Best FreshStart Podcasts (2025)

1
How to develop skills for the future of work with David Ojeyinka 6:53

2y ago6:53

6:53

Dear Immigrants is a 5-10 minute weekly letter to immigrants on varying topics to help them navigate their journey. The topic of today's episode is “5 ways to develop skills for the future of work” where I shared the top strategies for building the skills that will not only help you succeed, but thrive, in the future of work.…

1
My journey: Navigating my career from employee to executive with Anthony Viel 46:36

2y ago46:36

46:36

On this week's episode of the Freshstart podcast, I chat with Anthony Viel, CEO of Deloitte Canada. During our conversation, AV opened up about his personal and professional journey, sharing both the highs and lows that have helped shape him into the incredible leader he is today. In addition, we discussed the importance of mentorship and sponsorsh…

1
Embracing Your Journey: Finding Purpose in Life's Adventures with Cheesan Chew 43:11

2y ago43:11

43:11

On this week's episode of the Freshstart podcast, I chat with Cheesan Chew, Chief Strategy Officer of Manifest Climate. Cheesan shares her personal journey and early struggles, as well as strategies for managing one's career. In addition, we discussed how companies can create a more inclusive workplace, particularly for women and immigrants. This e…

1
How to avoid the comparison trap as an immigrant with David Ojeyinka 6:04

2y ago6:04

6:04

On this week's episode of the Freshstarthub podcast, I delved deep into a topic that hits close to home for me: how to avoid the comparison trap as an immigrant. As someone who has walked the path of a newcomer, I know firsthand how easy it is to fall into the trap of comparing yourself to those around you. But here's the thing: comparison is a thi…

1
How to Envision a Brighter Future: The Empowerment of Black Women in the Workforce with Cheryl Tjok-A-Tam 45:34

2y ago45:34

45:34

On this week's episode of the Freshstart podcast, I chat with Cheryl Tjok-A-Tam, Vice President of Strategic Initiatives and Change management in the Office of the Chief Financial Officer of RBC Royal Bank. In this episode, Cheryl shared her career journey and lessons learned. Cheryl shares her experiences and insights on how to navigate the corpor…

1
How to break career barriers as an immigrant and a woman with Omo Akintan 47:07

2y ago47:07

47:07

On this week's episode of the Freshstart podcast, I chat with Omo Akintan, Chief People Officer at University Pension Plan Ontario, who shares her remarkable story of building a career from the ground up as a Black woman. In this episode, we'll delve into Omo's personal experiences and the challenges she faced on her path to founding her passion. G…

1
How to chart unknown territories with Tene Knibbs 41:43

2y ago41:43

41:43

On this week's episode of the Freshstart podcast, I chat with Tene Knibbs, a Partner at Deloitte, who shares her inspiring journey of overcoming challenges and carving her own path in the business world. The discussion goes beyond just Tene's experiences transitioning to consulting, moving to a new country, and growing her career as a woman in corp…

1
How to access funding for your startup with Naren Balakrishnan - Part 2 19:59

2y ago19:59

19:59

This is Part 2 of "How to access funding for your startup with Naren Balakrishnan." If you haven't heard Part 1 yet, go back and listen to it. That is the episode before this because you'd need that for context. Now let's dive right into Part 2 of How to access funding for your startup with Naren Balakrishnan Listen, enjoy, and share.…

1
How to access funding for your startup with Naren Balakrishnan 24:28

2y ago24:28

24:28

Startup founders and small business owners are facing difficulties in obtaining capital due to the current economic climate with investors, banks, and consumers becoming more cautious with the recent stock market crash and rising inflation rates. This has resulted in higher interest rates, making it more expensive to borrow money, and causing inves…

1
Be willing to go through the process with David Ojeyinka 7:01

2+ y ago7:01

7:01

Dear Immigrants is a 5-10 minute weekly letter to immigrants on varying topics to help them navigate their journey. The topic of today's episode is “is “Be willing to go through the process” where I shared five ways to help you enjoy the process.

