.

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 Denys Smushko, international student turned community connector via his work at RBC Bank.

Denys moved to Canada within six months. He then spent one year in Olds, a town in Central Alberta, working with a group of Ukrainians at a hardware store.

Talk about a soft landing.

But things got hairy once he decided to go to school.

It even got more complicated when it was time to get a job. Denys describes struggling with self-doubt, questioning himself, and thinking he wasn’t good enough.

Today, Denys helps other immigrants settle in via the RBC Newcomers program. He joined me on The Newcomers Podcast to chat about:

* His honeymoon phase and the subsequent reality check

* The stuff he sees immigrants get wrong when trying to settle in

* His how to hit the ground running playbook

* Job hunting in Canada vs. back home in Ukraine

* The RBC Newcomers program, how they help immigrants, and more.

Enjoy!

Official Links

👋🏽 Follow Denys on LinkedIn

Did you read it?

If you got this email in error or no longer wish to receive emails from The Newcomers Podcast, Substack has a sweet and easy way to unsubscribe.

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 wonderful Eric Agyemang of Maple Bridge Ventures.

There’s so much to unpack in this episode. But if there’s one thing you should take from the conversation, it’s DON’T DIM YOUR LIGHT.

Eric and his team at Maple Bridge VC are investing in immigrant founders in Canada. And he joined me on The Newcomers Podcast to chat about:

* Owning your narrative

* Tips for immigrant founders looking to raise funds

* Common challenges immigrant entrepreneurs face

* Why an immigrant is a natural for entrepreneurship

* And his journey from international student to venture capitalist.

Enjoy! And remember.

Don’t dim your light. You’ve got this.

Official Links

👋🏽 Follow Eric on LinkedIn

🔗 Check out Maple Bridge if you’re an immigrant entrepreneur

Did you read it?

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 Sebastian Cuervo, writer and copy strategist.

Moving to a new country can be a nerve-wracking experience. But that doesn’t mean you should allow the anxiety to hold you back. As Sebastian Cuervo puts it, you don’t do yourself any favors by staying put in your comfort zone while settling down.

For example, deciding to rent a home where most of your neighbors are predominantly from your home country.

Sebastian moved to Canada from Colombia due to what I call the noise - that steady, almost invisible hum in your head that keeps you on your toes, worrying about what could go wrong and what went wrong.

And I totally relate…cos that’s one of the reasons we left Naija.

In this conversation, we chat about:

* Misconceptions we often have about immigration

* Tradeoffs we have to make when we move to a new country

* His cultural heritage and what he hopes to pass on to his offspring

* The Colombian Sebastian vs. Canadian Sebastian

Enjoy! And remember…

…Don’t limit yourself.

Official Links

👋🏽 Follow Sebastian on LinkedIn

🖊️ Sign up for Sebastian’s Substack

Did you read it?

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 Aashni Shah, founder of HypeDocs.

Colored and black women entrepreneurs are among the Canadian market's most qualified, highly educated, and skilled entrepreneurs. But they still have to deal with systemic racism, bias, sexism, access to networks, mentoring, and sponsorship.

I could go on and on. But the point is that some people don't let that stop them.

Aashni is one of those people.

The two-time startup founder joined me to chat about:

* Her motivations

* Realizing her opportunities were different as a person of color

* Language as a bridge

* Putting in the effort

* Her Dad’s influence on her approach to business

Enjoy! And remember…

…Integration is a two-way street. You have to put in the work.

Official Links

👋🏽 Follow Aashni on LinkedIn

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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 Beatriz Zanatelli, co-host of the Find a Way podcast and founder of Smart Goose Academy.

Beatriz is such a warm soul and an experienced immigrant. Her Dad moved around a lot, which meant she had to up and settle down in different countries while growing up.

She gets what it means to pack one’s life into a suitcase or more and start afresh in a new country.

So, if you’re looking for a pick-me-up after a long week, this conversation with Bea (as she’s fondly called) is a great place to start.

In this conversation, we chat about:

* Choosing Canada (she has a fun story about the CN Tower)

* Her first day in an English-speaking school as a Brazilian immigrant kid

* Her husband’s journey to restart his career in Canada

* Our super-power as immigrants

* Starting a business in Canada, and more.

Enjoy! And remember…

Your accent and past experiences are superpowers. Embrace them and bring them along with you.

Official Links

👋🏽 Follow Beatriz on LinkedIn

🎧 Listen to the Find a Way podcast

📝 Learn more about Smart Goose Academy

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Looking to move to Canada? We’ve partnered with IMMPROVED to share monthly updates about immigration to Canada, including Express Entry, the Provincial Nominee Program, family sponsorship, study and work permits, and everything in between.

If you got this email in error or no longer wish to receive emails from The Newcomers Podcast, Substack has a sweet and easy way to unsubscribe.

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 Tunde Leye, author of over five books, including the critically acclaimed Afonja The Rise & Afonja The Fall. He was also a Consulting Partner at SBM Intelligence, an Africa-focused geopolitical research firm.

“I miss being part of the top 1%.” Let’s try to set some context.

Tunde was what you would call a high-flyer back in Nigeria. And then, as with most immigrants, he decided to leave all that and start afresh in England for his kids. And the financial tradeoffs and adjustments have been something.

In this refreshingly honest and raw conversation, Tunde and I chat about:

* The work needed to rebuild social capital as an immigrant

* The mental burden of code-switching

* Adjusting to the smaller houses you find in England

* Being a tourist vs. being an immigrant

* Writing his new book (Fireflies on the Lagoon) and the Western influence on the writing process

* Career adjustments, and more.

Official Links

👋🏽 Follow Tunde on LinkedIn

🎤 Follow Tunde on X

🎬 Tunde’s YouTube channel (African History Channel)

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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 Areej AbuAli, Founder of Women in Tech SEO.

Areej talks about something we immigrants sometimes gloss over. The tendency to pause everything because we feel like we are on the clock.

We’ve got a deadline. We’ve got to get that Permanent Residency. We’ve got to get that citizenship.

And I don’t fault anyone. I’ve been guilty of this, too. Heck, I still am.

But maybe every now and then, take a pause. Breathe. Live.

Areej moved from Egypt to the United Kingdom as an international student. In this conversation, we explored:

* The advantages of immigrating as a student

* Dealing with the pressure of switching from a student visa to a work visa

* Dealing with the survival mentality that hits first-generation immigrants

* Cultural shocks

* Areej as a fresh-to-the-UK immigrant vs. Areej as an experienced immigrant, and more.

Did you find this interesting? Please share with someone else who might find it helpful.

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👋🏽 Follow Areej on LinkedIn

🫱🏼‍🫲🏽 Support Women in Tech SEO

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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 Leslie Awasom, the anaesthesiologist who became a real-estate entrepreneur.

It’s said that whoever picks you up at the airport when you land can have an exponential effect on your perspective of your new country. And I agree.

Cheers to Uka and Adanna Osaigbovo. My family and I owe you both.

But back to Leslie Awasom, I’ve probably said this too many times, but he’s an immigrant rocketship. And this episode is chock-full of stories and lessons.

In this conversation, we chat about:

* Dealing with depression after the Y2K crash incinerated his computer science dream

* Getting into a serious car accident and switching to Nursing once he was able to stand on his two feet

* Meeting his business partners, Tenny Tolofari and Dr. Julius Oni

* Why they named the business XSITE Capital

* How he deals with failure, and a ton of other useful tips for immigrant entrepreneurs.

This was a good one. And if you’re an immigrant looking to start a business, here’s a tip from Leslie —> “Confidence comes with action.”

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👋🏽 Follow Leslie on LinkedIn

💰 Get Leslie’s free passive income guide

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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 Ann Iyke-Osuji, one of the bravest immigrants I’ve met.

After a pretty much shielded life during her undergraduate years, she decides she wants to run away from home to somewhere her parents have little or no influence (family).

Now, you would think she would pick a country where she had some friends. I mean, everyone needs some support, especially someone who has never really left the comfort of their home and loved ones. But not Angel.

She decided to move to Australia for her Master’s Degree.

And the universe decides, you wanna be independent, right? I’m gonna help you get there fast!

In this conversation, we explored:

* Struggling to settle in

* Learning how to make small talk and enjoy it

* Not realizing how fat Australia was from Nigeria

* Expecting to see more animals in Australia considering how the country is portrayed on social media, and more.

This is a must-listen. And here’s a great tip from Angel on integrating into your new culture — Integration is a two-way street. While you’re thinking everything and everyone around you is new to you, also remember that for the individuals you interact with, you are also new to them. So remember to give them the same grace you expect them to give you.

