Onyx Initiative scholars, employee partners and supporters celebrated at inaugural gala

March 6, 2024

Feeling a bit lost and unsure, Keshana King found career direction and clarity while browsing LinkedIn just over a year ago.

The Onyx Initiative helps bridge the gap in the recruitment and selection of Black college and university students and recent graduates for roles in corporate Canada.

Since October 2020, the Toronto-based non-profit has received more than 1,500 applications for its comprehensive personal and professional development Scholars Program and has welcomed over 700 participants from across the country.

The program includes personalized training and career coaching, mentorship, interview preparation and other job-readiness resources.

“It has helped me define where I want to go in my career and how I can best utilize my skills to get there,” said King who graduated from the program.

She was among scholars, employee partners and other supporters celebrated at Hotel X Toronto on February 29.

King is pursuing a Bachelor of Management online at Athabasca University.

“Because I am an Onyx Scholar, I have received several scholarships,” said King who is the Operations Manager at Impact Hub Ottawa that is a space for young people to connect and drive social change.

The program has also provided her with the confidence to take risks and explore.

Last October, King – as a youth delegate -- attended the World Investment Forum in Abu Dhabi.

“I don’t think I would have been bold enough to attempt something like that without the push I got from Onyx,” she said.

Mentors and coaches provide tailored support to navigate hurdles and promote advancement.

“I have never had a mentor that has encouraged and inspired me to see my greatness the way that my mentor has,” King said. “The constant positivity and reassurance coming from him are things that I needed to get to the next level. To get that one-on-one direction from someone who tells me the truth in a good way and has my best interests at heart meant a lot. For me, that sets me apart from other programs I have been part of.”

Passionate about entrepreneurship, leadership and diplomacy, she graduated from Algonquin College’s Business Management & Entrepreneurship Program and the Black Diplomats Academy that provides Black youths and young professionals between ages 14 and 35 across the globe with access to specialized training and experiential learning opportunities to prepare them for a career in international diplomacy and the broader public service.

There is no better feeling than betting on yourself and having people appreciate that and making an investment in you.

After finishing her undergraduate degree in International Business at the University of Tampa, Botswana-born Gontse Molowisa moved to Canada in January 2023 to join Canada’s first graduate training pathway on Blockchain and decentralized trust technologies at the University of British Columbia.

Graduate students can contribute to scaling Canada’s Blockchain industry while engaging in some of the world’s most complex socio-technical issues.

In a new country, Molowisa knew she would need help to navigate challenges.

“As soon as I got into my Master’s program, I knew I had to be strategic,” she said. “I went online to see what is available for Black students seeking guidance. Finding the Onyx program was a Godsend. It allowed me to self-actualize and build confidence to the point where I know I can overcome hurdles and create spaces for others.”

In November, Molowisa completes a Master’s in Information Science specializing in Blockchain Technology.

“The goal is to go into the Blockchain space as a Consultant or in Business Intelligence,” she said.

With far too many Black and racialized students missing out on professional opportunities in corporate Canada because of a paucity of social networks and mentorship, husband and wife Wayne and Nigela Purboo started the ground-breaking Onyx Initiative four years ago after the unprecedented social unrest wave following George Floyd’s murder in Minnesota in May 2020.

A total of 40 Scholars from across Canada attended the inaugural gala.

“It is their evening and we want to shine a bright light on them,” said Co-founder and Executive Director Nigela Purboo. “It is also a big moment for our scholars because you don’t often get to be in a space with people who can potentially change your career path. We want them to enjoy the moment and expand their network. In addition, we are keenly aware of the waning focus on DEI (Diversity, Equity & Inclusion) in the four years since the global social movement emerged, so it seemed like the perfect time to introduce a signature event that refocuses attention on the wealth of young Black innovative talent that exists and often go unnoticed for key roles.”

The young scholars have access to personal and professional development courses via a curated LinkedIn Learning Path and they can engage in executive fireside chats with successful entrepreneurs and take part in employer discovery sessions with recruiters and executives from some of Canada’s largest firms, including Bell, Hyundai Auto Canada, BMO, PwC, HOOPP, PCL, RBC, Eli Lilly Canada and TD.

