Hello, I'd really like to grow this email list. If you enjoy this newsletter, it would mean the world to Jola and I if you encouraged one friend/fellow immigrant/colleague to subscribe…Very likely, the the only thing you will get in return is warm fuzzy feelings, and if I can attribute it to you, I’d personally send you a thank you email.

Join us as we explore the bitter-sweet world of the immigrant.

In this episode, I am speaking with Rotimi Fawole, lawyer, immigrant, writer, and DJ.

When we talk about immigrating to a new country, we often focus on how to get a job ASAP, finding a house, and all the other similar issues we have to deal with as we feel our way into the new society.

But we seem to forget or rather, we seem to gloss over understanding and adapting to the spoken and unspoken cultural nuances that guide social and professional interactions.

Code-switching. Adapting to the communication style and tone of the new country. Same thing.

And it’s not about learning to speak with the accent. Because you can speak phoneh, and still end up not passing your message across when it matters.

Code-switching isn’t about speaking with the accent. It’s you adapting your communication style to suit your new environment. And it’s a necessary skill.

One you’ll need to survive, especially at work. You can't play it by the ear. You MUST invest time in learning how to communicate or else you are always going to feel frustrated.

However, the fact that you are code-switching doesn't mean you should lose yourself in the process. Or allow everyone and anyone run roughshod over you.

In this conversation, we chat about code-switching, and how it’s a key element of settling down.

We also chatted about:

* Moving to the UK as a student, heading back to Nigeria because of the lure of Africa rising, and then moving back to the UK

* Managing your communication style at work as an immigrant

* Why it’s crucial to build a community of people who are an example of who you want to become in your new home

* Why it’s so hard for immigrants to bring their full selves to work

* Tips that can help you improve your communication style, and more.

Remember, we are products of how we are raised, so spend some time learning how things work.

Official Links

👋🏽 Follow Rotimi on X

🎶 Listen to Rotimi’s DJ mix

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Hello, I'd really like to grow this email list. If you enjoy this newsletter, it would mean the world to Jola and I if you encouraged one friend/fellow immigrant/colleague to subscribe…Very likely, the the only thing you will get in return is warm fuzzy feelings, and if I can attribute it to you, I’d personally send you a thank you email.

Join us as we explore the bitter-sweet world of the immigrant.

In this episode, I’m speaking with Rebecca Johnson, Investment & Operations Associate at BKR Capital, a VC firm that invests in promising black-led tech companies.

For an immigrant startup founder, fundraising is probably one of the hardest nuts to crack.

They lack the usual social capital they had back home, which means they can't access the life-saving Family, Friends, and Fools round, fondly called FFF. And I do think they mean Fools in a good way because of what it takes to back an unproven idea.

The sad thing about being in this position is the FFF round is absolutely important. It gives the founder time to test out the idea, hopefully get some revenue going and take the first steps towards product-market fit.

So what to do?

In this conversation, we chat about how we can kick-start the FFF rounds for immigrant startups.

We also talked about:

* Why immigrant founders need to learn storytelling

* The beautiful things she’s seeing happening in the immigrant founder ecosystem

* Why we immigrants need to build things

* The differences she’s seen between the Nigerian tech ecosystem and the Canadian tech ecosystem, and more.

Folks, we need to build things. Real things. Economic power is everything. It’s one of the best ways to get a foothold in the society.

P.S. I think Rebecca’s episode is a good follow-up on my interview with Eric Agyemang of Maple Bridge VC earlier this year:

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👋🏽 Follow Rebecca on LinkedIn

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If you got this email in error or no longer wish to receive emails from The Newcomers Podcast, Substack has a sweet and easy way to unsubscribe.

Hello, I'd really like to grow this email list. If you enjoy this newsletter, it would mean the world to Jola and I if you encouraged one friend/fellow immigrant/colleague to subscribe…Very likely, the the only thing you will get in return is warm fuzzy feelings, and if I can attribute it to you, I’d personally send you a thank you email.

Join us as we explore the bitter-sweet world of the immigrant.

