EP 2: The Syrian Refugee Who Built a Chocolate Empire

What do you do when you lose everything and have to rebuild your life in a new country?In this episode of The Chair, Tareq Hadhad shares his family's journey from Syria to Canada after war forced them to leave everything behind. From rebuilding a chocolate business in Nova Scotia to redefining what home means, this conversation explores resilience, grief, identity, and hope.In this conversation:• Why healing starts with accepting reality• How family, faith, and community help us navigate loss• What trauma can teach us about kindness and belonging• Why home can become more than a placeHere’s what you’re in for:00:00 Welcome to the Show00:12 Why This Conversation Matters01:16 Syria Roots and the Chocolate Business03:10 War, Bombing, and Becoming Refugees06:34 Rebuilding Through Hope and Family12:26 Finding Hope When You're Alone18:11 Accepting Where You Are to Move Forward20:56 Being Celebrated as a Refugee22:31 The Kindness of a Small Town in Nova Scotia24:06 Turning Survival Into a Way to Serve Others26:19 Finding Kindness After Trauma26:55 What You Carry That Nobody Sees29:25 Healing Through Memories31:40 Redefining What Home Means36:12 Identity, Faith, and Belonging40:40 Why Canada Felt Like Peace44:54 Keep Showing Up49:39 Final Thanks and How to Connect With TareqABOUT TAREQ HADHADTareq Hadhad is the founder and CEO of Peace by Chocolate, a Syrian-Canadian entrepreneur, and public speaker. After losing his family’s chocolate business during the war in Syria, Tareq and his family rebuilt their lives in Nova Scotia, turning their story of displacement into one of resilience, community, and hope. Their journey was later highlighted by Justin Trudeau in a global speech and became the subject of the bestselling book and feature film Peace by Chocolate, while Tareq continues to share messages of resilience, entrepreneurship, and giving back on stages around the world. You can reach out to Tareq through:LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/tareqhadhad/ Website: https://www.tareqhadhad.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tareqhadhad/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/peacebychocolate/ ABOUT JIDE LADIPO-AJAYI Jide Ladipo Ajayi is a transformational leader and host of The Chair, a podcast about resilience, leadership, and the moments that redefine us. Through thoughtful and honest conversations, he explores the human stories behind success, adversity, and personal growth. Drawing from years of experience leading change and developing people. Jide brings curiosity, empathy, and insight to conversations that inspire reflection and growth. You can reach out to Jide through:Website: https://www.thechairmedia.com ABOUT THE CHAIRThe Chair is where real conversations happen.Not the highlight reel. Not the polished version of success. The moments that actually changed everything — the ones that shaped who we are when no one is watching.Hosted by Jide Ladipo-Ajayi, while still recovering from brain surgery, The Chair was never about content. It was about necessity. About finding meaning in the hardest moments and creating a space where others could do the same.Every guest who sits in The Chair comes with a story worth hearing. No pressure to perform. No script. Just honest conversation with real depth.Because the stories that change us are rarely the ones we planned to tell.Listen. Reflect. Be changed.To know more about The Chair you can visit the links below:YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@thechairmedia Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0s0Vudb8QRMbXp9fOgSJiiFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61576450270469#Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thechairmedia/Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thechairmediaX: https://x.com/thechairmediaApple:https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-chair-where-truth-sits/id1896831890?i=1000770001722