Scotiabank

Supports and coordinates the project management execution and the end-to-end implementation of Global Risk Management initiatives on behalf of SVP & Head, Retail Credit Risk, by globally ensuring business strategies, plans and initiatives are supported in compliance with governing regulations, internal policies and procedures.

Sr. Project Manager, Strategy & Transformation, Retail Credit Risk - Global Risk Management

Senior Product Manager, Retail Savings

Newcomers ON FIRE!

Welcome to The Newcomers ON FIRE! Show with your host Miguel Abascal

Listen to people like you sharing their journeys, struggles and their breakthroughs

Be ready to be inspired to take control of your time, career, finances and future.

Fulfil your potential, become the person you are meant to be and make your dreams a reality.

www.OnFire.show

Founder & Host

Thrive Faster

Helping overqualified Newcomers earn more and live happier.

Join us in making the Canadian Dream a reality for newcomer families!

Founder

UnstoppableMe.rocks

Have you ever looked in the mirror and said to yourself: – “I thought I would be farther ahead already”

If you have. You are not alone.

Miguel Abascal was an executive of a famous coffee distribution and franchises company in Mexico. He had certifications, a Master’s degree, and significant experience as a leader of a large team leading large projects.

Nonetheless, he couldn’t find a job in his profession and for his first 5 yrs in Canada he worked in survival jobs while crashing his confidence. He refers to these years as the years of nightmares and constantly losing his sleep not knowing if he would make ends meet.

Thanks to great mentors and coaches he found his way and now he is living his Canadian Dream. Since then he has been helping hundreds of people to find their ideal job faster.

He discovered his passion for helping people at a networking event after talking with a few newcomers who told him “I have learned more in this 20 min than in my last 2 yrs. in Canada”.

We obsess with providing value and sharing key insights with our members. To get a better job you need to master these 3 M’s:

    Your Mindset
    Your Marketing
    Your Momentum

Join us and learn how to find your ideal job faster

It’s time to retire your survival job and start living your Canadian Dream.

Product Manager, Wealth Savings

Senior Product Analyst, Retail & Wealth Savings

Project Manager

Project Analyst II

Financial Services Representative

Customer Service Representative

RenderLife.com

3D marketplace for graphic designers and studios. Led requirements gathering, vendor research and project charter preparation for the selection and implementation of financial and time management systems.

Achievements:
•	Conducted project kickoff and achieved definition of scope, plan, resources, vendor alternatives and requirement traceability matrix in 3 months.
•	Finished the project with a 20% reduction in budget due to negotiation techniques.

Primerica Life Insurance Co of Canada

Largest Independent Financial Services Marketing firm in North America.

Achievements:
•	Got promoted to District leader in 18 months primarily by identifying needs and requirements from key stakeholders and following up until completion.  
•	Designed and delivered five community-based financial seminars to more than 100 people on how to increase income, reduce debt burden and achieve financial independence.

Financial Advisor

Bankruptcy Specialist

Toronto Hispanic Chamber of Commerce

•	Organized and coordinated annual fundraising event: Canadian Hispanic Business Awards 2010
•	Developed comprehensive database which captured specific demographics and statistics of ongoing members.

Special Projects Coordinator

Comercializadora Fernandez Rivero, S.A. de C.V. - La Parroquia de Veracruz

Manufacturer and distributor of specialty coffee, vertically integrated from the coffee farms to the retail distribution for key clients such as Wal-Mart and Sam’s Club. Managed operational projects focused on cost reduction, quality assurance and technical improvement. Supported executive decision-making by identifying, evaluating and recommending key improvement initiatives.

Achievements:
•	Increased revenue by 200% and profit margins by 10% in 3 years by improving operation processes and customer service, reducing waste and establishing quality management.
•	Designed, developed and implemented the Quality Management System based on ISO 9001:2008 in 18 months getting the certification before planned.
•	Led development of financial system linking marketing, production, QA, procurement and key performance indicators to provide real-time information and reduce excess of inventory by 50%
•	Analyzed and forecasted trends, issues and opportunities for all the different client segments, assisting in the development of their marketing campaigns.
•	Developed activity-based cost analysis and supervised performance and operation margin for large international accounts, including Wal-Mart and Sam’s Club.
•	Analyzed and modeled success drivers for new retail store openings, saving $10,000 over 2 weeks for each of 25 locations.

