LIFE IS WHAT YOU MAKE OF IT

By SHAGORIKA EASWAR

 If you have a why, you can work with any how, said Friedrich Nietzsche. In my 20 years of interviewing Grant’s Desi Achievers I have come to realize that in one form or another they all embody the essence of this approach to life. This time of year, many of us take time to look back at the year that was while looking ahead at a new year brimming with new possibilities, with new hope. As we reflect on the milestones and audit the year, so to speak, we take stock of all that we learned – lessons we can take forward in our professional and personal lives. These could be a quote from a book we loved or life lessons from people who are role models. These Grant’s Desi Achievers have faced difficulties in finding meaningful employment or setting up a business, discrimination at the workplace due to their gender or ethnicity, challenges with the weather, and navigating cultural difference, etc., in varying degrees. They share their stories – the highs and the lows – so that others don’t place them on a pedestal, but realize that everyone faces hurdles. It’s how we respond to those that defines us, could be their collective message. They have done immeasurable good and continue to inspire others to do so. Peter Mielzynski Jr, Board Director at PMA Canada, the sponsor of the Grant’s Desi Achievers Awards, recalls his own father’s journey in Canada. The strength and the entrepreneurial spirit it took to establish a business in a new country. “Each of these individuals represent the highest qualities in personal and professional lives. They are the best illustration there could be of all the positives of multiculturalism,” he says.

“YOU HAVE TO BE AN OPTIMIST TO BE AN ACTIVIST”

Shohini Ghose made the first-ever observations of individual cesium atoms that showed the effect of chaos on quantum entanglement with a fellow scientist.

Her research has been selected for McGraw-Hill Yearbook of Science and Technology. She is a TED Senior Fellow and Chief Technology Officer at Quantum Algorithms Institute.

She was elected to the Royal Society of Canada’s College of New Scholars, Artists and Scientists.

But she pushes back against being described as a “female” scientist.

“Every under-represented person faces this balancing between tokenism and stepping up and breaking barriers,” says Ghose. “I don’t have a blanket rule, I weigh the context, on a case-by-case basis. If I walk away, will that hurt or help the big picture? I don’t have an issue with being described as the first person of colour to be elected President of the Canadian Association of Physicists (CAP) because I had worked there for a long time, I moved up the ranks, and no one ever saw me as a woman of colour.” 

Ghose has an unusual tip for young female scientists who will see a role model in her.

“There’s often a sense of not belonging in different spaces among women. It drives the imposter syndrome. I give the example of someone who has gate-crashed a wedding. Would a gate crasher hide away in the corner or would he or she eat, dance and make merry until they were caught? If we are the different person in the room, if we feel like we don’t belong, if we’re made to feel unwelcome, let’s act like the gate crasher! Let’s do everything to make the most of the opportunity, of our time in that space.”

“I OVERCAME BARRIERS THROUGH WORK ETHIC AND RESILIENCE”

Rajesh (Raj) Dhir received the prestigious Law Society Medal for outstanding contributions to the community and his body work as a social justice advocate.

He has dedicated his career to protecting and advancing human rights, serving vulnerable populations and leading transformational change to address systemic discrimination.

Growing up in London, Ontario, Dhir was acutely aware of the fact that he was different based on how he looked, the way his parents dressed, the food they ate, the languages they spoke and the religion they practised.

“As a kid, you try desperately to fit in, but I eventually realized that no matter how hard I tried, I would always be ‘different’ – even though I was born in Canada.

 “Systemic discrimination can be difficult to prove and address and I have seen the impact that it has on individuals and groups of people. For me, the only way I have been able to overcome these barriers is through my work ethic and resilience.”

With the younger generation of lawyers, Dhir shares his belief that it takes a village to raise a human rights lawyer. “I have benefited from working with amazing colleagues, mentors and leaders. If there is one thing I have learned, it is that there is always a need for human rights champions and human rights advocacy and there are always opportunities to make a difference whether it is through the services you provide or in your workplace. As you increase the breadth of your experience, other opportunities come your way. My advice would be to pursue that call to action in your own sphere of influence and ‘be the change you want to see in the world’!”