Official Links

👋🏽 Follow Angel on LinkedIn

🔆 Get Angel’s LinkedIn Profile Checklist and Guide

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If you got this email in error or no longer wish to receive emails from The Newcomers Podcast, Substack has a sweet and easy way to unsubscribe.

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 Mu Okonkwo, former basketball player now immigrant entrepreneur.

One random sunny day in Owerri, Nigeria, Mu’s friends convinced him to follow them to the basketball court. Their pitch? A scout was coming who would take promising prospects to the Ejike Ugboaja annual bootcamp — the biggest basketball camp in Nigeria.

Now, Mu only had eyes for soccer, or football as we call it back in Nigeria.

But a couple of months after that well-timed visit to the basketball court, Mu was actively scheming to move to the United States on a scholarship to play college basketball.

In this conversation, we chat about:

* Forging his Dad’s signature so the scout could formally keep working with him to secure his college scholarship

* Getting to the United States and discovering that his little knowledge of basketball was useless

* Going pro in 2019

* Adjusting to the social nuances of the American culture, and more.

Did you find this interesting? Please share with someone else who might find it helpful.

Official Links

👋🏽 Follow Mu on LinkedIn

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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 Komal Faiz, a UX researcher par excellence and founder of Wanderlite, the gear rental marketplace. Komal moved to Canada as a student more than nine years ago.

Once school was over, people told her it would be stupid to leave Canada after her MSc program, so she stayed back. And in her words, her immigration journey has been like fine wine.

I do love a good wine analogy.

In this conversation, Komal and I explore:

* The advantages of immigrating as an international student, even though you are always broke

* The Wanderlite origin story

* The immigrant’s existential struggle for belonging and a sense of identity

* Her biggest lessons, and more.

This was a fun one. But the best part for me was when she said:

“We set such high standards for ourselves. But give yourself some space. You are good. You are doing okay.”

You can find that from 31:58.

Did you find this interesting? Please share with someone else who might find it helpful.

Official Links

👋🏽 Follow Komal on LinkedIn

🔗 Check out the Wanderlite website

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If you got this email in error or no longer wish to receive emails from The Newcomers Podcast, Substack has a sweet and easy way to unsubscribe.

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 Ogunlowo, poet, adman, philosopher, and immigrant.

If you ask anyone planning to emigrate from Nigeria what country or city they plan to settle in as their new home, you would hear Canada, England, Australia, the United States, and even Germany.

But you would rarely hear someone say, Glasgow, Scotland.

But Chris is built differently. This xenophile decided to study in Glasgow because he was fascinated by its culture.

In this conversation, we chat about:

* Expectations vs. reality

* The need to make your new country work because you aren’t a tourist, and so you have no return ticket.

* Spotting opportunities as an immigrant

* Cultural integration and the work we need to do as immigrants to integrate, and more.

My biggest takeaway is that integration is a two-way street, with both the host nation and the immigrant responsible for fostering an atmosphere of mutual understanding and respect.

Did you find this interesting? Please share with someone else who might find it helpful.

Official Links

👌🏽 Follow Chris on Instagram

👋🏽 Read Chris’s Substack

Did you read it?

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 Kaveri Srivastava, Snr. Marketing Director at World Financial Group.

I’ve come to realize that the best way to hit the ground running as an immigrant in a new country isn’t necessarily the usual things people talk about—finding a job to keep you going while applying to 500 roles weekly and the like.

The most impactful things you’ll need to do when settling down are mindset-related.

Keep an open mind. Be adaptable. Drop any sense of entitlement. And be willing to reset and start from the beginning.

One caveat, though: don’t lose your identity in the process.

After 12+ years in Canada, Kaveri Srivastava is well-placed to speak about this mindset shift. In this conversation, we chat about:

* Her hit-the-ground running playbook

* Dealing with survival mentality as an immigrant

* Balancing the need to experience new things while saving for the future

* Her Indian heritage, and more.

My biggest takeaway: While it’s cool to experience new things, you should form the habit of paying your future self first.

Did you find this interesting? Please share with someone else who might find it helpful.

Official Links

👋🏽 Follow Kaveri on LinkedIn

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 Nwachukwu Edgar Onyeagba, the man who saw the future.

How do you deal with the fear of the unknown when immigrating? What does it feel like to be right about where Nigeria was headed?

After his daughter was born, he took one look at everything that was going on with Nigeria and decided to leave. In his words, “things were looking like they weren’t going to get any better.”

Sadly, he was right.

In this conversation, Edgar and I chat about what it’s been like living in Canada for the past eight years. We discussed:

* The mental exhaustion of code switching

* Dealing with the fear of the unknown

* Dealing with Canadian experience

* He also shares the two questions your resume must answer

Edgar works in Human Resources, so if you want to get the gist about resumes, you can find that from 28:00.

Official Links

👋🏽 Follow Edgar on LinkedIn

Survival mode can be a strength

The following is based on a recent episode with Kaveri Srivastava

As an immigrant, it's easy to feel stuck in survival mode. You need to focus on immediate needs, and it's hard to do that while identifying and pursuing longer-term growth opportunities.

What if your greatest asset was survival mode?

Here's Kaveri Srivastava's view of survival mode after 13 years as an immigrant:

* Embrace the blank slate. You've got nothing to lose. Take risks. Sensibly.

* Pay your future self first. Save 20-30% before spending, or find your number and save that first.

* Use your cultural strengths as an advantage. Were you raised to focus on education? Turn that into a passion for learning. Anything can be a competitive advantage.

You've got this.

Do you live in Calgary?

Join CRIEC for their annual THRIVE Calgary Conference for a day full of engaging sessions, expert speakers, and networking opportunities focused on how “One Yes” can affect a person, a company, a policy and more!

Use the Promo Code for THRIVE75 for 75% off ticket prices. Early bird ticket sales are now on sale. Secure your spot today and take advantage of special early bird pricing. 

📅Date: September 26, 2024📍 Location: Hotel Arts, 119 12 Avenue Southwest, Calgary, AB T2R 0G8🎫 Early Bird Pricing: $100

Register HERE!

If you got this email in error or no longer wish to receive emails from The Newcomers Podcast, Substack has a sweet and easy way to unsubscribe.

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 Aakansha Jain, Indian, Nigerian, and now Australian.

Fellow Nigerians, Aakansha speaks pidgin. She said, “Oya,” and it was perfect.

Aakansha moved to Nigeria from India as a teeny weeny kid. She remembers her father telling her she struggled to settle in and cried a lot because everyone looked different.

But over time, Nigeria became home.

Then, she had to move back to India, and it was tough. "I had to prove how Indian I am every day," she says.

She moved to Australia four years ago and can't believe how easy it was for her to settle into the Australian culture. She posits that it's probably because a considerable proportion of the population are immigrants, and they understand what it means to feel like one.

In this conversation, we chat about her immigrant journey. We also explored:

* The beauty of the Nigerian culture

* Nature vs. nurture

* Settling back into India as a kid who grew up in Nigeria

* Why feeling in-between cultures is a strength, not a weakness

* How her heritage has changed, and more.

Enjoy. This was a fun one.

Official Links

👋🏽 Follow Aakansha on LinkedIn

Do you live in Calgary?

Join CRIEC for their annual THRIVE Calgary Conference for a day full of engaging sessions, expert speakers, and networking opportunities focused on how “One Yes” can affect a person, a company, a policy, and more!

Use the Promo Code for THRIVE75 for 75% off ticket prices. Early bird ticket sales are now on sale. Secure your spot today and take advantage of special early bird pricing. 

📅Date: September 26, 2024📍 Location: Hotel Arts, 119 12 Avenue Southwest, Calgary, AB T2R 0G8🎫 Early Bird Pricing: $100

Register HERE!

If you got this email in error or no longer wish to receive emails from The Newcomers Podcast, Substack has a sweet and easy way to unsubscribe.

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 Shilan Zade, who's running to be the next Conservative candidate for Burnaby North - Seymour.

There are a many reasons why we immigrants pack up our bags and move to Canada.

But the biggest reason is probably a better life for our kid(s). That's if you have kids.

So, if you are looking to move to a country where you believe your child is going to have a better future, isn't that enough reason to get involved in building that future? Because the bright future isn't going to magically appear.

It has to be built. Brick by brick.

This is why Shilan thinks we all should get involved in building Canada's future.

In this conversation, Shilan and I chat about:

* Managing cultural misunderstandings as an immigrant

* Why she’s running for office

* The impact of language barriers

* The power of our voices

* Settling into Canada 20 years ago, and more.

People, there is no perfect moment to get involved in building the Canadian society of our dreams. Start now!

