Challenges create opportunities, and opportunities are born from challenges! 💪

The first Networking for Success Breakfast Event of the year was nothing short of incredible! Adekunbi (Kunbi) Adetona, Ph.D., PAg. inspired us with her powerful message on persistence, leveraging support systems, and embracing failures as stepping stones to success. Nathanael Orhotohwo , CEng. MIMeche, PMP® brought the energy, encouraging us to seize opportunities, connect meaningfully, and unlock the hidden knowledge within ourselves.

Both of their journeys are a true testament to the power of mentorship and support, showing how guidance and meaningful connections can shape lives and open doors to incredible opportunities.

The Panel Discussion and the Networking for Success event withfeatured an inspiring panel discussion with supply chain professionals Khaled El Ghourani and Stella Okunoye (MCIPS,MBA), who shared their remarkable career journeys of their transition into the supply chain field.

🔹 Khaled, originally from a construction background, decided to go back to school while working to build a career in supply chain management. He emphasized the importance of networking, sharing how unexpected connections can open doors.

🔹 Stella, with a background in biology, transitioned into the supply chain field by proving her skills and determination to her manager. She encouraged participants to create their own opportunities.
"If you’re not invited to the party, bring your own chairs and tables".

Both panelists highlighted the milestones and challenges they faced, showcasing resilience, adaptability, and professional growth. We also discussed changes in the supply chain industry and the need to embrace lifelong learning.

It was an honor to welcome our keynote speaker Andrés E. Galindo from Parkland Corporation and a mentor with Calgary Catholic Immigration Society for over five years. Highlights of the session included:

✍History and arguments around the "Canadian Experience" requirement
✍An Agile Barrier-Breaking Model to overcome it
✍Tips on communicating value effectively in a competitive job market

Andrés E. Galindo's call to action inspired us to adopt a fresh mindset, leaving outdated recruitment biases behind and embracing a future where talent is valued without barriers! 🤝

We were also thrilled to feature one of our standout clients, Maryam Hamidi, E.I.T. , M.Sc. from our New Career Direction program. Maryam received a referral opportunity through our Networking for Success Breakfast and shared her inspiring journey with us. She highlighted how she leveraged 𝐧𝐞𝐭𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐞𝐟𝐟𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 to create career opportunities, 𝐬𝐤𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐟𝐮𝐥𝐥𝐲 𝐮𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐜𝐨𝐟𝐟𝐞𝐞 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐭𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐧𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐨𝐩𝐞𝐧 𝐝𝐨𝐨𝐫𝐬.

🌟 What a fantastic Networking for Success Breakfast Today!🌟
🎤 Kelly Johnson, our keynote speaker, provided invaluable insights on finding the perfect fit and navigating the many opportunities in the energy sector. From discussing the current labor market trends to offering tools, resources, and career pathways, her expertise truly resonated with everyone.
🔷 𝐂𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐄𝐧𝐞𝐫𝐠𝐲.𝐜𝐚

🎤 Shurahbeel Nasir Khan a former client of CCIS's Sustainability Program, shared his inspiring journey and the lessons he’s learned along the way. 𝐇𝐢𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐫𝐞𝐞 𝐤𝐞𝐲 𝐭𝐚𝐤𝐞𝐚𝐰𝐚𝐲𝐬:
🤎 Soft skills often outweigh hard skills in career success.
🤎 The mindset of networking is crucial.
🤎 Utilize the resources surrounding you.

After a brief pause in June and July, our Networking for Success Breakfast is back in full swing! 
Yesterday, we were thrilled to have 🎤 David Dial, with over 25 years of experience in the Human Resource, at our Networking for Success Breakfast. He emphasized the importance of a positive and proactive mindset alongside technical abilities. His valuable insights on building a strong career foundation from a human resources perspective were truly inspiring and impactful. Thank you for making our event memorable with your profound wisdom and engaging approach!

We are also very proud of 🎤 Dmytro Gospodinov, one of our valued CCIS clients. Thank you for sharing your success journey and how you’ve utilized resources and networks to achieve business success in Canada. Your story is a testament to the power of leveraging available support and connections!