1
Live Without Regrets: Allison Romano, General Manager, Xbox Digital Marketing at Microsoft 28:50

2+ y ago28:50

28:50

This week, I am thrilled to welcome Allison Romano, General Manager, Xbox Digital Marketing at Microsoft. In this episode, Allison takes us through her career journey and the bold career decisions she learned to make along the way. We talk about how Allison lives her life without regrets, how she determines if a job is the right fit for her, and ho…

1
How to Rebuild A Business Empire After Losing it All with Tareq Hadhad - Part 2 22:33

2+ y ago22:33

22:33

This is Part 2 of How to Rebuild A Business Empire After Losing it All with Tareq Hadhad. If you haven't heard Part 1 yet, go back and listen to it. That is episode 103 Season 1 because you'd need that for context. Now let's dive right into Part 2 of How to Rebuild A Business Empire After Losing it All with Tareq Hadhad Listen, enjoy, and share.…

1
Enjoy the Ride: Lorna Kapusta, Head of Women and Customer Engagement at Fidelity Investments 32:47

2+ y ago32:47

32:47

This week we welcome Lorna Kapusta to Mojo Mondays Bootcamp. In her role as Head of Women Investors and Customer Engagement at Fidelity Investments, Lorna is responsible for a firm-wide initiative committed to helping women become more engaged in their finances and ultimately, more confident investors. During our conversation she shares why the exp…

1
Be Kind to Yourself with David Ojeyinka 6:02

2+ y ago6:02

6:02

Dear Immigrants is a 5-10 minute weekly letter to immigrants on varying topics to help them navigate their journey. The topic of today's episode is “is “Be kind to yourself” where I shared four ways to be kind to yourself. Listen, enjoy, and share.

1
Small Steps Win 31:06

2+ y ago31:06

31:06

This week we are going back to where it all started with a special re-release of my first ever interview with former Executive Chef, best-selling author, and motivational speaker, Jeff Henderson. Jeff’s story of serving time in prison to becoming an executive chef on the Las Vegas Strip is a masterclass on how small steps can transform your life. I…

1
Run for the Bus: Trier Bryant, President of 82VS: Alloy Therapeutics Venture Studio 34:59

2+ y ago34:59

34:59

On this episode of Mojo Mondays Bootcamp, we are joined by Trier Bryant, President of 82VS: Alloy Therapeutics’ Venture Studio. I first met Trier during the beginning of her transition from being an officer in the Air Force to corporate America when she joined the Goldman Sachs’s Veterans Integration Program. In our conversation, we talk about the …

1
Believe in yourself with David Ojeyinka 6:27

2+ y ago6:27

6:27

Dear Immigrants is a 5-10 minute weekly letter to immigrants on varying topics to help them navigate their journey. The topic of today's episode is “Believe in yourself” where I shared a very important trait of highly successful people. Listen, enjoy, and share.

1
Read the Signals: Kate Pomeroy, Head of Innovation at Pernod Ricard North America 20:56

2+ y ago20:56

20:56

Today I am thrilled to welcome Kate Pomeroy, Head of Innovation for Pernod Ricard North America to the podcast. In our conversation we talk about why radical candor works, how to process feedback and the importance of adapting to the signals around you. This season is about creating your own Mojo Manual - your personalized playbook to find and keep…

1
You are more powerful than you think with David Ojeyinka 7:07

2+ y ago7:07

7:07

Dear Immigrants is a 5-10 minute weekly letter to immigrants on varying topics to help them navigate their journey. The topic of today's episode is “You Are More Powerful Than You Think” where I shared one principle that all successful leaders understand its importance. Listen, enjoy, and share.

1
Find Your Mojo Move 6:46

2+ y ago6:46

6:46

This week we are revisiting some of my favorite Mojo Moves from the first four seasons with a mini episode. It was hard to narrow it down to one mojo move from each season, but it was a great chance to revisit all the incredible conversations I’ve had over the past two years. Whether you have been listening since we launched in 2020 or have recentl…

1
You have what it takes with David Ojeyinka 7:27

2+ y ago7:27

7:27

Dear Immigrants is a 5-10 minute weekly letter to immigrants on varying topics to help them navigate their journey. The topic of today's episode is “You have what it takes” where I shared 3 principles that have helped me. Listen, enjoy, and share.