Official Links

👋🏽 Follow Shilan on LinkedIn

👌🏽 Support Shilan’s campaign

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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 Nosa Ayanru, an amazing MC, finance fella, and community builder.

Nigerians who immigrate often move to the United Kingdom, the United States, or Canada in recent times.

Nosa Ayanru has moved to two of those countries. And he thinks Canada is a much better place to live as a Nigerian immigrant.

He moved to Manchester, UK with £278 in his wallet to study, and after 6+ years, moved to Canada with his family. And a larger purse this time around.

In this conversation, we chat about:

* His biggest cultural shocks

* Why he never liked living in the UK

* Why you don’t immigrate with money, but a skillset

* Culture as a way of understanding a people

* Building the Nigerian brand in Canada via arts and culture, and more.

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👋🏽 Follow Nosa on LinkedIn

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If you got this email in error or no longer wish to receive emails from The Newcomers Podcast, Substack has a sweet and easy way to unsubscribe.

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 Rebecca Johnson, Investment & Operations Associate at BKR Capital, a VC firm that invests in promising black-led tech companies.

For an immigrant startup founder, fundraising is probably one of the hardest nuts to crack.

They lack the usual social capital they had back home, which means they can't access the life-saving Family, Friends, and Fools round, fondly called FFF. And I do think they mean Fools in a good way because of what it takes to back an unproven idea.

The sad thing about being in this position is the FFF round is absolutely important. It gives the founder time to test out the idea, hopefully get some revenue going and take the first steps towards product-market fit.

So what to do?

In this conversation, we chat about how we can kick-start the FFF rounds for immigrant startups.

We also talked about:

* Why immigrant founders need to learn storytelling

* The beautiful things she’s seeing happening in the immigrant founder ecosystem

* Why we immigrants need to build things

* The differences she’s seen between the Nigerian tech ecosystem and the Canadian tech ecosystem, and more.

Folks, we need to build things. Real things. Economic power is everything. It’s one of the best ways to get a foothold in the society.

P.S. I think Rebecca’s episode is a good follow-up on my interview with Eric Agyemang of Maple Bridge VC earlier this year:

Official Links

👋🏽 Follow Rebecca on LinkedIn

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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 am speaking with Rotimi Fawole, lawyer, immigrant, writer, and DJ.

When we talk about immigrating to a new country, we often focus on how to get a job ASAP, finding a house, and all the other similar issues we have to deal with as we feel our way into the new society.

But we seem to forget or rather, we seem to gloss over understanding and adapting to the spoken and unspoken cultural nuances that guide social and professional interactions.

Code-switching. Adapting to the communication style and tone of the new country. Same thing.

And it’s not about learning to speak with the accent. Because you can speak phoneh, and still end up not passing your message across when it matters.

Code-switching isn’t about speaking with the accent. It’s you adapting your communication style to suit your new environment. And it’s a necessary skill.

One you’ll need to survive, especially at work. You can't play it by the ear. You MUST invest time in learning how to communicate or else you are always going to feel frustrated.

However, the fact that you are code-switching doesn't mean you should lose yourself in the process. Or allow everyone and anyone run roughshod over you.

In this conversation, we chat about code-switching, and how it’s a key element of settling down.

We also chatted about:

* Moving to the UK as a student, heading back to Nigeria because of the lure of Africa rising, and then moving back to the UK

* Managing your communication style at work as an immigrant

* Why it’s crucial to build a community of people who are an example of who you want to become in your new home

* Why it’s so hard for immigrants to bring their full selves to work

* Tips that can help you improve your communication style, and more.

Remember, we are products of how we are raised, so spend some time learning how things work.

Official Links

👋🏽 Follow Rotimi on X

🎶 Listen to Rotimi’s DJ mix

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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 an OG of Canadian immigration, Olufemiloye — known as Olú of Canada in the immigration circles.

The past few weeks, probably months, have been an interesting one for international students looking to immigrate to Canada for their studies.

Nothing is as it seems.

And while this can leave you feeling panicked. And tempted to do anything to get into the country before the "doors close on you," Olufemiloye thinks otherwise.

Olú moved to Canada as an international student over nine years ago, and has since dedicated himself to helping people find their way to Canada. Legally!

In this conversation, we chat about moving to Canada before japa (Nigerian slang for ‘to migrate’) became japa. We also talked about:

* Three plans you MUST have in place before immigrating as an international student

* The downstream effects of the Canadian system of governance on international students such as:

* The school in Atlantic Canada that took in so many students they had to start taking lectures in a cinema hall

* Tips for international students looking to move to Canada

* Why you should immigrate with a clear plan of action, and more.

Folks, I get it. Things look crazy right now. But be kind to yourselves. Look before you jump.

Official Links

👋🏽 Follow Olú on X

🔗 Get free immigration resources

🧑🏽‍🤝‍🧑🏿 Join the OJC Telegram community

Did you read it?

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 Helen Agbonison, founder of Africans & African Descendants in St. Albert.

Where is home? Your place of birth? Or where you feel loved and at peace?

I prefer to think it’s the latter.

And for Helen, it's the same. She's never felt a strong attachment to any place, but since moving to St Albert, she's found her calling. Her home. Her community.

In this conversation, Helen and I chat about moving to Canada 14 years ago, using Yahoo Answers to find friends in Canada as she and her family prepped for the big move. We also chat about:

* What it felt like to move to Canada 14 years ago

* Why St. Albert is HOME

* Why African immigrants struggle to integrate

* Why she launched the Africans & Africans Descendants in St. Albert community, and more.

It was so good to hear her talk about all the work the community is doing to preserve the African culture.

Official Links

👋🏽 Follow Helen on Instagram

👌🏽Learn more about Africans & Africans Descendants in St. Albert

Did you read it?

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 Matt Adolphe, author of the seminal book on the Canadian workplace culture, Mastering the Unspoken Rules.

What is the Canadian workplace culture? How do we immigrants adjust to the unspoken expectations of our colleagues and bosses in an indirect culture?

I’ve made my fair share of mistakes. Thankfully, they haven’t been so costly yet. I hope. So, this conversation with Matt was God-sent.

Born in Calgary, Canada, Matt moved to Asia after university and lived there for years. After moving back to Canada with his family, he found it hard to re-integrate into the Canadian workplace. In his words, "It wasn't an easy transition."

This experience, plus listening to the stories of immigrants and others who were struggling to understand the Canadian workplace culture inspired him to write THE BOOK on mastering the unspoken rules of the Canadian workplace.

I think his book is a seminal piece of work. A must-read for anyone who’s looking to work in Canada. Immigrant or not.

In this conversation, we chat about his book and its impact. We also chatted about:

* Why the Canadian work culture won’t change dramatically despite immigration

* The differences between the Canadian and American workplace culture

* Steps to take to help you adjust to your Canadian workplace

* How to have hard conversations in Canada

* Why being culturally adaptable is a superpower

* And the concept of bringing our whole self to work.

This was such a good good episode. Jeez.

I’ll leave you with this: You don’t lose your sense of identity when you adopt a new culture. You become a much better and rounded individual.

Official Links

👋🏽 Follow Matt on LinkedIn

📚 Get a copy of THE BOOK: Canadian Workplace Culture: Mastering the Unspoken Rules

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Did you read it?

Two months ago, Nelly Kawira shared a hilarious thread on Twitter about all she’s learned and achieved since moving to London two years ago.

Well, she’s published an updated version on The Newcomers, with some great images to boot.

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 to Maryam Atoyebi, who moved from Nigeria to Canada in the midst of the COVID-19 lockdown.

The COVID-19 pandemic was a strange time. Loved ones falling sick. Then passing away. The lockdowns. The terror from not knowing who had the virus and who didn't. The social isolation.

And the subsequent breakdown of the first layer of trust that guides how a society behaves in public.

For immigrants like Maryam, this meant settling down into a new society was hard. 2X harder than it should normally be.

I moved in 2021, so I didn't fully experience what it felt like as everyone tried to navigate the new rules for societal interaction. But the little I experienced was emotionally tasking. I can't even begin to imagine what it was like for Maryam and others who moved to a new country about that time.

In this conversation, we chat about all the feels while trying to settle down during the pandemic. We also chatted about:

* Her biggest mistakes

* How to use informational interviews to build your confidence when job hunting and interviewing

* Handling the loss of identity that comes with being put into a box when you move to a new society

* And intersectionality as a skill set.

I’ll leave you with this great piece of advice from Maryam: Understand that every piece of advice you get from other immigrants is contextual. It’s often coming from a good place, but its colored by their experience, their bias, and their perspective or view of the world.

Your job is to apply your context to what you hear.

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📝 Learn more about makingTheMove

Did you read it?

