RBC Newcomer Advisors

Hyelnaya Wuranti

Why do I love my job?

It is always a pleasure when I can contribute to the wellbeing of others. As a newcomer myself, I am aware of the systematic and cultural struggles of integrating to a foreign setting. By utilizing the offers, promotions, and resources at my disposal, I am fortunate to be in a position of influence where my actions can have a positive impact on clients and their quality of life.

One of your many success stories:

For me, a success story involves more than just doing my job well and efficiently; it also involves being present at every stage of life. I could name a number of clients who I have aided by modelling the proper behaviors and characteristics, but I consider myself to have achieved success most often when I see a previous client who I have assisted mature, settle, get a job, get married, buy a new house, buy a new car, etc. My happiness is typically derived from witnessing their success, which in turn indirectly contributes to my own success.

Sara Geday

Why do I love my job?

Finance is a big part of life in Canada, and if not understood properly, it can seriously derail your plans. One thing I realize is that if I had someone to guide me in my own journey when I arrived in Canada, and someone to talk to about the little things, I would have avoided a lot of financial mistakes, and I want to be that person for them. I'm glad I'm in a position to share my knowledge, offer advice, and encourage others to avoid making the same mistakes I did by learning from my mistakes.

One of your many success stories:

I made it a point when I joined RBC that I wanted to do more, so, even before becoming a newcomer champion, I have already ingrained in my routines the act of providing services beyond banking. I've had the chance to work with clients who moved to Canada recently, and by recently, I mean literally the day they arrived. As newcomers, they had no idea how the country's financial system operated, and I watched them progress from that point to making a home purchase in just two years. I became a part of their story because I gave them the right advise, products, services, and even direction in professional advancement in their careers, and in that instant, the thrill I feel when a client returns to share their testimonies, to me, that is success.

Regis Augusto

Why do I love my job?

Being part of the Newcomers team gives me the opportunity to help those who have started a new chapter in their lives. As an immigrant myself, I know how important it is when you have someone supporting on your first steps and giving assistance during this transition. I also enjoy learning from clients about their own life experience and amazing stories from their country and culture.

One of your many success stories:

My first contact with newcomers is usually during the account opening meeting. For most of them I can see they are anxious about having to deal with their finances in a different country with a language other than their own. For each of them, I always take the time to ensure they understand what I am saying and are feeling comfortable. The success comes when at the end of the appointment I see the big smile on their face knowing that a big step was made on their new journey in Canada.

Folake Okusanya

Why do you love your job?

“Newcomers to Canada have left everything at a previous home country to start life afresh. Many of them have moved from known to the unknown and are faced with the great fear of uncertainty. I love being instrumental to allaying their fears and helping them settle and integrate faster. Being their settlement buddy and a shoulder to lean on as they navigate the waters of starting an entirely new life in Canada is my way of paying it forward. I truly love and enjoy the fulfilment that comes from making a difference and there is nothing more rewarding than hearing Newcomer settlement success stories as a result of the useful advice provided.”

One of your many success stories:

“My team and I met with a newcomer who had difficulty understanding his utility bills due to language barriers. He approached us with 2 utility bills explaining in his limited English that he received 2 utility bills from 2 different providers and needed to know why. He had paid both providers the previous month when he first received the 2 bills because he was scared of getting into trouble with late payments. We enquired more to know which provider he was currently using and he confirmed. Apparently, the newcomer stopped using the first provider and never called them to cancel his subscription due to lack of information. Therefore, we contacted the said old provider to explain the situation to them as the newcomer was not aware that he needed to cancel the subscription. The provider was gracious enough to give the newcomer a huge discount on that bill and cancelled the subscription. This newcomer was extremely grateful that the mystery was solved.”

Wanzi Silva

Why do you love your job?

“I moved to Canada 3 years ago from Sri Lanka and I had the wonderful opportunity of receiving Banking and Beyond Banking Services from RBC which helped me with my employment and settlement journey in Canada. In fact I was one of the first to be hired into this team.
Having gone through the struggles of a newcomer myself, I understand the importance of getting to know the right resources available at an early stage. I love what I do, because it’s my passion to pay it forward to fellow newcomers to overcome barriers and set them up for success!”

One of your many success stories:

“Given the pandemic situation, people who got hired recently were the first to be laid off in most organizations. One of our newcomer clients who went through a similar situation reached out to share the sad story. He had landed to Canada few months ago and was in a crisis after losing his job. In discussion he mentioned that he always wanted to be a Banker but thought it’s never a possibility as he didn’t have relevant banking experience.
The client didn’t know that he could leverage his transferable skills to apply for a job of his choice in Canada. We helped him discover his own true potential and shared success stories of newcomers who transitioned into different roles. We connected him to our Community partners to get support in preparing a customized resume and help with preparing for interviews. Today he is a successful Banker and a proud RBCer.”

Nazanin Akhavan-Khaleghi

Why do you love your job?

