Toast to Success 2020

Message from our Chair On behalf of the Canadian Tamil Professionals Association, I am excited to welcome you to our inaugural Toast to Success webinar.

CTPA’s 12th year of operation has seen the team navigate unprecedented times. The impact on our narrative in both a professional and personal capacity has forced us to critically evaluate our next steps. Identifying the tools and resources that CTPA could provide in navigating these changes were an important driver as we adapted our conversations to online mediums. These challenging times have reiterated that change is constant and our ability to adapt will determine our journey.

Today’s conversation is an example of what can come when one embraces the unexpected. I hope in this conversation you are able to find the inspiration and courage to continue your journey. To all the professionals who are helping us navigate the battle: thank you! Amongst all this chaos, let’s celebrate the small successes and toast to the journey that got us here and the one that awaits.

- THANUSHA THARMAKULASINGAM

thank you ,

TO OUR ANNUAL SPONSORS Learn about the annual sponsors of Canadian Tamil Professionals Association at www.tamilprofessional.ca/sponsorships. It is with their generous contributions and support that we bring forward remarkable experiences and opportunities.

PLATINUM SPONSORS

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MESSAGE FROM CHAIR & SPONSOR THANK YOU ABOUT US 2020 BOARD OF DIRECTORS CTPA OVER THE YEARS #BACK2WORK KEYNOTE FEATURE: CHANDRIKA TANDON VOLUNTEER TESTIMONIALS JOB SEEKING/DEVELOPMENT IN UNPRECEDENTED TIMES PAALAM MENTORSHIP TOAST TO SUCCESS AWARD WINNERS SUCCESS 2.0.2.0 #IAMATAMILPROFESSIONAL

UPCOMING EVENTS

FALL 2020

PAALAM WEBINAR WEDNESDAYS

NETWORKING, PERSONAL BRANDING AND ELEVATOR PITCHING

CONSTRUCTION/TRADES WORKSHOP INDUSTRY WORKSHOP (TBD)

WINTER 2021

FUNDRAISING EVENT (TBD) TAMIL HERITAGE MONTH MIXER

VISIT US AT WWW.TAMILPROFESSIONAL.CA/EVENTS TO STAY UP-TO-DATE ON FUTURE EVENTS & SUBSCRIBE TO OUR EMAILS FOR MORE DETAILS.

ABOUT US

The Canadian Tamil Professionals Association (CTPA) is a non-profit, non-partisan organization focused on developing career opportunities for emerging and established Tamil professionals. For as long as CTPA has existed, the mandate has been to provide Tamil professionals with tools, training, and resources that maximize their potential and accelerate their success. Today, we continue to shape the future of Tamil professionals with innovative, forward-thinking programs that advance and support their profession at every stage of their career.

OUR MISSION

To foster professional development by facilitating powerful conversations, creating opportunities and inspiring future leaders.

OUR VISION

Provide all Canadian Tamils with the tools, resources, and support to overcome barriers to their professional growth.

OUR VALUES

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Integrity | Progressive | Collaborative | Inclusive | Passionate | Empowering

2020 BOARD OF DIRECTORS We’re here to set the bar for excellence.

Over the years, we’ve transformed the way our community fosters both traditional and unique careers.

Thanusha Tharmakulasingam Chair

Ashwin Vadivelu Director of External Relations

Nirushyka Kanagarajah Director of Internal Relations

Abhina Mahendramohan Director of Marketing & Communications

Abirami Ananthan Director of Policy & Governance

Geerthana Jegatheeswaran

Hindusha Murugendran Director of Mentorship

Renuga Navaratnarajah Director of Fundraising

Tishain Selvarajah Director of Finance

Director of Professional Development & Signature Events

2020 ADVISORY BOARD

Malency Wainwright

Sangeetha Punniyamoorthy

Haran Vijayanathan

CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE ABOUT CTPA

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WE BUILD ON GREAT RELATIONSHIPS At EllisDon, inclusion and diversity means to respect and value our differences, because great ideas come from differing perspectives.

