Ever felt lost in workplace jargon and Canadian slang or wondered why your coworker just said “bet” in a meeting? You’re not alone. In this episode of Diaspora’s Career Challenges, I break down how to navigate corporate lingo, Canadian slang, and even some Gen Z speak, without losing your vibe.

We cover:

• Why newcomers shouldn’t have to decode secret workplace codes (it’s giving gatekeeping)

• The role of inclusion beyond just hiring (real ones know)

• Canadian slang explained [yes, even “Timmy’s” and “Double Double”]

• Why fitting in is overrated and how to truly stand out

• Accent bias, corporate buzzwords, and why even native-born professionals get lost in the sauce

• Gen Z terms you’ll hear at work — from “slaps” to “sending me” — and how not to cringe when you hear them

Whether you’re new to Canada, starting a new job, or trying to vibe with colleagues from different generations, this episode will help you blend without bending.

Listen in for real talk, sarcasm, and tips that hit different.

This episode is for anyone who’s ever been made to feel like they don't fit the corporate mold.

40 Common Corporate Jargon, Canadian Slangs, Gen Z Phrases with Meaning: https://www.teachndo.com/post/breaking-down-the-language-barrier-navigate-corporate-jargon-and-slang

Free Career Resources: https://www.teachndo.com/resources

• Diaspora's Career Challenge Podcast Episodes: teachndo.com/podcastepisodes

  Book me to speak

  Sweta Regmi - https://www.teachndo.com/speaker

Ever been told your communication skills need work, but you’re already leading projects, managing teams, and getting things done?

They say immigrants lack soft skills — but who decides what good communication even looks like?

If you’re an immigrant or part of the diaspora, this might sound familiar. You speak more than one language, but somehow your accent, grammar, or “tone” becomes the reason you’re rated lower in performance reviews. Soft skills? You’ve got plenty. But they don’t seem to count the same.

In this episode, I unpack how communication and soft skills are often used as coded feedback—a quiet form of bias that holds many immigrants back from promotions, raises, and recognition. I share my own lived experiences with white and South Asian bosses, including:

• Getting my emails proofread after I was already managing people

• Being asked “Who helped you?” after creating a training guide

• Watching my grammar get fixed, my credit erased, and my confidence shaken

• And later, finally being rated the highest by a director who saw my real value

This episode is for anyone who’s ever been made to feel like their voice doesn’t fit the corporate mold. Because communication isn’t grammar—it’s how we lead, handle chaos, and move things forward.

If you’re tired of being told to “speak or write better” just to be heard, this episode is for you.

Free Career Resources: https://www.teachndo.com/resources

Diaspora's Career Challenge Podcast Episodes: teachndo.com/podcastepisodes

Book me to speak

Sweta Regmi - https://www.teachndo.com/speaker

It’s AAPI Heritage Month — but let’s be real: South Asians are still the afterthought.

In this raw and unapologetic episode of Diaspora’s Career Challenges, Sweta Regmi dives into the erasure of South Asian voices during AAPI Month and beyond. From the dominance of East Asian representation in media and corporate diversity panels, to the harmful stereotypes, casteism, and colorism within our own communities — this episode unpacks the layered struggles South Asians face in both professional and cultural spaces.

We talk about:

• Why “Asian” doesn’t always mean East Asian

• How anti–South Asian hate is rising — and being normalized

• The myth of the “good immigrant” and the cost of staying silent

• Workplace invisibility, emotional labor, and missed promotions

• Intra-community discrimination: caste, color, and gender bias

• Why exposure ≠ compensation — especially in DEI spaces

From curry jokes to corporate gaslighting, from internalized shame to external discrimination — we’re done being the diversity checkbox.

South Asians aren’t a monolith. We’re not your punchline. We’re here, we’re loud, and we’re taking up space.

🎧 Tune in, share it, and let’s rewrite the narrative — because South Asian stories deserve more than just a heritage month shoutout.

