The Immigrant Experience in America (TIEIA)

In this episode, my guest Maha Hafez Witherington shares her story. Born in Alexandria, Egypt, moved to the United States of America in 1988 to present due to marriage with intense school and college education and professional knowledge of government affairs. Her leadership and organizational skills gained over the past 34 years in the U.S. Government in the USA and overseas are truly remarkable. She served both diplomatic & official assignments in Egypt, Italy, Saudi Arabia, Germany, Arkansas, Washington D.C. (The Pentagon and Arlington National Cemetery). She proudly served in two U.S. Embassies; Cairo, Egypt as an Office Manager and the U.S. Embassy in Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, as a Public Affairs Officer.  Maha is currently serving in Rep. French Hill's Little Rock office as a District Representative. She comes to Rep. Hill's office from the Office of Governor Hutchinson, where she served as his Mansion Reception & Social Projects Liaison. Her previous experience includes work with the United States Embassy, the Department of Defense, and the Southern European Task Force. In this episode, Maha and I discussed: Where she came from and how she came to the US  Her professional background in US government service Life and culture in her home country and how it has influenced her Living in the US as a Muslim-American What is Ramadan and the meaning behind it The practice of fasting during Ramadan What happens on a typical Ramadan and how it is celebrated How she finds life in America, a predominantly Christian nation Pilgrimage in Mecca which happens after Ramadan Different kinds of Muslim beliefs True meaning of being a Muslim    Connect with Maha Hafez Witherington here:  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/maha-hafez-witherington-0471764b/   Let's Connect! Email: theimmigrantexperiencebtyad@gmail.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/The-Immigrant-Experience-In-America-103525698906957 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/simonewjohnson Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theimmigrantexperiencepodcast/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@theimmigrantexperience Check out the previous episodes of The Immigrant Experience in America here: http://thedreamacademy.us/podcast/ If you are interested in coaching sessions, contact the host at 240-232-5579 or theimmigrantexperiencebtyad@gmail.com Show us some support and join our mission to grow our human library. We are now accepting donations to cover the financial costs of producing each episode. Now, more than ever, it's important to foster a thriving community and amplify the voices of our guests. Together we can inspire others to share their stories and ideas openly. Click HERE to donate now. If you're an immigrant who wants to share their unique journey, then we want to hear from YOU. Apply now for our podcast interview series and be a part of the next inspiring episode. You could be our next storyteller!

This episode marks the culmination of our celebration of Women's History Month this March. March has been memorable! We had guests on our show providing their valuable stories. I've had the pleasure of engaging with incredible women this month and it has been a great journey of learning and understanding. In this episode I talked about:  ·      How women can find a balance between our traditional roles and altruism  ·       My personal experience about some things prevalent in our communities, especially when coming from a communal culture ·       We carry so much for our families but remember self-care is paramount because you cannot give from an empty cup ·       The mental load that we carry and what boundaries we may need to implement in your life ·        How to recognize if you are suffering from burnout and some tips to prevent it.   Resources mentioned in the episode: 1. 988 mental health hotline is a 24/7 service via a toll-free hotline in the US. It is available via phone, text, and chat for anyone in suicidal crisis or emotional distress. 2. The book mentioned in the episode is entitled, Set boundaries, Find Peace - A Guide to Reclaiming Yourself by Nedra Glover Tawwab. You can purchase the book  HERE. Note: We are not mental health or medical providers. Please follow up with your physician or therapist to discuss these recommendations. Credit/Reference: BCBS   Let's Connect! Email: theimmigrantexperiencebtyad@gmail.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/The-Immigrant-Experience-In-America-103525698906957 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/simonewjohnson Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theimmigrantexperiencepodcast/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/SimoneWJohnson1 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@theimmigrantexperience Check out the previous episodes of The Immigrant Experience in America here: http://thedreamacademy.us/podcast/ If you are interested in coaching sessions, contact the host at 240-232-5579 or theimmigrantexperiencebtyad@gmail.com Show us some support and join our mission to grow our human library. We are now accepting donations to cover the financial costs of producing each episode. Now, more than ever, it's important to foster a thriving community and amplify the voices of our guests. Together we can inspire others to share their stories and ideas openly. Click HERE to donate now. If you are interested in learning how to set boundaries in a communal cultural setting and/or how to set boundaries as an immigrant to prevent burnout. Let's talk.

