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 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 answerEdgar 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 LinkedInSurvival mode can be a strengthThe 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: $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

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 This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thenewcomerspod.com

Hello, I'd really like to grow this email list. If you enjoy this newsletter, it would mean the world to Jola and I if you encouraged one friend/fellow immigrant/colleague to subscribe…Very likely, the the only thing you will get in return is warm fuzzy feelings, and if I can attribute it to you, I’d personally send you a thank you email.Join us as we explore the bitter-sweet world of the immigrant.In this episode, I’m speaking with Chris 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 SubstackDid 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 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 websiteDid 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 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 LinkedInDid 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 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 GuideDid 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 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.”Official Links👋🏽 Follow Leslie on LinkedIn💰 Get Leslie’s free passive income guideDid 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 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.Official Links👋🏽 Follow Areej on LinkedIn🫱🏼‍🫲🏽 Support Women in Tech SEODid 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 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)Did 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 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 AcademyDid you read it?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. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thenewcomerspod.com