How to make it in Toronto

In this compelling episode of How to Make it in Toronto, we sit down with Hervé Ajeneza, the insightful host of The Mystical Journey podcast.

Hervé opens up about his harrowing experience surviving the genocide in Rwanda and how mindfulness played a pivotal role in overcoming his profound grief. He shares his inspiring mindfulness journey, offering valuable perspectives on focusing on what truly matters in life. Tune in to hear Hervé's incredible story and gain insights that can help transform your own outlook and well-being.

Listen now, and don't forget to like, subscribe, and share to stay updated with our latest episodes.

On this week's 1 on 1 session, I talk about the importance of having a mentor and how it's helped me. Mentorship is a crucial part of one's journey to success.

In this 1 on 1 I share 12 tips that help with finding a mentor. Hopefully this helps you on your journey and you gain insights that help you both professionally and personally.

Here are 12 tips to help with finding a mentor.

1. Self-Reflection: Before seeking a mentor, take time to reflect on your goals, strengths, weaknesses, and areas where you need guidance. Understand what you hope to achieve through mentorship.

2. Define Your Needs: Determine the specific skills, knowledge, and experiences you seek in a mentor. Clarify what you expect from the mentor-mentee relationship.

3. Identify Potential Mentors: Look for individuals who have achieved success in your field or possess expertise relevant to your goals. This could be through networking events, professional associations, social media platforms like LinkedIn, or through referrals from colleagues and friends.

4. Research: Once you've identified potential mentors, research their background, accomplishments, and values to ensure they align with your goals and values. Understand their approach to mentorship and whether they have a track record of helping others succeed.

5. Engage with Potential Mentors: Reach out to potential mentors through email, social media, or in person if possible. Craft a personalized message expressing your admiration for their work and explaining why you believe they would be a valuable mentor to you. Be respectful of their time and make it clear that you're willing to reciprocate value in the relationship.

6. Build Rapport: If a potential mentor responds positively, take the opportunity to build rapport. Schedule a meeting or call to further discuss your goals and aspirations. Show genuine interest in their insights and experiences.

7. Formalize the Relationship: Once both parties agree to proceed, establish clear expectations and boundaries for the mentorship. Determine the frequency and format of meetings, communication channels, and goals for the relationship.

8. Be Proactive: Take initiative in scheduling meetings, preparing agendas, and following up on action items discussed during mentorship sessions. Show your commitment to growth and improvement.

9. Act on Feedback: Be open to constructive criticism and feedback from your mentor. Actively implement their advice and recommendations into your actions and decision-making process.

10. Show Gratitude: Express gratitude regularly for your mentor's time, guidance, and support. Acknowledge their contributions to your personal and professional development.

11. Evaluate and Adjust: Periodically evaluate the mentorship relationship to ensure it continues to meet your needs and expectations. Be willing to adjust the dynamics or seek additional mentorship if necessary.

12. Pay It Forward: As you progress in your journey and achieve success, consider becoming a mentor to others who may benefit from your guidance and expertise.

Thanks for tuning in to this week's 1 on 1. Take it ease 🙏

Welcome to the first 1-on-1 segment of How to Make it in Toronto.

In this segment, I'll be sharing my personal story, goals, and vision for this podcast and platform.

I’ll also highlight success stories, deep dive into various entrepreneurial topics, host Q&A’s, and conduct book reviews. 

Unveiling the Marketing Mastery with Bourke Marrison🎙️

Join us in this captivating episode of How to Make It in Toronto as we dive deep into the world of marketing with the brilliant Bourke Marrison, Founder of The Nature Agency! 🌿

As a seasoned marketing consultant, Bourke unveils his fascinating career and life journey, offering invaluable insights into the dynamic realm of marketing. 🚀

Tune in as Bourke shares his expertise on how to kickstart a career in marketing, highlighting fantastic resources to fuel your marketing endeavors. 💡

But that's not all! Bourke also opens up about the challenges he's faced along the way and reveals the best strategies to overcome them, empowering you to conquer any obstacle in your path to success. 💪

Finally we end on the Nature agency where we discuss the environment and the importance of changing the messaging around how we collectively view the environment. It's vital that we find a way to take action or make the necessary changes as we have the tools to share the message. "60% of the population is concerned about the environment but are not getting the right messaging to take action or change”🌟

Don't miss out! Tune in now and unlock the secrets to achieving marketing excellence with Bourke Marrison! 🎧✨

Join us as we sit down with the remarkable Jenna Kouri, a true Renaissance woman! 🚀 From being a brilliant scientist to owning a bustling bakery, from slaying the stage as a stand-up comedian to conquering triathlons, Jenna does it all with flair and finesse!

In this episode, Jenna generously shares her incredible journey, offering insights into how she juggles multiple passions and achieves excellence in every endeavor. 🌟

Whether you're an aspiring entrepreneur, a comedy enthusiast, a fitness fanatic, or simply someone hungry for inspiration, this episode is a MUST-LISTEN! 🎧

Capturing the City: Photography as Meditation with Kristopher Grunert

In this episode of "How to Make It in Toronto," we sit down with the talented Kristopher Grunert, a world-renowned photographer and the CEO of We Are Journey. Join us as we delve into the fascinating world of photography and explore how it can be a powerful form of meditation.

