Episode Details

Weddings and Wanderlust: Jeanne D’Souza’s Cross-Continental Career | Diasporaa Podcast Episode 34 Welcome to Diasporaa, where we share the remarkable stories of immigrants from the Indian subcontinent. In this episode, host Aditya Mehta sits down with Jeanne D'Souza, a former wedding planner from Bombay who moved to Vancouver, BC in 2021. Jeanne shares her experiences working in India's vibrant wedding industry, her challenges and triumphs adapting to Canadian culture, and her current role as an events venue manager at the University of British Columbia. The conversation delves into cultural nuances, the work-life balance in Canada versus India, and Jeanne's future aspirations. Tune in for an insightful discussion about resilience, adaptation, and the immigrant experience. Remember to like, comment, and subscribe for more inspiring stories from the South Asian Diaspora! List of Resources: Bandra: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bandra Borivali: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Borivali D’Souza: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sousa_(surname) Indo-Saracenic architecture: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indo-Saracenic_architecture Jemimah Rodrigues: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jemimah_Rodrigues LMIA: https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/work-canada/hire-temporary-foreign/find-need-labour-market-impact-assessment.html Made in Heaven: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Made_in_Heaven_(TV_series) Malhar: https://malharfest.in/ Mumbai Locals: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mumbai_Suburban_Railway Portuguese in India: https://www.pmfias.com/portuguese-in-india/ UBC Boathouse: https://ubcboathouse.com Western Ghats: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Western_Ghats About the Podcast: Diasporaa was Aditya's third startup based in Vancouver, BC. It focused on helping new immigrants in Canada find their feet, get off to a running start and ease their assimilation into Canadian life. A big part of the platform were conversations, community and support. Though the startup stopped growing once Aditya moved to Seattle, WA - it remained alive in the form of several discussion groups and online communities. Now, Diasporaa has been resurrected in the form of a podcast focused on uncovering and sharing interesting immigrant stories from the South Asian diaspora. It is available on YouTube, all major podcast platforms such as Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, etc. and is also broadcast as a radio show on Alternative Talk 1150 AM and 98.9 FM HD Channel 3 on Wednesdays from 2-3pm PST. About Aditya Mehta: Aditya is a Bombay boy who has lived in Austin, Los Angeles, Washington DC, and Vancouver before making it to his current home in Seattle. He has degrees in marketing, urban planning, real estate and strategy but has spent his career in financial services, social media and now real estate - mostly as an entrepreneur and partly as an employee at Amazon. He balances Indian, Canadian and American culture, loves helping those who are new to North America and looks forward to the interesting stories that his interview guests bring each week. When not podcasting, he is helping his wife Prachi build her pharmaceutical business or hanging out with his son Arjun. Connect with Diasporaa: Instagram: @diasporaapodcast YouTube: https://linke.to/dspyoutube Bio Link: linke.to/diasporaa Listen on Spotify: https://linke.to/dspspotify Listen on Apple Podcasts: https://linke.to/dspapple Diasporaa Podcast on KKNW Alternative Talk Radio: https://linke.to/kknw1150