In this episode, my guest Stella Leaburn shares part 3 of her story. Stella is an executive search consultant and a personal brand and image consultant. She is originally from Nigeria by birth and moved to the UK during her early teenage years. She is a public speaker, storyteller, coach, mentor and humanitarian on a humble mission to help those brand founders and owners find their purpose, tell their story and exceed expectations in a fast changing, disrupted world. She spent nearly two decades working as an executive recruiter and elite concierge business owner and has learned what it takes to stay focused and grounded in a working world where success feels out of reach, where business and career help seems irrelevant and where mentors are impossible to find.   In this episode, Stella and I discussed: ·        Codependency  among families ·        The cultural burden and expectation that is very difficult to handle by most people ·        The trauma that a person may go through from experiencing extreme codepency ·        How she has been received in Germany vs her experience acclimating to UK culture ·        Advice for immigrants or aspiring immigrants how they can thrive as they acclimate to a new country with very different culture ·        Learning to adapt and be open to other ways of doing things ·        Her professional services          Connect with Stella Leaburn here:  Website: https://www.stellaleaburn.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stella-leaburn/   Let's Connect! Email: theimmigrantexperiencebtyad@gmail.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/The-Immigrant-Experience-In-America-103525698906957 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/simonewjohnson Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theimmigrantexperiencepodcast/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@theimmigrantexperience Check out the previous episodes of The Immigrant Experience in America here: http://thedreamacademy.us/podcast/ If you are interested in coaching sessions, contact the host at 240-232-5579 or theimmigrantexperiencebtyad@gmail.com Show us some support and join our mission to grow our human library. We are now accepting donations to cover the financial costs of producing each episode. Now, more than ever, it's important to foster a thriving community and amplify the voices of our guests. Together we can inspire others to share their stories and ideas openly. Click HERE to donate now. If you're an immigrant who wants to share their unique journey, then we want to hear from YOU. Apply now for our podcast interview series and be a part of the next inspiring episode. You could be our next storyteller!

In this episode, my guest Stella Leaburn shares part 2 of her story. Stella is an executive search consultant and a personal brand and image consultant. She is originally from Nigeria by birth and moved to the UK during her early teenage years. She is a public speaker, storyteller, coach, mentor, and humanitarian on a humble mission to help those brand founders and owners find their purpose, tell their stories, and exceed expectations in a fast-changing, disrupted world. She spent nearly two decades working as an executive recruiter and elite concierge business owner and has learned what it takes to stay focused and grounded in a working world where success feels out of reach, where business and career help seem irrelevant, and where mentors are impossible to find. In this episode, Stella and I discussed:  ·        How she managed to raise children to be multi-cultural ·        Exploring the cultural value of caregiving for family and friends ·        When caregiving becomes a burden ·        How she balances self-care and living in a whole new culture  ·        Being firmer with her boundaries and overcoming emotional manipulation by family members ·        Different ways she set her boundaries to keep her inner peace   Stay tuned for Part 3 of this episode coming out tomorrow.   Connect with Stella Leaburn here:  Website: https://www.stellaleaburn.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stella-leaburn/   Let's Connect! Email: theimmigrantexperiencebtyad@gmail.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/The-Immigrant-Experience-In-America-103525698906957 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/simonewjohnson Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theimmigrantexperiencepodcast/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@theimmigrantexperience Check out the previous episodes of The Immigrant Experience in America here: http://thedreamacademy.us/podcast/ If you are interested in coaching sessions, contact the host at 240-232-5579 or theimmigrantexperiencebtyad@gmail.com Show us some support and join our mission to grow our human library. We are now accepting donations to cover the financial costs of producing each episode. Now, more than ever, it's important to foster a thriving community and amplify the voices of our guests. Together we can inspire others to share their stories and ideas openly. Click HERE to donate now. If you're an immigrant who wants to share their unique journey, then we want to hear from YOU. Apply now for our podcast interview series and be a part of the next inspiring episode. You could be our next storyteller!

In this episode, my guest Stella Leaburn shares her story. Stella is an Executive Search Consultant and a Personal Brand and Image Consultant. She is originally from Nigeria by birth and moved to the UK during her early teenage years. She is a public speaker, storyteller, coach, mentor, and humanitarian on a humble mission to help those brand founders and owners find their purpose, tell their stories, and exceed expectations in a fast-changing, disrupted world. She spent nearly two decades working as an executive recruiter and elite concierge business owner and has learned what it takes to stay focused and grounded in a working world where success feels out of reach, where business and career help seem irrelevant, and where mentors are impossible to find. In this episode, Stella and I discussed:          Her family and professional background         What made her move to Germany, where she currently resides with her daughter         Life, food, and culture in Nigeria         Embracing her roots and proudly sharing her Nigerian heritage despite living in the UK         How different her tribe's cultural expression is compared to others in Nigeria         Educational experience in Nigeria         How she acclimated to the UK culture as she was growing up         Balancing the values she is instilling in her children as they grow up  Stay tuned for Part 2 of this episode coming out tomorrow.   Connect with Stella Leaburn here:  Website: https://www.stellaleaburn.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stella-leaburn/   Let's Connect! Email: theimmigrantexperiencebtyad@gmail.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/The-Immigrant-Experience-In-America-103525698906957 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/simonewjohnson Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theimmigrantexperiencepodcast/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/SimoneWJohnson1 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@theimmigrantexperience Check out the previous episodes of The Immigrant Experience in America here: http://thedreamacademy.us/podcast/ If you are interested in coaching sessions, contact the host at 240-232-5579 or theimmigrantexperiencebtyad@gmail.com Show us some support and join our mission to grow our human library. We are now accepting donations to cover the financial costs of producing each episode. Now, more than ever, it's important to foster a thriving community and amplify the voices of our guests. Together we can inspire others to share their stories and ideas openly. Click HERE to donate now. If you're an immigrant who wants to share your unique journey, then we want to hear from YOU. Apply now for our podcast interview series and be a part of the next inspiring episode. You could be our next storyteller!