Today, our focus was on "Crossroads: Navigating Dilemmas and Paving Paths to Success." We were honored to have Mustapha Abdulsalam, from the City of Calgary, who shared the strategy on keeping focused on the goal, while developing your set of skills and learning, along with personal anecdotes and strategies for overcoming obstacles in the hiring process.

In addition, Pooja Parekh from Intact shared her compelling success story as a newcomer, highlighting her journey of professional growth and resilience.

Another fantastic morning at our monthly Networking for Success series! Mahesh Makkar P.Eng., our keynote speaker, shared invaluable insights on the "Things You Need to Know - A, B, C of Engineering":

A: Adding Value - Money, Quantity, Time
B: Benchmarking
C: Change Management, Management of Change, and Continuous Improvement

Saurabh Mahajan, our guest speaker, captivated us with his inspiring success story of landing his first job in the Canadian market and how he navigated service providers in courier mail services.

This morning's monthly networking event was truly special as we celebrated the dedicated mentors involved in our Mentorship for Integration program. These mentors play a crucial role in supporting professional newcomers as they navigate the Canadian job market and professional networking landscape.

Over the years, our program has fostered strong connections and provided invaluable mentorship guidance to our mentees.

Our keynote speaker, Morgan Craig-Broadwith, MBA, a seasoned mentor, eloquently highlighted the significance of mentors in assisting newcomers, emphasizing key aspects of the mentorship program and the responsibilities of mentees in building meaningful connections with their mentors.

The event also featured a panel discussion where mentors and mentees shared insights on fostering successful mentorship relationships. The panel included mentors Adekunbi (Kunbi) Adetona, Ph.D., Andrés E. Galindo, along with mentees Glory Ilechukwu (nee Mbah), Ph.D and Lyndin D'Penha.

KEYNOTE SPEAKER: Dennis Agbegha, Senior Commercial Manager of BDC

SUCCESS STORY: Artur Dieiev, Marketing Specialist

On February 29th, 2024, during the networking event, our keynote speaker Dennis Agbegha shared valuable insights on leveraging the resources surrounding us, especially within our community. The better you are at surrounding yourself with people of high potential, the greater your chance for success. Dennis emphasized the importance of turning these resources into our own network, as the community is your network. Networks and communities can be incredibly beneficial for skill development, but they require active involvement and contribution, which I couldn’t agree more with. Networking is more about farming than it is about hunting. If you do so, you're well on your way to success.

We also had Artur Dieiev, a valued client from CCIS, share his success story. With years of experience in digital marketing and having visited 39 countries, Artur brings a global perspective to his work. He discussed the HADI process he uses to land opportunities in Canada and encouraged attendees to create your own network event if you are not filling comfortable to attend social event.

Artur's story also underscores the positive impact of CCIS in helping individuals reach their goals.

We had a fantastic morning at the Networking for Success breakfast hosted by our Business, Employment, and Training Services at the Calgary Catholic Immigration Society! This time, the spotlight was on pathways navigation in the age of AI, and the insights shared were truly eye-opening. 

We were privileged to have two incredible guest speakers grace the event: 

Lise Stransky enlightened us on the Role of Artificial Intelligence in Job Search and Talent Recruitment. Her expertise shed light on the transformative impact of AI in today's job market, leaving us with valuable takeaways. 

Sara Struthers took the stage to present the Digital Platform Hub, a cutting-edge initiative from the SAIT Continuing Education team. Exploring new dimensions in team development, she showcased the future of digital platforms and their role in shaping skill sets for success. 

The audience was not just a passive crowd but actively engaged in the discussions sparked by these thought-provoking presentations! It was inspiring to witness the exchange of ideas and the collective enthusiasm towards embracing the evolving landscape of technology. 

KEYNOTE SPEAKER:  David Fletcher, Talent Acquisition Consultant with the City of Calgary.

SUCCESS STORY: Jane Ahanonu, Associate Consultant with IBM.

On November 30, 2023,  during the Networking event, the keynote speaker David will unveil the secrets to professional success through personal branding, ensuring that participants are well-equipped to enhance their personal brand and excel in today's competitive business landscape.

In addition, our valued client Jane shared her career journey which was highly motivating and inspirational! She talked about how the programs and the community in Calgary including CCIS programs assisted her to gain employment and what is her own stratregy to land opportunities. 