In addition, they can go to a job board with hundreds of co-op placements, internships and full-time opportunities offered by Onyx’s partners and a LinkedIn group that is exclusively for scholars to engage with each other and share insights, information, advice or inspiring personal stories.

Participating in webinars and interactive sessions focused on resume writing, honing interview and pitch skills, mental health and well-being and transitioning into the workforce, among other things, are part of the unique experience.

Wayne & Nigela Purboo (Photo by Ron Fanfair)

Wayne Purboo knew the program was going to have an impact.

“How much impact we could have and how sustainable that could be was not something we were quite sure about,” the Co-founder said. “Four years ago, a lot of people were making promises and we knew many would get involved because of what had happened to George Floyd. We looked at years three and four as the timelines where we would know if this was real or not.

“Tonight is a celebration that shows our momentum has not slowed. We have new partners coming on board and we are growing. For my wife and I, this is all about amplifying Black talent. We want young people to take their rightful places in the Canadian economy.”

Leaving Nigeria 16 years ago, Yvan Kammelu is excelling academically.

He completed an Economics & Kinesiology degree at McGill University and is in the last year of the Montreal university Master of Management in Analytics program.

Never satisfied and always seeking to get better, Kammelu loved what he saw when a buddy invited him to an Onyx event.

“I saw the great exposure of Black excellence and wanted to be part of that,” he said.

Named a McCall MacBain Scholar last September, Kammelu is part of the fourth cohort that graduates this month.

“I have had the opportunity to connect with many accomplished people in the business and technology industry and get a sense of what my career could look like,” said the University of Montreal Hospital Research Centre Research Agent who spent a gap year working, volunteering and performing in a dance troupe in Abuja, Nigeria.

Charles Nwankwo, who has an undergraduate degree in Electrical Engineering from a Nigerian university, is also part of the current cohort.

A friend singing the praises of the Onyx Initiative was like music to his ears.

“I have not only been able to connect with Black folks who are high achievers, but I have established sound relationships with them,” noted Nwankwo who is studying Project Management at Algoma University.

Coming to Canada 18 months ago for graduate studies, he plans to take the Onyx Initiative model to Nigeria.

“Networking is one of the things many young people there are not exposed to,” Nwankwo added. “I have seen the immense value of that in the last year.”

The COVID-19 pandemic brought out the best in many people.

At the height of the global disease, Nigerian international student Chimdinma Chijioke developed a database connecting her international student peers to tutoring, academic advisors and virtual mental health resources.

After graduating with a Bachelor of Arts last year from the University of Manitoba, she needed help fine-tuning her resume.

Chimdinma Chijioke (Photo by Ron Fanfair)

“Onyx did that for me and more,” said the University of Manitoba Black Students Union Co-founder who majored in Political Science and minored in Asian Studies. “I was able to identify my skills and get a better understanding of how I could navigate the work environment.”

Chijioke, who arrived in Canada at age 15 and finished high school at Columbia International College in Hamilton, is enrolled in a two-year accelerated leadership development rotational program designed to develop the next generation of Canada Life leaders.

While dealing with the psychological and physical tolls of injuries that forced him to quit football, Jaden Bailey learned of the program.

He was part of the third cohort.

“With Onyx behind me, I consistently feel there is a beautiful community to leverage that can help me find my way in corporate Canada,” said the former Queens University Campus Ambassador who is part of Onyx’s Scholar Ambassador Program. “I am extremely blessed to have people who have given me confidence and great advice.”

Dwight Rodgers, a former Vice-President of Operations & Risk Control with Securian Canada, is Bailey’s mentor.

“He has been fantastic in terms of me speaking about the things going on in my life and sharing his perspective,” added Bailey who graduated with distinction in Economics from Queen’s University. “We talk every week and I was in contact with him just before I came here. Because of his mentorship. I think there are many things I can share with youths looking for assistance. Down the road, I will be an Onyx mentor.”

Lord-Emmanuel Achidago came to Toronto in 2021 on a scholarship.