In this episode, my guest Juanita Ingram shares Part 3 of her story. Juanita Ingram, Esq. is breaking down barriers and empowering others as an award-winning attorney, filmmaker, author, fashion philanthropist, and actress. Currently living in Singapore and formerly residing in London and Taiwan, she is also a wife, mother of two, and the newly crowned Mrs. Universe 2022/2023. She is the Founder and CEO of Purpose Productions Inc., a 501(c)3 women-led production company with a mission of creating content that celebrates authentic BIPOC narratives while empowering women and youth through film. Purpose Productions utilizes the visual arts as a vehicle for challenging negative stereotypes and providing cross-cultural experiences for audiences throughout the world. Purpose Productions is also a conduit for sharing a balanced depiction of diverse cultures and powerful under-represented narratives while serving to foster educational and cross-cultural exposure for global audiences. ​ In Juneteenth 2021, she launched Purpose Streaming, a streaming platform dedicated to content that inspires, informs, and empowers through BIPOC-centric content.   In this episode, Juanita and I discussed:      Recalling real-life experiences that bring awareness that brought about varied challenges stemming from harmful stereotypes      Anti-blackness and stereotypes      Nuances within racial groups      Creating healing dialogues and understanding there is strength in our commonality   Connect with Juanita Ingram here:  Website: https://www.iamjuanitaingram.com/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCtrxlM1oEKxmN1KTOFdPeSQ/videos Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/iamjuanitaingram/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/iamjuanitaingram/   Let's Connect! Email: theimmigrantexperiencebtyad@gmail.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/The-Immigrant-Experience-In-America-103525698906957 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/simonewjohnson Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theimmigrantexperiencepodcast/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@theimmigrantexperience Check out the previous episodes of The Immigrant Experience in America here: http://thedreamacademy.us/podcast/ If you are interested in coaching sessions, contact the host at 240-232-5579 or theimmigrantexperiencebtyad@gmail.com

In this episode, my guest Juanita Ingram shares her story. Juanita Ingram, Esq. is breaking down barriers and empowering others as an award-winning attorney, filmmaker, author, fashion philanthropist, and actress. Currently living in Singapore and formerly residing in London and Taiwan, she is also a wife, mother of two, and the newly crowned Mrs. Universe 2022/2023. She is the Founder and CEO of Purpose Productions Inc., a 501(c)3 women-led production company with a mission of creating content that celebrates authentic BIPOC narratives while empowering women and youth through film. Purpose Productions utilizes the visual arts as a vehicle for challenging negative stereotypes and providing cross-cultural experiences for audiences throughout the world. Purpose Productions is also a conduit for sharing a balanced depiction of diverse cultures and powerful under-represented narratives while serving to foster educational and cross-cultural exposure for global audiences. ​ In Juneteenth 2021, she launched Purpose Streaming, a streaming platform dedicated to content that inspires, informs, and empowers through BIPOC-centric content. In this episode, Juanita and I discussed:          The stereotypes and negative portrayal of Africans in the media         Tracing back her family tree to the time of slavery         Her passion for seeing BIPOC in a more diverse, authentic portrayal in the unscripted genre in media         How the portrayal of stereotypes in media can not only be insulting but also dangerous         What happens when you keep removing humanity and how a group of people is portrayed in the media         Taking ownership of your narrative, of who you truly are         Anti-blackness issue Stay tuned for Part 3 of this episode coming out tomorrow.   Connect with Juanita Ingram here:  Website: https://www.iamjuanitaingram.com/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCtrxlM1oEKxmN1KTOFdPeSQ/videos Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/iamjuanitaingram/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/iamjuanitaingram/   Let's Connect! Email: theimmigrantexperiencebtyad@gmail.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/The-Immigrant-Experience-In-America-103525698906957 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/simonewjohnson Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theimmigrantexperiencepodcast/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@theimmigrantexperience Check out the previous episodes of The Immigrant Experience in America here: http://thedreamacademy.us/podcast/ If you are interested in coaching sessions, contact the host at 240-232-5579 or theimmigrantexperiencebtyad@gmail.com