KEYNOTE SPEAKER: David Yang, Branch Manager of BMO Bank.

SUCCESS STORY: Oleg Kostyuchok, Finance Leader at Amplify Advisors.

On Oct 26, 2023. During the networking event, our keynote speaker David Yang has shared valuable insights on how to get your foot at the door of any industry and how to transit from one field to the other. He also unveiled the secrets to creating lasting, authentic connections and will inspire you to craft your own success story through the power of networking!

We also have Oleg Kostyuchok, a valued CCIS client, immigrated to Canada in November 2022. When he first arrived in Canada, he was a CEO back in his country in the field of finance. He shared his success story on how to overcome the gap and strategies tips to land an opportunity through networking. Oleg’s inspiring journey is a shining example of resilience and perseverance. his story also highlights the positive impact of CCIS in helping individuals reach their goals!

KEYNOTE SPEAKER: Jerry Caingcoy, Founder, and president of The Filipino champions of Canada (TFCC), Director of the Calgary Region Immigrant Economic Council (CRIEC), Financial leader at City of Calgary.

SUCCESS STORY: Nikhil Biware, Fuel Inventory Manager at Centex Petroleum.

On September 28, 2023. During the networking event, our keynote speaker Jerry Caingcoy has shared valuable insights on how to transform your networking approach, going beyond the basics. He also unveiled the secrets to creating lasting, authentic connections and will inspire you to craft your own success story through the power of networking!

We also have Nikhil Biware, a valued CCIS client, immigrated to Canada in 2018 and settled in Calgary in 2020. When he first arrived in Canada, he was a stay-at-home dad. Today, he is an Inventory Manager at Centex. Nikhil has shared his inspiring journey and for being a shining example of resilience and perseverance. Nikhil's story also highlights the positive impact of CCIS in helping individuals reach their goals.

EYNOTE SPEAKER:  Katherine Lesperance, Founder & Executive Officer at Sensible Marketer Inc.

SUCCESS STORY: Babajide Aiyepe, Creative Strategist, Deskside Support Technician at Kyndryl

On November 30, 2022,  During the Networking event, the keynote speaker Katherine Lesperance shared insightful information on how to plan and level up networking skills and self-marketing strategies. Katherine also shared resources and focused on what employers chose candidates to join their workforce in Canada.

In addition, our client’s journey Babajide Aiyepe was highly motivating and inspirational, Babajide spoke about how the programs and the community in Calgary including CCIS programs assisted him to gain employment, Babajide also mentioned that he transferred his skills into the tech industry.

EYNOTE SPEAKER:  Panos Kantzilieris, Business Development Manager at MACINK Consulting & Founder member of Sales Institute of Greece

SUCCESS STORY: Ciza Zoya, Creative Strategist, Project Coordinator at Alberta Network of Immigrant Women 

According to Harvard business review when managers and employees become leaders, three distinct but interdependent forms of networking—operational, personal, and strategic—plays a vital role in their transition. Creating a fabric of personal contacts who will provide support, feedback, insight, resources, and information—is simultaneously one of the most self-evident and one of the most dreaded developmental challenges that aspiring leaders. 

On October 31, 2022, during the Networking event, the keynote speaker Panos Kantzilieris, focused on addressing how to professionals can recognize their leadership skills to evolve through change. immigrant professionals in Canada can focus on their leadership skills to overcome drastic economic and personal changes. Panos delivered strategic methods of how one can recognize their leadership skills and utilize it at workplace.

In addition, our client’s journey Ciza Zoya was motivating, Zoya shared her journey and success on how CCIS programs such as Networking for Success and Career Bridging Workshop Program guided her, also platforms like LinkedIn were highly beneficial and landed her the position she is in, she also shared on how volunteering helped her to meet new people and gain industry information, she gained more confidence and advised the audience to never give up. 

KEYNOTE SPEAKER: Shivi Agarwal, Customer Success Manager at Kudos, Author of Landed & Founder at The Startup Impact

SUCCESS STORY: Lyndin D’Penha, Senior Customer Experience Associate at Scotia Bank 

Newcomer professionals must learn Canadian workplace culture, it will help them to have more chances to secure employment in their field faster. 

