The Newcomers Podcast 🎙️

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.Official Links👋🏽 Follow Tobi on LinkedIn💌 Subscribe to the Life on Your Terms newsletter🖊️ Apply for The Founder’s BlueprintDid you watch this? This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thenewcomerspod.com

Hello, I'd really like to grow this email list. If you enjoy this newsletter, it would mean the world to Jola and I if you encouraged one friend/fellow immigrant/colleague to subscribe…Very likely, the the only thing you will get in return is warm fuzzy feelings, and if I can attribute it to you, I’d personally send you a thank you email.Join us as we explore the bitter-sweet world of the immigrant.In this episode, I’m speaking 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. Official Links👋🏽 Follow Maryam on LinkedIn📝 Learn more about makingTheMoveDid 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. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thenewcomerspod.com

Hello, I'd really like to grow this email list. If you enjoy this newsletter, it would mean the world to Jola and I if you encouraged one friend/fellow immigrant/colleague to subscribe…Very likely, the the only thing you will get in return is warm fuzzy feelings, and if I can attribute it to you, I’d personally send you a thank you email.Join us as we explore the bitter-sweet world of the immigrant.In this episode, I’m speaking with 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📚 Explore his second book: Would You Hire You?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. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thenewcomerspod.com

Hello, I'd really like to grow this email list. If you enjoy this newsletter, it would mean the world to Jola and I if you encouraged one friend/fellow immigrant/colleague to subscribe…Very likely, the the only thing you will get in return is warm fuzzy feelings, and if I can attribute it to you, I’d personally send you a thank you email.Join us as we explore the bitter-sweet world of the immigrant.In this episode, I’m speaking with 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. AlbertDid you read it? This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thenewcomerspod.com

Hello, I'd really like to grow this email list. If you enjoy this newsletter, it would mean the world to Jola and I if you encouraged one friend/fellow immigrant/colleague to subscribe…Very likely, the the only thing you will get in return is warm fuzzy feelings, and if I can attribute it to you, I’d personally send you a thank you email.Join us as we explore the bitter-sweet world of the immigrant..In this episode, I’m speaking with 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 communityDid you read it? This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thenewcomerspod.com

Hello, I'd really like to grow this email list. If you enjoy this newsletter, it would mean the world to Jola and I if you encouraged one friend/fellow immigrant/colleague to subscribe…Very likely, the the only thing you will get in return is warm fuzzy feelings, and if I can attribute it to you, I’d personally send you a thank you email.Join us as we explore the bitter-sweet world of the immigrant.In this episode, I 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 mixDid you read it? This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thenewcomerspod.com

Hello, I'd really like to grow this email list. If you enjoy this newsletter, it would mean the world to Jola and I if you encouraged one friend/fellow immigrant/colleague to subscribe…Very likely, the the only thing you will get in return is warm fuzzy feelings, and if I can attribute it to you, I’d personally send you a thank you email.Join us as we explore the bitter-sweet world of the immigrant.In this episode, I’m speaking with 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 LinkedInDid 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. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thenewcomerspod.com

Hello, I'd really like to grow this email list. If you enjoy this newsletter, it would mean the world to Jola and I if you encouraged one friend/fellow immigrant/colleague to subscribe…Very likely, the the only thing you will get in return is warm fuzzy feelings, and if I can attribute it to you, I’d personally send you a thank you email.Join us as we explore the bitter-sweet world of the immigrant.In this episode, I’m speaking with 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. Official Links👋🏽 Follow Nosa on LinkedInDid 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. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thenewcomerspod.com

Hello, I'd really like to grow this email list. If you enjoy this newsletter, it would mean the world to Jola and I if you encouraged one friend/fellow immigrant/colleague to subscribe…Very likely, the the only thing you will get in return is warm fuzzy feelings, and if I can attribute it to you, I’d personally send you a thank you email.Join us as we explore the bitter-sweet world of the immigrant.In this episode, I’m speaking with 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 campaignDid you read it? This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thenewcomerspod.com

Hello, I'd really like to grow this email list. If you enjoy this newsletter, it would mean the world to Jola and I if you encouraged one friend/fellow immigrant/colleague to subscribe…Very likely, the the only thing you will get in return is warm fuzzy feelings, and if I can attribute it to you, I’d personally send you a thank you email.Join us as we explore the bitter-sweet world of the immigrant.In this episode, I’m speaking with 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 LinkedInDo 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: $100Register 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. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thenewcomerspod.com