In this episode, my guest Juanita Ingram shares her story. Juanita Ingram, Esq. is breaking down barriers and empowering others as an award-winning attorney, filmmaker, author, fashion philanthropist, and actress. Currently living in Singapore and formerly residing in London and Taiwan, she is also a wife, mother of two, and the newly crowned Mrs. Universe 2022/2023. She is the Founder and CEO of Purpose Productions Inc., a 501(c)3 women-led production company with a mission of creating content that celebrates authentic BIPOC narratives while empowering women and youth through film. Purpose Productions utilizes the visual arts as a vehicle for challenging negative stereotypes and providing cross-cultural experiences for audiences throughout the world. Purpose Productions is also a conduit for sharing a balanced depiction of diverse cultures and powerful under-represented narratives while serving to foster educational and cross-cultural exposure for global audiences. ​ On Juneteenth 2021, she launched Purpose Streaming, a streaming platform dedicated to content that inspires, informs, and empowers through BIPOC-centric content.   In this episode, Juanita and I discussed:         Her family and professional background         Her international travels and relocation due to being an expat         London and Asian cultural experience and how different it is from US culture         How she managed her children's exposure to various education system         Watching her children grow up as global citizens, and being third-culture kids         Difference between immigrants and expats         Attending an HBCU (Historically black colleges and universities) and what it was like for Juanita         Her professional law background         Her advocacy of creating content highlighting the diverse stories from the lens of BIPOC individuals in a manner that is authentic and empowering.  Stay tuned for Part 2 of this episode coming out tomorrow.   Connect with Juanita Ingram here:  Website: https://www.iamjuanitaingram.com/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCtrxlM1oEKxmN1KTOFdPeSQ/videos Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/iamjuanitaingram/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/iamjuanitaingram/   Let's Connect! Email: theimmigrantexperiencebtyad@gmail.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/The-Immigrant-Experience-In-America-103525698906957 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/simonewjohnson Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theimmigrantexperiencepodcast/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@theimmigrantexperience Check out the previous episodes of The Immigrant Experience in America here: http://thedreamacademy.us/podcast/ If you are interested in coaching sessions, contact the host at 240-232-5579 or theimmigrantexperiencebtyad@gmail.com

In this episode, my guest Aditi Paul shares part 2 of her international student journey. Aditi Paul is a professor and mixed-methods researcher based in New York City. She uses her multidisciplinary background in computer science and communication studies to examine the impact of using human-centered technologies like social networking sites and online dating services. Aditi's research has been published in top academic journals and has been featured in prominent media outlets such as The Washington Post, Women's Health, The Telegraph UK, Huffington Post, and NBCNews. In this episode, Aditi and I discussed:         How she discovered that sharing her failures resonated with more people         Her achievements         How she got her green card and her learnings from it         Her struggle dealing with US immigration         Things she knows now that she wished she knew at the start of her journey         Advice and recommendations for current and aspiring international students   Connect with Aditi Paul here:  Website: http://www.draditipaul.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/draditipaul/ Twitter: http://twitter.com/iamaditipaul Get more information about her book, "The Current Collegiate Hookup Culture: Dating Apps, Hookup Scripts, and Sexual Outcomes" HERE. It is available for purchase at Rowman and Littlefield, Amazon, or Barnes and Noble.   Let's Connect! Email: theimmigrantexperiencebtyad@gmail.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/The-Immigrant-Experience-In-America-103525698906957 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/simonewjohnson Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theimmigrantexperiencepodcast/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@theimmigrantexperience Check out the previous episodes of The Immigrant Experience in America here: http://thedreamacademy.us/podcast/ If you are interested in coaching sessions, contact the host at 240-232-5579 or theimmigrantexperiencebtyad@gmail.com

In this episode, my guest Aditi Paul shares her international student story. Aditi Paul is a professor and mixed-methods researcher based in New York City. She uses her multidisciplinary background in computer science and communication studies to examine the impact of using human-centered technologies like social networking sites and online dating services. Aditi's research has been published in top academic journals and has been featured in prominent media outlets such as The Washington Post, Women's Health, The Telegraph UK, Huffington Post, and NBCNews. In this episode, Aditi and I discussed:         Her personal and professional background         Her immigration story as an International student         The education landscape in India, what it was like to study in her home country         Aditi's passion projects such as communication and performing arts         The intense competition and challenges students in India go through         The process of acquiring an F1 student visa         Living in the US as an international student         Assimilating to US culture as a student Stay tuned for Part 2 of this episode coming out tomorrow.   Connect with Aditi Paul here:  Website: http://www.draditipaul.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/draditipaul/ Twitter: http://twitter.com/iamaditipaul Get more information about her book, "The Current Collegiate Hookup Culture: Dating Apps, Hookup Scripts, and Sexual Outcomes" HERE. It is available for purchase at Rowman and Littlefield, Amazon, or Barnes and Noble.   Let's Connect! Email: theimmigrantexperiencebtyad@gmail.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/The-Immigrant-Experience-In-America-103525698906957 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/simonewjohnson Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theimmigrantexperiencepodcast/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@theimmigrantexperience Check out the previous episodes of The Immigrant Experience in America here: http://thedreamacademy.us/podcast/ If you are interested in coaching sessions, contact the host at 240-232-5579 or theimmigrantexperiencebtyad@gmail.com

