This First Person column is the experience of Oluwayemisi (Yemisi) Peters, who lives in Edmonton. For more information about CBC’s First Person stories, please see the FAQ.

The first time I worked in an office in Canada, I felt like a visitor in my own profession. I sat uncomfortably at my desk — unsure of where to place my hands, of how loudly to speak, of what the future held for me in a country I had dreamed of moving to but didn’t yet understand. 

My colleagues around me moved with the ease of people who belonged. I moved with the caution of someone who didn’t.

Before immigrating to Canada, I served as a head of human resources in Nigeria. I managed teams, developed policies, sat on committees and led organizational transformations. I had years of experience and education. Yet there I was, sitting in a quiet cubicle as a HR assistant in Edmonton, starting from the bottom of the ladder I had climbed years back.

It’s not that anyone was unkind. Truthfully, Canadians are some of the kindest people I know. But as a newcomer, I didn’t always know how to respond to casual jokes or small talk, and I was worried that my accent or behaviour would expose how uncertain I felt. 

When I received feedback that I wasn’t “outspoken enough,” it was a cultural shock. Back home, professional hierarchy is clear and you don’t get to casually speak with the CEO or address senior leaders by their first names. But in Canada, equality and mutual respect regardless of position are part of everyday work culture.

That experience challenged how I saw myself, my career and confidence at work.

I became a student again

The turning point came about two months into my job when I admitted to myself that it was OK to start over again. I knew I needed to unlearn and relearn, and that this was a normal part of growth. Instead of grieving who I used to be, I became a student again.

I observed how people communicated, how meetings flowed and what Canadian workplace professionalism looked like. I learned the rhythm of small talk, the value placed on politeness, the preference for indirect disagreement and the importance of collaboration. I paid attention, adjusted and gave myself grace.

I also stopped hiding my experience. Initially, I downplayed my background to avoid appearing overqualified. Over time, I learned to own it. I realized that as an immigrant, I bring valuable global and cross-border perspectives to the table. I began offering strategic input and applying my prior experience to my work even when it went beyond my job role. These efforts helped rebuild my professional credibility.

I connected with like minds. Hearing other people’s stories helped me understand that my experience back home wasn’t worthless even if I had to start from the bottom again in Canada. It was the price of a fresh start. Knowing others had walked this path before me didn’t restore my confidence overnight, but it sure helped me remember the capable person I had always been.

Where I am now

It’s been five years and in that time, I’ve recruited hundreds of immigrants across non-profit and corporate sectors. For every role, I’ve interviewed people who looked like me, spoke with accents like mine and had once held leadership roles in their home countries but were now struggling to find opportunities in Canada. Their uncertainty mirrored the woman I had been.

I mentor and coach newcomers who are navigating the same uncertainty I once felt. I share the mistakes I made and the strategies that helped me regain my footing. 

When a new immigrant reached out to me, unsure of where to start with nearly two decades of leadership experience from their home country, I emphasized that our international experience will always be valuable; it just needs to be positioned to suit the Canadian context. 

A few weeks after our session, I received a “thank you” call. They had secured a mid-level role in their field. While it wasn’t on par with their level of expertise back home, I found it reassuring to know that not all immigrants have to start from zero or take survival jobs.

Starting over has taught me humility, patience and the importance of extending a hand to others. Even now, there are moments of self-doubt, moments when I wonder if I am doing enough or if I would have progressed more in my career had I stayed in Nigeria. 

But I also know that experiences like these are what shape who we are and eventually become part of our success story. In the end, I’ve learned that belonging grows when we make space for others to find their footing.

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For more stories about the experiences of Black Canadians — from anti-Black racism to success stories within the Black community — check out Being Black in Canada, a CBC project Black Canadians can be proud of.