Free Career Resources: https://www.teachndo.com/resources

Diaspora's Career Challenge Podcast Episodes: teachndo.com/podcastepisodes

Book me to speak

Sweta Regmi - https://www.teachndo.com/speaker

#AAPIHeritageMonth #AmplifySouthAsianVoices  #Diaspora'sCareerChallenges

Ever pressed 2 for French or Spanish to dodge an accent? This episode exposes the not-so-subtle bias behind “accent shopping” in customer service calls. From real-life contact center stories to AI now being used to mask employee accents as digital whitewashing, we dive deep into the uncomfortable truth: It’s not always about comprehension—it’s about who sounds “acceptable.”

So here’s how it goes…

You call a contact center. You don’t press 1 for English—because let’s be honest, you don’t want to get ‘Raj from Bangalore’ or ‘Mei from Manila.’

Nope. You press 2 for French… or Spanish.

Then go, ‘Oops! Meant English!’—knowing that bilingual reps are usually North American-born.

Welcome to Accent Shopping.

It’s not in the handbook, but it’s alive and thriving in every customer service line across North America.

And now?

Companies are using AI to MASK employee accents.

Yes. We’ve gone that far to please a customer.

So I gotta ask:

What will customers complain about now? That the AI sounded too ‘neutral’?

Let’s dive in.”

🎧 Listen as we unpack:

• Why customers game language menus to avoid international voices

• How AI is erasing human identity for “neutral” North American speech

• What counts as a “Canadian,” "American" or “professional” accent

• Real examples of bias in call transfers—and who gets deemed “Canadian enough”

Whether you’ve ever been judged for your voice or caught yourself preferring certain accents, this one’s got some real talk you need to hear.

Free Career Resources: https://www.teachndo.com/resources

Diaspora's Career Challenge Podcast Episodes: teachndo.com/podcastepisodes

Book me to speak

Sweta Regmi - https://www.teachndo.com/speaker

In this episode of Diaspora's Career Challenges, we tackle the hidden job market stats and break down why it’s not actually hidden—it’s just exclusive. If you’re an immigrant, newcomer, or someone without an Ivy League connection, you’ll want to hear this. We dive into why networking is often more about privilege than merit, and what strategies actually work to land the job you deserve. Tune in for the truth on navigating today’s job market and getting noticed in a system that’s stacked against you.

The Hidden Job Market Exposed: Why It Was Never Meant for You

“80% of jobs are hidden.” Sounds great, right? But here’s the truth: the hidden job market isn’t hidden—it’s exclusive. If you’re an immigrant, newcomer, or anyone without an Ivy League bestie, guess what? You’re not on the guest list. That’s the reality.

While gurus, networking coaches, and LinkedIn influencers preach about tapping into the “hidden market,” here’s the real deal: 500,000+ job vacancies in Canada in 2025. So, why are we pushing people to chase these so-called hidden opportunities when there’s a stocked pond right in front of them?

Let’s talk about the biases that fuel the so-called hidden market:

• People hire people who look like them.

• People hire people who went to the same schools.

• People hire people they golf with.

That’s not networking. That’s bias.

The Biases Keeping the Job Market ‘Hidden’

Let’s just call it what it is:

🚨 Affinity Bias – Hiring people similar to you.

🚨 Confirmation Bias – Seeing an immigrant name and assuming they won’t “fit.”

🚨 Halo Effect – Assuming a Harvard grad must be the smartest person in the room.

🚨 Opportunity Hoarding – Keeping jobs in exclusive circles.

🚨 Privilege Bias – If you have to network to survive, was the system ever really merit-based?

I’ve worked at top companies, and I can’t imagine not posting jobs. Hiring isn’t random—there’s a system behind it. But yes, some jobs aren’t posted:

• Small businesses with no HR team hire based on word-of-mouth.

• Executive search firms recruit for C-suite roles confidentially.

• Companies pulling from networks before jobs even go live.

But is that 80% of all hiring? No. That’s an outdated myth recycled over and over.

