Justin Poy grew up in Toronto in the 1970’s. As one of the only Chinese-Canadian students at his school, he faced constant casual racism, from both students and teachers. This caused Justin to feel ashamed of his identity, which led him to actively avoid his cultural background throughout his youth. Fast-forward to his time at Toronto Metropolitan University, Justin was able to build a strong community, and through the encouragement of his mother, Vivienne Poy, he joined organizations such as the Mon Sheong Foundation. 

His work at TMU helped shape his career. He realized that many companies overlooked the Chinese-Canadian market. One cold call to Jaguar led to an entire portfolio of clients looking to expand into that market. 

In this conversation, Donette and Justin explore the cultural differences regarding charity and giving between Canada, Hong Kong, and China, how he encourages the Chinese-Canadian community to give back, and how we can teach the next generation about the importance of charity work and volunteering in their community.

Resources mentioned

• Giving to Toronto Metropolitan University
• SickKids Hospital
• Mon Sheong Foundation
• Note: While Justin discusses Mon Sheong Foundation in the context of the 1990s, the organization was founded in the 1960s. 
• Yee Hong Foundation
• Chinese Canadian Museum

Three reasons to listen to this episode

1. Learn about Justin’s identity journey, from being excluded while growing up in 1970’s Toronto to finding community at TMU.
2. Hear how Justin used his cultural background as a competitive advantage in the marketing world by identifying underserved markets. 
3. Find out why Justin has dedicated his time to organizations such as SickKids, and how he is encouraging the Chinese-Canadian community to give back.

Episode highlights

2:50 - Not wanting to stand out as Chinese

Justin reflects on growing up in Toronto in the 1970’s and being the only Chinese student at his school. He shares how he faced racism from other students and the teachers. This left Justin feeling ashamed of his identity. However, once he arrived at TMU, he began to build community with other students whose families had immigrated from Hong Kong. 

7:37 - Turning his identity into a business opportunity

Justin leveraged his background and cultural insight and used it as a competitive advantage. First reaching out to Jaguar, Justin identified how companies were often overlooking the Chinese-Canadian market. From there, he built a portfolio of clients, who he assisted in reaching that audience. 

17:30 - Justin’s time as a Board Member for SickKids and how he engaged the Chinese-Canadian community

As a Board Member for SickKids, Justin would work to engage donors from the Chinese-Canadian community by holding events where community members could hear directly from doctors, and include the community in the discussion, which helped them feel invested in the cause. 

22:30 - Encouraging the next generation to give back

As Justin notes, factors such as the gig economy and a lack of cultural pride lead to the next generation not valuing giving as much as the previous generation. He shares how he instilled the importance of volunteering and giving to his own children.

Enjoyed this episode?

We invite you to explore more episodes of The Forefront: Next-gen generosity on your favourite podcast platform. If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a review and share it with your community.

To learn more about giving opportunities and community impact at Toronto Metropolitan University, visit torontomu.ca/giving.

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Education has the power to open doors, create opportunities and strengthen communities. As president and vice-chancellor of Toronto Metropolitan University, Mohamed Lachemi has spent the past decade helping to expand access to higher education while championing student success.

In this episode, Lachemi reflects on his journey from international student to university president and discusses how philanthropy, community partnerships and a commitment to inclusion have helped shape major initiatives at TMU, including the School of Medicine, the Lincoln Alexander School of Law, the Nadir Mohamed Centre for Student Wellbeing and new student housing.

About Mohamed Lachemi

Mohamed Lachemi is the president and vice-chancellor of Toronto Metropolitan University. He has served in the role since 2016, previously holding positions as TMU’s provost and vice-president, academic, and as a professor in the Department of Civil Engineering. During his presidency, the university has expanded major research initiatives, launched the TMU School of Medicine, and strengthened partnerships with alumni, donors and community organizations.

Resources mentioned / related links

• Giving to Toronto Metropolitan University
• School of Medicine - Toronto Metropolitan University
• Lincoln Alexander School of Law
• Nadir Mohamed Centre for Student Wellbeing

Three reasons to listen to this episode

• Learn how philanthropy and community partnerships are helping expand opportunities for students at TMU.
• Hear Mohamed Lachemi’s personal journey from international student to university president and how it shaped his approach to leadership.
• Discover how education, inclusion and generosity can help strengthen communities and create lasting social impact.

Episode highlights

03:15 - Investing in students is investing in Canada 

TMU serves a student population that reflects the diversity of the GTA, including many first-generation university students and newcomers to Canada. Lachemi argues that supporting these students through philanthropy ultimately benefits everyone: “My answer has been always: ‘Actually, this is to support our country.’”

06:02 - Creating a sense of belonging

For Lachemi, student success begins with making people feel seen and supported. He explains that universities must be “deliberately inclusive” and recognize that different communities have different needs, requiring more than a one-size-fits-all approach.

12:30 - Scholarships inspire a culture of giving

Having relied on scholarships throughout his own academic career, Lachemi understands firsthand how financial support can change a person’s future. He shares how those experiences inspired initiatives like the PACE program and shaped his belief that “giving is not just an act, it’s actually a value.”

15:24 - Building institutions around community needs

From the TMU School of Medicine to the Lincoln Alexander School of Law, Lachemi explains how the university’s most significant initiatives have been shaped through consultation with communities. By listening to local needs and partnering with donors, TMU has created programs focused on healthcare, access, justice and wellbeing. 

26:40 - Supporting the next generation of changemakers

As he reflects on his last decade at the helm of TMU, Lachemi encourages alumni, donors and community partners to continue investing in higher education. He believes that universities play a critical role in preparing future leaders. “When talented people are successful, they will bring solutions to all of us.” 

Enjoyed this episode?

We invite you to explore more episodes of The Forefront: Next-gen generosity on your favourite podcast platform. If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a review and share it with your community.

To learn more about giving opportunities and community impact at Toronto Metropolitan University, visit torontomu.ca/giving.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Forefront: Next-gen generosity is exploring how generosity can create opportunity, strengthen communities and shape the future. Hosted by Toronto Metropolitan University Chancellor Donette Chin-Loy Chang, this season features conversations with leaders, community builders and changemakers whose commitment to giving back and giving forward is making a lasting impact.

Through stories of leadership, purpose and community, guests share how investing in others can open doors for future generations and create change that extends far beyond a single individual.

New episodes monthly.

Watch full video episodes on YouTube or listen on your favourite podcast apps.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

There’s a silent epidemic impacting older Canadians over the age of 50. A new report from Toronto Metropolitan University'’s National Institute on Ageing (NIA) revealed that 40 per cent of Canadians aged 50 and over are at risk of struggling with social isolation. In this episode, we explore the growing issue of loneliness among older adults in Canada and spotlight the NIA’s efforts to curb it.

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Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.