In this episode, I’m speaking with Nosa Ayanru, an amazing MC, finance fella, and community builder.

Nigerians who immigrate often move to the United Kingdom, the United States, or Canada in recent times.

Nosa Ayanru has moved to two of those countries. And he thinks Canada is a much better place to live as a Nigerian immigrant.

He moved to Manchester, UK with £278 in his wallet to study, and after 6+ years, moved to Canada with his family. And a larger purse this time around.

In this conversation, we chat about:

* His biggest cultural shocks

* Why he never liked living in the UK

* Why you don’t immigrate with money, but a skillset

* Culture as a way of understanding a people

* Building the Nigerian brand in Canada via arts and culture, and more.

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👋🏽 Follow Nosa on LinkedIn

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If you got this email in error or no longer wish to receive emails from The Newcomers Podcast, Substack has a sweet and easy way to unsubscribe.

Hello, I'd really like to grow this email list. If you enjoy this newsletter, it would mean the world to Jola and I if you encouraged one friend/fellow immigrant/colleague to subscribe…Very likely, the the only thing you will get in return is warm fuzzy feelings, and if I can attribute it to you, I’d personally send you a thank you email.

Join us as we explore the bitter-sweet world of the immigrant.

In this episode, I’m speaking with Shilan Zade, who's running to be the next Conservative candidate for Burnaby North - Seymour.

There are a many reasons why we immigrants pack up our bags and move to Canada.

But the biggest reason is probably a better life for our kid(s). That's if you have kids.

So, if you are looking to move to a country where you believe your child is going to have a better future, isn't that enough reason to get involved in building that future? Because the bright future isn't going to magically appear.

It has to be built. Brick by brick.

This is why Shilan thinks we all should get involved in building Canada's future.

In this conversation, Shilan and I chat about:

* Managing cultural misunderstandings as an immigrant

* Why she’s running for office

* The impact of language barriers

* The power of our voices

* Settling into Canada 20 years ago, and more.

People, there is no perfect moment to get involved in building the Canadian society of our dreams. Start now!

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👋🏽 Follow Shilan on LinkedIn

👌🏽 Support Shilan’s campaign

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Hello, I'd really like to grow this email list. If you enjoy this newsletter, it would mean the world to Jola and I if you encouraged one friend/fellow immigrant/colleague to subscribe…Very likely, the the only thing you will get in return is warm fuzzy feelings, and if I can attribute it to you, I’d personally send you a thank you email.

Join us as we explore the bitter-sweet world of the immigrant.

In this episode, I’m speaking with Aakansha Jain, Indian, Nigerian, and now Australian.

Fellow Nigerians, Aakansha speaks pidgin. She said, “Oya,” and it was perfect.

Aakansha moved to Nigeria from India as a teeny weeny kid. She remembers her father telling her she struggled to settle in and cried a lot because everyone looked different.

But over time, Nigeria became home.

Then, she had to move back to India, and it was tough. "I had to prove how Indian I am every day," she says.

She moved to Australia four years ago and can't believe how easy it was for her to settle into the Australian culture. She posits that it's probably because a considerable proportion of the population are immigrants, and they understand what it means to feel like one.

In this conversation, we chat about her immigrant journey. We also explored:

* The beauty of the Nigerian culture

* Nature vs. nurture

* Settling back into India as a kid who grew up in Nigeria

* Why feeling in-between cultures is a strength, not a weakness

* How her heritage has changed, and more.

Enjoy. This was a fun one.

Official Links

👋🏽 Follow Aakansha on LinkedIn

Do you live in Calgary?

Join CRIEC for their annual THRIVE Calgary Conference for a day full of engaging sessions, expert speakers, and networking opportunities focused on how “One Yes” can affect a person, a company, a policy, and more!

Use the Promo Code for THRIVE75 for 75% off ticket prices. Early bird ticket sales are now on sale. Secure your spot today and take advantage of special early bird pricing. 

📅Date: September 26, 2024📍 Location: Hotel Arts, 119 12 Avenue Southwest, Calgary, AB T2R 0G8🎫 Early Bird Pricing: $100

Register HERE!