Here’s what’s real:

• Strategic personal branding – Make it impossible to ignore you.

• Targeted job applications – Yes, they work if done right.

• Informational interviews – The right kind, not just “pick your brain” sessions.

• Storytelling on LinkedIn – So hiring managers find you.

The truth is, the so-called “hidden job market” favors privilege, not merit. So when people tell newcomers, “Just network harder,” we need to question what that really means.

What works instead? Focus on strategies that you control—personal branding, applying strategically, building real professional relationships, and ensuring that you are seen. Stop chasing shadows and focus on what’s tangible.

Free Career Resources: https://www.teachndo.com/resources

Diaspora's Career Challenge Podcast Episodes: teachndo.com/podcastepisodes

Book me to speak

Sweta Regmi - https://www.teachndo.com/speaker

In this episode of Diaspora 's Career Challenges, Sweta Regmi explores how language – specifically English – shapes our professional lives and impacts career success, especially for immigrants. Language biases, particularly in ESL, profoundly affect how people perceive others’ intelligence, capabilities, and even employability. But why does this happen? And how does the way we speak influence our career growth?

Why is it that when non-native speakers of English try their best, they’re often met with condescension, but when a native English speaker attempts another language, they’re praised for their effort?

In this insightful episode, we discuss:

• Language Bias in the Hiring: How accent discrimination affects immigrant job seekers and employees, and the implicit biases that hinder career progress.

• The Power of English Proficiency: Why non-native English speakers are often judged unfairly, and the impact of this on self-esteem and career advancement.

• The Science Behind Language Biases: How our brains are wired to favor certain accents over others, and how this influences hiring decisions and professional relationships.

• Overcoming Language Bias in Careers: Strategies to navigate bias in the workplace, leveraging your unique language skills, and turning accent challenges into career advantages.

• Cultural Influence on Communication: How the globalization of English affects career success for immigrants and minorities, and how cultural differences play a role in workplace dynamics.

We’ll take a deep look at:

• The stereotyping of non-native speakers and how their language proficiency is often unfairly questioned.

• The double standards in how accents are perceived, especially when comparing South Asian accents to European ones.

• My personal story of navigating language bias as an immigrant who changed the way I speak without even trying.

• The role of AI in perpetuating language bias and how even technology is skewed against non-native speakers.

• The unwritten rules of what “correct” English sounds like, and how they often exclude those who speak it differently.

Whether you’re someone who speaks multiple languages or someone who has faced judgment based on your accent, this episode is for you. It’s time to break free from the biases tied to language and accent.

This episode is essential for anyone navigating the challenges of language barriers, accent discrimination, or working in environments where English is the dominant language. Whether you’re an immigrant job seeker or a professional working in an English-speaking country, this episode provides critical insights to help you break free from language-based bias and thrive in your career.

Whether you’re someone who speaks multiple languages or someone who has faced judgment based on your accent, this episode is for you. It’s time to break free from the biases tied to language and accent.

Key Takeaways:

• Understand how English language bias affects your career opportunities

• Learn how to overcome accent discrimination in professional settings

• Gain strategies to embrace your multilingual skills and turn them into career assets

• Discover how cultural and language biases shape hiring decisions and workplace interactions

Free Career Resources: https://www.teachndo.com/resources

Diaspora's Career Challenge Podcast Episodes: teachndo.com/podcastepisodes

Book me to speak

Sweta Regmi - https://www.teachndo.com/speaker

Finding Direction in Mixed Heritage: A Conversation with Nina Melendez Ibarra Emmy-nominated producer, journalist, LinkedIn Content Producer and Author.

I found Nina Melendez Ibarra on LinkedIn—through a post that made me stop scrolling. She had shared an article about migrant workers in Qatar and how the media needs to do better in covering these stories. It hit close to home.

As someone from Nepal, I’ve seen firsthand how migrant workers leave everything behind in search of better opportunities, only to return to coffins. It’s a reality too often ignored. So when I saw Nina speaking up, I had to know why.