“I joined the team summer of 2020. As soon as I started, I realized I had found my dream job because there is a great joy in being supportive and helping those in need. Helping newcomers makes me feel rewarded, fulfilled and empowered.
This team is driven by creating value for our clients and our communities in a changing world and I’m so fortunate to be a part of it. We’re working closely with Access Employment and other external and internal partners and this allows us to help newcomers navigate every step of their journey and make a positive difference in our community.”

One of your many success stories:

“Our mission is to help our clients with their banking and non-banking needs. Some of the clients that we are helping are professionals that are specialized in a specific field. These clients are typically looking to apply for jobs in their own fields and we are looking for the opportunities to help them.
I recently had the pleasure to virtually meet one of our clients who reached out to me through LinkedIn. She was a dentist and planning to requalify her degree in Canada. She didn’t have any connections in Canada for mentoring her. So, I connected her to one of my existing clients who had experienced the same challenge and currently has an established dental clinic. This introduction not only led her to receive advice and guidance on the path of requalifying her degree, but also gave her the volunteering job opportunity. She was also looking to buy a property and needed some guidance on how to apply for a mortgage, so I connected her to the right partners that worked with healthcare professionals to provide her with advice. This was a rewarding experience which encouraged me help newcomers to find their path of life in Canada.”

Denys Smushko

Why do you love your job?

“I take pride in bringing people together by creating an inclusive and welcoming environment, where everyone can be their best self. Together with my teammates at RBC Meeting Place we support the newcomer community by improving financial and digital literacy; connecting newcomers to our network of Immigrant Agencies, which provide settlement services, career advice, and community connections. I believe this approach gives newcomers to Canada a head start in their new journey; and enables them to be their best selves with their families, coworkers and our community.”

One of your many success stories:

“About 2 years ago, I had a pleasure to host a financial literacy workshop, “Credit Fundamentals” at CCIS – Calgary New Chapter. Credit is a very important topic for newcomers, thus a Q&A session was very active. We ran out of time, so I offered everyone to connect with me one-on-one after the workshop. An individual, who had just arrived from Nigeria, was one of the first people to connect with me. We arranged a meeting, where the discussion went well beyond banking. He shared his personal journey with me and his desire to build a career in Finance. Without hesitation I introduced him to an RBC manager in Calgary and within a few weeks he had joined the RBC family. It also marked his 3rd month in Canada and he shared with me later that he had never expected to start his career so quickly. In 2 years with RBC, he became an Investment Advisor, and my dear friend, who always shares his positive energy and inspiration.”

Tasnova Ridma

Why do you love your job?

“As a Newcomer, I came to Canada with dreams and goals accompanied by fear and nervousness. This job gives me the opportunity to help newcomers like me, and all others with different ambitions and visions. Newcomers, who move into a new country to establish a new life, demonstrates determination and courage. To support and help these newcomers take the first step towards settling and achieving the future they want is fulfilling, as well empowering and motivating. I thrive to help people and our community and this job makes it happen every day.

Working with community organizations and partners, my team and I are committed providing the most warm-welcoming, supportive and informative environment to our newcomers and assure them that we have their back.”

One of your many success stories:

“One of the many challenges Newcomers face is the unknown - not knowing what to do or where to go to find out what to do; and a perfect example of that is although mostly all counties in the world have banking, but the processes and systems vary from region to region. To help and educate client on this sector, we often demonstrate RBC ARRIVE Website to client, showing them the resources available created just for them. And almost all newcomers are surprised and thrilled learning about it. A newcomers who has been in Canada for a couple of years once stated “I wish I knew about this when I arrived – this would have given me answers to most of my stress and worry”. Having that trusted source of information and support makes a difference and being that source for the clients is our purpose.”

Liliane Saad

Why do you love your job?

“I love my job because it gives me motivation and a purpose in my every-day life. I can deliver digitally-enabled differentiated client experiences focused on advice, value, and client outcomes.”

One of your many success stories:

“I had a newcomer that I’ve been helping with his banking by providing the right advice, encouraging him to learn the language, and seek a job in his trade so he can utilize his passion and experience from back home.”

Once he improved his language skills and became financially stable, I encouraged him to start saving for a down payment for his first home. Two years ago, when he bought his first house, he immediately called me crying to thank me and said: “I wanted to call you to thank you and the mortgage specialist for helping me in buying my house, you don’t know the impact this has made on myself and my family. Now I am able to also help my brother settle so he can save to buy his own house.”

In his culture, it is unusual to see men cry. He was crying, but they were tears of joy. All of our help and advice really made a phenomenal difference in his life. He also became an inspiration for other people in his community –like his brother and friends. He showed them that they too can learn the language, find a job, create and accomplish their own goals in life. It is moments like these that I never forget and they keep me going every day.

Shorouq Alkayyali

Why do you love your job?

“I came to Canada 20 years ago, with high expectations. My story is no different than any other newcomer's. Having gone through the journey myself, I find joy and purpose In giving back to the community because I understand the stress points that come with being a newcomer, and I am able to provide one-to-one advice as well as deliver engaging seminars and workshops on everything from managing finances to career advice. I’m honored to be a trusted partner to many newcomers along their settlement journey with the ability to connect them to our wide network of partners and extensive resources.”