Two months ago, Nelly Kawira shared a hilarious thread on Twitter about all she’s learned and achieved since moving to London two years ago.

Well, she’s published an updated version on The Newcomers, with some great images to boot.

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 Tobi Oluwole, former Shopify sales manager, employability coach, and a great human.

If there’s one person that exemplifies living life on your terms no matter what the world throws at you, it’s Tobi Oluwole.

Tobi immigrated to Canada against his will. As the first-born in a Nigerian home, he had to grow up quickly. This meant moving on after his dream of being a footballer didn’t work out.

Yes, Tobi the employability and communications coach once went on trials at Chelsea Football Club and West Ham United FC.

This meant quickly figuring out a way to live the life he’s always wanted to live.

And oh, I think he’s figured it all out.

In this conversation, we explored his move to Canada. We also chatted about:

* Why he’s relocated to France

* How to break out of societal conditioning

* Trying out as a footballer in London. I also share a crazy football trials story of mine I rarely talk about.

* His secret for hitting the ground running when he moves to a new country.

Here’s my biggest takeaway from this episode with Tobi: In life you get unlimited tries. As an immigrant, this is an important heuristic to adopt.

Keep going my friend, you’ve got this.

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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 Gwen Lafage, whom I would call a serial immigrant. She's lived in the UK, the United States, Sweden, and then back to the United States.

And in her words, "Every move changes you."

However, I think one of the most important point she makes in this episode are the tradeoffs you have to make when you move to a new country. Family relationships become fragile. Friendships collapse. You find it hard to make new friends.

Especially if you're someone like Gwen who's always on the move. Being an immigrant can be lonely journey.

In this conversation, Gwen and I chat about her time at Sweden. We also explored:

* How culture influences our everyday life

* The concept of identity as an immigrant

* The concept of home

* The tradeoffs we have to make as immigrants

* Who she becomes when she gets to France, and more.

This episode was therapy for I and Gwen. And I hope it is for you too.

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👋🏽 Follow Gwen on LinkedIn

Did you read this?

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 Eyitayo Ogunmola, founder of Utiva, a technology talent development startup.

For some people, and I would say for me to an extent, immigrating meant just leaving Nigeria with no clear idea if we would ever go back. Not for Eyitayo.

Eyitayo moved to the United States as an Atlas Corps fellow in 2015. While doing research on tech talent development, discovered there was a need to build a talent development edtech business that could export or outsource African engineers, developers, and similar, globally.

And so Utiva was born in 2018. But as he says on LinkedIn, "I thought this was first a joke. I made so many terrible startup mistakes. Please don't try this at home."

Utiva has gone on to upskill 110K people from 19 African countries and helped over 500 companies source African tech talent.

Eyitayo joined me to talk about the concept of reverse immigration and seeing immigrating as a chance to learn and then bring that knowledge back home. He also shared:

* His go-to playbook for settling into a new country

* Getting intimidated by the accent at his first conference

* The power and beauty of sharing the African perspective

* Adjusting to life in the United States after moving, and more.

Here’s my takeaway for you: You don’t immigrate with cash. You immigrate with a skill.

I agree that I am stripping away some nuance there as cash-flow is an advantage in many ways. But this probably applies more to young folks looking to immigrate.

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👋🏽 Follow Eyitayo on LinkedIn

🔗 Learn more about Utiva

Did you read this?

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 Romu Gaboriau, who moved to the United States 15 years ago after spending a significant part of his childhood wondering if everything was bigger in the U.S.A.

The American mythology is a fascinating study. As a kid born in 1980s Nigeria, the United States was the ultimate dream. I wanted to go live there. I wanted to see if all I read about in the colorful magazines my Dad brought back home from work was real.

So heck, was I surprised to hear Romu say it was same for him in France. America is such a cultural force.

In this conversation, we chat about what it’s like to move from France to the United States. We also talked about:

* The differences between France and America; food, making friends, and doing business

* Struggling with the English Language

* Raising kids with dual identities

* Tips for settling into a new country if you don’t speak the native language.

This was a good one. Enjoy.

Here’s my takeaway for you: Forget about learning the accent. Learn to communicate first. As immigrants, we often trip ourselves up because we want to learn how to speak with the accent. Yes, it probably makes you blend in better.

But…

Learn how to pass your message as clearly as possible before worrying about an accent. It might come in the end. Or you might never have one. And that’s okay.

As long as everyone understands you, you’ll be FINE!

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👋🏽 Follow Romu on LinkedIn

Did you read this?

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 Mujidah Sakibu, product manager, job search coach, and 3X immigrant.

The job market is brutal, and it doesn’t seem to be letting up anytime soon. This can be discouraging for new immigrants to Canada or those looking to move.

I mean, the bills don’t wait. Plus, they can quickly rack up, especially if you’ve got a family or dependents. So, in a bid to make sure you get over this hump as fast as possible, most new immigrants go into an application frenzy.

Is this good or bad? The experts say you should get in as many applications as possible.

Mujidah has a slight tweak to this process. Remember folks, jobs might have the same title but different organizational needs. And then you also have the fact that we all have what we are really good at.

However, desperation to get that first offer means we forget this. And that’s okay, honestly.

But what if you could approach job hunting 5X better?

In this conversation, we explore her job-hunting process that enabled her to get a six-figure job within seven weeks of landing in Canada. We also chat about:

* Her two failed attempts to immigrate

* Mistakes immigrants make when looking for their first job

* And how settling into Canada was a bit easier because of her experience in Belgium.

I know the job market is tough folks. Sending you love and light. You’ve got this!

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👋🏽 Follow Mujidah on LinkedIn

📆 Book a career call

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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 Yawa Degboe, who moved to Paris, France as a 4yo. Years later, she moved across the Atlantic to Boston, United States.

So, a second-generation immigrant during her time in France. And now a first-generation immigrant in the United States. One would be forgiven to think she would be more French than Togolese. Because I did. think so.

Nothing could be further from the truth.

Yawa is all about embracing her French and Togolese identities. And I agree. Very often, you hear immigrants talk about discarding who they used to be so they can assimilate into the new culture.

You aren't doing yourself any favors if you march down that road.

The advantage of being an immigrant is the unique individual you become when you merge your old self and the new self. You create something so beautiful, so different, so special.

But back to Yawa. In this conversation, we chat about her journey as a first-generation immigrant to the United States. We also explored:

* Dealing with survival mentality

* The various identities we immigrants carry with us

* The advantages of being an immigrant

* How she’s using the lessons she’s learned from her Mom to create a new future for the next generation

* Tips for French immigrants looking to move to an English-speaking country, and more beautiful stuff.

Integrate folks. Don’t assimilate.

Official Links

👋🏽 Follow Yawa on LinkedIn

Did you read this?

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 Kris Granger, who immigrated from Trinidad to Sweden four years ago.

The immigrant experience can be stressful, so stressful that Kris ended up with Stage 4 cancer.

His story is amazing. Inspiring. Humbling.

Kris moved to Sweden with his girlfriend at the time to further her music career. He was going to be a digital nomad and service his marketing strategy clients from Sweden. She would move ahead with her music career. "I thought I could do anything," he says. Boy, was he wrong?

A couple of months later, Kris was running thrice as fast to keep up with all life was throwing at him. He was losing his clients back home, he hadn't been able to get a job in Sweden, and things were getting desperate.

He ended up getting a maternity cover role at an agency after volunteering with the European Union. But he had to make ends meet, so he still hustled hard for clients back home. He also accepted a guest lecturing position at the University of Gothenburg. This continued for a while.

By the time he got his dream job at Volvo, after applying over 50 times, Kris's life was falling apart.

His marriage was falling apart.

His body was falling apart.

In this conversation, we chat about surviving Stage 4 cancer and finding family and community at his Volvo workplace. We also talked about:

* The power of volunteering as an immigrant

* Why making a decision to fall in love with his city was the first step to falling in love with his new life

* The checklist life of an immigrant and how it can lead to dreadful outcomes

* The importance of breaking into the existing friendship circles because these are often the work circles, and more.

This was some episode. My biggest takeaway: if you move in your 30s, seek community. Seek stability. We trivialize all we walked away from in our former life.

Our family. Our friends. Our colleagues. Or the cultural cachets that make it easy for us to approach every day as if it’s nothing.

Moving to a new country resets you. The stress of trying to settle in, get a job, while also being a good parent and partner can literally kill you.

Here’s Kris’s approach to finding his community:1. Seek out spaces where you feel alive. Look for groups or classes that truly interest you – those are the places where real connections form.2. Give first, without asking. When people feel your genuine willingness to help, trust follows.3. Say yes to small, unexpected opportunities. It’s often the smallest steps that open the biggest doors.

