EP270 Aisha Umar COO Hospitality Newfoundland and Labradaor

Send us Fan MailIn this inspiring episode of Gale Force Wins, we sit down with Aisha Umar, the newly appointed Chief Operating Officer of Hospitality Newfoundland and Labrador. Originally from Nigeria, Aisha shares her remarkable journey through Kentucky to St. John’s, where she found both a community and a calling. We explore her academic background, love for social enterprise, and deep commitment to community-driven work. Aisha opens up about overcoming cultural challenges, building a life in Newfoundland, and stepping into leadership with purpose and passion. This is a story of bold moves, big impact, and the power of belonging.Timestamps – Aisha Umar | Hospitality NL00:00 – Welcome to Gale Force Wins Season 500:50 – Meet Aisha Umar, COO of Hospitality NL01:17 – From Nigeria to Kentucky to Newfoundland02:35 – First impressions & surviving Snowmageddon04:08 – Growing up in Nigeria: family, values, and early life06:00 – Business lessons from mom & dad08:51 – Academic journey: degrees in accounting & finance12:00 – Culture shock & adapting to Kentucky14:39 – Discovering Memorial University’s MBA in Social Enterprise20:00 – Moving to Newfoundland for education and staying for community24:25 – Snowmageddon: the turning point26:00 – Small cohort, big support at MUN28:30 – Career path: nonprofit work & government roles30:30 – The value of mentorship33:10 – Embracing Newfoundland’s hospitality & giving back34:50 – New role as COO of Hospitality Newfoundland and Labrador36:04 – Representation, responsibility, and love for tourism39:04 – Vision for supporting the province’s tourism industry42:01 – A rising tide: collaboration and optimism44:00 – What excites her most about the road ahead46:05 – Final advice: “Do it even if you are afraid. Enjoy the ride.”Gale Force Wins started out simply as an inspirational podcast releasing episodes wherever you get your podcasts every Tuesday evening. We continue to do that every Tuesday but have expanded into custom content for clients. We also have perfected a conference and trade show offering where you can receive over 20 videos edited and posted to social media at the same time the event is unfolding.For businesses and organizations we also create digital content quickly and efficiently.Visit our services page here:https://galeforcewins.com/servicesTo message Gerry visit: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gerrycarew/To message Allan visit: https://www.linkedin.com/in/allanadale/