By Mischa Milne, Communications Coordinator
As an experienced professional in Nigeria’s financial services sector, Solomon Iwegim was no stranger to leadership roles when he moved to Canada with his family in 2017. But when he heard about MOSAIC’s Social and Civic Opportunities: Pathways to Equity (SCOPE) program from a good friend, he knew it was the right fit for him as he sought the next step in his career journey.
Currently working as a Business Account Manager with the Royal Bank of Canada, Solomon was interested in board governance and the opportunity to deepen his understanding of the practical applications of Justice, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (JEDI) that the program offered.
“The SCOPE program was really engaging and rewarding. I got to meet a number of individuals from diverse backgrounds and professions and enjoyed learning more about intercultural fluency as it concerns stereotypes and hidden biases, micro aggressions and micro inclusions,” he says.
And it paid off – within weeks of graduating from SCOPE, Solomon was elected to the Board of Directors of AMSSA BC (Affiliation of Multicultural Societies and Service Agencies of BC), a position he was nominated to by MOSAIC CEO Olga Stachova.
“It has been pure joy and excitement since I got the news that I was nominated to the AMSSA Board! I feel elated and more empowered to support immigrants and newcomers to build more culturally inclusive communities.”
In addition to his position at RBC and his new volunteer Board of Directors role with AMSSA, Solomon is deeply involved in his community as a career mentor for other newcomers, the steering committee of RBC’s Black Professionals Network BC (BPN) and am also serves on the Board of Thrive-4-Blacks Community Services Society (Thrive4Blacks).
“My advice to every newcomer out there who wants to take on more leadership roles is this: everything is possible if you believe and act on it! Be bold, passionate and objective about your plan. Seek volunteer opportunities, be willing to help, network, learn and be receptive to feedback!”
Here’s more information about SCOPE.