We are proud to be a sponsor of the Canadian Tamil Professionals Association.

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CTPA OVER THE YEARS OUR JOURNEY Follow us on our journey from the beginning of our inception, to the launch of our core programs and events, and finally to the big milestones of today. We are very proud to have come this far and look forward to an even brighter future.

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We have been living through unprecedented times with COVID-19 and pandemic-related shutdowns have affected millions of Canadians through job losses, temporary layoffs or sharply reduced hours. The reopening of the economy over the coming months is expected to however gradually improve the labour market. In order to ramp up, CTPA is now offering specialized appointments to support you to get back into the market successfully and onto your career paths again.

We have a strong team of seasoned industry professsionals, including our alumni, community partners and sponsors, who have volunteered to offer 1-hour complimentary 1-on-1 Career Advisory sessions. Donations to Food Banks Canada’s COVID-19 Response Fund are welcome!

MASTER THE ART OF RESUME WRITING Sit down with an experienced professional from your field or industry of interest and find out how to effectively target your résumé. Learn the industry ins and outs of framing your experiences, knowledge and skills in a way that showcases your strengths and piques employers’ interest in you! During this one-on-one session, you will be able to learn how to develop and structure your skills and experiences according to the desired role, field or industry and improve your chances for success. Bring along a job posting for a role of interest for an even rewarding experience.

SECRETS TO A WINNING COVER LETTER “No one reads cover letters” is a common misconception amongst job applicants. However, if no one is reading them, why are companies and recruiters still asking for one? Your cover letter is an opportunity for you to sell a sparkling elevator pitch on why you are the right candidate for the role and why you are interested in them. In this one-on-one session, learn how to master writing cover letters in a way that complements your resume and captures recruiters’ and hiring managers’ attention allowing you to highlight skills and experiences specific to the role of interest.

BUILD A POWERFUL LINKEDIN PROFILE Did you know that whenever a recruiter takes interest in you or your application, they are most likely to google you as well? And guess what - your LinkedIn profile is likely to show up as one of the top search results, making it a key tool of influence and decision making. LinkedIn enables you to develop a virtual portfolio, that illustrates as a resume format. This popular social networking platform also gives you the opportunity to connect and stay in touch with other professionals online. This session will provide you with the key tools to start the application and how to connect internationally and locally.

COACHING FOR CAREER SUCCESS Are you having difficulty deciding on a career path? Are you unsure how your current job or skills may relate to your future career goals? Meet with one of our Career Coaches for a one-on-one session to get you started towards the career you are pursuing. Start building a foundation to get you back on the path towards success and dive deep into figuring out what you would need to do or have to work on towards your goal.

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K E Y N O T E F E AT U R E

MEET CHANDRIKA TANDON

Our keynote speaker for Toast to Success 2020 is Chandrika Tandon, a business leader, Grammy-nominated artist and humanitarian.

A former partner of McKinsey & Company, Ms. Tandon chairs her advisory firm, Tandon Capital Associates, focusing on transformation, and the Tandon Foundation.

At New York University, she is ViceChairman of the Board of Trustees, Chair of the President’s Global Council, and Chair of the Board of the NYU Tandon School of Engineering. She serves on the Boards of the NYU Stern School of Business and the NYU Langone Health System. At Yale she serves on the President’s Council of International Activities. She is also a member of the President’s Council of the National Academies of Science, Engineering and Medicine.

Chandrika is a Trustee of Lincoln Center, and on the Presidential Advisory Council at the Berklee College of Music. She was named an Inaugural Distinguished Alumnus of both the Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad and Madras Christian College, her two alma maters.

Ms. Tandon’s album, Soul Call, topped world music charts, earning a GRAMMY nomination, and she has performed in multiple venues worldwide.

Ms. Tandon has received several awards including the Gallatin Medal - New York University’s highest honor for outstanding contributions to society, the Walter Nichols Medal and the Polytechnic Medal. She is a member of the 2020 class of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences and a recipient of the 2020 Ellis Island Medal of Honor.