In this episode, my guest, Weam Namou, shares Part 2 of her immigrant story. Born in Baghdad to an ancient lineage called the Chaldeans (Neo-Babylonians who still speak Aramaic), Weam Namou is the Executive Director of the Chaldean Cultural Center, which houses the first and only Chaldean Museum in the world. She's an Eric Hoffer award-winning author of 15 books, an international award-winning filmmaker, journalist, poet, and an Ambassador for the Authors Guild of America [Detroit Chapter], the nation's oldest and largest writing organization. She hosts a half-hour weekly TV show, and she's the founder of The Path of Consciousness, a spiritual and writing community, and Unique Voices in Films, a 501 (c)(3) nonprofit organization. Weam recently completed her first feature narrative film, Pomegranate, set to be the first Iraqi American narrative http://www.pomegranatemovie.com. In this episode, Weam and I discussed:         What it was like for her to live in the US at a young age, and how she acclimated to US culture         How the women of Mesopotamia had great political and religious status in ancient times         Rediscovering her connection to sacred Mesopotamian roots which transformed her understanding of feminine spirituality and consciousness         Women's struggle on getting an education   Connect with Weam Namou here:  Website: https://weamnamou.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/weam-namou-8b4585a/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/weamnamou/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/weamnamou/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/NamouWeam YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCsPR-jmBZswiqcmr5FYqN8w You can check out and purchase her books from her Website or Amazon.   Let's Connect! Email: theimmigrantexperiencebtyad@gmail.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/The-Immigrant-Experience-In-America-103525698906957 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/simonewjohnson Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theimmigrantexperiencepodcast/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@theimmigrantexperience Check out the previous episodes of The Immigrant Experience in America here: http://thedreamacademy.us/podcast/ If you are interested in coaching sessions, contact the host at 240-232-5579 or theimmigrantexperiencebtyad@gmail.com

In this episode, my guest, Weam Namou, shares Part 1 of her immigrant story. Born in Baghdad to an ancient lineage called the Chaldeans (Neo-Babylonians who still speak Aramaic), Weam Namou is the Executive Director of the Chaldean Cultural Center, which houses the first and only Chaldean Museum in the world. She's an Eric Hoffer award-winning author of 15 books, an international award-winning filmmaker, journalist, poet, and an Ambassador for the Authors Guild of America [Detroit Chapter], the nation's oldest and largest writing organization. She hosts a half-hour weekly TV show, and she's the founder of The Path of Consciousness, a spiritual and writing community, and Unique Voices in Films, a 501 (c)(3) nonprofit organization. Weam recently completed her first feature narrative film, Pomegranate, set to be the first Iraqi American narrative http://www.pomegranatemovie.com. In this episode, Weam and I discussed: ·        Her background and geopolitical situation in Iraq which made her family leave the country ·        Her journey back to Iraq after 20+ years, just right before the war ·        War and survival stories of the people of war-torn Iraq ·        Historical perspective of the religious landscape pre and post-Saddam regime ·        Observations about the US culture ·        Ancient stories and history of Mesopotamia   Stay tuned for Part 2 of this episode coming out tomorrow.   Connect with Weam Namou here:  Website: https://weamnamou.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/weam-namou-8b4585a/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/weamnamou/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/weamnamou/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/NamouWeam YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCsPR-jmBZswiqcmr5FYqN8w You can check out and purchase her books from her Website or Amazon.   Let's Connect! Email: theimmigrantexperiencebtyad@gmail.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/The-Immigrant-Experience-In-America-103525698906957 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/simonewjohnson Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theimmigrantexperiencepodcast/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@theimmigrantexperience Check out the previous episodes of The Immigrant Experience in America here: http://thedreamacademy.us/podcast/ If you are interested in coaching sessions, contact the host at 240-232-5579 or theimmigrantexperiencebtyad@gmail.com

In this episode, my guest Mariana Cogan shares her story and expertise in marketing and digital transformation. She is a leading Latina in the tech industry and for my work in marketing and sales digital transformation. Mexico-born Mariana Cogan held various roles of increasing responsibility in the software industry, and she is an advocate for diversity, inclusion and uplifting minorities in the tech space. She believes deeply that diverse companies are more innovative and outperform less diverse ones. She earned a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from Babson College and a bachelor's degree from Jochi University in Tokyo, Japan. She is currently the CMO of People.ai, a company that delivers the industry's leading Revenue Operations and Intelligence (RO&I) platform, transforming business activities into account and opportunity management solutions to accelerate revenue growth and maximize marketing ROI. In this episode, Mariana and I talk about:         Her professional background and her journey from being a banker to becoming the CMO of People.ai         How she came to study in Japan and found her passion for the Japanese language         How she came to work and live in the US         Her American dream         Cultural adjustments and challenges she faced when she moved to the US         Becoming a multicultural leader         The statistics that shows only a handful of minority females in the CMO role in high tech         The importance of self-branding and storytelling to foster a more diverse, innovative, and productive workforce         How adjusting and understanding the US culture may help create connections in business, and growing your professional network         Showing up as her authentic immigrant self         How she is using her leadership platform to spread the word about the importance of minorities in the workforce to create more diverse and innovative companies         Things Mariana knows now that she wishes she knew back when she was starting her immigrant journey   Connect with Mariana Cogan here:  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marianacogan/   Let's Connect! Email: theimmigrantexperiencebtyad@gmail.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/The-Immigrant-Experience-In-America-103525698906957 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/simonewjohnson Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theimmigrantexperiencepodcast/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@theimmigrantexperience Check out the previous episodes of The Immigrant Experience in America here: http://thedreamacademy.us/podcast/ If you are interested in coaching sessions, contact the host at 240-232-5579 or theimmigrantexperiencebtyad@gmail.com

