Thank you for joining me on this journey for the past two years! New Exciting projects are coming soon Happy and Healthy 2025! Cheers

In this inspiring episode of The Immigrant Squared Podcast, I chatted with Dr. Katrina, a refugee from Vietnam who escaped communist Vietnam as a baby with her family. From a harrowing journey across the sea to being sponsored by Catholic Charities and settling in the United States, Dr. Katrina shares her remarkable story of resilience and determination. Now a medical practitioner and bestselling author, Dr. Katrina reflects on: The challenges of growing up as one of 10 children in a family adapting to a new culture. Overcoming language barriers and finding her path to medicine. The importance of mentorship and how it shaped her career. Balancing Vietnamese traditions with American customs. Her philosophy of using success to give back and uplift others. Dr. Katrina also shares insights from her books, including Live to Give and Overcoming Mediocrity, and offers advice for immigrants and refugees seeking mentorship and opportunities. Don’t miss this heartfelt conversation filled with wisdom, hope, and actionable inspiration. Learn more about Dr. Katrina: MDKatrina.com Check out her books: Live to Give, The Confidence of Yes, Overcoming Mediocrity.

In this episode, I had the privilege of speaking with Emily, who shared her family’s remarkable journey as Latvian refugees and their enduring connection to their heritage. Emily’s grandparents were born in Latvia during WWI, as part of the first generation of Latvians under the Russian Empire. They lived through the Soviet and Nazi occupations, with her grandmother actively participating in the Latvian resistance against both regimes. Her grandfather, who operated a train route from Saint Petersburg to Belarus during the war, eventually fled Latvia in a daring escape across the Baltic Sea to Sweden. Her grandmother followed later, escaping to Sweden in a fishing boat under dramatic circumstances. Emily also shared how her grandparents later became refugees in Canada, raising their family while preserving their Latvian culture. Through her research, she discovered her grandfather's involvement in efforts to aid Latvian partisans, even uncovering CIA documents from 1946 revealing his role in missions funded by French intelligence to fight the Russians. Beyond recounting her grandparents' story, Emily discussed her own immigration from Canada to the U.S. and the traditions she continues to honor from her Latvian heritage. She reflected on the power of understanding one’s roots, emphasizing that learning about your heritage can help you make sense of your life. It was a conversation rich with history, resilience, and the enduring strength of family connections.

In this episode of The Immigrant Squared Podcast, I speak with Kamilla, a leadership coach and speaker who shares her inspiring journey from Uzbekistan to the U.S. Arriving as a 19-year-old student with limited English, Kamilla overcame numerous challenges, including cultural adjustment and navigating visa issues, to build a successful career. A turning point in her journey came during Drexel University's co-op program, where she secured offers from top companies, reaffirming her belief in the opportunities available in the U.S. Kamilla reflects on balancing her Uzbek roots with her global mindset and shares invaluable advice for immigrants, encouraging them to pursue their dreams while embracing resilience and growth. Today, she empowers others to take bold steps toward their aspirations through her coaching and workshops.   Kamilla Pinel is a leadership coach, speaker, and entrepreneur whose inspiring journey reflects the courage and determination of the immigrant experience. Originally from Uzbekistan, Kamilla came to the United States with limited English skills and a dream of building a brighter future. She started as an accountant and caregiver while attending community college, later earning a business degree from Drexel University and building a successful corporate career at JP Morgan Chase. During the pandemic, Kamilla experienced a transformative realization: her corporate career no longer aligned with her true aspirations. She made the bold decision to leave her stable job and pursue entrepreneurship, founding You Dream You Do Coaching. Through her proprietary DREAM framework, Kamilla helps high-achieving professionals and leaders create meaningful success by aligning their goals with their values and sustaining energy and momentum. Now based in California, Kamilla combines her deep understanding of resilience, reinvention, and alignment to empower others through coaching, workshops, and speaking engagements. Her story is a testament to the power of dreaming big and creating a life of purpose and fulfillment. Connect with Kamilla: Website: https://www.youdreamyoudo.com  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kamillagpinel/ IG: https://www.instagram.com/youdreamyoudo/

In this episode, I had the honor of hosting my dear friend and an exceptional security professional, Lee Oughton. Lee's journey to Mexico City began in 2016 when he moved to work for a British security company. Lee was amazed by the melting pot in Mexico City. His first reaction upon arriving was, "Are we really in Mexico?". Despite the challenges he faced, Lee embraced the adventure and immersed himself in the local culture. Lee's home base is in the UK, but his career has taken him across the globe, including living in the US and working in Iraq. He has a fearless spirit, always eager to take leaps of faith and explore new environments. Coming from a fast-paced corporate America background, Lee faced the challenge of adjusting to the slower pace of life in Mexico, often referred to as the "mañana (tomorrow) syndrome." He shared invaluable advice on adapting to new places, cultures, and languages—insights that have been shaped by his diverse experiences. Recently, Lee published a book titled "Kindness Games." The concept started as a challenge with a friend struggling with depression during the pandemic. This 30-day initiative brought people together, sharing stories of various individuals, including the inspiring journey of a young immigrant from Pakistan. The book explores life's challenges and the power of positivity and kindness. Lee and I also reflected on the unique strengths of immigrants in the security community. Their resilience and wealth of experiences are invaluable assets to the industry. Lee's parting advice is simple yet profound: "Network and be courageous." This mantra has guided him through his incredible journey and continues to inspire those around him. Tune in to hear more about Lee's adventures, his perspectives on life and work, and the incredible impact of his book. #immigrantesenmexico #immigrantsinmexico #thekindnessgames #immigrantsinsecurity #immigrantsinexecutiveprotection

In this episode, I sit down with Irma, who fled South Africa with just two suitcases due to violence. She shares her journey from the US to Canada and discusses the emotional and practical challenges of immigration. We dive into her 2023 TEDx talk, where she explored how to survive immigration (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5zMHiihyGqI&t=13s), and talk about the impact immigration has on families, as well as the differences between legal and illegal immigration. Irma passionately believes in the value immigrants bring to their new countries, from their knowledge to their unique experiences. She recalls discovering central heating and the simple joy of taking a walk outside as surprising firsts. Despite feeling different, she worked hard to show that she belongs. We also reflect on how the survival skills we learned in our home countries help us navigate everyday life. Irma shares her seven-step framework for adapting to a new country. Tune in to hear more about her inspiring journey! #southafricaapartheid #immigration #immigrantsincanada #southafrica #immigrantstories #immigrantstruggles #TedX #TEDtalk

