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 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 entrepreneurDid 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 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 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 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. 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 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 moreEnjoy!Official Links👋🏽 Follow Smithe on LinkedIn🛏️ Check out Smithy Home CoutureDid 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 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 onesEnjoy!Official Links👋🏽 Follow Nkechi 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 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 countryEnjoy!Official Links👋🏽 Follow Kateryna 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

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. 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 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!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. 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 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 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 immigrantThere 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.In this episode, I’m speaking with Lola Oduwole, the founder of Afroedmontonian, who is on a mission to change this notion and inspire immigrants to pause, open up a bit more, and enjoy their new home.In this conversation, Lola and I 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 themselvesThis was absolutely insightful. If you are planning to immigrate to Canada, Lola dropped some gems like reasons you should move to Edmonton and more.Enjoy!Official Links✅ Connect with Lola on LinkedIn✅ 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. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thenewcomerspod.com