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👋🏽 Follow Kris on LinkedIn

🫁 Learn more about Grounding—a free, 7-day meditation experience

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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 Daniel Bernhard, the CEO of the Institute for Canadian Citizenship (ICC).

Anti-immigration sentiment in Canada is at a 30-year high and growing. Some of the recent takes on immigrants and the problems they bring with them make for an interesting read.

But, let’s pause for a bit…are we misdiagnosing the Canadian immigration problem?

Are we addressing the right issues? Or in a hurry to sound right and get a word in, we've simplified a complex and nuanced conversation into a good vs. bad debate.

Daniel believes we can have a better conversation about Canadian immigration. One that's much broader, accommodates all the nuances, and, most importantly, considers everyone affected —Canadians and immigrants.

In this conversation, we explore the two sides of the international student debate. We also chat about:

* Why we MUST view immigration from an outcome-based lenses

* Why The Leaky Bucket Report 2024 and Talent to win study are part of a bigger story

* Why the student route should be the best immigration pathway for Canada, and more.

This conversation validated a lot of thoughts that I have about immigration. My biggest takeaway as an immigrant: We need to address everyone’s interest. It’s a Canada conversation. If all I consider is my immigrant POV, nothing moves forward.

Shoutout to George Carothers and his team for the amazing work they’ve done with the Leaky Bucket report and the Talent to Win study. Read them here 👇🏽

* The Leaky Bucket Report 2024

* Talent to win Study

Official Links

👋🏽 Follow Daniel on LinkedIn

👌🏽 Learn more about the Institute for Canadian Citizenship

🔗 Learn more about the Canoo app

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 Tope Fajingbesi, ex-Global Chief Financial Officer of Ashoka, and Founder of She-EO, a company focused on helping women of African descent develop resilience, grow, and become catalysts for positive change.

For many immigrants, speaking a second language is a core part of their identity. In some cases, they speak as many as four languages. For example, I am fluent in English and my native tongue Igbo. I also understand a smattering of Hausa (the language spoken in the Northern part of Nigeria) and French.

But once we move to a new country, we seem to do a poor job of transferring these gifts to our kids.

Tope Fajingbesi thinks we are doing worse than a poor job. She believes we are robbing our kids.

We are robbing them of the language.

We are robbing them of their cultural heritage.

We are robbing them of a core part of their identity.

And I think she makes a great point. In this conversation, the farmer lady and I chat about the immigrant identity. We also explored

* How she deals with unconscious bias

* Food as a way to build community

* The immigrant mentality

* Why she thinks America hasn’t changed in the past 22 years she’s lived there

* And why we must be deliberate as immigrants.

Enjoy!

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👋🏽 Follow Tope on LinkedIn

🔗 Learn more about She-EO

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 Douglas Price — award-winning music teacher and composer turned personal finance educator, and author of Seventeen To Millionaire.

When planning to immigrate to Canada, we often spend a considerable amount of time learning about schools, where to find a house, the cost of groceries, the best cities to find a job, rental costs, and more. We rarely bother trying to understand how the Canadian financial system works.

It doesn't help that once you land and walk into a bank to open an account, the banks stuff a credit card into your palms and ask you to review dozens of forms and sign.

So it's not surprising that when we ignore the one thing that underpins most of the factors mentioned above, we experience a significant drop in financial confidence as we battle with our settling-in checklist. Check out Interac Corp’s survey on newcomer's financial confidence.

I was no different. And if I could go back in time, the one biggest thing I would have done differently is to buy the book, Seventeen to a Millionaire by Douglas Price.

Yes, it was written for a seventeen-year-old in Canada. But I dare say as a newcomer to Canada, we are all like 17yos when it comes to understanding the nuts and bolts of the Canadian financial system.

In this conversation, we chat about his book and why it’s a MUST-READ for newcomers.

We also talked about:

* The golden rules of making money in Canada

* How to approach the world of credit

* Why he thinks the TFSA is one of the best tools for saving and investing money

* The money truths he’s learned while working on the book

* And the backstory of how the book came to life

Enjoy.

P.S. Seventeen to Millionaire is currently #1 on Amazon’s Personal Financial Planning book list and was chosen by Moneysense contributors, influencers, and money experts as one of the top 25 timeless personal finance books.

Official Links

📚 Buy Seventeen To Millionaire on Amazon

👌🏽 Learn more about Douglas’s approach to money

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 Izunna Dike, immigrant, chef, and all-round jolly fellow.

When we move to a new country, the traditional dishes we bring along with us change over time, shaped by the realities of ingredients availability, the need to adapt the meal to our new friend’s palate, and experimentation.

If properly harnessed, these culinary transformations can serve as an entry point into understanding the people who cook the food.

For Izunna Dike, it was no different.

The interesting thing was Izunna didn't always cook when he lived in Nigeria aside from random requests by his parents to knock together a meal for them.

After moving to the UK as a teenager, and spending a year without eating Nigerian food due to his living circumstances, Izunna started to cook as a way to hold onto his heritage.

And he’s never looked back. Cooking become a way for him to write a love letter to home while experimenting with hybrid meals.

In this conversation, we chat about the relationship between food and culture. We also explored:

* How he replicates Nigerian flavors in Canada

* The three Nigerian dishes he would make if he was asked to cook for a global audience

* How he balances authenticity and adaptation when fusing Nigerian flavors with flavors from other cultures, and a lot more good stuff.

P.S. Did you know that if you added Cameroonian pepper to your mashed potatoes it would taste much much better? Try it this holiday season and let me know.

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🤌🏽 Follow Izunna on Instagram

🎬 Izunna’s YouTube channel

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 Ozoz Sokoh, a Nigerian food writer, explorer, educator, and author of Chop Chop: Cooking the Food of Nigeria.

The late Quincy Jones once said, "Music is the melody of the gods." I agree, and I would add that food is the flavor of the gods.

Food is everything. What and how we eat says a lot about us. More importantly, it tells a little about our history, and, in some cases, it’s one of the motifs we use as an expression of our culture and our traditions.

For immigrants, food carries an ever deeper meaning. Not to be dramatic, but it’s a link to the past [taste/nostalgia], a bridge to the future [the evolution of said meal in a new place], and a way to hold on to identity in the murky world of being an immigrant.

In this conversation, we chat about food as identity. We also explored:

* How cooking or eating familiar dishes bring a sense of home and belonging, even in unfamiliar environments

* Why understanding the essence and history of a dish is important

* Why recording the history of a meal is key to preserving the cultural heritage of a people

* The roles institutional bias and racism in food media play in hindering the representation of certain cuisines, and more good stuff.

But that’s not all the good stuff. She’s also shared some zesty food recipes.

Five Nigerian recipes you can try this Christmas holidays

* Nigerian pepper soup: One of my personal favorites. I think it tastes better with goat meat. But you decide.

* Agbalumo Carrot Cake: You’ll probably need to check the African store nearby for agbalumo.

* Cassava and Coconut Salad: Ozoz has taken a popular Nigerian street food, Abacha, and turned it into something that not only looks delicious, but might have a broader appeal. I’m definitely trying this out over the holidays.

* Zobo: Everyone has to try Zobo at least once in their life.

* Yedem’blong: This is one meal I’m going to need help putting together. But it does sound enticing. Kolanut with pepper sauce. Who’s got some adventure in them?

Official Links

👋🏽 Follow Ozoz on Instagram

🖊️ Sign up for her Kitchen Butterfly newsletter for more re-imagined Nigerian recipes

📚 Buy her book here

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 Milan Sanghani — Founder of EdMission, and an immigrant entrepreneur on a mission to make it easier for students looking to move abroad for a higher education.

But Milan wasn't always on this path.

Nine years ago, all Milan thought about was a research-based MSc in drug metabolism. But after failing to get into schools in Canada, Australia, United States, and a couple of other countries, he started using all the learnings he had picked up trying and failing to get admissions to schools abroad to help prospective students in India with their higher education plans.

Milan finally moved to Canada in 2021 mid-pandemic to study Entrepreneurship at Carleton University, Ottawa.

In this conversation, we chat about his journey from international student to edtech entrepreneur, moving amidst the pandemic, and how he thinks we can improve the Canadian international students program.

He also shared:

* How to avoid fraudulent ghost agents

* Settling into Canada and dealing with the lack of trust during the lockdown

* Common misconceptions international students have

* And the mindset you need to have to succeed as an international student.

My biggest takeaway: Your best source of information are sources like the IRCC website (I know this is a nightmare to navigate) and the university website.