Oksana is the youngest of 12 children, and a daughter of Ukrainian refugees. Growing up in Rochester, NY Oksana was immersed into the Ukrainian culture at home but had to follow the American culture outside. Hence she did not feel like she fit into either. In college being surrounded by multicultural students helped her understand herself better and that it was ok to be a blend. As she got older she embraced the Ukrainian side more than her siblings.  In her mid twenties, she had an opportunity to go to Ukraine and spend time working there. Oksana authored the book "Sunflowers Bend But Rarely Break" The book tells the story of her parents' early life as forced laborers in Nazi Germany during the Holocaust, when Slavs were also considered sub-human.  You can read Oksana's blog ⁠https://medium.com/@oksanakukurudza⁠ Purchase her book ⁠https://sunflowersrarelybreak.com/⁠ Follow her ⁠https://www.instagram.com/okukurudza2/⁠ ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/oksana-kukurudza/⁠   #immigrantstories #ukarine #naziGermany #holocaust #immigrantsquaredpodcast

Kamini, a child of Indian immigrants, grew up in a predominantly white community in Connecticut, where she struggled to fit in. Her parents worked hard to provide for their family while striving to maintain a balance between their Indian heritage and the American culture their children were growing up in. They supported Kamini and engaged in difficult conversations when she felt different, which greatly benefited her. Despite feeling different from her peers who attended church on Sundays, Kamini participated in the family tradition of Sunday prayers at home. As a parent herself, she now encourages her children to embrace their multicultural background. Kamini advises investing in people who accept and celebrate cultural diversity. In her work as a life coach, Kamini emphasizes the importance of self-compassion, kindness over judgment, and recognizing our common humanity. She acknowledges that seeking help is often taboo in immigrant and refugee communities. To make it less daunting, Kamini suggests reframing the idea of seeking help as gaining different perspectives from others who have faced similar situations. This approach empowers individuals to view seeking advice not as a weakness but as an opportunity to learn from others while ultimately making their own choices.     If you want to get in touch with Kamini www.kaminiwood.com www.instagram.com/itsauthenticme www.linkedin.com/in/kaminiwood   Kamini Wood is the founder and CEO of Live Joy Your Way and the AuthenticMe® RiseUp program. An international best-selling author Kamini’s mission is to guide her clients in nurturing their mental, emotional, physical and strategic  plans for their lives.  Recognizing the profound impact of self leadership and inner dialogs on external outcomes, she works collaboratively with her clients  to address both external goals and challenges, as well as the internal responses, thoughts and  behaviors that may hinder their desired results. Internal obstacles that get in the way include lack of boundaries, people-pleasing, over giving, over functioning, hyper achievement, perfectionism, procrastination, burnout, self-doubt, and imposter syndrome as well as  other false beliefs about self. Kamini is based out of North Carolina but serves clients all over the word virtually.   #childrenofimmigrants #immigrantsfromindia #immigrantstories #immigrantsquared #refugeestories #immigrantmentalhealth

During these times when antisemitism is at an all times high worldwide, its important to learn where it all started. In this episode Dr. Vivien Sieber shares her family's struggle during the Holocaust, which led her to write the book, "Kino and Kinder: A Family's Journey in the Shadow of the Holocaust". The book revolves around Paula Ticho's family, who owned a cinema in Vienna until it was forcibly taken over due to Nazi antisemitism. Faced with threats from Hitler's regime, Paula sends her son Peter to England for safety and becomes a matron caring for Jewish girls evacuated from Europe during the war. The book delves into the survivors' experiences, including Paula's son's internment and naval service, and her fight to reclaim ownership of the cinema. It spans locations like Brno, Vienna, London, Newcastle, Windermere, the Isle of Man, and Canada, offering insight into pre-war Central Europe and post-war London.  www.viviensieber.eu You can find Dr. Vivien Sieber's book on Amazon To hear the stories of some of the girls from the hostel, listen to this podcast   #holocauststories #kindertransport #ww2refugees #worldwartworefugees #holocaustrefugees #kinoandkinder

Eric is a visionary entrepreneur whose path led him from Vienna, Austria, to Madrid, Spain, and ultimately to the bustling entrepreneurial landscape of Miami, Florida. Eric's story unfolds with his pivotal role in expanding a consulting firm, a journey that saw him establishing a branch in his hometown and later replicating this success in the United States. As an entrepreneur at heart, Eric ventured into various side businesses before taking the leap into full-time entrepreneurship in April 2023. The podcast delves into the challenges Eric faced, such as navigating the tumultuous job market in Spain in 2011 and contrasting it with the entrepreneurial-friendly environment of the United States. Eric shares insights into the nuances of starting a business, revealing that, contrary to common belief, legal assistance isn't always imperative, as he discovered while forming a one-member LLC. One of the podcast's highlights is Eric's perspective on the ease of building a company in the U.S., where fewer regulations provide a conducive environment for innovation. He also reflects on the rich tapestry of cultures within the American entrepreneurial community, which contributed to his seamless integration. Beyond business success, Eric's company extends its impact globally by not only assisting U.S. companies but also creating job opportunities abroad—a testament to the social consciousness embedded in his firm.  If you are in the Miami/Fort Lauderdale area and would like to connect with Eric, you can find him on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/ericfiklocki/ Checkout his company's website http://www.techsquads.com #entrepreneursinmiami #miamientrepreneurs #immigrantsfromaustria #consultinginmiami #immigrantsquaredpodcast #alisadel #immigrantstories #immigrantentrepreneurs #techsquads

Collin is a documentary photographer, and a child of immigrants. He is also the author of "Finding American- Stories of Immigration from all 50 States". In this thought-provoking discussion, Colin shares the inspiration behind 'Finding American,' offering a glimpse into the research, personal experiences, and encounters that shaped the book. The 2016 Presidential elections in the US, and the rhetoric that came out about immigrants, concerned Colin. He decided to embark on a journey throughout the US to tell the stories of immigrants.   Our conversation explores the unique perspectives and stories that Colin discovered along the way from identity and belonging to the rich tapestry of cultures that define the American landscape. In South Dakota, one family from Myanmar moved to work in a Turkey plant. This led to four more families moving, and opening a restaurant. In Alaska, Colin met a mountain climber who moved from Mexico for the snowy mountains of Anchorage. Many people Colin met, immigrated for love.   Listen to the episode for a sneak peek to the stories in the book and the journey of writing it.   Connect with Colin on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/colinboydshafer/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/findingamerican/ His website: https://findingamerican.com/ Buy his book: https://www.amazon.com/Finding-American-Stories-Immigration-States/dp/1773272217   #alisadel #Immigrantsquaredpodcast #immigrantstories #immigrantstoriesbook #findingamericanbook #immigrantsintheUS   Connect with me Website www.alisadel.com LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/alisadel Instagram https://www.instagram.com/alisadel_ Facebook https://www.facebook.com/AlisAdelFoundation/