If you got this email in error or no longer wish to receive emails from The Newcomers Podcast, Substack has a sweet and easy way to unsubscribe.

Hello, I'd really like to grow this email list. If you enjoy this newsletter, it would mean the world to Jola and I if you encouraged one friend/fellow immigrant/colleague to subscribe…Very likely, the the only thing you will get in return is warm fuzzy feelings, and if I can attribute it to you, I’d personally send you a thank you email.

Join us as we explore the bitter-sweet world of the immigrant.

In this episode, I’m speaking with Nwachukwu Edgar Onyeagba, the man who saw the future.

How do you deal with the fear of the unknown when immigrating? What does it feel like to be right about where Nigeria was headed?

After his daughter was born, he took one look at everything that was going on with Nigeria and decided to leave. In his words, “things were looking like they weren’t going to get any better.”

Sadly, he was right.

In this conversation, Edgar and I chat about what it’s been like living in Canada for the past eight years. We discussed:

* The mental exhaustion of code switching

* Dealing with the fear of the unknown

* Dealing with Canadian experience

* He also shares the two questions your resume must answer

Edgar works in Human Resources, so if you want to get the gist about resumes, you can find that from 28:00.

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👋🏽 Follow Edgar on LinkedIn

Survival mode can be a strength

The following is based on a recent episode with Kaveri Srivastava

As an immigrant, it's easy to feel stuck in survival mode. You need to focus on immediate needs, and it's hard to do that while identifying and pursuing longer-term growth opportunities.

What if your greatest asset was survival mode?

Here's Kaveri Srivastava's view of survival mode after 13 years as an immigrant:

* Embrace the blank slate. You've got nothing to lose. Take risks. Sensibly.

* Pay your future self first. Save 20-30% before spending, or find your number and save that first.

* Use your cultural strengths as an advantage. Were you raised to focus on education? Turn that into a passion for learning. Anything can be a competitive advantage.

You've got this.

Do you live in Calgary?

Join CRIEC for their annual THRIVE Calgary Conference for a day full of engaging sessions, expert speakers, and networking opportunities focused on how “One Yes” can affect a person, a company, a policy and more!

Use the Promo Code for THRIVE75 for 75% off ticket prices. Early bird ticket sales are now on sale. Secure your spot today and take advantage of special early bird pricing. 

📅Date: September 26, 2024📍 Location: Hotel Arts, 119 12 Avenue Southwest, Calgary, AB T2R 0G8🎫 Early Bird Pricing: $100

Register HERE!

If you got this email in error or no longer wish to receive emails from The Newcomers Podcast, Substack has a sweet and easy way to unsubscribe.

Hello, I'd really like to grow this email list. If you enjoy this newsletter, it would mean the world to Jola and I if you encouraged one friend/fellow immigrant/colleague to subscribe…Very likely, the the only thing you will get in return is warm fuzzy feelings, and if I can attribute it to you, I’d personally send you a thank you email.

Join us as we explore the bitter-sweet world of the immigrant.

In this episode, I’m speaking with Kaveri Srivastava, Snr. Marketing Director at World Financial Group.

I’ve come to realize that the best way to hit the ground running as an immigrant in a new country isn’t necessarily the usual things people talk about—finding a job to keep you going while applying to 500 roles weekly and the like.

The most impactful things you’ll need to do when settling down are mindset-related.

Keep an open mind. Be adaptable. Drop any sense of entitlement. And be willing to reset and start from the beginning.

One caveat, though: don’t lose your identity in the process.

After 12+ years in Canada, Kaveri Srivastava is well-placed to speak about this mindset shift. In this conversation, we chat about:

* Her hit-the-ground running playbook

* Dealing with survival mentality as an immigrant

* Balancing the need to experience new things while saving for the future

* Her Indian heritage, and more.

My biggest takeaway: While it’s cool to experience new things, you should form the habit of paying your future self first.

Did you find this interesting? Please share with someone else who might find it helpful.

