Newcomers to Trailblazers

Hey everyone, Monisha here, your host on Newcomers to Trailblazers! Buckle up, because we've got another power-packed episode for you today.

Alright, let's get this party started! Today, I'm thrilled to have Hannah Flostrand joining us.

Hannah hails from Montreal and has a thing for standing out from the crowd.

She spent most of her younger years in Quebec, where she juggled 4 languages – English, French, Tagalog& Spanish

She's a current career educator navigating a career shift – a wife, a mom, and now she's transitioning into a whole new career as an immigration consultant. But one thing remains constant: Hannah loves connecting with people.

Host: https://www.linkedin.com/in/monishamothilal/

Guest: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hannahflostrand/

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Anita is the first woman of colour to lead the City of Burnaby's People and Culture/HR Department, making her the city's CHRO.

In this second part, she will discuss her role as CHRO of the City of Burnaby and the city's new initiatives and developments for its people. We will also explore how they are increasing inclusiveness in their day-to-day lives. So, get ready to dive into the City of Burnaby's journey through Anita's eyes and learn how she's making a difference in the world through her leadership, embracing her unique self one powerful step at a time.

Monisha: https://www.linkedin.com/in/monishamothilal/

Anita: https://www.linkedin.com/in/anita-bhandari-cphr/

Vishad: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vishad-deeplaul-m-g-c-56403513a/

Youtube Link: https://youtu.be/BYuW7X7Cu-o

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Anita is the first woman of colour to lead the City of Burnaby's People and Culture/HR Department, making her the city's CHRO.

Before you picture Anita as some sunshine-fleeing, stereotype-conforming robot, let me assure you that she's embraced her authentic self and encourages everyone to do the same. She's overcome challenges, including a difficult year in 2021, and emerged stronger than ever.

So, get ready to dive into Anita's incredible journey and learn how she's making a difference in the world through her leadership and embracing her unique self, one powerful step at a time.

Monisha: https://www.linkedin.com/in/monishamothilal/

Anita: https://www.linkedin.com/in/anita-bhandari-cphr/

Listen/ Watch here-

Youtube Link: https://youtu.be/BYuW7X7Cu-o

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TikTok: https://tr.ee/jqldPKmg_h

Please put your hands together for Harjeet!

Growing up in a small town with hard-working parents, Harjeet is now a proud dad himself, raising a third-generation trailblazer with roots in Punjab.

Harjeet shared intimate details about his childhood in the then-small town of Kelowna, BC, and what it meant to be part of an immigrant family. He didn't shy away from discussing the racism he encountered in the 80s and also opened up about how he's raising his kids to honor their Punjabi heritage and Canadian upbringing. Plus, he offered some valuable advice for new immigrants arriving in Canada every day.

Guest - Harjeet Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/harjeet-sangha/

Host - Monisha Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/monishamothilal/

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Buckle up, trailblazers, because today's guest is a legal eagle with an HR superpower! Welcome back to Newcomers to Trailblazers, your one-stop shop for immigrant success stories in Canada.

Joining us is Adeleke Adesuyi, a man who's seen it all in the workplace jungle – from navigating company cultures to building rockstar teams! He's even faced discrimination firsthand, but guess what? Leke's not letting that stop him from making workplaces more equitable for everyone.

Not only is he an employer relations guru, but this multifaceted maestro also teaches at KPU!

Guest - Leke: https://www.linkedin.com/in/adesuyiadelekellbgphrchrp/

Host - Monisha: https://www.linkedin.com/in/monishamothilal/

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Vaishali is not just a bookworm. She holds a Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering and faced the challenge of getting her qualifications recognized in Canada. It was no easy task, but she proved that she could conquer circuits and new cities by moving from Edmonton to Vancouver.

As a woman of color (POC, WOC) in STEM in Canada, she has shared her experience of facing underestimation, requiring extra efforts due to her gender and ethnicity. To learn how she tackled everything, you can listen to the episode.

Our Guest, Vaishali Rampurkar: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vrampurkar

The Host, Monisha Mothilal: https://www.linkedin.com/in/monishamothilal

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Today, joining me on this first-class flight to immigrant success is someone who matches my energy – a rare find, let me tell you. He's basically a human emoji that came to life, and trust me, that's a good thing!

Give it up for Femi, the Information Security Consultant whose tech skills would put James Bond to shame! This guy's resume is longer than the queue on Canada Day.

Femi's led the charge in security for public, private, and non-profit sec

Femi Ogunji - https://www.linkedin.com/in/femiogunji

Femi's Podcast - TheCyberSecMigrant

Find Femi's Podcast on Spotify - https://spotify.link/0pE6qEl5QIb

Find Femi's Podcast on YouTube - https://youtube.com/@TheCyberSecMigrant

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Farid, a Dentist by Profession but a social worker by passion, has devoted his life to educating and empowering the youth and women of Afghanistan. In the face of constant challenges and skepticism, he fearlessly championed the causes of politics, social activism, Human rights, and democracy in Kabul and beyond.

Through his unwavering determination and numerous projects, Farid earned the trust and respect of the youth, proving that change is possible even in the most adverse circumstances. However, the path he chose was not without its sacrifices. He faced multiple death threats and tragically lost a friend to one such threat, prompting him to make the difficult decision to move to Canada in 2020 amidst the turmoil of the COVID-19 pandemic.

From being a diligent daughter, sister, and student, she ventured into the world of chemical engineering in India and then took a bold leap to pursue her masters in the USA in her early 20s. Since then, her primary identity has been that of an immigrant, and her journey has been extraordinary.

Rasika's move to North America wasn't a walk in the park. With student loans looming over her head, she had to conjure up unique strategies to navigate the challenges of the early 2000s. Her job-hunting experience in the US was a rollercoaster ride, but she persevered and gained invaluable insights along the way. After nearly 5 years of working in the US, she boldly decided to relocate to Canada, adding another chapter to her immigrant story.

Hey Trailblazers! Ready for another dose of inspiration? Today, we're meeting someone who literally changed my life in Canada.

Okay, maybe she has not literally changed it, but her impact has been monumental.

Khristine arrived in Canada in 2005 as a postdoctoral fellow at the prestigious University of British Columbia. But life, as it does, threw some curveballs, and her career took a fascinating turn into the world of non-profit development.

Now, Khristine's journey wasn't always smooth sailing. As a woman of colour in North America, she faced her share of racism, discrimination, and underestimation of her skills. But Khristine is anything but ordinary.

Instead of letting these challenges hold her back, she built something incredible: inclusive spaces for people of colour and leaders, fostering communities that celebrate belonging every day.