When Maj Dafinone got off the plane in Toronto in 2018, she felt a mix of excitement and nervousness. Born in Nigeria and having lived in five U.S. states while working and earning degrees from Columbia Business School and the University of Pennsylvania, she was no stranger to change, but arriving in Canada felt different.

“I thought I was ready, but I felt a wave of culture shock that I hadn’t anticipated,” she recalls. “I wondered how to integrate into a new corporate environment.”

Despite years of experience in strategy, innovation consulting and engineering, Dafinone quickly realized that his impressive CV was only part of the equation. The Canadian job market was different, with its own networks and unwritten rules, and accessing it as a newcomer required more than credentials. Feeling the need for advice, she reached out to other alumni on LinkedIn, which led to an informal conversation over coffee that would change her course. A Columbia alumna suggested she connect with ACCESS Jobsan organization dedicated to helping newcomers like her integrate into the Canadian job market.

This one meeting was a turning point for Dafinone. Connecting with ACCES Employment not only led to career success, but also sparked her commitment to giving back to other newcomers pursuing their dreams in Canada.

“I know firsthand the challenges of navigating the job market as a newcomer; that’s why it’s so important to me to help others overcome these obstacles,” she says.

Today, as the leader of a 10-person product management team at Interac Corp., Dafinone feels both supported in her career ambitions and empowered by a company committed to removing barriers to women, newcomers and other groups deserving of equity.

“Interac’s culture fosters a sense of belonging and provides opportunities for women like me to progress,” she says. “(Additionally,) I have the opportunity to participate in employee-led programs and mentor other Interac women as they advance in their careers.

Pay it forward

Reflecting on the role that ACCES Employment has played in her career, Dafinone is quick to credit the organization’s Empowering Women program. The intensive week-long program designed to bridge the gap among newly arrived women provided her with much more than just career guidance. Through speed mentoring, networking events, career coaching, and hands-on workshops on resume writing and mock interviews, she found a supportive community that gave her confidence and clarity. “It gave me confidence in my job search, and much of the professional network I created through ACCES,” she says.

Although she ultimately found her first job outside of the program, Dafinone says her participation was instrumental in expanding her network when she needed it most. Her cohort, made up of newcomers to Canada from all over the world, formed an online discussion group to support and encourage each other.

It was a pleasant surprise when Dafinone joined Interac in 2022 and discovered that the company had been sponsoring ACCES since 2019. In fact, this partnership has helped more than 200 newcomers integrate into the Canadian job market, particularly in the technology sector.

Now that she is a leader at Interac, Dafinone says she is excited to become a mentor at ACCES through this partnership – truly coming full circle. “I now pay it forward and mentor newcomers throughout their journey,” she says.

She notes that Interac’s strong commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) has allowed it to give back in other ways as well. She is a member and mentor of Interac’s Employee Resource Group (ERG), which pairs women from different departments to foster learning and collaboration. In 2023, ERG led the company’s first Interac Women’s Summit, bringing together women from across the company for networking, panel discussions and free professional photos.

Dafinone says that when she mentors newcomers to Canada, she always makes it a point to emphasize that work-life balance is as important as career advancement.

“When I came to Canada, it was important for me to take an interest in hobbies and extracurricular activities. So I joined the public library where I discovered that there were free tickets for newcomers to attend events,” she says. “I also discovered social media accounts that were very helpful to newcomers, such as where to take dance classes in the city. I then compiled it all and share it when I chat over coffee with newcomers.

Supporting newcomers and racialized women by removing career barriers and building confidence in financial literacy is a driving force behind the work Interac does with Black Mom Connection. It is a national non-profit organization that provides grants and resources to empower and educate Black women in Canada. Interac is also collaborating with Conscious Economics to develop Digital learning Mindfulness + Money programs that help newcomers and women develop financial wellness skills. To bring participants together in person with program leaders, Interac recently hosted their first ever Summit on building financial confidence among newcomers.

A commitment to helping women succeed

Having worked at Interac for two and a half years, Dafinone says she is proud to work in a company that values ​​its employees, both in and out of the office. “My employer empowers me to go beyond my job and get involved in my community,” she says.

To this end, Dafinone is actively involved with organizations such as the Black Wealth Club and BlackNorth Connect, where she mentors young people and advocates for greater access to career opportunities for Black professionals.

“I also appreciate that Interac is there to support me in many aspects of my life, with a competitive rewards program that includes flexible working and generous company-paid benefits,” adds- She. To reinforce the company’s commitment to its employees, Interac also offers annual company contributions to an RRSP, parental leave supplements and tuition assistance to employees interested in continuing their studies.

Interac’s culture of inclusion is also reflected in its support of awards programs like Women in Payments, where Dafinone recently received the Rising Star Award. This recognition highlights its leadership in the industry and highlights Interac’s success in promoting gender diversity in a traditionally male-dominated sector.

For Dafinone, her journey from newcomer to team leader at Interac is a testament to how, with the right support and opportunities, women can not only achieve their own professional dreams, but also inspire others to do the same.

“From my first selection phone call with Interac, I knew there was something special about them. I feel very supported by my team and have been given all the freedom to create my own path,” she says.

“Interac has given me many tools to succeed, and now I am committed to helping other women do the same.” »

Interac is growing! Interested in working with us? Subscribe here.

Advertising article produced by Globe Content Studio with Interac. The Globe editorial staff was not involved.