CLICK HERE TO VISIT CHANDRIKA’S WEBSITE 9

THANK YOU, VOLUNTEERS! Volunteers are the roots of strong communities. Thanks to our volunteers and our professional community, CTPA has grown strong and resilient. Even the smallest volunteer effort leaves a profound and lasting trace in our organization.

We are proud to have an amazing and talented group of volunteers at CTPA. A diverse group of community leaders, their dedication, insight, due diligence and passion for the community help us make an impact on the this organization.

We sincerely appreciate all that they do and would like to extend our deepest thanks for their vision and leadership.

DEVELOP NEW SKILLS. MEET LIKE-MINDED PEOPLE. CREATE POSITIVE CHANGE.

“Our identity as Tamil Canadians provides us with a unique perspective that shapes how we nativigate our careers. I joined CTPA to both learn how to transform this insight into succesful professional development, and to harness this shared knowledge to better serve our Tamil community. CTPA has allowed me to connect with a diverse group of professionals in our community who I otherwise would not have had the opportunity to engage with. I am proud to be part of an organization that seeks to showcase our vibrant and talented community, and provides a platform for professionals to collaborate to create an even greater impact. Through CTPA I have not only cultivated professional connections, but have also built strong personal friendships.

– FIONA MARTYN, HEAD OF POLICY & GOVERNANCE

I joined CTPA because I’ve always admired the work this organization has put forth in bringing our youth professionals together. Over the years, I’ve seen the positive impact they’ve made in our community and the opportunities they’ve created for young adults to both network, and build on skills that can help with their professional growth and career. My experience as a team member has been amazing! I’m super grateful to have this opportunity to connect and work with like minded individuals, while collaborating on ways to bring positive changes to our community as an organization. The Board of Directors and fellow team members are also really supportive and through CTPA, I’ve been able to build on my skills set and gain a lot more perspective and knowledge in different areas.

– DUSHA JEGANATHAN, HEAD OF SPONSOR RELATIONS

INTERESTED IN VOLUNTEERING WITH CTPA? Watch our social feeds and website for 2021 volunteer recruitment!

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Job Seeking and Professional Development in Unprecedented Times WRITTEN BY DULA VIGNESWARAN 2020 has been a roller coaster of a year. Life as we once knew it has completely changed in a matter of months. As the world continues to experience a global pandemic, a lot of us are playing catch up and trying to get by. This pandemic has greatly impacted our daily lives, including our careers. Unfortunately, many jobs were lost due to the pandemic, as a lot of companies were facing financial pressures and had to trim their workforce. The workplace has transformed: a majority of employees have adjusted to their new work environment at home, and many companies are successfully operating remotely.

With all the changes and restrictions in the workforce, it is difficult to figure out how to grow in our careers. How does one navigate job seeking in this environment? How do we continue to develop our professional skills? How do we go about networking? What should we do with all this spare time? The truth is, they may never be a perfect answer to this, as we are learning and adjusting every single day. The best we can do is continue to push ourselves and recognize that we are not alone. The learning curve will make us stronger, and slowly but surely, we will get there. So where do we go from here? Here are a couple of tips to get started!

Slow Down and Take a Breath: This pandemic was a blessing in disguise for a lot of us, who lived a very fast-paced lifestyle. Early mornings, long commutes, long days at work, and then all over again the next day. We finally have some time to contribute to doing the things we love and spending time with our loved ones. Taking a well-deserved break or a nice walk around your local park can help clear your mind. It’s nice to mentally check out and get back into work with a fresh mind!

Re-evaluate your Career Plan: This is a great opportunity to sit down and re-evaluate your goals for your career. Are you happy in your current job? Are you being challenged enough? Is there another path you want to explore? What steps do you need to take to enter that field? This is the best time to figure out what you have always wanted to do.

Update your Resume: Whether or not you are looking for a job, make sure to have an updated copy of your resume. You never know when an opportunity will knock at your door. Ideally, your resume should include your most recent work experience, including your achievements on the job. Hiring managers want to know what you have accomplished, so try and steer away from writing a job description. If you need to, start from scratch. Re-starting your resume will allow new ideas to flow through.