Marc grew up in Albania and immigrated to the US when he was 17. Marc came as an exchange student and decided to stay and pursue higher education. After graduating, he got married and worked on several businesses. Throughout his immigration journey in the US, Marc was on his own and did not have a safety net. At times, he had to sleep outside, he was hungry, and he struggled to combine work with school. He learned the value of making mistakes and learning along the way. Marc advises other immigrants not to come to the US alone without a support system. You can read his blog on https://ogparent.com/blog/  #ImmigrantsFromAlbania #immigrantsquaredpodcast #alisadel

נסטיה עלתה לישראל עם אמא שלה ב1993 בהפלגה באודסה שבאוקראינה לנמל חיפה. כחלק מהמאמץ להסתגל, נסטיה שינתה את השם שלה לענת. היום היא לא רק גאה להיות נסטיה, אבל היא גם מדברת עם הילדים שלה ברוסית.  לפני מעל לחצי שנה נסטיה התחילה פרויקט שמתעסק בתרבות פוסט סובייטית בבתים ישראלים. היא מבקרת בבתים של מהגרות מברית המועצות לשעבר ומתעדת דברים שנשארו כמו רהיטים, כלי מטבח וכו׳ אם תרצו להשתתף בפרויקט של נסטיה צרו איתה קשר דרך האינסטגראם @ha.mehageret #המהגרת #משרדהקליטהוהעלייה #דוראחדוחצי #עוליםחדשים #מהגרתבריבוע

David was born and raised in Saigon, Vietnam in the midst of the Vietnam War. All of David's family members were able to flee Saigon to the US before it fell to the communists. He was left behind with his mother and brother. David shared the struggles of living under communist rule in Saigon, the journey on canoes to escape, torture on Thai boats, refugee camps in Malaysia, and eventually arriving in the US. What helped him feel grounded is staying true to his core value even when trying to fit in to local society. David's advice for immigrants and refugees is to be kinder to themselves and emphasize the importance of talking about mental health.   #Vietnamwar #fallofsaigon #vietnameserefugees #refugeecamps #refugeesinmalaysia #communistvietnam #refugeementalhealth #immigrantmentalhealth

Rony immigrated to Israel from Russia when he was seven years old. He insisted I interview him during the current war in Israel because he needed the distraction. You will hear some pauses as Rony had to run to a bomb shelter in the middle of our interview.   Rony mentioned that growing up as an immigrant in Israel, he chose to blend in with local society but kept the traditions of his culture of origin through music. Today, Rony is an entrepreneur and has several social initiatives to help immigrants. He believes that when you combine the hard-working attitude of the immigrants from former soviet republics and the Israeli Hi-Tech eco system, good things develop.   If you want to help kids in Israel and facilitate virtual activities and distracting them from the war, reach out to him via Facebook www.facebook.com/rony.comm   #immigrantstories #immigrantsinisrael #prayforisrael #israelunderattack #hitechimmigrantsisrael #immigrantsquared #alisadel #startupnation #lobbyofthemillion

Suzy immigrated to the US from Armenia at the age of two. Up until recently, she never thought of herself as an immigrant. Suzy struggled with her sense of belonging between the American and Armenian communities. At times, she was seen as not being American enough or Armenian enough. Now, Suzy embraces both cultures, and she writes poetry about being a multicultural and multilingual child of immigrants.   Check out her poetry and sign up for her newsletter Instagram: suzyspoet Substack: You're a Masterpiecehttps://open.substack.com/pub/suzyspoet?r=2hme7f&utm_medium=ios   #armenia #immigrantsfromArmenia #immigrantstories #immigrantsquaredpodcast #alisadel

Amina came from Pakistan when she was five years old. She struggled to settle down in the US and always felt lost between the two countries. Fellow immigrants Amina met along the way helped her feel comfortable and confident with her identity. At George Washington University, Amina is part of the Pakistani student association to remain in touch with her culture. Amina thinks that sharing her culture, hospitality, and diversity of ethnic groups and languages in Pakistan,  is the best way to combat hatred. #immigrantsfromPakistan #GWUniveristy #GWuniversityImmigrants #immigrantstories #alisadel  #immigrantsquaredpodcast

Golara came to the U.S. 12 years ago on a diversity visa from Iran. Her Masters in Organizational Development at American University helped her understand her journey. She feels at home wherever she goes and embraces her tricultural background. Golara also hosts dinner parties and cooks food from her cultures of origin to feel more connected and authentic.   Golara authored a book called Immigrant: Courage Required which follows her on an average day as she goes about her new life and work. But, in truth, this day is anything but normal as we are immersed in flashback after flashback to her previous life in Iran and the early days of her life in the U.S.   You can connect with Golara on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/g_o_l_a_r_a/ And purchase her book on Amazon https://www.amazon.com/Immigrant-Courage-Required-Golara-Haghtalab/dp/1636764975/ref=sr_1_1?crid=3D6LSGMVIBONY&keywords=immigrant+courage+required+by+golara+haghtalab&qid=1660581919&sprefix=immigrant+courage+required+by+golara+haghtalab%2Caps%2C209&sr=8-1   Connect with me on: My website ⁠www.alisadel.com⁠ LinkedIn ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/company/alisadel⁠ Instagram ⁠https://www.instagram.com/alisadel_⁠ Facebook ⁠https://www.facebook.com/AlisAdelFoundation/⁠   #immigrantsquaredpodcast #immigrantsfromiran #immigrantstories #ImmigrantCourageRequired #alisadel #americanuniversityalumni #immigrantsatamericanuniversity #americanuniversitywashingtondc

Rocio came to the US two years ago as a refugee due to political persecution in El Salvador, after already being an asylee in the US many years ago during the civil war in El Salvador. Rocio has been an entrepreneur her entire life, and now she helps female entrepreneurs advance their businesses in El Salvador. As a refugee in the US, Rocio continues to promote her various businesses, such as coffee, shoe, and candy brands.   Follow the entrepreneurs on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/yohagosv/ Website https://yohagoelsalvador.com/ Listen to their podcast https://open.spotify.com/episode/4cRaHfzi19CS3ogKbrHeKr?si=84789cd103184099     Connect with me on: My website ⁠www.alisadel.com⁠ LinkedIn ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/company/alisadel⁠ Instagram ⁠https://www.instagram.com/alisadel_⁠ Facebook ⁠https://www.facebook.com/AlisAdelFoundation/⁠   #immigrantentrepreneurs #refugeeentrepreneurs #immigrantsfromElSalvador #immigrantstories #refugeestories #skyisthelimit #immigrantsquaredpodcast #alisadel

