Two Chairs

In this episode of Two Chairs, host Ophelia sits down with Maysa — a career advisor at YWCA and a Palestinian-Canadian immigrant — to talk about the real challenges newcomers face when entering the Canadian job market.Maysa shares her own story of arriving in Canada at 17, struggling to break into the workforce, and eventually leaving for Dubai before returning years later with a renewed sense of purpose. Now she helps self-identified women, refugees, and newcomers build the skills and confidence they need to succeed.

In this episode, I interviews Sana about navigating maternity leave with two children and feeling in “survival mode” while breastfeeding and caring for a four-year-old who became more independent. Sana explains how taking up crochet during long feeds helped her feel productive and learn a new skill, while they also discuss the pressure to always be doing more and the value of meditation and self-care. The conversation covers parenting as a nonstop full-time job, why maternity leave should be a right, and contrasts between Canada’s paid leave and limited unpaid leave in the U.S., plus concerns about daycare affecting child anxiety and behavior. Sana also shares her immigrant background from Pakistan, career impacts of back-to-back leaves and telling a new employer she was pregnant, her positive birth experiences and her ongoing postpartum depression tied to breastfeeding and lack of support. 00:02 Welcome to Two Chairs 00:21 Two Kids Survival Mode 02:15 Crochet as Self Care 04:32 Always Doing More 05:50 Parenting Is Full Time 06:54 Maternity Leave as a Right 09:34 Daycare and Child Anxiety 11:53 Unpredictable Sleep and Crying 13:27 Immigrating and Schooling 15:09 Maternity Leave Career Impact 16:25 Telling Work You're Pregnant 17:56 Keeping Kids Busy 18:51 Birth Hospital Experiences 24:02 Prenatal Care in Canada 25:50 Postpartum Depression Reality 

"Don't let life control you. You control your life."In this episode of Two Chairs, I sit down with a former colleague who defines what it means to be a true "action taker." Having moved to Canada with zero professional background, he built a successful career from the ground up—starting in the shoe department at Hudson’s Bay, moving into luxury retail at Coach, and eventually pivoting into the medical-optical industry as a manager at LensCrafters.We dive deep into the strategic moves that fueled his rapid growth and the mindset required to thrive in a new environment. Whether you are an introvert looking to expand your comfort zone or a professional aiming for a management role, this conversation offers practical "insider" knowledge you won't find on a job board.In this episode, we discuss:The Power of In-Person Networking: Why hiring fairs at the Vancouver Convention Center are the ultimate "shortcut" to landing big-brand offers."Fake It Till You Make It": How projecting confidence can help you overcome the "imperfect English" barrier and bridge professional gaps.The "Undercover" Job Hunt: A unique strategy for visiting stores and talking to associates to gain a competitive edge before your interview.Pivoting Industries: The transition from fast fashion to the medical-optical world, and how to translate "managerial skills" across different sectors.Balancing Ambition and Family: Maintaining deep connections with parents back home while navigating the fast-paced life of a Canadian professional.Join us for a grounded, authentic conversation about taking back the steering wheel of your life.

What does it really mean to keep your life your own? In this debut episode of Two Chairs, I'm sitting down with my dear friend and colleague, Enissa. She has mastered a kind of balance that so many of us strive for: being a devoted single muon, a proud homeowner, and a professional who navigates the complexities of a new culture grace. We explore what it takes to define life on your own terms, the art of maintaining genuine connections, and why bing "ordinary" in a social setting doesn't mean you aren't living a marvellous story.