1
Dream the Big Dream: Soni K. Basi, Ph.D, Global Chief People Officer at Edelman 33:56

2+ y ago33:56

33:56

Soni K. Basi, Ph.D., the Global Chief People Officer at Edelman is our guest this week. In this episode, Soni explains how her nomadic childhood prepared her for her global roles, how she navigated multiple pivots throughout her career, and how she derisks risk taking. This season is about creating your own Mojo Manual - your personalized playbook …

1
Congratulations, you made it with David Ojeyinka 7:38

2+ y ago7:38

7:38

Dear Immigrants is a 5-10 minute weekly letter to immigrants on varying topics to help them navigate their journey. The topic of today's episode is “Congratulations, you made it” where I discussed two important principles that can help you on this journey. Listen, enjoy, and share.

1
Chart Your Purpose: Lybra S. Clemons, Chief Diversity Officer at Twilio 32:06

2+ y ago32:06

32:06

To kick off Season Five, we are joined by Lybra S. Clemons, Chief Diversity Officer at Twilio. She shares why she believes her career journey resembles a game of Chutes and Ladders, and how following her purpose and vision boarding put her in a position to interview Michelle Obama. Season Five is all about creating our own Mojo Manuals. To do so, w…

1
Season 5: Introducing the Mojo Manual 1:46

2+ y ago1:46

1:46

Welcome to Season Five of Mojo Mondays Bootcamp. This season we are adding a new twist to the podcast you know and love - we’re asking our guests to share their personal Mojo Manuals - how they structure their lives to find and keep their mojo day in, day out. I’m so excited for us to learn from them, borrow a few of their Mojo Moves and ultimately…

1
How to Rebuild A Business Empire After Losing it All with Tareq Hadhad 29:35

3y ago29:35

29:35

They had lived an absolutely beautiful life in their homeland in Syria, in the city of Damascus. In his homeland of Syria, his family owned a chocolate empire that was lost in a war. He was an aspiring physician. He was trying to finish his medical degree. Then the Syrian war broke out and his family lost everything through the bombing of their cho…

1
How to find your voice as an immigrant woman in the workplace with Iris Tam - Part 2 22:38

3y ago22:38

22:38

This is Part 2 of how to find your voice as an immigrant woman in the workplace with Iris Tam. If you haven't heard Part 1 yet, go back and listen to it. That is the episode right before this because you'd need that for context. Now let's dive right into Part 2 of How to find your voice as an immigrant woman in the workplace with Iris Tam. Accordin…

1
How to find your voice as an immigrant woman in the workplace with Iris Tam 32:44

3y ago32:44

32:44

According to a study done by Jennifer Jagire titled "Immigrant Women and Workplace in Canada: Organizing Agents for Social Change", Immigrant women in Canada are marginalized in the workplace, overworked, discriminated against, and pushed to the periphery through exclusions and exploitation. However, regardless of these hostile structures and envir…

1
The Story of An Exemplary Leader: From Immigrant to Teller to C-suite at RBC Royal Bank with Zabeen Hirji 52:40

3y ago52:40

52:40

Some of the most successful entrepreneurs are immigrants. Many of them are billionaires. And the companies they founded have created trillions of dollars in value for shareholders, employees, and customers alike. There’s Google co-founder Sergey Brin, born in communist Russia. The man who could take us to Mars, Elon Musk, from South Africa. Arianna…

1
How to build a fashion brand as an immigrant woman with Elle AyoubZadeh 51:05

3y ago51:05

51:05

The fashion industry embodies a huge effective number of women. Globally, it is estimated that 85% of industry workers are female. In this week's episode, I chat with Elle AyoubZadeh, founder of Zvelle, a brand that appeals to women and champions their stories of passion, determination, and success. Elle shared why she relocated to Canada, what sta…