That’s when I discovered her Sri Lankan heritage. It made sense—she understood. She understood what it meant to come from a place where people’s struggles aren’t always headline news.

And when I was curating speakers for my AAPI Heritage Month event last year, I knew she had to be part of it. She said yes.

Now, our conversation continues on my podcast, Diaspora’s Career Challenges.

Finding Direction When You Come From Everywhere

For those of us with mixed heritage or immigrant backgrounds, the question “Where are you really from?” follows us everywhere—sometimes spoken, sometimes just implied. And it’s not just about geography. It’s about identity. Where do we belong? Who claims us? How do we navigate careers when our backgrounds don’t fit into neat little boxes?

Nina has spent her life moving through different cultures—Puerto Rico, Sri Lanka, Japan, France, Brooklyn—always adapting, always navigating. And yet, as she told me in our conversation, the biggest lesson she learned wasn’t about fitting in. It was about standing firm in who you are.

“At the end of the day, that thing in you that lights you up is what is going to prevail. The more you push that aside for societal expectations, the more miserable you’ll be.”

The Myth of Hard Work and Finding Your Place

Many of us were raised on the belief that working hard is the key to success. But Nina learned something different:

“I was always under the impression that you had to work very hard. And I worked my butt off for the majority of my career. And I consistently saw other people advancing who did not work as hard, did not know as much, and were not as qualified. And that was weird for me to come to terms with.”

The truth? Hard work is just one piece of the puzzle.

“Don’t work harder—work smarter. Get to know the right people. Be friends with the right people. Understand how to manage up. Be unapologetic about finding ways to get into rooms and having folks who will bring you into those rooms, because this is not a meritocracy.”

For many of us from immigrant or mixed backgrounds, this is a tough lesson. We’re taught that success comes from keeping our heads down and proving our worth. But Nina’s story is a reminder: You don’t just earn a seat at the table—you claim it.

Navigating Identity & Career Growth with Nina Melendez Ibarra

🎙 In this week’s episode of Diaspora’s Career Challenges, we dive into:

✅ Finding direction in a global identity—How to make your background an asset, not a question mark

✅ The myth of meritocracy—Why hard work alone isn’t enough (and what to do instead)

✅ Navigating spaces that weren’t built for you—How to take up space in leadership

✅ Embracing your mixed heritage—Why your differences are your greatest strengths

Your Identity is Your Power

For those of us with complex identities, the world doesn’t always know where to place us. But here’s the thing: We get to decide where we belong.

💡 Instead of proving you fit, stand out.

💡 Instead of waiting for a door to open, walk in.

💡 Instead of working twice as hard, work strategically.

Free Resources: https://www.teachndo.com/free-resources

Diaspora's Career Challenge Podcast Episodes: Diaspora’s Career Challenges | Sweta Regmi Podcast| Teachndo




Book me to speak

Sweta Regmi - Top Global Speaker, Career Strategist & Personal Branding Consultant | Teachndo Canada

In this eye-opening episode, we reveal how AI is secretly shaping who gets hired, promoted, or fired — and why it’s a disaster for immigrants, diaspora, people with accents, and marginalized groups. With Emmy-winning investigative journalist Hilke Schellmann, we dive into the hidden biases baked into AI hiring algorithms, from accent discrimination to gender bias.

AI Bias in Hiring: From One-Way Video Interviews to Resume Screening

This isn’t science fiction, it's happening right now. Tune in to learn how AI is impacting your career, and what you can do to fight back before the robots make all the decisions.

Guest Speaker, Hilke Schellmann, Author of "The Algorithm", Assistant Professor of Journalism at New York University | Keynote Speaker | Emmy-award winning investigative journalist

Host: Sweta Regmi , Certified Career & Resume Strategist @ Teachndo

AI is rejecting you during an interview: Here is how to ace and fix it.

Your Interview Could Be With AI, Ace Job Interview!