On September 29, 2022, during the Networking event, the keynote speaker Shivi Agarwal, focused on addressing how to strategically strengthen networking skills, such as how to build, connect and maintain relationships. she also emphasized why and who you know is highly important to advance a career in Canada. Additionally, she described Canadian workplace culture's dos and don’ts. 

In addition, our client’s journey Lyndin D’Penha was inspiring, Lyndin shared his journey and success on how CCIS programs such as Networking for Success and Mentorship for Integration assisted him to boost his confidence and necessary knowledge to gain employment in his professional field. Lyndin shared and advised immigrant professionals to network and build relationships, but also seek mentorship in their field, the journey was motivational and inspiring.

KEYNOTE SPEAKER:  Joseph Macdonald, Training Consultant, at SAIT

SUCCESS STORY:  Nasratullah Andar, Network IT Analyst at Kaizen Auto Group

On June 14, 2022, during the Networking event, the keynote speaker focused on addressing how to reinvent yourself as a new immigrant professional in Canada. Envisioning your future self starts with thinking of someone different and focusing on a clear goal, also the proposal of leaving your home country and creating a new identity to enter the road to success. If you can get over your fear of career change, there are massive opportunities to transfer your existing skills and aim at learning new skills. 

Our keynote speaker Joseph Macdonald from SAIT, during the event, focused on the journey of how to reinvent yourself by sharing his professional journey especially when Canada has enormous support via programs such as Networking for Success and Mentorship for integration. 

In addition, our client’s journey Nasratullah Andar who recently moved to Canada from Afghanistan was motivational and inspiring.

KEYNOTE SPEAKER:  Osaki Edunro, Integrated Marketing Manager, at Enverus

SUCCESS STORY: Uche U, Business Analyst at Eligeo

On May 26, 2022, during Networking event, the speakers focused on addressing the importance of mainting relationship among your existing connections. Career development, in its simplest terms, is the evolution of you career. It's influenced by several things that include the jobs you hold, the experiences you gain in and out of your workplace, the growth and success you achieve at each stage of your career, the formal and informal education and training you receive, and the feedback you're provided with along the way.

Ideally, organizations would place more emphasis on employee development in the workplace. However, in this era you take control of your career. Hence the importance of networking for career development, as you network, you'll uncover opportunities to connect with different types of mentors and advisors, increase your visibility, further develop your areas of expertise, and improve your soft skills.

KEYNOTE SPEAKER: Jey Kumar, Becht Eng, Technical Advisor, Oil and Gas Professional

SUCCESS STORY: Srikar Samudrala, Technical Support Representative, Intertek 

On April 21, 2022 Networking event, the speakers focused on the importance of Self marketing strategy as area of growth for professionals in the current Calgary labour market. In the recent years there has been a shift in industry demands to attract ideal employers you must showcase your skills and experiences and brand yourself as a professional that enables you to make a strategic shift career and opens doors for opportunity to effectively communicate their skills, values, and vision to potential employers.

Our keynote speaker for event, Jey Kumar oil and Gas technical advisor shared with us insights on how to market yourself as professional in Canada that can result in in better economy and employment growth rate among international talent.

KEYNOTE SPEAKER: Alok Sahai, P Eng., MBA, President and CEO of Mass Natural Resources Inc

SUCCESS STORY: Maureen Imonirioma-Oyinleye, Finance Analyst, HelpSeeker Technologies

Throughout the 20th/21st centuries, oil and natural gas so far are primary fuel sources. Despite that, governments around the world have pledged to reach net-zero CO2 emissions by 2050. For Alberta, having an Oil and Gas economy, this looks different.

Here are some key statistics:

• Worldwide, Canada ranks 3^rd on Oil Reserves and 4^th on Oil Production (Source: Statista)
• Canada Oil & Gas: 7.5% of GDP (total: $1.9T) and 7 times of average in employment per GDP (Source: StatCan)
• Alberta oil production: 74% of Canada, with 31.0% of total GDP
• GHG emissions by Oil & Gas: 26.4%

Canada, which is ranked eighth overall and sixth on national preparedness, faces challenges to its decarbonization credibility as a major exporter of oil that is also developing a liquid natural gas export facility. But there is a political will to change. (Source: KPMG 2021)