Designations, Certifications, and Courses: Many people have designations or certifications that they have wanted to pursue, but life may have gotten in the way. Now that travelling and big events are on hold, it’s a great time to look into the credentials you’ve always wanted to earn, as you’ll have ample time to study.

Speaking of studying, it’s also a great time to take a course or two, and LinkedIn has plenty of free courses related to professional development.

In addition, there are websites such as Coursera that offer free courses

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in niche topics, such as “The Science of Well Being”, “Introduction to Personal Branding” and “International Women’s Health and Human Rights.” It may have nothing to do with your career, but that’s okay, since expanding your mind with knowledge is never a bad thing.

Networking: Networking has not disappeared. As in-person networking is on pause, we are finding new ways to network. There are plenty of ways to network online, including webinar sessions, workshops, job fairs and other online networking events. Make sure you check out the latest events on Eventbrite, a popular platform for online networking. LinkedIn is also an amazing resource, where you have access to thousands of professionals, who are sharing jobs, advice, information and ideas. Get involved and get your name out there!

You can also reach out to a professional who is in an industry you want to tap into. Make your message personal, be genuine and don’t be afraid to ask for help. You never know where these connections may lead, and your message might lead to a virtual coffee with that professional.

Networking can be daunting, but you will never know if you don’t try.

What’s the worst that can happen?

Volunteering: There are tons of organizations that are always looking for help. Yes, you don’t get paid, however the experience is priceless. You can do anything from being a mentor for new immigrants, to teaching someone a new skill. These are great opportunities to gain skills that you would not normally have access to in your 9-5 job. As a professional, it is vital that you keep exploring opportunities and improving your skills, and volunteering is one way to achieve that. You might even find a new role that you are passionate about! You also have the opportunity to meet like-minded professionals and grow your network across different fields.

It’s a win-win situation.

Support one another: Now is truly the time to come together. There are a ton of people who are currently unemployed or looking for a job.

If you are lucky enough to have a job, be grateful. You don’t realize the value of what you have until it’s gone. If you know someone who is looking for a job, spread the word to your network. Sometimes, word of mouth and a simple recommendation can do the trick. In addition to connecting people with job opportunities, you can help in other ways, such as guiding job-seekers with their job applications, or helping them run a mock-interview. Two heads are better than one, and you may have a suggestion that they might have missed! ______ Right now, a lot of people may be lacking motivation. You might be unsure of where to start, but don’t let the fear of starting something new stop you. Push yourself out of your comfort zone and take that first step.

Adversity is truly the greatest teacher and our resilience has made us stronger. The best way to overcome challenging times is to redirect your energy: start investing in yourself and your career. Take this extra time to figure out what makes you happy. Eventually, everything will fall into place.

Connect with Dula on LinkedIn:

Paalam, CTPA’s mentorship program, provides individuals at any stage of their career with the resources, guidance and training required for a meaningful mentoring experience. Paalam is built on the foundational idea that through the sharing of knowledge, ideas and experiences, mentors and mentees can mutually impact each other’s lives.

This year, our Paalam team successfully ran a few webinars where we had new guest speakers to discuss career-specific topics. Look out for more Webinar Wednesdays in October!

ACCESS TO MENTEE DIRECTORY

The mentee directory allows mentees to network laterally with other mentees in the program and in their industry. The directory features information on mentees such as educational background, career experience, and email information if you wish to connect and network with another mentee.

GROUP COFFEE CHATS

We will organize group coffee sessions where we bring together multiple mentee and mentor pairs to discuss relevant career themes. This will serve as a great opportunity for mentors and mentees to interact across mentorship pairs.

FEEDBACK SURVEYS

Frequent feedback surveys will be sent out to mentors and mentees so that we can understand how your mentorship relationship is going and how we can better support you.