Official Links

👋🏽 Follow Milan on LinkedIn

👌🏽 Learn more about EdMission

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 passionately curious Onyeka Okonkwo, a risk manager at KPMG UK, and a money coach.

As an immigrant, it's easy to feel the need to show up and represent your home country's brand. To be great. To be of good behaviour. To show that your people are worth it.

Especially now. Especially with all that's going on in the world at this time. When immigrants have become the next best thing to blame for all that's wrong with society.

It can be tiring.

So, I think we should take Onyeka Okonkwo’s advice…learn to give ourselves some grace. Give yourself permission to fail. To try again. To make mistakes. To live. To love. To enjoy everyday.

Onyeka joined me on The Newcomers to chat about why she left Nigeria. We also talked about:

* Working in Lagos vs. working in London

* Finding her footing in her new home

* Her approach to dealing with all the stuff immigrating to a new country throws at you

* The burden of black tax

* Learning to advocate for herself, and more.

Again, give yourself some grace, dear immigrant. You’ve got this.

Official Links

👋🏽 Follow Onyeka on LinkedIn

🖊️ Sign up for Onyeka’s Financial Life Workshop

🎬 Onyeka’s YouTube channel

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 Alfred Kainga, the funniest comic I've listened to in a long while. No jokes.

But it took some work to get to where he is today. Here’s a clip from one of his recent shows:

Alfred moved to the United States as a 19yo and worked hard at honing his craft after his day job. After years of pushing hard to break through the noise, Rudy Rush passed his name to Kevin Hart as an upcoming comic who could open for Kevin on his 2016 Comedy Central show.

Everything changed for Alfred after that gig.

In this conversation, we chat about adjusting to life in the United States. We also explored:

* Dealing with survival mode

* Why he’s never regretted immigrating to the United States even though he originally wanted to move to South Africa

* The American diet

* And a ton of jokes along the way.

This was a hilarious conversation.

Official Links

👋🏽 Follow Alfred on Instagram

👌🏽 Follow Alfred on TikTok

ICYMI

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 Olia Stasiuk, Founder of Bonzai AI, author, and all-round superhero.

We immigrants - especially if you are one of the privileged ones like myself who didn’t have to learn a new language when we moved - underestimate how hard it is to deal with the double whammy of trying to settle into a new country, new culture, and new lifestyle while trying to learn a new language at the same time.

Olia had to deal with that double whammy.

Did she have doubts? Yes. Did she feel hurt when people corrected her? Yes.

But that didn't stop her. Olia has gone from struggling to communicate to finding her footing, writing an Amazon bestselling book, and launching an AI startup that's made Canada's Top 100 AI Startups two years in a row.

In this conversation, Olia and I explored working through her limitations. We also chatted about:

* The difference between living and working in the United States and Canada as an immigrant

* The concept of the immigrant identity

* Why moving to a new country is like gaining a superpower

* Her go-to tip for anyone looking to immigrate, and a ton of good stuff.

My biggest takeaway: Cultural integration is a choice and we can often feel that we need to shed our old identity to adopt the new identity. But you are better off finding a way to integrate both identities.

That’s your superpower. That’s what makes you unique.

Official Links

👋🏽 Follow Olia on LinkedIn

👌🏽 Learn more about Bonzai AI

📚 Get yourself a copy of the 66 Days SUCCESS Formula

ICYMI

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 Matthew McDonald - RCIC consultant, immigrant, and an all-round great human.

The immigrant conversation is a human conversation, then an economic one.

But when you read some of the phrasing people use when describing immigrants, you would be forgiven if you imagined UCI numbers walking around Canada instead of humans.

Matthew McDonald, RCIC, is one of the few who buck the trend and bring the human into the immigration process. He describes his job as 80% emotional support, 20% legal advice.

Matthew moved to Argentina from Canada two years ago with his husband. And the process of settling into a new country has been a great lesson on what his clients experience when they move to Canada.

In this conversation, we explored his experience settling into his new home. We also chatted about:

* Why it’s hard to make friends as an immigrant

* How we can have a better Canadian immigrant conversation

* Adding humans to the Canadian immigration process

* The relationship between social integration and professional integration.

Biggest takeaway: We need big ideas about how we make immigrants feel part of the Canadian society. And Matthew has got some.

Official Links

👋🏽 Follow Matthew on LinkedIn

☕ Schedule a virtual coffee with Matthew

ICYMI

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 David Moscrop, host of The David Moscrop Show, and author of Too Dumb for Democracy? Why We Make Bad Political Decisions and How We Can Make Better Ones.

David’s piece on the dangers of a cynical immigrant debate had me theorizing some dark scenarios. But the bigger question that I had and one we also explored in our conversation was:

Shouldn’t we be asking our politicians much harder questions? And are we solving for the real issues or looking for the next available scapegoat?

The cynical utilitarian arguments sounds sexy. But we need to push for a better Canadian immigrant conversation because in the end, we all share commons struggles regardless of where we come from.

In this conversation, David and I explore the politics of resource scarcity and scapegoating. We also chat about:

* How building community and solidarity can break down the arbitrary divisions certain narratives encourage

* The dehumanizing immigrant conversation and why it’s a dangerous path to take

* The need to balance technical immigration policy discussions with human rights and a sense of dignity

* The power and limitations of personal stories, and a lot of good stuff.

Official Links

👋🏽 Follow David on LinkedIn

🎬 David’s YouTube channel

🖊️ Sign up for David’s Substack

📚 Buy the Too Dumb for Democracy book

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 Maryanne Aghalu, who moved to Canada in 2016 for her MSc, leaving a blossoming career in consulting behind.

Maryanne was so sure she was going to go back to Nigeria. Choosing to come to Canada was possible because PwC Nigeria gave her a two-year study leave.

“I was going to study, get some international work experience, and then head back,” she says. Well, she’s still here.

In this conversation, Maryanne and I chat about deciding to stay back in Canada. We also explore:

* Spending her maternity leave in Nigeria

* What home means to her now

* Underestimating how much immigrating changes us

* The cultural gifts we owe our kids, and more good stuff.

Something to ponder on: We unconsciously adopt the cultural nuances of our new country but we often only notice how much we’ve integrated when we go back to visit.

Official Links

👋🏽 Follow Maryanne on LinkedIn

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 Noha Tanahi, Settlement Services Manager at TIEs (The Immigrant Education Society).

Noha moved to Canada from Egypt looking for a fresh start 20 years ago. But it didn’t take long to start missing home. “I started missing Egypt as I landed at the Montreal airport,” she says.

Settling in didn't get any easier. She landed in Montreal, moved to Calgary, then Fort McMurray, then back to Calgary. Stressed, frustrated, and angry, Noha called a shelter for women asking for space so she could leave her home.

That phone call changed her life.

In this conversation, Noha and I explore the concept of being a newborn when you move to a new country. We also chat about:

* How settling into a new country often veers from the perfect script we have in our heads

* The loneliness that comes with settling down especially if you don’t stay in a city long enough to make friends

* Getting fired from her first job after eight hours

* Volunteering and how it led her to her job

* Her work at TIES and why she would do her job for free

Official Links

👋🏽 Follow Noha on LinkedIn

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 Feyi Fawehinmi, accountant, writer and author of Formation: The Making of Nigeria from Jihad to Amalgamation.

When Feyi moved to London in 2004 to study, there were relatively few Nigerians in the United Kingdom compared to today. Most of the folks he met came either as students or through work permits that tied them to specific employers.

21 years later, all that has changed. Different immigration programs such as the Highly Skilled Migrant Program (HSMP) that ended in 2008 meant more Nigerians, including folks who felt they had "hit a ceiling" in Nigeria's job market, moved to the United Kingdom without the limitations of a work or study permit.

In this conversation, Feyi and I explore what his immigration journey has been like. We also chat about:

* Why time is key to integration and building a stable life

* Dealing with the loss of status and starting over

* Why integration should happen on your own terms

* Why newcomers need to be ruthless in the company they keep, and a lot of good stuff.

Official Links

👋🏽 Follow Feyi on X

📚 Buy the Formation: The Making of Nigeria from Jihad to Amalgamation book

🖊️ Read Agùntáṣǫólò Notes

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 Bryan Caplan, Professor of Economics at George Mason University and New York Times bestselling author. He’s the author of Open Borders, one of the best books on immigration in my opinion, The Myth of the Rational Voter, named "the best political book of the year" by the New York Times, and Build, Baby, Build.

It is human nature to find someone or something else to blame for our problems. And it's been a well-played hand in the Canadian immigration debate in the past ten months or more.

But as Bryan says, 'Shouldn't we be focused on addressing the real problems? If we have a housing problem, focus on deregulating the housing sector and build more housing. If the problem is crime, then improve law enforcement rather than blame the newcomers.'