“It’s great to be in Canada pursuing higher education, but I quickly grasped that there is a lot of learning and new approaches to many things I had to do,” he said.

Lord-Emmanuel Achidago (Photo by Ron Fanfair)

The Onyx Initiative helped with the transition.

“It is one of the best things that has happened to me,” said Achidago who has a Master of Science in Geography from the University of Ghana. “I have had access to resources and have been put in spaces with top executives that I would not have otherwise met.”

A part-time Research Assistant at York University where he is in the Geography Graduate program, his research includes exploring ecosystem productivity responses in the Bruce Peninsula over the last two decades.

Achidago hopes to influence environmental change in business.

Chris Gianella graduated from the program in December 2023.

“Onyx helped me to develop my resume and build important networks,” she pointed out. “I was able to land a contract position with an advertisement agency and a full-time position with a micro-marketing agency because of my involvement in this program.”

Born and raised in France, Gianella was an exchange student at Queen’s University in 2020.

She has an undergraduate degree in Finance & Economics and a Master’s in International Business from Paris Dauphine University.

Dedicated to helping young people unlock their potential and thrive professionally, Reginald Oblitey joined the Onyx Initiative in May 2023 as Lead Success Coach.

“This has been a surreal experience,” he noted. “This is our young people. To see them face their fears and utilize their resiliency for something that is a little unknown and they are a bit scared to go after is just beautiful to see.”

Working with young people, said Oblitey is a ‘must for me’.

“I have been privy to mentorship and I must give back,” added the former professional basketball player. “I am not here because this is a good job. I am here because our community needs this.”

Justice Donald McLeod, an accomplished litigator with a keen interest in community and social justice issues, was the keynote speaker.

He founded and chairs 100 Strong, an initiative to fund a summer school program for 12- and 13-year-old Black boys and co-chairs Stand-up which is a mentorship program for Grade Seven and Eight boys, the majority of whom reside in designated priority neighbourhoods.

In addition, McLeod makes frequent motivation speeches and hosts Black Robes, a professional development project aimed at mentoring new lawyers and law students of African-Canadian descent.

Justice Donald McLeod (Photo by Ron Fanfair)

In his presentation, he addressed the imposter syndrome Black students face and how it could impede their academic progress.

“If a person is of a different demographic to those who tend to obtain certain roles, they may be stereotyped or feel a lack of role models and colleagues with a similar background to admire and connect with,” McLeod pointed out. “These insecurities can foster a powerful feeling of self-doubt, ultimately culminating in imposter syndrome…Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness, that most frightens us.

“We ask ourselves, ‘Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented and fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? It is not just in some of us. It is in everyone and as we let our light shine, we unconsciously permit others to do the same. As we are liberated from our fear, our presence automatically liberates us.”

McLeod, who as a lawyer successfully argued the R v Golden case in the Supreme Court of Canada in 1999 that addressed the constitutionality of police strip searches, said Onyx represents a needed voice.

“We as a community of family, friends, allies, aunts, uncles and community organizations need to be willing to stand up in the gap to ensure that the voices of those who come after us are not made silent by negative narratives,” added McLeod. “We either fight as a community to ensure we will reach the collective goal together or we stand aside and let others fulfil the mission.”

Awards were presented to Hyundai Auto Canada, Toronto Metropolitan University, the Lifelong Leadership Institute (LLI) and Onyx Initiative mentor Zarrin Strasler.

Retired Centennial College Registrar Trevor Massey chairs the LLI that delivers the Leadership by Design Program (LDP) that provides developmental support for high school students.

“Trevor deals with a younger demographic and it is important for us to get them just as they are going into university so we can get internships for them,” Nigela Purboo said. “Statistics show that these paid internships will lead to full-time employment. It will also allow the students to know what they want and what they don’t want.”

Onyx has also started a scholarship program for LDP participants.

About 700 of the 1,500 applicants were accepted into the Onyx Initiative in the last four years.

The recruitment period for the fifth cohort closes at the end of March.

Black post-secondary students and recent graduates can get more information and apply through https://onyxinitiative.org/