The best part of my job is that I don’t feel I’m at work, but, I make a life by what I do.

One of your many success stories:

When meeting with a newcomer to open his first account and discuss his migrating journey, the client expressed his difficulty finding a job, struggling to the point he can’t meet his family’s day to day expenses and needs.

After we opened the account, issued the credit card and equipped him with all tools and resources for his banking needs, we booked him for a mentorship appointment. We helped him update his resume to better align with Canadian standards, and gave the client tips about networking techniques to approach the job market. In four months, not only did the client get his first job in Canada but also kindly brought us handmade treats for the support we provided to express his gratitude for our support.

Alice Xie

Why do you love your job?

After pursuing my studies in France as a Chinese immigrant, I decided to move to Montreal to start a new chapter in my life and quickly became a newcomer all over again like many newcomers. I had no prior experience in the world of finance, however an opportunity to work at RBC was presented to me by the advisor who helped me open my first account! There is an incredible openness that exists in Quebec and the rest of Canada, and I am so grateful for how I was welcomed and for finally having the sense of belonging that I was searching for. I continue to share my story with all the newcomers whom I have met in order to provide inspiration and encouragement so that they too can see that living their lives in a diverse and inclusive society and finding their own sense of belonging in this country is possible.”

One of your many success stories:

Kateryna Chaura, a Newcomer Specialist who is part of our team, has been regularly facilitating the integration of newcomers from the Ukrainian community by being present and sharing information through seminars she leads. Recently during a presentation, rather than following the traditional format of presenting, Kateryna set up a question-and-answer session to answer any questions that the Ukrainian newcomers may have for the entire hour and a half. This made it possible for these sessions to be even more interactive and effective by answering specific questions and concerns which were top of mind.

Understanding the specific needs of each newcomer and supporting them with empathy is our priority. By leading a team of exceptional advisors who have also lived the newcomer journey and by leveraging our life and career experience, our goal is to continue making a difference and to continue supporting all communities in collaboration with all my partners and newcomer organizations.

Mehulkumar Mochi, Winnipeg

Why do you love your job?

“I truly enjoy helping people when they need help. With this role, I enjoy every opportunity to make the settlement journey easier for someone else. I always look forward to assisting clients with their financial needs. I also feel that sharing information and advice beyond banking is a wonderful thing. It makes me feel great when I can share something that benefits others on their path.”

One of your many success stories:

“I had the pleasure to serve a Nigerian family of four who arrived in Canada only a few days before. I helped them with their banking needs, and, after that, I showed them how to look for an apartment and guided them on how to apply for the CRA GST credit and Child Tax Benefits online. I showed them how to use the Winnipeg Transit app and access a less expensive transit pass specifically for newcomers. I showed them how to apply for their Social Insurance Number and provided information on accessing a health card. I spoke to them also about home internet and cellphone services. It felt truly rewarding to be able to assist this family with meaningful and timely advice. These are just some of the many ways we can go beyond banking with the advice we give.”

Victor Amadin, Saskatoon

Why do you love your job?

“It is giving me the opportunity to give back all I have learned as a newcomer - from the resources to the information that I might have benefited from when I first arrived in Canada. I love this role because it showcases RBC’s values of diversity and inclusion in action. Newcomers, with a lot of expectations, have left a great deal behind and I want to help them fulfill those expectations.”

One of your many success stories:

“A couple years ago, I remember welcoming a family to RBC in Saskatoon who had emigrated from Nigeria. As a new client, I was able to see them progress from their early days to eventually moving into their own home. Throughout their journey, I was available to support them with advice on banking and navigating life in Canada. Today, they take every opportunity to introduce me to friends and other newcomers as both their banker and their friend. I feel so proud because I was able to be there for this family while watching them establish themselves here in Canada as they made this their new home.”

Mohamed Saleh, Regina

Why do you love your job?

“I feel so excited to be able to help newcomers through RBC. What I look forward the most is adding real value through meaningful support and then watching them grow both with RBC and in their community. When I think back on my experiences, I think about what I would have benefited from and am now able to pay that forward to others to make their experiences a little easier.”

One of your many success stories:

“I met with an international student just after they arrived in Canada. The client did not have friends or relatives living here, which is common among many new to Canada individuals. When it came to financial advice, I chose to first speak about fraud and how to protect themselves. Newcomers just learning the culture can be a target for fraudsters and scams. I spoke about how we can recognize these and protect ourselves. A week later, our client called me to ask my opinion about a job offer she received along with a cheque as an initial deposit for the job. The client suspected that perhaps this was similar to the scams I spoke to her about. We walked through the job offer and concluded it was in fact a scam. This saved her from what could have been an unfortunate and difficult situation. Because the job was posted on the university careers website, I encouraged her to inform the University so as to protect others from similar situations. My client still remembers this experience and tells others about it. It is a pleasure to not help guide newcomers as they resettle in Canada, it is a pleasure to protect them as well. At RBC, we are proud to be our clients’ trusted advisors.”