Anna has covered immigration and refugee stories extensively as a journalist. Throughout her travels, she was struck by the idea of how the papers you hold affect the way that you move through the world. When she moved to Turkey, she fell in love with a Syrian journalist who is now her husband. Together they had to move to Iraq due to immigration issues, and eventually, he was able to get asylum in the UK.   Anna is the author of "Love Across Border," and she gave us a sneak peek into one of the love stories in her book. She documents love stories that have been affected by freedom of movement. You can buy her book anywhere you buy books and follow her on social media.   Book https://a.co/d/dIwIH2Z Instagram https://www.instagram.com/annalekasmiller/?hl=en Twitter @annalekasmiller TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@annalekasmiller   Connect with me on: My website www.alisadel.com LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/alisadel Instagram https://www.instagram.com/alisadel_ Facebook https://www.facebook.com/AlisAdelFoundation/   #loveacrossborders #immigrantlovestories #refugeelovestories #alisadel #immigrantsquaredpodcast

Amina and Ekaterina shared their respective stories of statelessness. The struggles stateless individuals face, recent developments in policy in the US, and a glimpse of hope for the future with the Stateless Protection Act and the USCIS announcement.   Amina was born and raised in the US. She shared how gender discrimination in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia led him to struggle with being stateless. Ekaterina is part of an ethnic minority in the former Soviet Union and has struggled with statelessness for over 20 years.   To learn more about United Stateless and read about recent developments in the US as well as how climate change affects statelessness:  Website www.unitedstateless.org     Webinar about the Stateless Protection Act :  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZlNPI3QjADc&t=1s   USCIS announcement:   https://www.unitedstateless.org/post/u-s-stateless-advocates-celebrate-huge-win   The Department of State’s Bureau of Population, Refugees and Migration Announces New Approach to Address the Impacts of Climate Change on Migration and Displacement - United States Department of State   Connect with me on: My website www.alisadel.com LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/alisadel Instagram https://www.instagram.com/alisadel_ Facebook https://www.facebook.com/AlisAdelFoundation/   #beingstateless #unitedstatesless #immigrantstories #immigrantsquaredpodcast #alisadel #climatechange&migration #USCIS #USCongress #StatelessProtectionAct #SenatorBenCardin #RepresentativeJamieRaskin #S.5330/H.R.9671

Danya is a child of immigrants from Syria and currently resides in Chicago, Illinois. Danya's parents came to the US to seek a better life, but Danya and her siblings faced bullying. Today, Danya has her own law firm and continues to learn how to own her identity and use it to her advantage. Danya wishes that people were more empathetic toward children of immigrants. #childofimmigrants #immigrantsfromsyria #immigrantstories #immigrantsquaredpodcast #syrianattorney #alisadel Connect with Danya on: FB: https://www.facebook.com/DanyaShakfeh Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/danyashakfeh/ Website: https://www.MotivaLaw.com Connect with me on: My website www.alisadel.com LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/alisadel Instagram https://www.instagram.com/alisadel_ Facebook https://www.facebook.com/AlisAdelFoundation/

Mark is a grandchild of Albanian immigrants, and always had a strong connection to his Albanian heritage. He is very proud of his heritage and works to help Albanian both in the US and Albania. Mark founded the Massachusetts Albanian American Society, which provided resources for the Albanian community and holds cultural events. Five years ago Mark started the Global Albanian Foundation to provide financial help to non profit organizations in Albania and other countries in Europe where Albanians live.  #Albanianimmigrants #AlbaniansintheUS #immigrantstories #immigrantsquaredpodcast #alisadel #immigrantsinBoston

Maryna was born in Kyiv, Ukraine, and immigrated to the US with only 300$ in her pocket. Despite fulfilling her American dream, she still misses her home country, Ukraine. Maryna is the President of United Help Ukraine, a non-profit organization that was founded in March 2014, when Russia annexed Crimea and the war began. Over a year after the full-fledged attack on Ukraine started in February 2022, the organization continues to work tirelessly to provide supplies and services to the people of Ukraine. Please checkout their website and consider donating to their cause, or volunteering with them. www.unitedhelpukraine.org  #immigrantstories #alisadel #immigrantsquared #unitedhelpukraine #helpukrainianrefugees

Vanda left Croatia in 1991 during the war and sought refuge in Germany. After she integrated into German society, Vanda joined a political party and became a spokesperson for immigration policy. Helping immigrants and refugees has been top of mind for Vanda, and through networking in Washington DC she met Wendy who has similar goals. Together Vanda and Wendy founded One Journey Festival which is hosted annually on the grounds of the National Cathedral. The festival is a celebration of refugees, its family-friendly, and connects individuals through the common languages of humanity: food, technology, music, arts, and sports.   Join the festival this year on Saturday, June 24th, 11am-6pm. Get your tickets here. Learn more about One Journey and follow them on social media Website: https://www.onejourneyfestival.org/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/one-journey-festival/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/1journeyfestival/ If you would like to share your story  on the podcast or collaborate with me please email me at [email protected] visit my website www.alisadel.com or contact me on social media LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/alisadel Instagram https://www.instagram.com/alisadel_ Facebook https://www.facebook.com/AlisAdelFoundation/

Communism and instability in Albania led Denida's father to move the family to Greece. Denida shared what kinds of candies she tasted for the first time in Greece, and what brought her to the US. She believes that immigrants should not forget where they came from, and her advice is to integrate the best parts of both cultures. "If an immigrant girl from a small country like Albania made it to have a company in the US, then you can achieve everything" - Denida Grow

Veronica came from Peru to the US as a teenager to get a better education. She ended up re-learning English because in Peru she studied British English. Veronica shared why she had to follow her parents' rules in the US even when they were living in Peru, and how she was criticized in the US by people from her own culture. Additional links to the podcast can be found on our website www.alisadel.com Follow and check for updates on: LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/alisadel Instagram https://www.instagram.com/alisadel_ Facebook https://www.facebook.com/AlisAdelFoundation/

A fellow two time immigrant, Yelena, shares her journey from Moldova to Israel and then to Australia. Why she has a gap in her memory between the ages of 9-11, and how classic Russian movies helped her. Yelena's experiences with bullying and suicidal ideation led her to write the book "What's Normal Anyway? The Keys to Unlocking Your Mental Well-Being". The book provides tools to seek professional help and tools to become your own psychologist. We discussed bullying and the stigma that some immigrant communities have around seeking mental help. I also shared my personal bullying story as an immigrant, and how it impacted my life. Connect with Yelena and order her book through her website www.yelena-fishman.com.au   #immigrantsmentalhealth #mentalhealthstigmas #bullyingimmigrants #ImmigrantSquaredPodcast #alisadel #immigrantstories #immigrants #unlockyourpotential #immigrantsinmelbourne #immigrantsinaustralia If you or someone you know is having suicidal thoughts, text or call 988 for help in the US. In Australia call 131114 or text 0477131114. You are not alone, reach out for help.

