This article is part of a series highlighting the trailblazing successes of Indo Canadians who have created pathways of people-to-people collaboration between India and Canada yielding remarkable results thus inspiring the local community and bringing the two countries closer together.
Tina Balachandran is a Storyteller and a Social Innovator. She shares her story of journeying to Canada and her reflections of evolving from a career woman to a community builder.
Tina was born and raised in Delhi in a very supportive liberal family, which allowed her to pursue her passions and choose a pathbreaking unconventional profession in Television Media. Tina started on the front lines and worked her way up to be a multicamera Director/Executive Producer on world-class television shows in infotainment Programming genre, including Kaun Banega Crorepati, Aap Ki Kachehri, Jhalk Dikhla ja, and others.
When she was raising her two young daughters, it was a natural pause on her television work and the ever-introspective Tina took this opportunity to steer her career towards her first love, Theater and Storytelling. Before moving to Canada in 2018, she was working with ‘Design for Change’ using theater as a platform for social justice, education and advocacy.
The migration journey to Canada
“I sent my resume to so many organizations I lost count. I never got a rejection letter. Had I even got a single rejection letter I would have framed it.”
The first few years after migrating to Canada, Tina was faced with the same isolation, rejection in the labour market and resulting despondency which is the story of many newcomers to this country. The Covid19 pandemic added to her mental grief and pain and left Tina wanting the community of like-minded women with similar lived experiences and professional aspirations. In Prachi Jatania she met a friend and ‘partner in good karma’ who understood and concurred with the need for a community for professional immigrant women. Thus, was born the ‘Immigrant Women Initiative’
Immigrant Women Initiative (IWI)
IWI is a collective created to propel immigrant women on their chosen professional pathways with the help of mentorship and collaboration. It offers practical tools for successful career navigation and a safe and supportive space for advancing their progress in the Canadian labour market. The Immigrant Women Initiative embodies the spirit of women supporting women, striving to create an inclusive and collaborative environment. “Our goal is to equip, enable and uplift every racialized immigrant woman’s career pathway within our community. We achieve this through carefully curated monthly workshops and networking sessions, which have already engaged over 700 women and continue to grow organically as a grassroots movement “informs Tina with humility and pride.
Belong Here – July 19, 2024
IWI is completing One Year of building professional connections, inclusive learning, knowledge-sharing and thriving together. To mark this occasion, they are celebrating with an evening of speed-networking and a Vendor Pop-Up for small-businesses. Tina is inviting racialized immigrant women to join this movement and attend on July 19 th: “Come join us for a special event celebrating community and connections as we mark the one-year anniversary of the Immigrant Women Initiative (IWI). This in-person gathering will be a wonderful opportunity to celebrate women-owned small businesses, meet new people and find unique ways to connect. Let’s come together to connect, share stories, and build relationships that matter. Don’t miss out.”
Date and time: Friday, July 19 · 5 – 7:30pm PDT
Location: And-Co Offices, 1575 West Georgia Street #200 Vancouver, BC V6G 2V3
Tickets: Purchase Online at Eventbrite
