Curious to know how international students thrive in their chosen field? Got questions about the real world and the job market? Join our Alumni Chats on March 4th (12pm-1:30pm EST) to hear from former international students about their Canadian career experience. Your questions are welcome!
Connect with international student alumni from different career fields and get a glimpse into the paths they took to build their careers in Canada. From entrepreneurship, engineering to finance, and healthcare, you will get insights into transitioning into the workforce, tips on networking and perspectives on the respective industries.
Gain insight from alumni in different stages of their careers and how they overcame obstacles and created success. Enjoy the chance to network with alumni and ask your questions!
Panelist Details
Shayandeep Das
Shayandeep Das is a graduate of the Bachelor of Health Studies - Healthcare Management Program from the Faculty of Health at York University. He came to York University aged 17 as an international student and now, 5 years later, is currently working as a Data Analyst for the University Health Network and Toronto Grace Health Center, working with the senior management of several hospitals and the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care. As an undergraduate student, he served in several club leadership positions, including the International Relations Student Association, Friends of Doctors Without Borders at York, as well as the Student Association of Health, Management, Policy and Informatics. He was also a Leadership and Events Coordinator Assistant for the Student Community and Leadership Development at York. His daytime favourite spot on campus is Stong Pond, and his nighttime favourite is the Absinthe Pub.
Abasifreke James’ (James)
James is a Co-founder and Product Lead on the POKET team. He focuses on product design software development, and supports the business and operations efforts on the team.He graduated with Specialized Honors in Software Engineering from Lassonde, York University. He worked in the public sector for the Ontario Government and later in the private sector as a Full-Stack Software Engineer for large multi-national Telecom, Aviation, Health, and Automobile Companies. He keeps actively participating in Hackathons to learn and mentor younger developers. James is Nigerian by background and is very passionate about solving socio-economic issues that he got intimately familiar with while living in Nigeria for 16 years. Hence his passion to work on the problems his startup, POKET, is solving. Lastly, James recently received the Top 30 Under 30 Developer Award in 2018 for Canada
Li Jiang
Li Jiang was an international student (MBA) at Schulich School of Business from 2019 to 2020. Coming from China with a finance background, she joined the non-profit sector after graduation. Currently, she works closely with social entrepreneurs in the impact investing field.
Raphael Costa
Raphael is an Economic Development and Public Management professional who helps communities build local and organizational capacity and seize their unique opportunities. He currently works as the Director of Economic Development at the City of Vaughan.
With more than ten years in the not-for-profit, academic, and municipal sector in Local Economic Development, Raphael has helped communities develop and implement strategies, programs, and policies designed to maximize community potential. This includes developing strategic plans and working in entrepreneurship development, social enterprise, sector and cluster development in innovation, manufacturing, the creative industries, and placemaking.
Raphael earned a Doctorate from York and is completing a Masters in Public Administration. He stays active in the Economic Development profession as a member of the board for the Economic Developers Association of Canada (EDAC), and as an expert in cluster development and social enterprise for the Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM) international programs.