Sr. Product Manager & Program Director

Helping Newcomers Thrive Faster! 🚀 

Have you ever looked in the mirror and wondered why you're not farther ahead in your career? 
If you have, you're not alone. 

I am here on a mission to empower individuals like you, to achieve professional success and fast-track your Canadian dream. 

As a passionate mentor and coach, my sole focus is on empowering overqualified and underemployed Canadian newcomers. Together, we'll reignite your confidence, secure your ideal job, and embark on a fulfilling Canadian journey. Learn more about my impactful work at www.ThriveFaster.ca.

But why am I so dedicated to this cause? 

Let me share my story. As a former executive of a prestigious coffee distribution company in Mexico, I arrived in Canada filled with qualifications, a master’s degree, and years of leadership experience. However, my job search proved to be an overwhelming challenge, leading to five years of survival jobs and a shattered confidence. 

I've walked in your shoes, experiencing the same challenges and hardships you are facing right now. 
My breakthrough came when I connected with exceptional mentors and coaches who guided me on the path to success. Today, I am living my own Canadian dream, and it fills me with immense joy to pay it forward by assisting hundreds of individuals in finding their ideal jobs faster.

People I've worked with have told me, "In just 20 minutes, I have gained more valuable insights than I have in my last two years in Canada!"

Join me on this transformative journey, and together, we'll retire your survival job and unleash your full potential. It's time to turn your Canadian dream into reality!

#NewcomerJourney #ProfessionalSuccess #ThriveFaster #UnlockYourPotential

Miguel Abascal

Leyton

I provide technical and financial expertise to companies throughout Canada in various industries to successfully secure non-dilutive Funding (SR&ED Tax incentives) as part of their growth and expansion.

SR&ED Innovation Funding Consultant

Franklin SR&ED Consulting 

I help science and tech companies communicate their research efforts to the CRA for Scientific Research and Experimental Development (SR&ED) tax incentives. I've completed 40+ technical interviews and 125+ technical write-ups, 70% of which were software.

This entails:
Facilitating and organizing meetings and follow-ups with SR&ED claimants to identify applicable projects and interviewing subject matter experts to collect data required for the technical write-up. 

Creating SR&ED technical write-ups using standard scientific writing principles for one company a day along with editing resulting in up to an average of 4 claimants receiving their write-ups for review per week. 

Working as a technical consultant for IT, technology, manufacturing, chemical, and biological SR&ED projects averaging $50 000 in claim value.

SR&ED Account Manager and Technical Writer

Banhall Consulting Ltd.

Wrote SR&ED technical reports for software companies from provided interview transcripts.

SR&ED Software Technical Consultant

FundTact

I facilitated interviews for SR&ED claims for various food and beverage organizations and created detailed SR&ED reports for the organization.

SR&ED Technical Consultant

Kundoodles

In my free time, I enjoy exploring my artistic talent. I have set up an e-commerce platform to sell my art. I manage all the listing changes, blogging, social media and content creation for this platform. I develop social media calendars and marketing strategies for the platform and educate other artists on how to start their Etsy stores.

Ecommerce Business Owner

ERA Environmental Management Solutions

As a science content writer at ERA, I am responsible for content marketing and content marketing strategy development for the sustainability and EHS software. I write SEO-optimized inbound marketing content for B2B audiences. Responsibilities also include email marketing campaigns, content strategy and planning, writing brochures, eBooks and whitepapers for prospective software clients and existing clients, writing RnD documentation and general technical writing. Overall, I simplify complex scientific and regulatory information for a wide range of audiences that use or are interested in using our sustainability and EHS software. Trained 5 technical writers and created a training course from the
onboarding documents to ensure seamless onboarding for new content writers and technical writers.

Scientific Content Writer

As a science content writer, I research and write thousand-word blog articles from a mini brief and subject matter expert interviews with well-researched peer-reviewed scientific sources for Biotechnology, Tech and Sustainability companies, resulting in increased leads reported.

Science Content Writer

Genomics in Regulatory and Applied Toxicology (GReAT) Laboratory - Carole Yauk

In this role, I conducted scientific research on the effects of Bulky Adducts on DNA to build an Adverse Outcome Pathway for the Genomics in Regulatory and Applied Toxicology (GReAT) Laboratory. This allowed me to explore my love for genetics, science and communication. The AOP is still in progress. https://caroleyauk.weebly.com/great-people.html

Volunteer Research Assistant

Carleton University

Residence Assistants are responsible for facilitating positive relationships, self-awareness and community engagement in Residence communities. They are a role model, resource person, helper, community developer and leader for the students on their floor. They are responsible for about 45 students and are a support system for all the students.