In this episode, my guest Emlen Miles-Mattingly shares his story and expertise in wealth management and financial planning, specializing in supporting minority families. Founder, President and Senior Advisor of GenNext Wealth and host of the popular podcast Minority Money. Having worked for more than twenty years in finance, Emlen saw a clear need to support wealth management and financial planning for people and families of color. Inspired every day with the potential for change, Emlen thrives on connecting with clients, creating lasting relationships and helping individuals and families realize dreams through sound financial habits, healthy views on money and an inspired awareness towards generational wealth and wealth management. Emlen earned a Bachelor's Degree in Business Administration, Accounting. From education, experience and passion, Emlen is addressing racial disparities in wealth head-on, providing compassionate education, financial insights and resources to change the complexion of wealth, one family, one generation, at a time. In this episode, Emlen and I discussed:        His family background and how he started his career in finance        His International travels with family and the family dynamics in raising children with American and immigrant roots from their mother        Live to work vs work to live        Financial wellness and the current financial landscape in the US        Being intentional when saving money        Negotiated compensation as part of your wealth-building strategy        What behaviors, mindset, or views about money that he's seeing in the minority communities he is serving        How we can make our money work for us        The Onyx Advisor Network, a platform for underrepresented financial advisors in order to serve the markets they care about        Uneven wealth distribution across the world        Various ways your investment can be aligned to your values Connect with Emlen Miles-Mattingly here:  Website: https://gennextwealth.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/emlen-miles-mattingly Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/gennextwealth Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/emilesmattingly/ You can check out the book Emlen mentioned, How I Invest My Money: Finance experts reveal how they save, spend, and invest, HERE. Let's Connect! Email: theimmigrantexperiencebtyad@gmail.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/The-Immigrant-Experience-In-America-103525698906957 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/simonewjohnson Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theimmigrantexperiencepodcast/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@theimmigrantexperience Check out the previous episodes of The Immigrant Experience in America here: http://thedreamacademy.us/podcast/ If you are interested in coaching sessions, contact the host at 240-232-5579 or theimmigrantexperiencebtyad@gmail.com

In this episode, my guest Adina Appelbaum shares her story and expertise in helping people through the immigration, financial, and business systems to build generational wealth. An impact-driven immigration attorney, Accredited Financial Counselor (AFC)®, and social impact & financial coach, Adina has spent her career building and leading new initiatives to expand individuals' rights and empowerment, particularly for immigrant families. Adina and her husband Mauricio founded the social impact education company International Empowerment®, which includes Immigrant Finance™, an online platform that empowers immigrant families with personal finance education. As an immigration attorney, Adina has specialized in impact litigation advocating for the rights of immigrant adults and children facing deportation and detention. She created and leads the Immigration Impact Lab, the Capital Area Immigrants' Rights (CAIR) Coalition's first federal courts and appellate impact litigation program. Adina has litigated individual and class action impact cases advocating for the right to asylum, challenging immigration detention, and defending the rights of immigrants with criminal convictions at the intersection of criminal and immigration law. She has represented and advocated for immigrants in Egypt, Ecuador, the U.S.-Mexico border, and the Washington, D.C. area. In this episode, Adina and I discussed:         Her personal and professional background         Her Business of Purpose Podcast         Stories from Adina's family on how her family entered the US and now living as citizens         What brought her to the non-profit side of immigration law         Showing up as your authentic self         The kind of help she and her husband provides about finances         Advice how people can get access to various financial systems and get educated         Individual Tax Identification Number and how this can be used as an alternative solution for some immigrants who do not qualify for a social security number         How immigrants can build wealth thru financial education         Advice to immigrants and aspiring immigrants and Adina's wealth building program   Connect with Adina here:  Website: https://immigrantfinance.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/adina-appelbaum/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/immigrant.finance/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Immigrant.Finance/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCUEt5sUxmHo8Xj1FBfMZw0g/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@immigrantfinance Listen to Adina and Mauricio's Podcast, The Business of Purpose, HERE. For people interested to know more about ITIN (Individual Tax Identification Number), Adina has a blog post about this topic which you can read HERE.   Let's Connect! Email: theimmigrantexperiencebtyad@gmail.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/The-Immigrant-Experience-In-America-103525698906957 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/simonewjohnson Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theimmigrantexperiencepodcast/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@theimmigrantexperience Check out the previous episodes of The Immigrant Experience in America here: http://thedreamacademy.us/podcast/ If you are interested in coaching sessions, contact the host at 240-232-5579 or theimmigrantexperiencebtyad@gmail.com

