Diversity Equity and Inclusion in STEM: How Migrant Women CAN Leverage the Power of Networking
Career focused immigrants generally want to pick up from where their career left off once they arrive in a new country. I decided to ask Chat GPT how best to go about this.
Prompt: What are the odds of a female immigrant (graduate student) arriving in British Columbia and getting a board appointment in a NGO within three months and a senior position within a year?
ChatGPT: Predicting the exact odds of a female immigrant graduate student arriving in British Columbia obtaining a board appointment in an NGO within three months and a senior position within a year is challenging due to the many variables involved, including qualifications, experience, availability of positions, networking, and individual circumstances.
However, I can provide some insights into factors that might influence the likelihood of such appointments. Generally, the odds could be influenced by the individual’s qualifications, relevant experience, networking abilities, language proficiency, cultural adaptation, and familiarity with the Canadian nonprofit sector.
Having a strong educational background, prior experience in a related field, active participation in networking events, fluency in English (or potentially French, depending on the NGO), and a proactive approach to seeking opportunities can increase the odds of securing a board appointment or senior position. Additionally, being in a city like Vancouver, which has a relatively diverse and active NGO sector, may present more opportunities for such roles.
It’s important for the individual to actively engage in networking events, utilize job search resources, and tailor their applications to match the specific requirements of the roles they are interested in. Seeking guidance from career counselors, immigrant support organizations, and leveraging alumni networks can also enhance their prospects.
Ultimately, success in obtaining a board appointment or senior position will depend on a combination of individual efforts, qualifications, market conditions, and the availability of suitable positions.
My Experience
Moving across continents as a person of colour is a daunting task. In my case as with most people, I left family, friends, and culture behind. Weather is most definitely on opposing sides, so it means I had to acclimatize to a colder region. Super grateful that Victoria has the best weather in the Great North. A lot of second guessing and what if things don’t go as planned.
Pre- Arrival 2021. (COVID-Era)
As an intending immigrant and student, I was understandably apprehensive about landing in a new city where I knew no-one. The only slim connection I had to Victoria were classmates who I met only virtually during lectures. Most of them were from other provinces. For every time I was apprehensive, I reminded myself that the onus rested on me to be intentional about understanding Canadian Culture and thus building my Canadian experience.
Just before I arrived, I joined a WhatsApp group called Newcomers in Victoria which I had seen on the Royal Roads University’s student platform. This was my first attempt at connecting with people already living in Victoria. I read about job offerings, accommodation, and general graduate student life in Victoria.
From that group, I came across a post for an event tagged - “Welcome to Victoria” hosted by Sue Maitland, a Professional Coach. I registered and attended. Immediately after the zoom event, I reached out to her directly, told her about my background and my plans to be in Victoria to finish my graduate school program at Royal Roads University. During the zoom event, Sue emphasized on the power of networking. She asked me to get in touch with her once I settled down in Canada.
Meeting Sue Maitland in Canada – August/September 2021
Upon arrival, I noticed the general similarities and major differences between Victoria and other countries. Strangely, the general feeling I got about the city was that it was Welcoming.
Within a few weeks of my arrival. I found out that what obtains in each city varies. In Victoria, we thank our bus drivers for the ride as we disembark. in other jurisdictions even within BC and wider Canada I found that it was different. People deliberately smile at you; pass you compliments while walking with or without their dogs. Most people were curious about my hair. I met a few fellow immigrants including a handful of people from my home country, Nigeria.
Once I settled in I reached out to Sue and booked a coaching session. I told her about my aspirations and asked about the opportunities available based on my qualifications. That was the beginning of my journey to understanding the Culture in Victorian and ultimately getting my Canadian Experience.
Sue told me about the Island Women in Science and Technology; how meeting people intentionally can open me up to a world of opportunities and stressed that I should not let any form of initial rejection, of which there would be many, deter me from my dreams. And yes, there were quite a number.
Once I joined IWIST, I received a free coaching session which is available to every new member. Sue introduced me to several people in the technology space and ultimately, she introduced me to Corina Ludwig, the then Vice Chair of IWIST. Meeting Corina was the gamechanger for me. I met with her over zoom. During our meeting she checked my LinkedIn profile, told me about the industry, what to look out for and what could slow my progress. She went above and beyond my expectations by sharing a ton of resources with me including a list of all the recruiters she knew in Victoria, places for recreational activities and different events that were taking place. She also mentioned that there was an open role for directors on the IWIST board which I should apply for. I did.
Meeting Mina Hoorfar – Professor and Dean Engineering & Computer Science University of Victoria. October 2021.
At the first IWIST event I attended, Robyn Quinn (a Founding Member of IWIST) mentioned that the University of Victoria had just appointed the first female dean of Engineering and she was an immigrant. Afterwards, Claire Skillen (Past Board Chair IWIST) mentioned to me that there was an event “Women Leading Change in STEM” at UVic. (this was one of many networking events she told me about.) I looked up the program and found out Mina was one of the panelists. I enrolled immediately for the event, and it was a blast. Mina and the other panellists shared their stories and how they overcame several hurdles and were now seated at the table as decision makers.
Immediately after the session, I walked up to the stage and introduced myself to Mina. She handed me her card and asked me to connect with her. Later that week, I sent her an email inviting her to join IWIST in order to discover areas in which she could collaborate with IWIST and empower other women in STEM, especially migrants who would relate with her story. Through subsequent interactions, she comes across as a woman who exemplifies sheer determination and as a shining star among underrepresented women in STEM. She was recently nominated as one of the 25 top immigrants in Canada.
The Present
Today, I have made several connections through intentional networking. Networking has also helped in solidifying my relationships with people, making new friends, build a support system and work in a role I enjoy. Even though I am not shy about talking about my previous accomplishments, I remain a lifelong learner living in the domain of continuous improvement.
On October 25, 2023 from 5pm- 7pm at 6th Floor ECS 660, I will be moderating a fireside chat with Sue Maitland and Mina Hoorfer as panelists. It will be a live event where you can ask questions live. Join us to get answers on how to navigate the technology space and build up a community for yourself by networking right and intentionally putting yourself out to build a new community and strengthen friendships you already built. There would be networking opportunities with light refreshments served. I am looking forward to meeting you.
Oluwapelumi Ogeroju is the author of this blog and has joined iWIST as a Director. Her profound contributions and unwavering dedication to the STEM field have not only made a significant impact on women, but they continue to inspire and empower countless individuals, proving that gender and ethnicity is no barrier to success in the realm of STEM.