Diaspora's Career Challenge Podcast Episodes: Diaspora’s Career Challenges | Sweta Regmi Podcast| Teachndo

Book me to speak

Sweta Regmi - Top Global Speaker, Career Strategist & Personal Branding Consultant | Teachndo Canada

How Diaspora and Immigrants Navigate Bias Through Name Changes on Resumes.

Do Immigrants Navigate Bias Through Name Changes on Resumes?

Are they Breaking the Mold?

What would they do to fit in?

Would you change your name to an English-sounding one just to land an interview?

If you’ve never thought about it, it’s likely because you don’t have an ethnic or non-English name. For many immigrants and diasporas, the pressure to fit in starts with their resumes. They are often forced to “whiten” their resumes—removing any trace of cultural identity—to navigate biases in the hiring process.

Welcome to the world of resume whitening, where changing your name could be the difference between being called for an interview or being overlooked.

But why? It’s because companies that claim to value diversity still sometimes gravitate toward familiarity—the kind that doesn’t challenge their comfort zones.

And so, people with ethnic names are left with a choice:

• Do you embrace your identity and risk being ignored?

• Or do you conform by changing your name, all to survive in a biased system?

Some even go so far as to legally change their names to sound more “acceptable.”

And honestly, I don’t blame them. It’s survival of the fittest out here, right?

Until next time, this is Breaking the Mold: Diaspora Career Challenges, where we unpack the struggles of fitting in and the strength it takes to stand out.

Key Takeaways from This Episode

1. What Is Resume Whitening?

• Resume whitening is the practice of anglicizing names or removing cultural identifiers to reduce bias during the hiring process.

• Many job seekers, especially immigrants and diasporas, resort to this practice to improve their chances of landing interviews.

2. The Cost of Fitting In:

• Erasing a name or cultural identity can feel like losing a piece of who you are.

• This is especially true when jobseekers feel pressured to conform to workplace norms that don’t value diversity authentically.

3. Diversity & Inclusion: The Irony

• Companies often tout diversity but unintentionally perpetuate biases through hiring practices.

• The pressure to “fit in” highlights how far we still have to go in creating equitable workplaces.

4. A Message for Immigrants and Diasporas

• You’re not here to fit in. You’re here to stand out. Your name, your accent, and your identity are assets, not liabilities.

5. Resources for Job Seekers

• Looking for help to overcome bias and stand out? Check out free career and job search resources at

Career Resources for Immigrants & Newcomers by Sweta Regmi: Free Resume, Interview, LinkedIn, and Job Search Help in Canada | Teachndo

If you’ve faced challenges like these, you’re not alone. Don’t let the pressure to conform strip away your unique identity. Instead, let it be your strength.

Book me to speak

Sweta Regmi - Top Global Speaker, Career Strategist & Personal Branding Consultant | Teachndo Canada

Diaspora's Career Challenges Podcast | Sweta Regmi - Career Strategies for Immigrants & Global Professionals Teachndo

In this powerful episode of Diaspora's Career Challenges, award-winning CBC journalist Angie Seth opens up about the often overlooked emotional impact of the question, "Where are you really from?"

Through her personal journey of navigating multiple cultures and raising children in a mixed-race family, Angie sheds light on the deep-rooted biases that shape our identity and how they affect both personal and professional lives.

From the internal identity struggles of immigrant families to the stereotypes faced by children in multicultural households, Angie shares candid reflections on how this question can trigger difficult conversations about belonging and heritage.

As someone who’s worked at the intersection of culture and journalism, Angie provides a unique perspective on how hidden biases can affect career paths, opportunities, and the professional growth of individuals from diverse backgrounds.

In this episode, we explore:

This conversation is a must-listen for anyone interested in understanding the challenges faced by individuals from diaspora communities, and how these challenges influence their careers, relationships, and personal growth.

Podcast Host: Sweta Regmi, Founder & CEO Teachndo, Award-winning Career Strategist.

Speaker Contact:teachndo.com/speaker