Sophia Tupolev-Luz and Ariella Raviv are the Co-founders of The Reboot Startup Nation- A nonprofit organization in Israel helping welcome war-displaced professionals and immigrants into the High-Tech industry. Ariella grew up in Detroit, Michigan where her American mother and Israeli father lived after they met at a Kibutz in Israel. Ariella met her Israeli husband in the US, and together they moved to Israel for a year and stayed. Sophia is a three-time immigrant, born in Russia, Immigrated to the US, spent her twenties in Russia, and then immigrated to Israel. Sophia is also helping the new immigrants fleeing Russia and Ukraine to have access to information about financial services and avoid the bumps on the road related to sanctions placed on financial institutions in Ukraine and Russia. In the wake of the war in Ukraine in 2022 and taking the lessons learned from the 1990 over million immigrants from former Soviet Union, they founded The Reboot Startup Nation. The organization helps Ukrainian refugees and those who fled Russia to become part of the vast high-tech ecosystem in Israel by turning brain drain into brain gain. The platform they created allows anyone in Israeli society to contribute and help displaced professionals, whether it is by setting up Hebrew conversation clubs, establishing a network of mentors, help the high-tech community find the talent, and for the talent to  upscale their experience,  and translate their resume so it is relevant to Israel etc.   To learn how you can become part of this amazing mission and help visit their website https://www.reboot-startupnation.com/ If you would like to share your story or just connect with me, visit my website or social media. Website www.alisadel.com LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/alisadel Instagram https://www.instagram.com/alisadel_ Facebook https://www.facebook.com/AlisAdelFoundation/

Martine was born in Zambia to parents who came from the Democratic Republic of Congo formerly known as Zaire. Martine came on a visitor's visa when she was four years old, and as a teenager she became undocumented. Martine also learned that she was stateless, and spent seven years in deportation proceedings. Martine wants everyone to be able to connect through immigrants' stories, which is why she wrote her book "Illegal Among Us: A Stateless Woman's Quest for Citizenship"- a personal account of her journey in the US, being stateless, battling for seven years with immigration services, and struggling to discover her identity. Connect with Martine: Website https://martinekalaw.com/ Twitter https://twitter.com/martinekalaw LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/martinekalaw/ Instagram https://www.instagram.com/martinekalaw/ Buy Martine's Book https://www.amazon.com/Illegal-Among-Us-Stateless-Citizenship/dp/1620060884   Learn about United Stateless https://www.unitedstateless.org/organization   If you would like to share your story or collaborate with me please email me at [email protected] visit my website www.alisadel.com or contact me on social media LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/alisadel Instagram https://www.instagram.com/alisadel_ Facebook https://www.facebook.com/AlisAdelFoundation/  

Yasmin was born in Egypt to a Libyan father and an Egyptian mother. She was five years old when her family sought asylum in the US. Since she was born in Egypt and spoke Egyptian she always thought that she was Egyptian, but coming to the US helped her discover her Libyan heritage. Yasmin was not welcomed by the Libyan community in the US because she spoke Egyptian and felt that she had to become Libyan quickly in order to be accepted. Yasmin preserves her cultures of origin and teaches her kids through celebrations and cooking the food of her people. Her advice for other refugees and asylum seekers is to give locals the benefit of doubt and teach them about your culture by sharing foods and holidays with them. Helping other refugees helps her to feel grounded. You can find Yasmin on: Instagram https://www.instagram.com/yasminelhahahady/ Tiktok https://www.tiktok.com/@yasmin_elhady Find out about her upcoming shows on her website https://www.yasminelhady.com/ #SNL #saturdaynightlive #ramadankareem #Libyanrefugees #libyanasyleesinegypt #ImmigrantSquaredPodcast @alisadel_ #immigrantstories #immigrants #unlockyourpotential #alisadel #yasminelhahahady

Kat came to the US 15 years ago from Eastern Ukraine. Her immigration journey was exciting, but losing her personal and professional network has been the biggest struggle. Kat shared that the support of friends and colleagues in the US helps her to deal with the feeling of helplessness, being in the US when the majority of her friends and family are in a war zone. Kat's advice for immigrants is to believe in themselves, educate themselves, and continue to invest in their professional development. Building a reliable support system in the personal and professional worlds is very important. Kat is happy to provide moral support and help any immigrants with career advice. You can connect with her on LinkedIn linkedin.com/in/kat-bender-01523178 #immigrantsfromukraine #refugeesfromukraine #immigrantstories #stopthewarinukraine #warinukraine #immigrantsquared #alisadel #unitedforukraine #helpukraine #supportukraine #immigrantsincorporatesecurity

On the one-year anniversary of the war in Ukraine, I had the honor to host a fellow immigrant squared and compatriot from Ukraine to talk about her immigration story and the impact of the war on Ukrainians abroad. Katya was born in Kyiv, Ukraine and when she was eight years old her family immigrated to France. In 1997 Her family immigrated to the US. In the suburbs of Paris, there was a diverse population from all over the world, but it was hard and isolating not to have friends who spoke her language and came from the same Ukrainian culture. Despite the struggles, Katya considers France her second home after Ukraine. Immigration as a teenager to the US was very rough. Katya became very Americanized and ended up shedding some of her cultural identity. However, over the past few years Katya rediscovered her Ukrainian culture. Katya shared how the war in Ukraine changed her life and her identity. In the beginning, she could not function and had to take time off work to jump into action. After 3-6 months, life for many went back to normal in the US, but for Katya, the work continues. The war is far from being over, and people in Ukraine still need help. Check out www.unitedhelpukraine.org and message me to learn how you can #helpukraine #immigrantsfromukraine #refugeesfromukraine #immigrantstories #stopthewarinukraine #warinukraine #immigrantsquared #alisadel #unitedforukraine #helpukraine #supportukraine

