There is a storyline in season two of the HBO series Insecure where Issa’s ex-boyfriend, Lawrence, leaves his entrepreneurial struggle behind to grow his career at a corporate technology company. In the ensuing scenes, director Melina Matsoukas makes it clear that Lawrence is “the only Black person in the room.”

It’s a compelling narrative because being “the only Black person in the room” is a nuanced experience for Black people working in a corporate environment. Even if you’ve never seen the show, Lawrence’s consciousness of being the only Black person at work is perhaps something you’ve experienced in your career. I know I have.

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Source: The-Message.ca

How a heartfelt social media post led to a movement for diverse women in leadership.

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Source: Financial Post

Montreal native and Haitian-Canadian, Yasmeen Souffrant, has loved drawing from the time she was a little girl. In fact, most of the members of her family love drawing as well. Creativity has always been around her life.

But when is it time to put the sketching pad down and face the real world? How do we know if we have what it takes to make a living from our love for art?

Today, as an accomplished illustrator, textile designer and graphic designer working for the federal government and exhibiting at various shows across the country, Yasmeen shares elements of her journey with AfroToronto.com.

An interview with Odeen Eccleston, co-host of HGTV Canada's new luxury real estate show, 'Hot Market.'

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Mark Beckles, Sr. Director, Youth Strategy & Innovation, at RBC leads RBC Future Launch — a $500MM investment to ensure that young Canadians are ready for the future of work.

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Jenny Okonkwo is an internationally trained accountant who holds an MBA from Open University Business School. She’s a member of CPA Ontario and is a Certified Corporate FP&A Professional (the acronym stands for Financial Planning and Analysis).

She’s also the founder of the Black Female Accountants Network (BFAN), a platform for building connections, economic empowerment, creating opportunities for professional and leadership development. BFAN selected to receive an Active Partner Award from JVS Toronto.

A Mississauga resident originally from the UK, with Nigerian family roots, this accomplished Canadian immigrant was recently nominated as a Top 75 Finalist for the Royal Bank of Canada’s Top 25 Canadian Immigrant Awards.

Check out the podcast to learn more about her journey. She shares the learning points from her own personal experiences as an immigrant to promote and advance employability, equity, diversity and inclusion across Canada.

Okonkwo is currently working in the non-profit sector, applying her relationship-building, communication and leadership skills used to grow the network.

You can help her get into the top 25 by voting for her here by the May 16, 2019 deadline.

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I was in the prime of my life, in the job of a lifetime, but I immediately started to get an uneasy feeling. — From 2005 to 2015, I owned a successful, award-winning research management firm. I read books on how to succeed and what strategies to use to get ahead. 

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Source: Refinery29