Generation1.ca was proud to be recognized as an industry community partner at the Royal Ontario Museum for the Scale Without Borders Immigrants in Tech Summit, as we took over Canada’s largest museum that boasts over 1 million visitors each year. Below are some highlights from the conference that we attended with our team of interns Ishika Anil Varma, Jasneet Chahal Kaur and Meera Patel on our VIP guest tickets.
MAIN STAGE KEYNOTES
Marilyn Anderson, Senior Vice President, Ontario Market, Desjardins
Nichola Anderson, Manager of Workforce Development, Lighthouse Labs
Nouhaila Chelkhaoui, Founder & CEO, Scale Without Borders
Key themes explored were innovation and technology, productivity gap, immigrant integration, SMEs, and the growing need for immigrants owed to Canada’s aging population, and corresponding need for matchmakers that can help bridge the gap between immigrants, newcomers and the job market. Lighthouse Labs’ ICT boost initiative is just one example of how immigrant inclusivity and easy access to the market is enhanced, making the difficult and long visa application process easy while lessening the struggles to find full information on government websites.
INVESTING IN THE GLOBAL DIASPORA
Olusola Amusan, Artificial Intelligence Evangelist, Vesti
Sunil Sharma, Managing Director, Techstars Toronto
Their talk about investing in the global diaspora was very engaging. Learning about Olusola’s
work with Vesti, a financial technology software that helps in smooth transition of
immigrants from all over the world to North America and Europe with education and work
was very inspiring. He talked about how people from all over the world are eager to come to
Canada and North American countries given the right opportunities. He also talked about
the human and economic capital they bring to their adopted countries and that their home
countries are booming with talent that are eager for a platform to shine on. These are topics that Generation1.ca has been passionate about since inception and is evident through the founder’s work and leadership and in her articles and forthcoming book.
IMMIGRANTS IN DEV
James Habuh, Fullstack Software Developer
Kavita Sunku, Senior Engineer, PointClickCare
Sisa Lleses, Founder, Pop App Shop
The main takeaway from this panel talk was the power of networking and reaching out to as
many people as possible. They also highlighted the importance of refining and readjusting
one’s skills according to Canada’s (and North America’s) job market and researching jobs, companies and one’s options thoroughly.
IMMIGRANT WOMEN IN TECH
Danielle Graham, Co-founder, Firehood
Deepa Nair, Engineering Manager, PointClickCare
Fatima Zaidi, Founder & CEO, Quill Inc.
Tania Salazar, Customer Engineer for Google Cloud Canada, Google
The panel discussion about immigrant women in tech brought diverse perspectives and
experiences, contributing to a more diverse and inclusive tech industry. They discussed the
unique challenges and barriers immigrant women encounter in the tech sector, including
language barriers, cultural differences, and visa-related issues. They talked about importance of mentorship and support networks, intersectional challenges such as gender bias and racial
discrimination.
The panel presented compelling statistics and stories about immigrant women founders, showcasing their initiatives in establishing tech companies and introducing innovative concepts. The discussions delved into the challenges faced by immigrant women in tech and underscored the importance of providing support for their success. The data presented underscored the significance of diverse teams in fostering the generation of novel and creative ideas.
For instance, McKinsey’s 2019 analysis revealed that companies in the top quartile of gender diversity on executive teams were 25 percent more likely to experience above-average profitability than peer companies in the fourth quartile. Additionally, regarding ethnic and cultural diversity, companies in the top quartile outperformed those in the fourth by 36 percent in terms of profitability in 2019. These statistics highlight the positive impact of embracing diversity, particularly in supporting immigrant women, on the development of innovative solutions within technology.
The tech industry is undergoing substantial changes for immigrants, with a strong emphasis on diversity and inclusion. Tech companies are actively seeking immigrants for their diverse skills and perspectives, aligning with a global trend in talent recruitment. Immigrants play a pivotal role in tech entrepreneurship, driving innovation and launching startups. To facilitate entry into the workforce, specialized tech-focused education programs are emerging, and the rise of remote work is creating global opportunities for immigrants. Persistent advocacy for visa reforms aims to simplify entry and retention processes for skilled immigrant tech professionals. The growth of supportive communities, networking groups, and industry partnerships offers mentorship and outreach for immigrants navigating the tech sector. Among the trends discussed were the impact of remote work on global opportunities for immigrants and the ongoing advocacy for visa reforms for entrepreneurs and tech start-ups specifically. The cybersecurity lounge, especially, was a gratifying place for participants to engage with other tech enthusiasts.
The conference overall aligns with Generation1.ca’s mission of supporting newcomers in Canada and North America, shedding light on both inspiring stories and the challenges faced by immigrant women founders embarking on innovative tech ventures. The narratives revealed the resilience and determination of these women as they navigated obstacles such as limited access to resources, cultural differences, and gender biases. Conversations emphasized the importance of supportive networks and underscored the proven benefits of diverse teams in overcoming challenges and fostering innovation. Participating in the cybersecurity lounge not only facilitated connections with tech professionals but also highlighted challenges within the industry, aligning with generation1’s mission to position immigrants at the forefront of global data and insights innovation. The summit provided a robust platform to share impactful stories, address critical challenges, and forge meaningful connections, embodying the essence of Generation1.ca’s work and areas of impact.
The Immigrants in Tech Summit was instrumental in showcasing the remarkable contributions of immigrants and immigrant women in the tech sector. The strategic use of data to tell stories added a powerful dimension to the event and provided an opportunity to engage in meaningful discussions and establish connections. Being part of the conference was particularly rewarding for Generation1.ca in contributing to the expansion of participants’ and interns’ networks and deepening the public’s understanding of technology related ventures and supports for newcomers that further amplified the work and presence of Generation1.ca at this unique forum.
