Through the ERIEC Connector Program, we match newcomers (Connectees) with established business and community leaders (Connectors). It’s an effective way to build business connections in the Edmonton region!
Mohammad Esmaeili works with Peace Hills Insurance as Business Intelligence Manager. He became a Connector in 2022 and is very passionate about supporting newcomers through the Connector Program.
The following is a brief interview summary with Mohammad.
Q: What motivated you to volunteer as a Connector and support newcomers?
As an immigrant myself, I can understand the amount of pain that newcomers go through to be able to establish a life, community connections, professional networks and employment in their new country. This is an issue that has always been close to my heart and I always wanted to do something to “give back”. In 2015 when I first moved here I began as a night shift laborer at the Home Depot despite having my MBA and data analysis and business development experience.
Connecting with internationally trained professionals will provide me with a larger network which can help me in the future when I look to hire talents if I move up or change career paths one day.
He added that “Canada accepts immigrants for their experience, knowledge and talent and I think we should do everything we can to help them offer that knowledge and expertise to the society. The faster they become a productive and integrated member of the community, the more the community benefits from their knowledge. I had other people put their trust in me when I was new here and I think it's time for me to give back to other newcomers. This will benefit them, me and the community”.
Q: What messages do you want to share with new immigrants?
Let me start by saying “Welcome to Canada!”.
“The decision to immigrate has never been an easy one. Every one of us arrives to this decision in our own unique way and every situation is different from the rest. However, when we get here as a professional, our challenges and opportunities can be very similar”.
“Canada is a great place to call home, especially for professionals such as the Connectees participating in the Connector Program. You are at the start of a very exciting journey which will have lots and lots of ups and downs, (hopefully more ups than downs!) and I am honored to have the opportunity to meet with newcomers at the start of this journey and to share my experience and help in any way that I can”.
If you are interested in becoming a Connector in the ERIEC Connector Program, please reach out to April Zhang, Connector Program Coordinator, at [email protected]