WHY BECOME A MENTEE? Network with established professionals Develop and advance professional goals Gain guidance & support to face challenges Improve interpersonal skills WHY BECOME A MENTOR? Satisfaction of contributing to the community Exposure to fresh perspectives & ideas Enhance leadership skills Embark on new challenges LEARN MORE AND APPLY TO PAALAM 2020 APPLICATIONS CLOSE ON SEPTEMBER 30 13

The Toast to Success Awards of Professional Excellence honour two remarkable professionals in the Tamil community who have demonstrated professional growth and strong commitment to community.

The two streams of nominations for the awards include: Emerging Professional and Established Professional. Please join us in celebrating our 2020 award recipients.

KUMARAN NADESAN

Established Professional 2020

Kumaran Nadesan is a civil servant currently working as a Senior Business Consultant in the Ontario Public Service. He was born in Jaffna, Sri Lanka but left the country as a refugee when he was five years old to Chennai, India. After living in Chennai for several years, his family packed up and moved to Muscat, Oman where he completed his UK General Certificate of Education (GCE) Ordinary Level, equivalent to grade 10 in Canada. Unfortunately, since Oman did not offer many higher education opportunities for expats, Kumaran and his family found themselves moving yet again – this time to Toronto, Canada where he graduated high school and attended the University of Toronto Scarborough completing his B.A. (Hons.) in English and Psychology.

Following a brief marketing stint at a corporate law boutique, Kumaran decided to pursue a law degree, at Monash University in Melbourne, Australia. However, a life-changing opportunity came knocking and he found himself cutting his law studies short and returning to Canada to work for the Ministry of the Attorney General of Ontario. From there, he has worked his way through several provincial ministries in progressively senior roles in intergovernmental affairs, business development, stakeholder relations, communications, and policy and program advisory. Passionate about creating value across multiple sectors, Kumaran also heads up his own bespoke strategy consultancy, Konnect Communications, through which he selectively works with visionary business leaders

and corporate executives who are committed to building high value brands.

Kumaran is not just a civil servant or entrepreneur however, as he is also the catalyst behind several professional and entrepreneurial networks that seek to further strengthen the collective clout of the Canadian Tamil diaspora and undertake broader critical cross-cultural engagement with POC communities, including progressive Sri Lankan Canadians. His most prominent role, though, is as Founding Chair of comdu.it, a fast-growing international development organization that focuses on mobilizing knowledge capital, responsible investments, and community networks within the global Tamil diaspora towards the sustainable development of the traditional Tamil homelands and other vulnerable communities in Sri Lanka. Kumaran has also been involved in fundraising and philanthropy since his first humanitarian relief campaign for the Canadian Red Cross in the aftermath of the 2004 Indian Ocean Tsunami. Since last year alone, he has spearheaded fundraising efforts that have raised more than $250,000 for various local and international causes related to education, healthcare, poverty alleviation, entrepreneurship, and COVID-19 relief efforts. For his active work in the Canadian Tamil community and broader civil society in the Greater Toronto Area such as the Institute for Canadian Citizenship, Kumaran was named a 2018 DiverseCity Fellow by the CivicAction Leadership Foundation.

READ OUR FEATURE ON KUMARAN HERE

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The Toast to Success Awards of Professional Excellence honour two remarkable professionals in the Tamil community who have demonstrated professional growth and strong commitment to community.

The two streams of nominations for the awards include: Emerging Professional and Established Professional. Please join us in celebrating our 2020 award recipients.

AJITH THIYAGALINGAM

Emerging Professional 2020

Ajith Thiyagalingam has championed the rights of the Tamil community through his legal and policy work, and various initiatives. Ajith is Legal Counsel at the Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada (IRB). At the IRB, he assists refugee judges with their decision-making and lends a voice to legal and policy issues that are of national interest and international significance. He is directly involved in creating immigration policies and frameworks. Ajith brings the lived experience of the entire Tamil community, who came as refugees through this immigration process, to his profession.

Ajith also sits on the Board of Directors of JusticeNet — a national not-for-profit organization seeking to make justice more accessible and equitable.