1
How RBC is helping newcomers beyond banking with Marina Gerges and Shorouq Alkayyali 44:14

3y ago44:14

44:14

An increasing number of newcomers arrive in Canada every year. The Royal Bank of Canada (RBC) is connecting early and building life-long relationships by helping newcomers navigate banking in Canada, become homeowners, and make connections in their new communities. RBC Meeting Place, a first-of-its-kind branch, is staffed with employees who bring a…

1
How to build the career of your dreams as an immigrant woman with Candice Maxis - Part 2 30:54

3y ago30:54

30:54

This is Part 2 of how to build the career of your dreams as an immigrant woman with Candice Maxis. If you haven't heard Part 1 yet, go back and listen to it. That is the episode right before this because you'd need that for context. Now let's dive right into Part 2 of how to build the career of your dreams as a woman with Candice Maxis. Although yo…

1
How to build the career of your dreams as an immigrant woman with Candice Maxis 37:47

3y ago37:47

37:47

Although you may have heard stories of people stumbling into their dream job or discovering their life's calling through unexpected events, the truth is that for the vast majority of people, planning your career and taking deliberate steps toward success is a much more likely path to achieving the career of your dreams. In this week's episode, I ch…

1
Recognize your Greatness: Rashida Hodge, VP, Azure Data & AI Customer Success, Microsoft 32:01

3y ago32:01

32:01

For the final episode of Mojo Mondays Bootcamp Season Four, I am thrilled to welcome Rashida Hodge. Rashida is the Vice President of Worldwide Data and Al Customer Success Unit at Microsoft, and she has an incredible story to tell. From growing up in the Virgin Islands to earning a spot on Fortune's coveted 40 under 40 list, Rashida is a master of …

1
Practical steps to land your dream job as a skilled immigrant with Shade Ladipo - Part 2 34:09

3y ago34:09

34:09

This is Part 2 of Practical steps to land your dream job as a skilled immigrant with Shade Ladipo. If you haven't heard Part 1 yet, go back and listen to it. That is the episode right before this because you'd need that for context. Now let's dive right into Part 2 of Practical steps to land your dream job as a skilled immigrant with Shade Ladipo. …

1
The Gift of Failure: Christine Maggiore-Escribano, SVP, Head of One Platform Marketing, Advertising & Partnerships, NBCUniversal 37:04

3y ago37:04

37:04

Today I am thrilled to welcome Christine Maggiore-Escribano to Mojo Mondays Bootcamp. Chris is the Senior Vice President and Head of One Platform Marketing, Advertising & Partnerships at NBCUniversal. From college dropout to self proclaimed “polka-dotted unicorn who finally found her tribe”, Chris’ journey is a testament to the power of reinvention…

1
Practical steps to land your dream job as a skilled immigrant with Shade Ladipo 46:09

3y ago46:09

46:09

Landing your dream job in 2022 is no easy task. A lot of immigrant job seekers are using outdated information, and it’s costing them dearly. Landing your dream job as an internationally trained professional and international student takes a lot of self-awareness, perseverance, and creativity. I chat with Shade Ladipo, an Equity, Diversity, and Incl…

1
Plan to Pivot: Sarah Tabb, CMO, Milk Bar 35:59

3y ago35:59

35:59

Our guest today on Mojo Mondays Bootcamp is Sarah Tabb, Chief Marketing Officer at Milk Bar. In this episode we cover the lessons learned and the wisdom Sarah gained during three career pivots - starting with her front row seat to the implosion of one of the most high profile banking scandals of our time, then working at CocaCola to build her marke…

1
Creating opportunities for black talents in the technology sector with Jermaine L. Murray - Part 2 29:52

3y ago29:52

29:52

This is Part 2 of Creating opportunities for black talents in the technology sector with Jermaine L. Murray. If you haven't heard Part 1 yet, go back and listen to it. That is the episode right before this because you'd need that for context. Now let's dive right into Part 2 of Creating opportunities for black talents in the technology sector with …

