Hearth2Heart

"I feel a sense of belonging when I am with a group of people that are looking beyond the differences between us...and just embracing one another as a people of the same nation."

We're proud to host conversations with the authors of our latest anthology, Landed, Transformative Stories of Canadian Immigrant Women, set to officially launch in September 2022. To kick off, this episode features a conversation with Charlotte Anyango Ong'ang'a, whose story in the book is titled "Still I Feel."

Originally from Kenya, Charlotte Anyango Ong'ang'a is a linguist, career development specialist and storyteller. She holds a Ph.D. in linguistics, a master’s in teaching English to speakers of other languages and a bachelor’s in English language and literature. Her expert linguistic knowledge is applied in the areas of resume, cover letter writing, networking, interview preparation, job search strategies, and workplace communication. Charlotte has taught linguistics, and communication skills and provided career guidance at higher education institutions for over 12 years in different countries.

In this episode, Charlotte shares her inspiration for joining this anthology and provides a glimpse into the challenges of navigating life as a new immigrant and mom of a newborn. She also reads a favourite paragraph from her story and sums up the power of storytelling: "If you listen to people's stories, you will understand why people are the way they are."

Links mentioned in the episode:

https://campfirekinship.com/book https://linkedin.com/in/charlotteonganga

"I feel a sense of belonging when I am recognized for my unique skills and perspectives, and am valued for them."

If you've been thinking about making a career transition, this episode is for you. Courtney Dragani transitioned her career from working at a large energy company, to a start-up called the51, a move she made to follow her passion for women's economic empowerment. Tune into this episode to hear these insights:

- On making a career change based on alignment with personal values, and learning opportunities

– On taking a leap of faith by managing risks

– On taking inventory of transferable skills

– On typical barriers faced by women when applying for new roles

– On Courtney’s inspiration to pivot from the corporate to #startup world

– On having the #selfconfidence confidence to apply, even if you don’t tick every single box in a job description

– On taking a balanced view of #careerfulfillment and how to manage unmet needs

– On the convergence of #motherhood and careers

– On her mission at the51 activating women’s #economicempowerment

In a society that values "producing and performing," it is no wonder that topics like self-care are trivialized. Stats show the effect, with 3 out of 4 people experiencing burnout in the workforce. This mental health week, we are zooming into topic, and talking with Lennis Perez about how to beat burnout.

Lennis is a chemical engineer turned wellness engineer. After 16 years of engineering experience, she started her business, Just Lennis, and the Engineering Wellness Academy to equip women in STEM with stress management tools. She is a Chopra certified meditation teacher and is certified in plant-based nutrition. She has experienced, firsthand, the high stress and high demand that STEM careers put on individuals. Tune into this episode to hear her journey in overcoming stress, and how she helps others increase their impact, fulfillment, and peace of mind.

Links & acronyms mentioned in the episode:

https://lennisperez.com/
https://www.instagram.com/lennisperez_
https://instagram.com/campfire_kinship
https://campfirekinship.com/ STEM - science, technology, engineering, math

"I feel a sense of belonging when I have deep conversations."

From her career as a wrestling olympian to being the youngest ever woman elected into Calgary City Council, in this episode Jasmine Mian shares her journey of going from athletics and into politics...the wins, losses, and lessons along the way. Her tip? Action is the antidote to anxiety.

"There are so many things we need to evolve in the world, in terms of the climate and ethical environments. If you have a desire to make a shift, the world needs you. We need more people in their passions doing what they love."

Jana Boyko is the founder of All of Her Business, where she supports women in building sustainable companies. In this episode, Jana shares her own journey with All of Her Business, how she overcame limiting beliefs, and her advice for aspiring entrepreneurs to turn their dreams into reality.

Links mentioned in episode:

https://www.bedsidebusinessplan.com/

https://allofherbusiness.com/about/

https://www.campfirekinship.com

"I feel a sense of belonging when I can drop the mask of masculinity and be myself...the consequences of not being our authentic selves is like cutting limbs off."

In a society where three out of four suicides, 80% of drug overdoses, and primary perpetrators of violence are men, toxic definitions of masculinity profoundly impact men, boys and the lives of those around them. Jake Stika shares his journey of learning, unlearning, and re-shaping a healthier future for masculinity through his work as Co-Founder and Executive Director of Next Gen Men.

Links mentioned in the episode:

campfirekinship.com

instagram.com/campfire_kinship

nextgenmen.ca

"Taking a mindful approach to hear about this topic, is opening yourself up to starting the learning process.”

We know that positive social relationships form a big part of our wellbeing, however, this has been challenged in recent times of increased division and isolation. It is critical now more than ever to build both individual and organizational resilience for effective talent retention.

Andrea Torraville has lived experiences as a Black woman born and raised in Calgary. She has worked as a Talent Acquisition Specialist, a Career Consultant, Learning Consultant, and a Recruiter. In all of these roles, she has incorporated an inclusion and diversity lens based in mindfulness. She believes that relationships are the foundation of talent experiences as people move through the lifecycle of their career. Her sense of belonging comes from connecting and engaging with others, because that is a place where one grow and learn the most.

Links mentioned in the episode:

Andrea's new book - Moving Forward: A Woman's Guide to Healing and Moving on

https://campfirekinship.com

https://www.instagram.com/campfire_kinship/

https://www.linkedin.com/company/campfire-kinship

"I feel a sense of belonging when I can share my experiences, knowledge, and give back; so that I can honor all that I have been privileged enough to experience in my life. "

In this episode, Colby Delorme speaks to the the value of mentorship for both mentee and mentor. Colby is the President of The Imagination Group of Companies, and the Founding Creator and Board Member of Influence Mentoring Society, a non-profit dedicated to supporting Indigenous Youth in their post-journeys through mentorship.

Influence Mentoring's mission is guided by The Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) of Canada's Calls to Action, which speak to the need to eliminate educational and employment gaps between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Canadians. Learn more about how mentorship can be a medium to bridge diverse cultures, and also create knowledge transfer, an integral part of Indigenous ways of knowing and being.

Links mentioned in episode:

www.influencementoring.com

www.campfirekinship.com

www.instagram.com/campfire_kinship

"When I show up authentically, and my light truly shows from every inch of myself, when I am allowed to be myself without any barriers to my potential... I feel a sense of belonging."

Colby Sharma is a law school graduate and the author of "The Curveball."

In this episode, he shares his journey overcoming a learning disability, as well as lessons he gleaned from his dad, Robin Sharma, to lead a life of impact. With October being learning disabilities and autism awareness month, this episode shines a light on how to turn our fears into fuel when dealing with life's curveballs, while also embracing our diversity.

Jyotsna Vaidee, product manager with YouTube and the founder of Samudra Dance Creations, shares how she is able to blend her creativity with her work.

As an award-winning dancer, Jyotsna specializes in the art form of Bharatanatyam, a traditional dance originating from India. Her latest project is called Storm, premiering on Friday September 24 at the Erasing Borders Dance Festival, Storm.

Tune into this episode to hear about Jyotsna’s journey, and learn how she brings awareness to social issues through the art of Bhartatnatyam.

Campfire Kinship website

Storm Erasing Borders Festival Registration

Jyotsna's website

Jyotsna's social media