ולריה עלתה לישראל בגיל 7 מקייב, אוקראינה ב1996 עם כל המשפחה שלה. כשהיא התחילה את בית הספר, ולריה הבינה מהר מאד שכדי לשרוד היא צריכה ללמוד עברית ולהשתלב עם הקבוצה של הצברים. ולריה הייתה טובה בספורט וזה עזר לה מאד להשתלב בחברה. ולריה מרגישה שיש חלק גדול ממנה שהרבה שנים היא הייתה צריכה לקבור ולהחביא. היא הייתה מחולקת המון שנים לכמה זהויות, הזהות האוקראינית דוברת רוסית עם החגים אוכל והמנהגים. מצד שני היא גדלה בבית מחולק כי אבא שלה לא יהודי ורוב המשפחה שלו נשארה באוקראינה. לקח לו הרבה שנים למצוא חיבור לארץ. בצבא בזמן היותה משקי״ת חינוך, ולריה הייתה צריכה ללמד ברוסית חיילים עולים על התרבות הישראלית. החוויה הזאת עזרה לה סוף סוף לשלב הין שתי הזהויות שלה. היום ולריה עובדת כפסיכולוגית המלחמה באוקראינה שהתחילה לפני שנה ולריה הרגישה שהלב שלה באוקראינה והיא נרתמה לעזור מבחינה מקצועית לאלו שנאלצו לברוח מאוקראינה. דיברנו על איך הגירה כפויה וטראומה של מלחמה משפיעה על אנשים ולמה הפסיכולוגיה הציבורית בארץ קורסת. ולריה מאמינה שאפשר להציל את הפסיכולוגיה הציבורית. #מלחמהבאוקראינה #עוליםחדשים #פסיכולוגיהציבורית #עמותהלמעןפסיכולוגיהציבורית #עוליםחדשים #דוראחדוחצי

Martin was born in Jalisco, Mexico, and immigrated to the US at the age of 3. Martin calls the US home, even though he never understood where he belongs. For a long time, Martin did not feel comfortable saying that he was an immigrant. Only when DACA came out, Martin started feeling that he can talk about his situation. It was very important for Martin to express who he really was, and since he could not vote he started volunteering in political campaigns canvassing. While he did canvassing, he realized that by sharing his story he could help people understand that there are policies and candidates that hurt immigrants. Martin loves to cook Mexican food and teach others to cook, as a way to preserve his culture. He believes that the solution to division is being able to communicate and understand immigrants through the stories about their journeys. Today, Martin sells real estate and strives to help immigrants and lower-income individuals to find the resource to make their American dream come true, and own a home. His advice to immigrants who want to embark on an entrepreneurship journey is to take a chance and run with it. You already have the skills and the drive. #immigrantsfromJalisco #immigrantsfromMexico #DACA #immigrantsmatter #Immigrantstories #ImmigrantSquaredPodcast #alisadel #immigrantstories #immigrants #unlockyourpotential #alisadel

ליליה נולדה בסיביר וגרה בקזחסטן . לילה לא ידעה שהיא עולה לארץ , ואחרי ביקור בחופשת קיץ ואירוע משפחתי טרגי, ליליה ואמא שלה נשארו בארץ. בגיל שמונה לילה הייתה צריכה להיות חזקה בשביל המשפחה שלה ולהתמודד עם קשיים משל עצמה בבית הספר. למרות הקשיים עם הזהות והרצון לעקור את כל מה שהיה קשור לרוסיה, ההורים של לילה עזרו לה לשמור על השפה והיום היא קוראת הרבה ברוסית. .היום לילה חוזרת לשורשים שלה ועושה ארוחת נובי גוד עם החברים הישראלים שלה. כעורכת דין, כשהיא התמודדה למשרה חדשה, אבא שלה חשש שהיא לא תתקבל בגלל שהיא רוסיה. זה גרם לה להבין את הטראומות שעברו מדור לדור, ולמה היא תמיד מרגישה שהיא צריכה לעבוד קשה מאד ולהיות הכי טובה שאפשר. דיברנו גם על אנטישמיות שהמשפחות שלנו חוו ועל הבחירה של בן זוג מאותו המוצא ואותה הדת או לא. סיפרתי לילה על ההגירה לארה״ב ואיך יהודים אמריקאים מתייחסים פה לישראלים, ואיך ישראלים מתנהגים אחד לשני בחו״ל. לילה חושבת שצריך לעשות יותר דברים בבתי הספר כדי ללמד על העלייה מברית במועצות לשעבר. לאוכלוסייה כל כך גדולה יש הרבה כוח והיא צריכה לדבר. אם תרצו לספר את סיפור העלייה שלכם, אשמח מאד לארח אתכם בפודקאסט שלי תצרו איתי קשר באימייל, דרך האתר שלי, או באינסטגראם [email protected] www.alisadel.com @alisadel_

In this episode, I had the pleasure of interviewing a fellow Immigrant Squared, and the Co-Founder and COO of Immigrant Food, Tea Ivanovic. Tea was born in Belgium to immigrant parents from the former Yugoslavia and came to the US on a tennis scholarship. Tea feels like she is from everywhere but from nowhere at the same time, and calls both Serbia and Belgium home. Speaking both of her native languages, and cooking family recipes are Tea's ways to preserve her cultures of origin. Tea believes that immigrants are natural entrepreneurs, and the transition to entrepreneurship was very smooth for her. This led her to Co-Found Immigrant Food- a social enterprise food startup with a mission to celebrate immigrants. Tea's advice is to connect with locals and fellow immigrants, help others, expand your network, and create long-lasting friendships. Visit Immigrant Food at one of their 3 locations in Washington DC https://immigrantfood.com/ Connect with Tea on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/t%C3%A9a-ivanovic-56684549/ Facebook https://www.facebook.com/immigrantfood/ Instagram https://www.instagram.com/immigrantfood/ Twitter https://twitter.com/immigrantfooddc #immigrantfood #immigrantsquared #planetword #immigrantsinwashingtondc #immigrantsfrombelgium #immigrantsfromserbia #startupimmigrant #alisadel #unlockyourpotential #immigrantsquaredpodcast #Immigrantentrepreneurs #immigrantstartups #immigrantpodcast #immigrantjourneys #immigrantstories

