In 2008, I migrated from Trinidad and Tobago to the United States to pursue graduate studies at New York University. Prior to migrating, I had spent approximately six years working in Human Resources in the financial and professional services sectors. After graduating from NYU in 2010 with an MSc in Human Resource Management & Development, I continued building my career in HR, primarily within international nonprofit and mission-driven organizations.
Like many immigrants in the United States, I went through the nail-biting process of being approved for an F-1 visa, applying for Optional Practical Training (OPT), and then seeking and obtaining H-1B visa sponsorship. In March 2013, I obtained permanent residency through the Diversity Visa Program, and in January 2019, I became a U.S. citizen.
While this may not be your exact path, parts of it may resemble your own journey or aspirations as an immigrant or refugee. Education and continuous learning have always been important to me. Before I arrived in the United States, I determined that maintaining lawful immigration status would be a priority because I wanted the right to work, access to the opportunities available to me, and the ability to remain marketable as an HR professional.
Over the course of my HR career, I have worked across corporate, nonprofit, international development, global health, and research environments, supporting employees and leaders in the United States and around the world. My experience spans employee relations, talent management, performance management, global mobility and immigration, organizational development, HR operations, compensation, and leadership coaching. I have built HR functions and programs, advised senior leaders, managed teams, supported employees across multiple countries and cultures, and helped organizations navigate both everyday people challenges and periods of significant change.
But professional success is about more than education, immigration status, and having the right to work. Like many immigrants and refugees, I have also needed community, inclusion, and a genuine sense of belonging in order to thrive. I have had to be intentional about developing relationships and finding communities where I am accepted and valued. Along the way, I have learned that building that sense of community can be easier in some locations and organizations than in others.
The services developed and provided through Accentuate! bring these parts of my journey together: the knowledge and skills gained through my academic and professional credentials, more than two decades of experience in Human Resources, and my lived experience as an immigrant. Together, they shape my commitment to helping immigrants and refugees amplify their voices, navigate the workplace, develop as professionals and leaders, and build careers in which they can thrive.
You can connect with me on LinkedIn and here on Accentuate!.
Credentials:
Education: MSc. Human Resource Management & Development (included Executive Coaching) | NYU 2010
Professional:
Cultural Intelligence Assessment & Trainer Certified
Professional Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed through Accentuate! are my own or those of my podcast guests and do not represent the views, positions, or policies of my current or former employers. Accentuate! is an independent business and is not affiliated with or endorsed by my employer.