In this episode, my guest Lane Kawaoka shares his story and expertise in passive investing. Lane Kawaoka currently owns 8,500+ units across the US. He lives in Hawaii and recently quit his day job as a Professional Engineer with an MS in Civil Engineering & Construction Management and a BS in Industrial Engineering.   Lane partners with investors who want to build their portfolio but are too busy to mess with "tenants, toilets, and termites" by curating opportunities in his Hui Deal Pipeline Club where his investors have personal access to him and know that Lane is personally putting his money on the line too. The Hui Deal Pipeline Club has acquired over $1.2B dollars of real estate acquired by syndicating over $154 Million Dollars of private equity since 2016.   Lane reverse engineers the wealth-building strategies that the rich use to the middle class via the Top-50 Investing Podcast SimplePassiveCashflow.com. Lane's mission is to help hard-working professionals out of the rat race, one free strategy call at a time.  In this episode, Lane and I discussed:         His family background and heritage         How he got into passive investing         Achieving financial independence at an early age through property rental         How he started his business, Simple Passive Cashflow         The paradigm shift around debt and leveraging from it         How passive real estate investing can give you security and give you freedom of time and money         The importance of putting their assets that go up and down with inflation         How one can get started on real estate passive investing Connect with Lane Kawaoka here:  Website: https://simplepassivecashflow.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lanekawaoka/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SimplePassiveCashFlow/ Listen to Lane's Passive Real Estate Investing Podcast HERE. Check out Lane's book, The Journey To Simple Passive Cashflow: Real Estate Investing for the Working Professional HERE.   Let's Connect! Email: theimmigrantexperiencebtyad@gmail.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/The-Immigrant-Experience-In-America-103525698906957 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/simonewjohnson Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theimmigrantexperiencepodcast/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@theimmigrantexperience Check out the previous episodes of The Immigrant Experience in America here: http://thedreamacademy.us/podcast/ If you are interested in coaching sessions, contact the host at 240-232-5579 or theimmigrantexperiencebtyad@gmail.com

In this episode, my guest Omar Mohamed shares his immigrant story. Omar Mohamed is on a mission to inspire and guide immigrants and minorities to achieve "The American Dream." Omar is a 29 yrs old Immigrant who is born in Cairo, Egypt. He came to the USA at the age of 20, leaving family, friends, college, and everything behind to chase the American dream. Omar's immigration journey is proof of hard work, discipline, and power of purpose. Omar was in America for 7 years before he could fly back home to reunite with his family again. Omar is a self-made entrepreneur, coach, and real estate investor, who is building his investment portfolio in rental properties and growing his business while working his full-time job. Omar had started with no money, no credit, and no degree, but he quickly surpassed lots of people with more leverage and more resources because of his purpose and determination. He owns 2 businesses and is working on his first book and online education platforms. Omar is very passionate about helping immigrants and minorities achieve financial freedom by investing in real estate even if they have no money, as he is a living example and an inspiration to many people. In this episode, Omar and I discussed:           His personal and family background         How he came here to the US         His profession in real estate         Life in Egypt, culture and customs         Importance of immigrant communities            Education never stops – the importance of continuing education for self-development.         Instant vs. delayed gratification         How he assimilated to US culture as a new immigrant         Opportunities came along that helped him get on his feet and start building          Importance of having the grit, passion, and drive to achieve your goals         Advice he'd give to immigrants (dos and don'ts)  As shared in this episode, you can check out Dr. Carol Dweck's book, Mindset: The New Psychology of Success HERE. Connect with Omar Mohamed here:  Website: https://omarmohamed.org/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mr.propertyo Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mr.propertylive/ YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@Omar-Mohamed.   Let's Connect! Email: theimmigrantexperiencebtyad@gmail.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/The-Immigrant-Experience-In-America-103525698906957 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/simonewjohnson Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theimmigrantexperiencepodcast/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@theimmigrantexperience Check out the previous episodes of The Immigrant Experience in America here: http://thedreamacademy.us/podcast/ If you are interested in coaching sessions, contact the host at 240-232-5579 or theimmigrantexperiencebtyad@gmail.com

In this episode, my guest Rosalee Keech shares her expertise on trafficking in persons. Rosalee Keech is currently serving as United Nations Observer for ECPAT/USA. She previously served as Chief Observer to the United Nations for the League of Women Voters of the United States (2011-2021). She is continuing her work at the United Nations, focusing on ending human trafficking by bankrupting its illicit profiteering, increasing women's leadership and participation in democratic political processes and human rights, and preventing violence against all women and girls. Rosalee Keech also serves as President of the committee to Stop Trafficking in Persons, Inc. (a coalition of non-governmental organizations accredited at the United Nations), member of the New Jersey Attorney General's Human Trafficking Task Force, and chair of its Outreach and Awareness as well as its Business & Industry Advisory Committees. Additionally, she is a member of the Board of Directors at the Jewish Home at Rockleighand Home@Home. Her previous roles included Executive Secretary and Board of Directors for the Jersey City Employment and Training Program, Inc. (2019-2020), advisor to the International Center for Abuse Prevention (2018-2020), Board of Directors for the League of Women Voters of the United States (2014-2016) and were a governor appointee to the NJ Board of Professional Planners (2002-2017). Ms. Keech is a retired Information Officer and graduated from Rutgers University with a BA in Economics and Education and an MBA in Finance from New York University. In this episode, Rosalee and I discussed: Her professional background and what inspires her to advocate to stop human trafficking. Raising awareness and advocacy to stop human trafficking How to combat human trafficking from a business point of view Different approaches to battle human trafficking Statistics of people in forced labor and human trafficking Working to resolve the root cause of human trafficking How the supply and demand of human trafficking work How we may be fueling human trafficking unknowingly Strengthening the policies that are effective in stopping human trafficking What we can do to prevent ourselves from being trafficked, and simple ways we can do to help curb trafficking Organizations that rank the ability of the manufacturers to be a slave-free process. How to report suspected human trafficking *Correction on 41:21: Guest mentioned free trade but meant "fair" trade. Connect with Rosalee Keech here:  LinkedIn:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/rosalee-k-32b78948/ Website: https://lwvma.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/Rosalee-Keech-bioREV1.pdf   Let's Connect! Email: theimmigrantexperiencebtyad@gmail.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/The-Immigrant-Experience-In-America-103525698906957 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/simonewjohnson Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theimmigrantexperiencepodcast/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@theimmigrantexperience Check out the previous episodes of The Immigrant Experience in America here: http://thedreamacademy.us/podcast/ If you are interested in coaching sessions, contact the host at 240-232-5579 or theimmigrantexperiencebtyad@gmail.com