Maame immigrated to the Netherlands from Ghana to join her husband. Her immigration challenges began back home when had to take a test in Dutch in order to be able to immigrate. Immigrating to the Netherlands in the winter added to Maame's culture shock, and her feelings of loneliness. One of the biggest challenges she faced was speaking Dutch. She was afraid that if she mispronounce something, people would make fun of her. Befriending her neighbor helped Maame not only to learn Dutch but also build a support system and get help with her baby while she went back to get her Master's degree. Her Master's degree supervisor was a fellow immigrant from Israel, he was able to understand Maame's struggles and motivated her to complete her degree. Maame's advice to immigrants is to form a social circle and build your network. You don’t have to be alone.  Checkout Maame's podcast Immigrants Making an Impact- https://open.spotify.com/show/7BizhBQZtTPrilAgdcs8Zm?si=2dcf7cd9cc5946a6  Follow her on Instagram  @immigrantsmakingimpact  Connect with her on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/maame-baffo-msc-3b097919a/  #ImmigrantSquaredPodcast @alisadel_ #immigrantstories #immigrants #unlockyourpotential #alisadel #immigrantsinNetherlands #learningDutch #ImmigrantsfromGhana

Elena immigrated from Russia to the US as a teenager with her mother and struggled with getting used to a new culture and norms. Throughout middle school and high school, she tried very hard to fit in, and always felt like an outsider. Joining the swim and softball teams in high school was the turning point when she finally started feeling a sense of community.  While studying at Old Dominion University, in Norfolk, VA, Elena met a group of foreign students and realized that it is actually cool to be proud of where you are from. Later in life, when she moved from the US to the UAE, Elena started going back to her roots and wanting to understand and try to preserve the traditions of her culture of origin. Being surrounded by ex-pats in Dubai reinforced her desire to strengthen her culture of origin.  Elena grew up with a business mindset, and always had side gigs. For a while, she balanced a full-time job with her side businesses. It came to a point where she had to take time off her full-time job to work on her entrepreneurial ventures. Elena enjoys working on several things at the same time, and one day while on vacation she decided its time to jump ship. Elena's company Bessern focuses on performance and well-being in organizations. Her company Bloom Youth is focused on providing mentorship and career development to young people. Elena's advice for immigrant entrepreneurs is to experiment and understand why is it that you want to be an entrepreneur. Learn more about Elena: https://linktr.ee/ElenaAgar Listen to her podcast The Shift with Elena Agar if you are looking for a change and looking to start a business. YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCX-t... Checkout her new book on Amazon- Amazon:  Rough Guide to Awesome Leadership https://www.amazon.com/rough-guide-awesome-leadership-inspiring-ebook/dp/B0BNLMM779/ref=sr_1_1?crid=210AFNPFEUIPT&keywords=rough+guide+to+awesome+leadership&qid=1669892365&sprefix=rough+guide+to+awesome+leadership%2Caps%2C77&sr=8-1 Additional links to the podcast can be found on our website www.alisadel.com Follow and check for updates on: LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/alisadel Instagram https://www.instagram.com/alisadel_ Facebook https://www.facebook.com/AlisAdelFoundation/

לקראת נובי גוד (השנה האזרחית החדשה) ובדיוק מתי שלובה עלתה לארץ עם משפחתה לפני 32 שנים היה לי את העונג לארח אותה שוב בפודקאסט שלי והפעם בעברית. לובה סיפרה על מסע ההיגרה של המשפחה שלה מאוקראינה. הקשיים בדרך, והאובדן הגדול איתו היא עדיין מתמודדת- ההתאבדות של אבא שלה. כיום לובה עוזרת לאנשים אחרים להתמודד עם האובדן דרך כתיבה ויצירות., וזה מאד מרפא גם בשבילה. לובה בחרה לעבור טיפול בכתיבה כחלק מההתנדבות שלה בעמותת בשביל החיים. מתוך כל זה נולד ללובה רעיון לסטארטפ למניעת אובדנות. והיא גם סיפרה על פרויקט היזמות שהיא עובדת עליו בתחום הוולנס עם אחותה. העצה של לובה לעולים ובמיוחד לדור אחד וחצי היא לדבר על הכאב ולהפנים שגם אם אתם מאד מצליחים אבל משהו בפנים עדיין לא מסתדר לכם, זה בסדר ואתם לא לבד

Aleem was born in Kuwait to a Pakistani family. During the Gulf war, and the Iraqi invasion, his family was forced to flee Kuwait. Aleem was two years old when his family immigrated to the US. While he watched his parents struggle to adjust to the new life, he was able to integrate into American society and culture much faster. Aleem believes that it is very important to stay connected to your roots, and wishes he was more fluent in Urdu so he could better understand the family stories his relatives in Pakistan share. The immigrant hustle and learning from his father's entrepreneurship journey encouraged Aleem to start his own company. Limitless Living is a lifestyle brand Aleem is growing. His goal is to help people become the best versions of themselves through self-development. Connect with Aleem on Instagram @limitlesslivingco #limitlessliving #pakistaniimmigrants #gulfwar #kuwait #startupimmigrant #alisadel #unlockyourpotential #immigrantsquaredpodcast #Immigrantentrepreneurs #immigrantstartups #immigrantpodcast #immigrantjourneys #immigrantstories

Daniel was born and raised in Guatemala and comes from a long lineage of immigrants. Some of his ancestors escaped the holocaust and immigrated to Cuba, Guatemala, Mexico, and Nicaragua. When he turned 23, Daniel decided to immigrate to Israel and serve in the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF). After four years in Israel, he immigrated to the US and is pursuing his studies at NYU. Daniel shared the different struggles between immigrating to Israel vs. the US. In Israel, he had to get acclimated to the language and culture. Coming to the US, Daniel encountered other social barriers such as the more individualistic culture. Daniel embraces the fact that he does not feel at home anywhere. His advice to other immigrants is to not compare your journey to others. #immigrantsintheIDF #immigrantfromguatemala #lonesoldierIDF #immigrantsatNYU #immigrantsofNYC #ImmigrantSquaredPodcast #immigrantstories #immigrants #unlockyourpotential #alisadel