In this conversation, Bryan and I chat about the economic gains from immigration. We also explored:

* Scapegoating versus tackling the real problems

* Lessons from the Gulf Monarchies approach to immigration

* The Canadian immigration conversation

* Why Open Borders is back in print, and a lot of other good stuff.

Official Links

👋🏽 Follow Bryan on X

📚 Buy the Open Borders book

📚 Buy the Build, Baby, Build book

📰 Read Bryan’s blog Bet On It

To celebrate #IWD2025, The Newcomers Podcast will be publishing daily episodes between March 2nd - 8th celebrating a female immigrant. Come celebrate with us as we tell the stories of some of the many amazing immigrant heroines.

Join us as we explore the bitter-sweet world of the immigrant.

In our first #IWD2025 episode, I’m speaking with Maroro Zinyemba, Zimbabwean-Canadian, and Dean, Faculty of Skills & Foundational Learning, NorQuest College, Edmonton, Alberta.

"Home to me is where your roots are. So no matter where in the world you end up... you are rooted somewhere in something."

As an immigrant, the concept of identity, home, language, and heritage can be a challenging conversation, especially if you have kids.

How do you pass on your cultural values, nuances and all the subtleties of your identity to your kids? How do you keep your mother tongue going strong within the family?

Remember, the kids are only interested in surviving playground politics and will learn the language and cultural nuances that help them make friends.

In this conversation, Maroro and I explore the concept of home and how context influences her identity. We also chat about:

* The challenges of passing on our language to our kids

* Why ecosystems or community structures are key to passing on the language

* Language as a form of identity

* The fluidity of the immigrant identity, and more good stuff.

Official Links

👋🏽 Follow Maroro on LinkedIn

♀️Get involved in #IWD2025

To celebrate #IWD2025, The Newcomers Podcast will be publishing daily episodes between March 2nd - 8th celebrating a female immigrant. Come celebrate with us as we tell the stories of some of the many amazing immigrant heroines.

Join us as we explore the bitter-sweet world of the immigrant.

For our second #IWD2025 episode, I’m speaking with Wunmi Adekanmbi, lecturer and biochemist researcher turned immigrant tech talent advocate, and Founder of Immigrant Techies Alberta.

There's this quote on Wunmi's LinkedIn profile that exemplifies how she approaches the immigrant journey and her life in general:

“There are no paths anywhere, paths are made by walking.”

Antonio Machado

Wunmi moved to Canada in 2011 with high expectations as a highly skilled biochemist lecturer and researcher. “I came here with the mindset of Canada is looking for me because I had been handpicked by Canada to bring all my awesome skill set here,” she says.

But after three years of trying break into academia in Canada, she had to change tack and reinvent herself.

Her experience of career disruption plus the frustrating waste of immigrant talent Canada has been famous for in the past decade led to the birth of Immigrant Techies Alberta, a tech enthusiast group for highly-skilled immigrants (and those who share similar interests) who are already in or are interested in pivoting to tech careers and startups.

In this conversation, Wunmi and I explore her immigration journey and all the lessons it came with. We also chat about:

* The psychological toll of career disruptions

* Why immigrants need to manage or run the immigrant settlement services

* Her biggest wins with Immigrant Techies Alberta

* Why we mustn’t settle for less, and a ton of other good stuff.

Official Links

👋🏽 Follow Wunmi on LinkedIn

🫶🏽 Join the Immigrant Techies Alberta group

To celebrate #IWD2025, The Newcomers Podcast will be publishing daily episodes between March 2nd - 8th celebrating a female immigrant. Come celebrate with us as we tell the stories of some of the many amazing immigrant heroines.

Join us as we explore the bitter-sweet world of the immigrant.

For our third #IWD2025 episode, I’m speaking with Kateryna Havrylova, Co-Owner and CEO, Best Solution Windows & Doors.

Helplessness, panic, worry, uncertainty, guilt, longing...Kateryna has probably felt all these emotions and more in the past two years. A routine family vacation for her husband's birthday turned into an extended stay in Poland when Russia invaded Ukraine on February 24th, 2022.

Her city (Kharkiv) was among the first to be occupied by Russian forces. And so with her 3yo and husband in tow, Kateryna moved to Germany after some months in Poland, then Germany, then back to Poland, and then Canada.

Canada was supposed to be a 10-day visit to spend time with some familiar faces. However, the family made the spontaneous decision to stay because Canada felt welcoming and safe.

For the first time in a while, Kateryna wasn't afraid anymore.

In this conversation, Kateryna and I explore the impact of the war on her 3yo son and her relationship with her parents and grandmother. We also chat about:

* Her unfounded fears of integration

* Becoming antifragile

* Why she feels safe in Canada

* Losing her car import business and starting afresh

* Tips for newcomers to Canada, and more good stuff.

Kateryna is a superhero!

Official Links

👋🏽 Follow Kateryna on LinkedIn

🫶🏽 Check out Kateryna’s new business, Best Solution Windows & Doors

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To celebrate #IWD2025, The Newcomers Podcast will be publishing daily episodes between March 2nd - 8th celebrating a female immigrant. Come celebrate with us as we tell the stories of some of the many amazing immigrant heroines.

Join us as we explore the bitter-sweet world of the immigrant.

For our fourth #IWD2025 episode, I'm speaking with Shamira Madhany, Managing Director & Deputy Executive Director at World Education Services (WES).

“We're having the wrong conversation about immigration.” If there's one person qualified to say this, It's Shamira. Her family came to Canada from Kenya in the early 1970s, fleeing potential political instability after Idi Amin expelled Ugandan Asians.

Despite being well-educated with business experience, Shamira's father couldn't find employment in his field. Her father took a job at a golf club (cleaning, picking up towels), while her mother worked in a factory.

This experience led to Shamira's life mission—solving the disconnect between Canada's need for workers and the barriers preventing high-skilled immigrants from getting jobs.

In her words, “I don’t want to give out umbrellas anymore because it’s too tiring. I want to change the climate.”

In this conversation, Shamira and I explore how it felt watching her parents struggle to find their footing after immigrating to Canada. We also chat about:

* Why she joined WES

* The economic impact of immigrant underemployment

* The cost of workforce shortages to Canadian businesses

* The biggest issue with the Canadian immigration system

* How we can connect the macro (immigration policy) with the micro (the immigrant experience

* The work she and a host of other amazing souls are doing to make it easier for high-skilled immigrants to get the jobs they deserve, and more good stuff.

Official Links

👋🏽 Follow Shamira on LinkedIn

🫶🏽 Learn more about WES

To celebrate #IWD2025, The Newcomers Podcast will be publishing daily episodes between March 2nd - 8th celebrating a female immigrant. Come celebrate with us as we tell the stories of some of the many amazing immigrant heroines.

Join us as we explore the bitter-sweet world of the immigrant.

For our fifth #IWD2025 episode, I'm speaking with Fatemeh Alhosseini, Executive Director at Impakt Foundation.

Resilience as a function of the system, personalized support, narrative therapy as a tool for cultural immersion, Fatemeh left me with a lot to think about after this conversation.

And I think it’ll be same for you.

Fatemeh moved to Canada from Iran 10 years ago as an international student. After an MA in Developmental Psychology, and then a PhD in same with a focus on resilience, she joined Impakt Foundation as the Executive Director.

In this conversation, Fatemeh and I chat about Impakt Foundation’s “for newcomers, by newcomers” model. We also explore:

* Moving to Canada 10 years ago to study

* Why we immigrants need to get involved in building and implementing immigrant settlement and support programs

* Why she chose to work at Impakt Foundation

* The Impakt Foundation origin story (The Tailor Project)

* Why resilience isn’t a personal feature, and more good stuff.

Official Links

👋🏽 Follow Fatemeh on LinkedIn

🫶🏽 Learn more about Impakt Foundation

💖 Learn more about The Tailor Project

To celebrate #IWD2025, The Newcomers Podcast will be publishing daily episodes between March 2nd - 8th celebrating a female immigrant. Come celebrate with us as we tell the stories of some of the many amazing immigrant heroines.

Join us as we explore the bitter-sweet world of the immigrant.

For our sixth #IWD2025 episode, I'm speaking with Sindhu Mahadevan, Quality Assurance Team Lead, Vital Bio, and creator of This Immigrant Life newsletter.

Sindhu moved from India to to the United States as an international student. After nine years in Uncle Sam's country, she moved to Canada as a permanent resident.

The immigration journey comes with an interesting emotional burden that shapes how an immigrant engages with their everyday life. And for individuals on a temporary status, the uncertainty often has them in a state of existential anxiety:

* Will I get kicked out if I lose my job?