1
Timing is Everything: Maria Weaver, President, WMX 30:36

3y ago30:36

30:36

On this episode of Mojo Mondays Bootcamp, Maria Weaver, President of WMX, shares the importance of checking in with our personal barometers before making decisions - whether it’s the big stuff (like our careers) or daily decisions (like when we should speak up in a meeting). We learn how Maria moved from not feeling valued at work to becoming an aw…

1
Creating opportunities for black talents in the technology sector with Jermaine L. Murray 35:04

3y ago35:04

35:04

As Canada recovers from its most recent economic downturn, experts see the technology sector as the engine of recovery. Jermaine has been a consistent advocate for ensuring that Black tech talent is fairly represented in our technology-driven future. In this week's episode, I chat with Jermaine Murray, a Technical Recruiter at Wealthsimple. Jermain…

1
The Patience Power Play: Linda Lee, CMO, Campbell's 38:18

3y ago38:18

38:18

This season we are going deep on the transformative power of storytelling and today we are joined by a master storyteller, Linda Lee, Chief Marketing Officer at Campbell’s. One of the many pieces of wisdom Linda shares in this episode is the importance of starting with the end in mind so we are crystal clear on what we are trying to accomplish and …

1
How To Harness The Power Of Community with Janet Adesina - Part 2 17:40

3+ y ago17:40

17:40

This is the Part 2 of How To Harness The Power Of Community with Janet Adesina. If you haven't heard Part 1 yet, go back and listen to it. That is the episode right before this because you'd need that for context. Now let's dive right into Part 2 of How To Harness The Power Of Community with Janet Adesina. The pandemic's social distancing has left …

1
Strive for Thriving: Penny Pennington, CEO & Managing Partner, Edward Jones 37:48

3+ y ago37:48

37:48

Welcome back to Season Four of Mojo Mondays Bootcamp! Today we are joined by Penny Pennington, CEO and Managing Partner of Edward Jones. Penny personifies “MOJO” as she shares her journey from a financial planner to managing partner at one of the country's largest investment firms. We also discuss the importance of knowing when to trust your gut an…

1
How To Harness The Power Of Community with Janet Adesina 30:17

3+ y ago30:17

30:17

The pandemic's social distancing has left a void for ways for people to feel connected and like they belong. The impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on our mental health has received a lot of attention in the media. Why do people want to be a part of a community, and how can immigrants best capitalize on this innate desire to belong? In this week's epi…

1
The Power of Passion: Shalini Govil-Pai, VP & GM TV at Google 31:22

3+ y ago31:22

31:22

Welcome to Season Four of Mojo Mondays Bootcamp! This season we are going deep on the transformative power of storytelling. Over the next six episodes, we’re going to provide the inspiration, tools, and structure, to help you craft your 2022 story. Our first guest of the season has quite the story to tell - Shalini Govil-Pai candidly shares the cho…

1
Season 4: Create Your 2022 Story 2:41

3+ y ago2:41

2:41

Welcome to Season Four of Mojo Mondays Bootcamp! This season we are going deep on the transformative power of storytelling. This season’s rockstar guests who work at some of the world’s most recognized companies (Campbells, Google and Microsoft), candidly share their life paths and the wisdom they learned along the way. They will reveal the “headli…

1
The Blueprint of Successful Start-ups with Gbemi Akande - Part 2 28:46

3+ y ago28:46

28:46

This is the Part 2 of The Blueprint of Successful Start-ups with Gbemi Akande. If you haven't heard Part 1 yet, go back and listen to it. That is the episode right before this because you'd need that for context. Now let's dive right into Part 2 of The Blueprint of Successful Start-ups with Gbemi Akande. Many aspiring entrepreneurs have it backward…

1
The Blueprint of Successful Start-ups with Gbemi Akande 37:13

3+ y ago37:13

37:13

Many aspiring entrepreneurs have it backward. They believe that launching a massively successful business is as simple as snapping their fingers. A good genie in the sky will appear out of nowhere to bless their idea and suddenly fill their bank account with billions. It's time to wake up! In this week's episode, I chat with Gbemi Akande, an indust…