Coming from a low-income, refugee background, Ajith was the first person in his family to attend university.

Witnessing first-hand the intolerance, struggles, and injustice that his parents and community faced in a new land, he developed a passion for social justice, human rights, and advocacy in his youth.

This passion led him to attend Osgoode Hall Law School, where he obtained his Juris Doctor. He completed his Bachelor of Arts, summa cum laude, from York University.

Ajith’s pursuit towards understanding economic disparities and alleviating poverty led him to complete the Fintech Programme at University of Oxford’s Saïd Business School, and an Executive Programme in Business Strategy and Finance from INSEAD Business School. As an advocate for STEM education, he is currently completing the Computer Science for Lawyers Executive Program at Harvard Law School to empower others in his community.

READ OUR FEATURE ON AJITH HERE

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Success 2.0.2.0 WRITTEN BY ANITA RAJAN

As we expand into this new reality, and virtual world, we are honoured to celebrate another year of CTPA successes. Congratulations to the winners of the Emerging Professional and Established Professional awards, you did it!

As we reflect upon the achievements of our Toast to Success recipients, this year has brought its own set of challenges for all of us. With everything that has unraveled over the past six months, we have to acknowledge how far each of us has progressed.

Small victories and big wins alike are to be celebrated, because the one thing that has been a constant during this time is stress. When we reflect upon the lockdown and quarantine due to COVID-19, the economy shutting down, the major confrontation of racial injustice, and the yearning for greater leadership in U.S. government, we realize 2020 has been quite the year!

A new decade is allowing us to start fresh and from scratch, and to create what success means for us. We have had an opportunity to re-evaluate everything while coming to a complete slow down. This year has given us the time to be introspective and figure out what matters most to our hearts. It is truly amazing to see the human ability to adapt to stress and keep going. We must cheer each other on, and commend each other for all the successes, no matter how big or small.

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In these uncertain times, it is wonderful to see U.S. Vice President hopeful Kamala Harris rise up. Props to her for proudly representing and acknowledging her mixed Indian and Jamaican heritage (not to mention her high school days in Montreal, Canada!). It is so cool to see a strong Tamil Black woman like her diving in to take on this potential role in leadership and responsibility. Change is coming!

As we approach a fresh beginning with schools and the economy reopening, and wondering how things will unfold, it is important to go forth with faith and optimism. The one thing that we do know is that change is inevitable. We are progressing into a new way of life; better hygiene, remote learning, and social zoom gatherings are some of these new lifestyle changes. New grads are entering the workforce amidst unusual circumstances and becoming the next generation of young professionals.

A tip we can all benefit from is to not let anything stop you. Keep believing in yourself and shining your brilliance. You’ve got this, even if you don’t know what’s next. Just take the best step that feels right for you. We are each other’s cheerleaders, and that’s what I call success! Let’s toast to that.

If you need any help with navigating and living your best life, please get in touch with me.

Connect with Anita:

# I A m AT a m i l P r o f e s s i o n a l Leading up to Toast to Success 2020, we shared the stories and journeys of various Tamil professionals through a social media campaign. On our Facebook and Instagram account, we featured 18 amazing individuals, and we hope to continue sharing unique stories for the remainder of the year!

DILANI RABINDRAN

LOGATHASAN THARMATHURAI

SUBHANKI SIVAKUMAR

HARAN VIJAYANATHAN

CHEYANNE RATNAM

LENIN SIVAM

THIPIKA BALAKRISHNAN

NERO NAVEENDRAN

DARSHIKA SELVASIVAM

MAHESH SHANMUGAM

KEERTHANA RANG

ILAN SIVAPATHASUNDARAM

NEVA RATNAKUMAR

VIJAY SETLUR

KIRTHANA SASITHARAN

DR. VADIVELU SANTHAKUMAR

DR. RYHANA DAWOOD

VINOJ SUTHAKARAN

READ OUR POSTS ON INSTAGRAM

READ OUR POSTS ON FACEBOOK

VISIT OUR WEBSITE FOR ALL STORIES

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