Kristopher shares his unique insights into the art of capturing moments and the cityscape of Toronto through his lens. As a seasoned photographer, he discusses the symbiotic relationship between photography and meditation, highlighting how the creative process can be a meditative practice in itself.

Discover the secrets behind Kristopher's stunning visual storytelling and gain a deeper understanding of the thought processes and techniques he employs to create captivating images. We explore the intersection of mindfulness and photography, uncovering the ways in which the art form allows individuals to connect with their surroundings on a profound level.

But it's not just about the craft. Kristopher opens up about his journey to success, providing valuable advice for aspiring photographers on what it takes to make it in the competitive world of visual arts. From building a personal brand to navigating the business side of photography, our conversation with Kristopher Grunert is a masterclass in creativity, resilience, and the entrepreneurial spirit.

Whether you're an aspiring photographer, a creative soul, or simply curious about the intersection of art and mindfulness, this episode promises to be an inspiring and enlightening exploration of the city's heartbeat through the lens of one of its most distinguished visual storytellers. Join us on "How to Make It in Toronto" as we uncover the secrets of photography as meditation with Kristopher Grunert.

The Endy Story:

On today's episode, we sit down with the former Creative Director of Endy the online Mattress company that sold to Sleep Country for $89 million dollars Ameet Nathwani.

As an entrepreneur in the city of Toronto and more specifically a visible minority entrepreneur, I personally look for people who have similarities both physical and mental to me. With the hope of learning from their journey and using their experience or path and lessons learned to apply to my journey. I met Ameet, through our respective friend and Business partner Vibhu at talkAItive. I learned that Ameet had joined the team as our Creative Director. When I took the time to research Ameet, (LinkedIn search) I quickly learned that he played an integral role in one of the best and well known eCommerce success stories in Canada, the Endy story. A box mattress eCommerce business that sold to Sleep Country for $89M… $89M From mattresses, in a box, online? How???

Being an eCommerce company marketing, branding, and content creation; basically creative as a whole were essential to Endy’s success and here I sit next to the guy who brought that dream into a reality. I got the chance to work with Ameet on a day-to-day basis for about 4 months. In that time safe to say, I learned a lot. For one my writing skills improved tenfold.

Quick story, Something I took from working with Ameet was how to approach each person you speak to on their level and speak in their language. Essentially, If you’re addressing a CEO don’t write an email that you would send to a marketing manager. Take the time to understand what’s important to them, to their team, and to their organization. Be clear and direct about your goal and outline exactly what outcome they can expect. Otherwise, you’re wasting their time as well as yours.

It was lessons like this that led me to believe even know that Ameet would make the perfect guest. He always took the time to sit down with me and explain process, and strategy and clearly outline execution. Time I can never thank him enough for. So I thought the best thing I could do to return the favor is to pick his brain and share his amazing story with you. I’m sure you’ll hear some amazing insights as well. Ladies and Gentleman Ameet Nathwari.

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Welcome to another compelling episode of "How to Make It in Toronto"! In today's installment, we have the privilege of sitting down with Ravi Bhanabhai, the esteemed former Chief Data Scientist at talkAItive and a seasoned Machine Learning Consultant. Join us as we delve into the fascinating journey of Ravi's career, exploring the pivotal moments that shaped his success and led him to the cutting-edge realm of artificial intelligence.

In this exclusive interview, Ravi generously shares insights into his early professional experiences and the factors that propelled him to where he is today. Listeners will gain valuable perspectives on the evolving landscape of artificial intelligence, as Ravi demystifies its intricacies and sheds light on the profound impact it's poised to have on our society.

Whether you're a tech enthusiast, aspiring data scientist, or simply curious about the future of AI, this is an episode you won't want to miss. Tune in to "How to Make It in Toronto" as we unravel the inspiring journey of Ravi Bhanabhai and explore the profound implications of artificial intelligence on our collective future.

In today's episode, we sit down with Cory Cash who is a successful Photographer and the creator of Black is the Rich podcast and media company that focuses on teaching financial literacy. To help educate the black community as well as support all communities in understanding the world of "finance".

This episode is super important to us and close to the heart. In this conversation, both Cory and I are answering some tough questions about building within the black community. We are discussing what we think is a good place to start in regard to what we think needs to be done to change the mentality and grow as a community. 🖤
I know you’re going to enjoy this one can’t wait for you guys to hear this. Special thanks to the homie @corycash.co and shout out @blackisthenewrich 🙏

I hope you all enjoy this one! Thanks for listening and we appreciate your support.

Take it ease.

In today's conversation, we sat down with Isomers Skincare CEO Manuela Marcheggianni. Yes, She’s back!!! 🙌

We’re so fortunate to sit down with Manuela again! In this episode, we learn more about her journey from her childhood to her meteoric rise to the top of the cosmetics industry 🔝

Manuela shares all kinds of insights from what it takes to run a business, as well as how to create content. 🚀