Welcome to Newcomers ON FIRE , the podcast that features bold immigrant voices and inspiring stories of transformation. In this episode, we meet Felisha Ali, who arrived in Canada at 17 with low confidence and no clear direction. Today, she’s a respected career mentor helping young professionals find their voice and purpose. Her story is a powerful reminder that growth is possible—even when you feel invisible. If you're a newcomer struggling with self-doubt or unsure of your career path, Felisha...
Jul 02, 2025•59 min•Season 1Ep. 21
In this episode, we meet Dr. Anish Kaushal, a top medical graduate whose journey took an unexpected turn when he was unable to practice medicine in Canada. That moment of rejection became a turning point, leading him to discover a new path in health, communication, and venture capital. If you’ve ever felt stuck, overlooked, or forced to start over in a new country, Anish’s story will resonate deeply. He shares how he transformed failure into purpose—through writing, reflection, and relentless cu...
Jun 18, 2025•1 hr 1 min•Season 1Ep. 20
Newcomers ON FIRE! is back with a story of bold reinvention. This episode features Stephan Dyer, a former Scotiabank senior manager who left the corporate world to chase stand-up comedy — a path rarely taken, especially by immigrants. From growing up across continents to empowering over 50,000 professionals through public speaking, Stephan’s journey is all about trusting your gut, facing fear, and choosing purpose over perfection. Tune in for an inspiring masterclass on resilience, identity, and...
Jun 06, 2025•57 min•Season 1Ep. 19
Andres, a successful immigrant to Canada, shares his journey and offers practical tips for settling in a new country and achieving professional success. He emphasizes the importance of having the right mindset, developing leadership skills, surrounding yourself with positive influences, and finding mentors. Andres also highlights the need to fully commit to your goals and work hard to make your dreams come true. He shares his own challenges and encourages newcomers to not be afraid, ask for help...
Jul 08, 2024•52 min
Jessica Pang-Parks, a renowned leader in the volunteer engagement space, shares her invaluable expertise on leveraging volunteering as a powerful tool for newcomers. From understanding the significance of volunteering in Canadian culture to finding the right opportunities and maximizing their benefits, Jessica provides practical strategies and actionable insights to help newcomers accelerate their journey to success. Episode's Sponsor: The Professional Growth Wheel : In just 5 minutes, you'll ge...
Apr 14, 2024•1 hr 3 min
Carmen and Luis, a power couple who navigated the challenges of starting over as newcomers in Canada. Carmen, a dietitian by profession, shares her story of transitioning from a regulated career to becoming a successful mompreneur. You'll learn how she identified a gap in the market for a healthy, plant-based baby food option and turned her passion into a thriving business. Alongside her supportive husband, Luis, who pursued a career in sales and marketing, this dynamic duo shares their insights...
Apr 08, 2024•50 min
Sanaz and Livia, were two newcomers who defied the odds and emerged as champions at the prestigious Ontario Colleges Marketing Competition (OCMC). Through their gripping stories, you'll discover practical strategies for conquering self-doubt, embracing a growth mindset, and mastering the art of pitching and presenting. Prepare to be motivated as these two trailblazers share their secrets to success, from harnessing the power of feedback to leveraging their unique strengths and turning challenges...
Mar 08, 2024•40 min
Gurasis Singh, moved from India to Canada to study Media Strategies and Advertising. He faced numerous struggles like finding housing, lost job opportunities, and cultural barriers related to his strong accent and appearance. However, Gurasis persevered through networking, persistence and maintaining a positive mindset. He shares his journey to overcoming immigrant challenges and eventually launching his own podcast “My Thick Accent” to showcase immigrant success stories. Full show notes here: h...
Feb 21, 2024•1 hr 7 min
Joco Amante shares his journey of applying to over 500 jobs before finally landing his dream role. Joco invested his life savings to study for an MBA in Canada, but after graduating, he struggled to find work. He opens up about the constant rejection taking a toll on his confidence and the stress of being on a study permit. Joco provides valuable insights on lowering your expectations as a newcomer, extending your financial runway, and the importance of networking. Listen to this episode to gain...
Feb 04, 2024•47 min
Maria Becerra shares the secrets behind her incredible success in landing 4 big jobs within just 3 years of arriving in Canada. If you want to fast-track your career as a newcomer, this is a must-listen! Episode Highlights: Overcoming Language Barriers: We dive into Maria’s journey of overcoming self-doubt and fear of judgment to find her voice. The Power of Networking: Learn how Maria leveraged volunteering and networking to expand her connections. Standing Out on LinkedIn: Get tips on optimizi...
Jan 17, 2024•45 min
Nazia Iqbal moved alone from Pakistan to Canada as a student. Despite facing tremendous cultural obstacles, she powered through initial struggles to climb from retail banking to impressive corporate roles, breaking barriers for immigrant women along the way. Gain an uplifting blueprint and mindset-shifting insights to overcome your career struggles as a newcomer. Episode Highlights: Arriving in a New Country and Culture Dealing with the shock of doing everything solo for the first time Facing bi...