“THINK ABOUT HOW TO CONVERT CHALLENGES INTO OPPORTUNITIES”

On moving to Canada in 2004, Anil Abrol wanted to go into business for himself, but not through the tried and tested route of purchasing a franchise. “I wanted to do something impactful,” he says.

The first years were tough. He was a newcomer, trying to sell a new concept. “But they don’t call me Mr Can for nothing!” he says with a chuckle.

His company, Eco Guardian, made Canadian Business magazine’s list of the fastest growing companies in Canada for five straight years from 2016 to 2020.

Launched with just Abrol and his wife, it is now a team of 35, with 200 distributors and sales reps with a turnover of $25 million. Their portfolio of environmentally-friendly products includes tableware and containers for take-out, ready-to-eat meals, in-flight service, and containers retailers use to package food items sold through distributors like Loblaws, Longo’s and Costco across Canada. They have designed reusable bags for Canadian Tire and Mark’s Wearhouse.

Abrol encourages newcomers not to give up.

“Recognize that this is your journey, and that everyone has to go through it. There’ll be ups and downs, but think about how to convert challenges into opportunities. Be flexible and adapt to the country, don’t expect it to adapt to you. If you’re disappointed that no one was waiting for you at the airport with a job offer, that’s your problem, not the country’s. You need to work to get a job. It might take time, but you’ll get there. Remember, if you were to go from Delhi to Bangalore, it would take you time to settle in and find a good job. Canada is a good country.”

“THE RECIPE FOR SUCCESS IS THE SAME EVERYWHERE – HARD WORK”

Dr Anubhav Pratap-Singh, Director, BC Food and Beverage Innovation Centre, has been recognized for introducing many technologies to Canada.

His current project is an insulin pill to replace injections that diabetics have to take on a regular basis.

Encouraging animal trials bring the team closer to receiving clearance from Health Canada and market authorization from FDA. The insulin pills could be life-changing for diabetics in many ways.

He has received many awards, but perhaps the Banting Fellow he received in 2016 is the closest to his heart. “The first few are important and career defining. I was able to combine my knowledge of chemical engineering and food sciences, and that’s what makes my work different, the coming together of technology and the human aspect.”

Other awards include Young Entrepreneur Award and the Feeding Tomorrow Scholar Award he received for the new type of canning system he developed for his PhD fellowship.

The recipe for success is the same everywhere, he believes. Hard work.

“In Canada, there’s the added advantage of respect for education and little to no bureaucracy. If you know your field, you will garner respect. My impression is also that we are viewed as a brainy and hard-working community, so that’s something to capitalize on.

“Canadians are a law-abiding people and take something as simple as traffic regulations seriously. And plagiarism is a serious offence, if they catch you, they will make an example of you. So work hard and work honest.”

“ONE CAN EARN MONEY, IT TAKES A LOT MORE TO EARN GOODWILL”

Recognized as one of Canada’s Most Powerful Women Top 100 and with a slew of industry and business awards including RBC Small Business of the Year to her name, Sanchari Sen-Rai leads an organization with a $3 million annual turnover.

One can earn money, it takes a lot more to earn a reputation and goodwill, says Sen-Rai who moved to Canada in 2010. Finding employment in the insurance industry required going back to school, but with her husband already studying, they lacked the resources to do so. She faced rejection and disappointment. “Unlike now, when there are so many resources for international students and newcomers, there was not much then. It took me a whole year to understand that my resumé was not ‘Canadian standard’.”

Today, she mentors newcomers, international students, and entrepreneurs both informally and through TRIEC and ACCES Employment.

Sen-Rai stresses the importance of continuous learning.

“Grow beyond your own circle. Not just academically or professionally, but also personally. Grow beyond your comfort zone.

“Women face unique challenges – I speak from personal experience. I was studying to be an immigration consultant while running a business and while pregnant. I tell women to develop a bring it on attitude. There will be disappointments and failures, people will misuse your trust, how you rise above those will determine your success. In our culture, we don’t acknowledge our success, and we also hide our failures. But we need to share our journey in all its truth. Otherwise people only see the pinnacle of success, not the rocks below the surface. Talk about your path to success.”