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👋🏽 Follow Kaveri on LinkedIn

Hello, I'd really like to grow this email list. If you enjoy this newsletter, it would mean the world to Jola and I if you encouraged one friend/fellow immigrant/colleague to subscribe…Very likely, the the only thing you will get in return is warm fuzzy feelings, and if I can attribute it to you, I’d personally send you a thank you email.

Join us as we explore the bitter-sweet world of the immigrant.

In this episode, I’m speaking with Chris Ogunlowo, poet, adman, philosopher, and immigrant.

If you ask anyone planning to emigrate from Nigeria what country or city they plan to settle in as their new home, you would hear Canada, England, Australia, the United States, and even Germany.

But you would rarely hear someone say, Glasgow, Scotland.

But Chris is built differently. This xenophile decided to study in Glasgow because he was fascinated by its culture.

In this conversation, we chat about:

* Expectations vs. reality

* The need to make your new country work because you aren’t a tourist, and so you have no return ticket.

* Spotting opportunities as an immigrant

* Cultural integration and the work we need to do as immigrants to integrate, and more.

My biggest takeaway is that integration is a two-way street, with both the host nation and the immigrant responsible for fostering an atmosphere of mutual understanding and respect.

Did you find this interesting? Please share with someone else who might find it helpful.

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👌🏽 Follow Chris on Instagram

👋🏽 Read Chris’s Substack

Did you read it?

Hello, I'd really like to grow this email list. If you enjoy this newsletter, it would mean the world to Jola and I if you encouraged one friend/fellow immigrant/colleague to subscribe…Very likely, the the only thing you will get in return is warm fuzzy feelings, and if I can attribute it to you, I’d personally send you a thank you email.

Join us as we explore the bitter-sweet world of the immigrant.

In this episode, I’m speaking with Komal Faiz, a UX researcher par excellence and founder of Wanderlite, the gear rental marketplace. Komal moved to Canada as a student more than nine years ago.

Once school was over, people told her it would be stupid to leave Canada after her MSc program, so she stayed back. And in her words, her immigration journey has been like fine wine.

I do love a good wine analogy.

In this conversation, Komal and I explore:

* The advantages of immigrating as an international student, even though you are always broke

* The Wanderlite origin story

* The immigrant’s existential struggle for belonging and a sense of identity

* Her biggest lessons, and more.

This was a fun one. But the best part for me was when she said:

“We set such high standards for ourselves. But give yourself some space. You are good. You are doing okay.”

You can find that from 31:58.

Did you find this interesting? Please share with someone else who might find it helpful.

Official Links

👋🏽 Follow Komal on LinkedIn

🔗 Check out the Wanderlite website

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If you got this email in error or no longer wish to receive emails from The Newcomers Podcast, Substack has a sweet and easy way to unsubscribe.

Hello, I'd really like to grow this email list. If you enjoy this newsletter, it would mean the world to Jola and I if you encouraged one friend/fellow immigrant/colleague to subscribe…Very likely, the the only thing you will get in return is warm fuzzy feelings, and if I can attribute it to you, I’d personally send you a thank you email.

Join us as we explore the bitter-sweet world of the immigrant.

In this episode, I’m speaking with Mu Okonkwo, former basketball player now immigrant entrepreneur.

One random sunny day in Owerri, Nigeria, Mu’s friends convinced him to follow them to the basketball court. Their pitch? A scout was coming who would take promising prospects to the Ejike Ugboaja annual bootcamp — the biggest basketball camp in Nigeria.

Now, Mu only had eyes for soccer, or football as we call it back in Nigeria.

But a couple of months after that well-timed visit to the basketball court, Mu was actively scheming to move to the United States on a scholarship to play college basketball.

In this conversation, we chat about:

* Forging his Dad’s signature so the scout could formally keep working with him to secure his college scholarship

* Getting to the United States and discovering that his little knowledge of basketball was useless

* Going pro in 2019

* Adjusting to the social nuances of the American culture, and more.

Did you find this interesting? Please share with someone else who might find it helpful.

Official Links

👋🏽 Follow Mu on LinkedIn

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