In this episode, my guest Dr. Reginald Frection shares his immigrant story and expertise on the issue of trafficking in persons. Dr. Reginald Frection (Regi) is a passionate social justice advocate with a unique background as a law enforcement professional and academic expertise and hands-on experience in human rights, labor rights, law, and socio/legal research, theory, and analysis. Dr. Frection has worked on diverse projects, from building and delivering training on Human Rights and Human Trafficking to IT integration for state and local governments and law enforcement agencies. Most recently, he worked for HELP, a non-profit organization in Hong Kong dedicated to helping migrant domestic workers subjected to labor rights violations and human trafficking receive equal treatment under the law. He has hands-on experience working with migrant workers and profound academic knowledge of international human rights law with an emphasis on forced labor and human trafficking. His study of the experience of migrant workers in Hong Kong and the government's obligations to protect vulnerable groups was the subject of his doctoral thesis. He is also a graduate of the International Labor Organization's resident training on Human Trafficking and Investigating Human Trafficking in the Supply Chain. Before founding Ares, Dr. Frection was the CEO of CNI, a program manager for ARINC working with law enforcement agencies, a detective and community policing sergeant for the Prince George's County Police Department, and a soldier in the US Army. He earned his Ph.D. Human Rights Law at the University of York, UK, has an MS in Management & Leadership from The Johns Hopkins University (Police Executive Leadership Program) and a BSc in Criminal Justice from Bowie State University.   In this episode, Dr. Frection and I discussed: His family background and home country Life back in Trinidad and its culture Signing up in the army and eventually the law enforcement  The story of how he got to live in Hong Kong, which led him to pursue Human Rights Law The founding of Ares Human Rights International The issue of international human trafficking The inhumane conditions and challenges faced by migrant workers  The current situation in the US about human trafficking The different facets of human trafficking and its different purposes (sex trade, organ harvesting, labor, etcetera) Insights on how we can improve our laws and legal policies to address trafficking Living in different countries and experiencing different cultures Some advice to make sure you do not become a victim of human trafficking   Connect with Dr. Frection here:  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rfrection Website: https://aresint.org/   Let's Connect! Email: theimmigrantexperiencebtyad@gmail.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/The-Immigrant-Experience-In-America-103525698906957 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/simonewjohnson Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theimmigrantexperiencepodcast/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@theimmigrantexperience Check out the previous episodes of The Immigrant Experience in America here: http://thedreamacademy.us/podcast/ If you are interested in coaching sessions, contact the host at 240-232-5579 or theimmigrantexperiencebtyad@gmail.com

In this episode, my guest Emily Francis shares her immigrant story. Astrid Emily Francis is an English as a Second Language teacher at Concord High School in Concord, North Carolina. She serves students in 9th-12th grade with various English proficiency levels. Emily's experience as an English Language Learner inspired her to become an ESL teacher and afforded her a deep understanding of the challenges her students must overcome to succeed. She earned a BA in Spanish and a MAT in ESL from UNC-Charlotte. She serves as a professional development facilitator, motivational speaker, and Keynote. Emily is an executive board member of the Carolinas TESOL. Emily is the author of the book If You Only Knew: Letters from an Immigrant Teacher. As a leader, Emily inspires students to dream more, learn more, do more, and become more.   In this episode, Emily and I discussed: Her story of how she got to the US What was life like taking care of her siblings while her mom lived in the US to work first The circumstances of how she arrived in the US with no formal documents The dangers and risks of her story on how she entered the US as an undocumented immigrant How she uses her life story to teach and connect with other people, particularly her students The challenges and opportunities she had made her the person she is today   Connect with Emily Francis here:  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mrsemilyfrancis/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/emilyfranesl Blog: https://inspiringenglishlanguagelearners.weebly.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mrs.francisesl/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCgOlIRSJwj4rgxtFNj5BR7Q?app=desktop You can check out her book, If You Only Knew: Letters from an Immigrant Teacher HERE.   Let's Connect! Email: theimmigrantexperiencebtyad@gmail.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/The-Immigrant-Experience-In-America-103525698906957 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/simonewjohnson Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theimmigrantexperiencepodcast/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@theimmigrantexperience Check out the previous episodes of The Immigrant Experience in America here: http://thedreamacademy.us/podcast/ If you are interested in coaching sessions, contact the host at 240-232-5579 or theimmigrantexperiencebtyad@gmail.com