* How do I go on PTO even though I am feeling burnt out?

In her words, “Canada was where I truly felt at home. People will say immigration is just paperwork, you shouldn't let it define you...I think it sounds good for the movies, but it makes a huge difference what that scrap of paper says.”

In this conversation, Sindhu and I chat about the differences between the immigration systems of Canada and the United States. We also explore:

* The renegotiation of identity that comes with being an immigrant

* Her relationship with borders

* Finding belonging in Canada

* How to approach Canadian immigration in 2025,

* Plus a vetted list of immigration experts you can follow on LinkedIn.

Official Links

👋🏽 Follow Sindhu on LinkedIn

👉🏽 Sign up for Sindhu’s This Immigrant Life newsletter

📰 Read about Sindhu’s story on CBC Canada

🗣️ Follow Sindhu’s vetted list of immigrant experts:

* Matthew McDonald

* Kubeir Kamal

* Veronica Sepehr

* Madhur Parashar

To celebrate #IWD2025, The Newcomers Podcast will be publishing daily episodes between March 2nd - 8th celebrating a female immigrant. Come celebrate with us as we tell the stories of some of the many amazing immigrant heroines.

Join us as we explore the bitter-sweet world of the immigrant.

For our seventh and final #IWD2025 episode, I'm speaking with Rehana Malik-Mbanga, CEO, Stimbok Corporation, and Founder, When African Women Talk (WAWT).

As immigrants, we often tiptoe around the emotional and psychological toll immigration places on us. As Rehana puts it, “You are under immense pressure to achieve. You didn't come here to fail.”

Aside that, you are also expected to constantly represent your community in good light. And so we end up always in defense mode, always looking to swat away stereotypes and show that we are capable of being good, of being smart, of being worthy of recognition.

It’s exhausting.

To combat this and create a safe space where Black women can be themselves, Rehana founded WAWT.

In this conversation, Rehana and I chat about What it was like to move to Edmonton, Alberta 10+ years ago. We also explore:

* The idea of our “immigration age”

* The importance of rejecting victimhood narratives

* Creating genuine relationships through intentional community-building

* Launching WAWT and how her mission for the community changed along the way

* The diverse experiences of Black immigrants in Canada, and more great stuff.

Official Links

👋🏽 Connect with Rehana on LinkedIn

👉🏽 Apply to join WAWT

📰 Read the current issue of the WAWT magazine

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 Urmi Hossain, who after 14 years in Canada, still identifies as an Italian-Bengali living in Canada rather than Canadian.

In her words, “I feel like I'm betraying my origins if I put Canadian because I only became Canadian later on in my life.”

I find her position so fascinating because she's one of the few immigrants I've met who don't struggle with the state of in-betweenness - where you feel like you're suspended between your former culture and the new one.

To Urmi, Canada will always be her second home, the first place where she felt she could be comfortable in her dual identity. The first place where she met people who were navigating multiple cultural identities like herself. People who spoke more than one language. Unlike Italy where her friends were ‘strictly Italian.’

But...Urmi still thinks she probably is going to retire to Italy.

In this conversation, Urmi and I chat about Canada’s multiculturalism and how it helps people like her feel at home. We also explore:

* What do we mean when we say “Canadian culture”

* The quality of Canadian coffee vs. Italian coffee

* Choosing to move to Canada

* Why she’ll probably retire to Italy at some point, and more good stuff.

Official Links

👋🏽 Follow Urmi on LinkedIn

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 Iqbal Chowdhury, a Research and Teaching Assistant at Dalhousie University, Canada, whose academic work on immigrant integration and mental well-being is deeply informed by his personal journey to Canada.

When we talk about immigration, we often focus on the logistics or the challenges, such as finding a home or similar. Now these are important. But I think the the psychological journey of rebuilding your identity in a new country is probably more important.

And Iqbal’s research reveals how economic stability serves as the first steps towards cultural integration and belonging. You need economic security before you can truly engage with your new community.

Iqbal explains the troubling phenomenon of the "healthy immigrant effect" and how it deteriorates over time as newcomers struggle to find suitable employment that match their qualifications. This disconnect between expectations and reality ends up affecting the immigrant's mental health and integration process.

In this conversation, Iqbal and I chat about the stark contrast between our imagined and actual immigration experiences. We also explore:

* The work we need to do as immigrants to accept our multiple identities

* The importance of maintaining connections with one's cultural community while building new relationships

* How language barriers create cascading challenges in professional and social settings

* Finding the delicate balance between integrating into a new culture while honoring your heritage

* Plus, Iqbal shares practical advice for prospective immigrants to better prepare mentally for the journey ahead

Official Links

👋🏽 Follow Iqbal on LinkedIn

📚 Read about Iqbal’s research

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 Nella Gatumo, a lawyer who moved from Nairobi, Kenya to London, England for work.

One of the hardest things to rebuild as an immigrant is that invisible support system that you always took for granted. The brother you could call when things were topsy-turvy, the comfort of knowing what your colleague meant when they used a turn-of-phrase, the door that was always open with your Mom's smile waiting for you once you walked past the curtains.

This need to adapt and integrate means you suddenly find yourself second-guessing every interaction, every word you say, and everything you do. And through it all, life continues relentlessly back home.

As Nella puts it, “Life actually moves on. It doesn't stop from where you left it. People grow up. People die. People change.”

In this conversation, Nella and I explore the persistent duality we immigrants inhabit. We also chat about:

* Weighing the emotional costs of moving against career gains

* Making friends in London

* The famous British communication style

* Missing important milestones back home

* The emotional labor of maintaining meaningful connections with family from thousands of miles away, and a ton of other good stuff.

Official Links

👋🏽 Follow Nella on LinkedIn

👋🏽 Follow Nella on X

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 Tunji Banwo, who along with his bags, took his 11 years project management experience and moved from Nigeria to the UK.

He soon found out that moving to a new country is one thing. Building a career there is another challenge entirely. Cultural differences, workplace dynamics, and the dreaded "UK experience" barrier made the journey anything but easy.

In this conversation, Tunji and I explore him feeling like a misfit, struggling to be recognized, and the pressure to quickly assimilate. We also chat about:

* Overcoming the "UK experience" hurdle when job hunting

* Adjusting to the new workplace interactions and social norms

* Discrimination, bias, and how media shapes societal perceptions

* Tips for project managers intending to move to the UK, and a ton of other great stuff

Official Links

👋🏽 Follow Tunji on LinkedIn

📖 Buy Tunji’s book, No Blacks, No Whites, where he addresses issues of discrimination and bias in society

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 to Dikachi Chizim, who moved from Lagos, Nigeria to Freiberg, Germany for an MBA.

Germany isn't the typical destination for skilled Nigerian immigrants, especially in the past five years. According to Dikachi, even the Germans she met in Freiberg, a town of over 40,000 in Eastern Germany, were surprised she moved to their town to study. “Well, I came to study because tuition was free,” she says.

But the culture shock was dramatic. Now, this isn't surprising if you've been to both or any of the two cities. Lagos and Freiberg are different in every measurable way. From population to density to the economy to the urban character to the language.

“I was lost,” Dikachi says. Getting a student job became the unlikely path to understanding the language and how the country worked.

In this conversation, Dikachi and I chat about dealing with the contrast between Nigerian "African time" and famed German punctuality. We also explore:

* How her workplace became more valuable for integration than her international student community

* Passing her Nigerian cultural heritage to her German-born daughter

* The surprising differences between Eastern and Southern Germany's social climate

* Why optimism might be an immigrant's most valuable asset

Official Links

✅ Follow Dikachi on LinkedIn

✅ Sign up for Dikachi’s Thinking Out Loud newsletter

One Ask

If you found this story helpful, please forward or share it to one immigrant out there.

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 Nadine Niba, a passionate community builder and an author in the making.

Nadine moved to Canada about 10 years ago, and in that time, she's worked with three of the big four consulting firms. So if there's anyone qualified to speak about the experience of working as a Black woman and immigrant in Canada, it's Nadine.

While a lot of work has been done, Nadine thinks that Black women need less mentors, more sponsors. And I agree, because Black women are some of the most educated women you'll ever meet.

In this conversation, Nadine and I explore being Black and female in the Canadian workplace. We also chat about:

* Why immigrants need to stop selling themselves short in the job market

* Not being afraid to speak her truth

* Why we need to do a better job of educating potential immigrants back home

* How a sponsor changed her career trajectory, and more good stuff

Official Links

✅ Connect with Nadine on LinkedIn

✅ Chat with Nadine

One Ask

If you found this story helpful, please forward or share it to one immigrant out there.