Ianeta is the daughter of Samoan immigrants and an immigrant from New Zealand. She grew up to see the beauty of her blended cultures, and at 17 decided to immigrate to the US via a water polo scholarship at Arizona State University. After graduating, Ianeta's drive to create opportunities for herself and keep growing kept her away from her family in New Zealand, and she experienced loneliness. Ianeta's turning point was when she decided to make a home wherever she was living. After spending five years working at Intel managing software products and teams, Ianeta embarked on her entrepreneurship journey. Her company ExplainDev helps developers to understand and apply code. You install it as an extension on your browser and it answers technical questions with your code as the main subject of the answers. Ianeta is on a mission to connect developers and help them upskill. www.explain.dev If you are a founder in the AI space or technology, or if you are a Pacific Islander, reach out to Ianeta, she would love to chat. https://www.linkedin.com/in/ianeta/ #samoa #newzealandimmigrants #waterpoloathlete #waterpoloUniversityofarizona #pacifislanderimmigrants #immigrantsinIntal #proudsamoan #startupimmigrant #alisadel #unlockyourpotential #immigrantsquaredpodcast #Immigrantentrepreneurs #immigrantstartups #immigrantpodcast #immigrantjourneys #immigrantstories #ASUWaterPolo

Sharon was born in Paris, and at the age of seven immigrated with her family to Montreal, Canada. She is very thankful to her parents for giving her and her brother a great childhood despite the struggles of immigration. Sharon considers herself a citizen of the world, and has three places she calls home, Paris, Montreal, and now Tel Aviv. During the pandemic, Sharon started her social media agency by helping friends and family to move their stores online. Her business immigrated with her from Montreal to Paris, and now to Tel Aviv. Sharon's advice is to embrace our unique stories as immigrant entrepreneurs and showcase our different perspectives and experiences. When you feel homesick, find a group of people that feel like home. If you are looking for a social media agency to help you with your business's marketing strategy, reach out to Sharon at BMG [email protected] or on Instagram @brandsmediagroup #startupimmigrant #alisadel #unlockyourpotential #immigrantsquaredpodcast #Immigrantentrepreneurs #immigrantstartups #immigrantpodcast #immigrantjourneys #immigrantstories #frenchinisrael #canadiansinisrael #brandsmediagroup #businessimmigration #businessesinTLV

Mariam immigrated from Morocco in pursuit of her studies. She faced her biggest challenges after college while working in the corporate world in marketing and advertising, as an immigrant and woman of color. Mariam struggled to adjust to a different culture and a way of life. We discussed how corporations can help immigrants, by being more human, and understanding that there is much more that defines people than just their job . Mariam stressed the importance of not judging people by their accent and letting immigrants bring value to the corporation with their unique perspective. Mariam also spoke about the power of community, and shared tips on building a community as an immigrant. In her career, Mariam felt that its better to work hard for herself than for a company. To save her own mental health and wellbeing she left the corporate world and launched her own advertising agency. While on her healing journey she started a side hustle to encourage women of color to take care of their mental health- I See You Wellness. The side hustle turned to be her full time job. I See You Wellness has products that help calm your nervous system, and if you are in Brooklyn, NY you can join healing sessions that include sound baths, and reiki. You can also become a member in the virtual sanctuary. Join the movement of radical self care! IG: @iseeyouwell Website: https://iseeyouwellness.com/ Membership: https://sanctuary.iseeyouwellness.com/memberships #startupimmigrant #alisadel #unlockyourpotential #immigrantsquaredpodcast #Immigrantentrepreneurs #immigrantstartups #immigrantpodcast #immigrantjourneys #immigrantstories #iseyouwellness #radicalselfcare #morrocanimmigrants

Nikki is an industrial organizational psychologist and the daughter of Mexican immigrants. During high school, Nikki felt like an outsider due to cultural differences, but her six very resilient aunts and strong mother empowered her to embrace her uniqueness. During her Ph.D. program, Nikki discovered inequities in the Venture Capital field and decided to help VCs to make the right choices based on people's qualifications and not their network. This led her to start an entrepreneurial venture Blackhawke Behavior Science. The company works with solo founders and startup teams to help them build diverse companies and effective teams with a strong culture. Blackhawke also provides tools, resources, insights, and assessments for Venture Capitalists to help them make unbiased decisions. If you would like to take the personality assessment that can help you become a better entrepreneur, we have a promo code that will give you 25% off. The assessment comes with a guidebook that will help you become an entrepreneurial leader. Email us at [email protected] or send us a message on Instagram @alisadel_ for a link to the assessment and a promo code. If you are interested in diversifying the entrepreneurial ecosystem and helping VCs make unbiased decisions about where to invest, or you are looking for another entrepreneur to share ideas with, please reach out to Nikki through www.blackhawke.io LinkedIn- linkedin.com/in/nikkiblacksmith or Twitter- NikkiBlacksmith

Jen was born in Canada, and for the first few years in the US, she was undocumented. Jen never felt like an outsider and thanks to the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986 she was able to get her green card. She spent 15 years as a college volleyball coach and realized that race in sports is not talked about in the way she wanted. So she decided to leave and founded her first company, Jen Fry Talks- a social justice firm that addresses diversity equity conflict, and inclusion. In May of 2022, Jen started a group travel application called Coordle. Her journey with this venture forced her to learn about the technology world quickly. If you are looking to hire someone to talk about diversity and inclusion or conflict, please reach out to Jen [email protected]   Please sign up to Beta test the Coordle application and help Jen. www.Coordleapp.com If you need help thinking through your entrepreneurship ideas, Jen is always willing to be a sounding board.

Alexandra is a child of immigrants that escaped a dictatorship in Haiti and started a new life in Canada. Despite having to conform to different household rules than her peers, such as not being able to participate in sleepovers, Alexandra learned resilience and grit from her parents, which she leans into during hard times in her life.  While she had a very good and comfortable life in Canada, Alexandra aspired for a change. A serendipitous moment and a post on LinkedIn led her to move to San Francisco to pursue her American dream. During the pandemic, Alexandra realized that a 9-5 is not enough to fulfill all of her dreams, and she embarked on an entrepreneurship journey. Combining an entrepreneurship career with a full-time job allows her the flexibility to step away when it becomes draining and go all in when she feels energized. If you are an entrepreneur and have any finance questions or know someone who does, please reach out to Alexandra www.trackmymoney.co  or Instagram @TrackMyMoney.Co

Nejat grew up in Eritrea and moved to Ethiopia when she was in high school. She later came to the US to pursue a Master's degree. Growing up in a family of entrepreneurs with eight siblings, the most difficult part of her immigration journey was being away from family. Luckily she found a community among other international students at her university. Nejat believes that if she is truly going to be fulfilled with her life, whenever she sees something that needs change, she is going to fully participate and make a change. This is the mindset that led her to her current business, a combination of her two dreams education and entrepreneurship. Today Nejat is the CEO of NBAC, an academy for leaders and managers. Nejat offers training for new managers as well as self-leadership and managing up courses. To find out more, visit her LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/anejat/ and website https://linktr.ee/nbac