Jan 10, 2024•43 min
I chat with Luki about whether informational interviews (also known as “coffee chats”) are essential or overhyped. We share our experiences using them to build connections and get job promotions. We also give best practices for improving your coffee chat skills. Episode Highlights: A Conversation that Started on LinkedIn I posted that “informational interviews are underrated”. Luki countered saying they can be overrated and should be rebranded as “curiosity conversations.” This online debate ins...
Dec 18, 2023•45 min
Sabina Michael, is an expert in empowering newcomers to thrive professionally in Canada. She shares her personal journey as an immigrant and the lessons she learned along the way. Episode Highlights: Navigating the Early Struggles: Sabina recounts her early challenges finding work in Canada despite being told it would be easy. She realized she needed to understand the Canadian job market better. The Power of Volunteering: Sabina talks about how strategic volunteering opened doors for her and led...
Nov 22, 2023•47 min
Ruth Javier is an expert in overcoming the challenges of relocating to a new country. Ruth shares invaluable insights on improving your communication skills, finding the courage to pursue your dreams, the importance of networking and volunteering, embracing your unique accent, and strategies for maintaining a positive mindset. Get ready to be inspired and empowered to make your newcomer journey a success. Episode Highlights: The Power of Communication : Learn how to improve your English and beco...
Nov 02, 2023•50 min
Gabriela Gutierrez emphasizes the importance of strategic thinking in decision-making, highlights the art of preparing for job interviews, reveals her secret to getting hired on the spot and also shares her recipe for staying motivated. Episode Highlights: How to Prepare for Job Interviews – Gabriela discusses her approach to preparing for job interviews and how she ended up getting hired on the spot several times. Making Strategic Decisions – Gabriela discusses the importance of making strategi...
Oct 26, 2023•59 min
Lorena Martinez is a seasoned professional who shares her secrets on overcoming challenges, securing your dream job, and embracing a life filled with confidence and opportunities. Episode Highlights: “From Coffee Server to Marketing Professional” Lorena Martinez, moved to Canada with a dream of building a successful career in marketing. She talks about her early challenges, including finding her first professional job and dealing with uncertainty. “The Power of Informational Interviews” Lorena h...
Oct 16, 2023•40 min
John, a seasoned intercultural expert, shares invaluable insights on navigating the challenges faced by newcomers to Canada and how cultural biases can impact our journeys. Episode Highlights: Cultural Compass: Discover the importance of embracing diverse perspectives, understanding cultural biases, and becoming a bridge between cultures. Speed Up Your Journey: Get tips on how to avoid common cultural misunderstandings and become more culturally aware. Find out how to make your journey smoother ...
Oct 09, 2023•50 min
Pankhudi Singh, is a newcomer to Canada who has not only overcome significant challenges but has also achieved remarkable success. Her journey is a testament to the power of resilience, networking, and the determination to make the most out of every opportunity. Episode Highlights: From Survival Job to Success: Pankhudi shares her experience of starting with a survival job in a new country and how she turned it into a stepping stone for her career. The Power of Networking: Learn how Pankhudi lev...
Sep 28, 2023•40 min
Jessica Camborda, is a financial professional at Canada Mortgage Corporation (CMHC) and an immigrant from Peru. Her journey is a testament to the power of determination, learning, and community support. Get ready to be inspired! Episode Highlights: Embracing Change : Jessica discusses her immigration journey, the challenges she faced, and how she adapted to a new culture and environment. The Power of Specialization : Learn why specialization in your field and continuous learning are essential fo...
Sep 19, 2023•34 min
Mehrnoosh Jalilian, is an immigrant to Canada who turned her dreams into reality through the power of networking and unwavering passion. If you're a newcomer looking for inspiration and guidance on your own path to success, you won't want to miss this episode. Episode Highlights: The Networking Journey of a Newcomer to Canada: Mehrnoosh shares her immigration journey to Canada and how networking played a pivotal role in her success. Learn how she built connections that transformed her career. Fr...
Sep 19, 2023•51 min
Welcome to the very first episode of Newcomers ON FIRE! I'm your host, Miguel Abascal, and today, we're diving into the journey of finding your dream job as a newcomer. I'll share my personal experiences and the 5 essential steps that helped me succeed in Canada. So, whether you're a recent immigrant or someone looking for a fresh start in a new country, this episode is for you. Episode Highlights: Step 1: Confidence : Discover the critical role confidence plays in your job search and learn stra...
Sep 19, 2023•20 min
Every week you will hear stories from people who've been where you are. We'll chat about finding jobs, getting used to a new culture, the importance of your mindset and mental health, how to do networking, recovering your confidence, and taking care of your family and yourself so you can create the future you want. The Newcomers On Fire show is more than just a podcast. It's a lighthouse, a community of support, and a platform to empower you. Together, we'll tackle the fears that keep you up at ...
Aug 21, 2023•2 min