Responsibilities:
Wrote formal weekly logs using Microsoft Word which resulted in an above-average score for meeting deadlines in work evaluations.

Used Microsoft Excel spreadsheets to keep track of forty-three students which resulted in an increase in wellness for the students and a 70% increase in event attendance.

Increased interpersonal and presentation skills from weekly conversations with students and from facilitating community meetings which resulted in students being informed about their rights and responsibilities within the residence building.

Worked in a team of 6 to plan wellness events and to strategize on increasing student engagement which resulted in 3 events with 60% attendance from students in the residence building.

Residence Fellow (Residence Assistant/Don)

National Research Council Canada / Conseil national de recherches Canada

This is a week-long internship that focuses on providing information on biological drug development. The information learnt includes the design, biomanufacturing, clinical and business aspects of the developed drug. 

Recorded results and findings of various forms of literature to review how various target genes can be used in cancer treatment which resulted in a conclusive report on the subject.

Presented and summarized the research findings concisely which resulted in an A grade from program facilitators.

Biotechnology Internship Participant

Hi! I'm a technical writer passionate about simplifying complex scientific and tech information. With expertise in Biology and Biotechnology, plus three years of experience in B2B marketing, grant writing (I have written 150+ SR&ED reports), and communications in life sciences, I can make research accessible to anyone. 

My ability to establish strong connections with clients (I've interviewed 50+ SR&ED Claimants), coupled with my enthusiasm for delving into the nitty-gritty details with scientists and programmers, enables me to present information in a clear and concise manner. If you are looking to enhance your inbound marketing strategies by communicating your research or technology effectively, I am here to help. 

Let's work together to make your message accessible to everyone.

In my free time, I'm a visual artist.
Please check out my Instagram and my Etsy store!
Store: https://www.etsy.com/ca/shop/KunDoodles
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kundoodles/

Kundai Mufara

Lab burnout is real.

But most STEM professionals don’t realize the problem isn’t just the hours or the pay.

It’s misalignment.

You're:
→ Amazing at analysis — but stuck pipetting.
→ Craving autonomy — but trapped in protocol.
→ Curious about the bigger picture — but siloed at one stage.

The truth is:

Burnout in STEM is often a career signal, not a personal failure.

Here’s what most degrees don’t teach you:
 📍 You can pivot out of the lab  (without “starting over).”
 📍 Your skills are transferable (if you know how to frame them).
 📍 Roles like Clinical Trials, Regulatory Affairs, and Medical Affairs exist and might be a good fit

So if the lab isn’t working for you… It doesn’t mean you’ve outgrown science.

 It might just mean you’ve outgrown your role.

What was your lab-to-industry career pivot?

Scientific Research & Experimental Development (SR&ED) Consultant | Science and Tech Innovation Funding Consultant | Visual Artist

The STEM jobs where you use science (but never wear a lab coat).

If you’re a scientist who loves the ideas, but not the experiments, here are a few paths that use your expertise in powerful, unconventional ways:

🔹 Science Communication – Help the public, patients, or policymakers understand complex topics.

🔹 EdTech & Learning Design – Build tools that teach science better than textbooks ever did.

🔹 AI & Data for Healthcare – Collaborate with engineers to shape the future of diagnostics, drug discovery, and more.

🔹 Regulatory & Policy – Translate science into frameworks that protect and inform society.

🔹 Healthcare Investment & Consulting – Guide strategic decisions using your deep understanding of emerging technologies.

🔹 Product & UX Roles in Biotech – Shape the tools researchers use every day.

These are not "alternative" careers.

They're essential to advance science. 

And they're growing fast.

I just found out about a life science career that no one ever talks about

Perfusionists.

They run the heart–lung machine during open-heart surgery.

The salary sits around CAD$90K–$140K+.

Here’s what the training usually looks like 👇

→ A specialized perfusion program (12 to 18 months)
→ Coursework in anatomy, physiology, and medical technology
→ Hands-on labs using perfusion equipment
→ Full-time clinical rotations in the operating room

How to know if it’s for you:
→ You like physiology 
→ You want a patient-facing role without being a doctor or nurse
→ You stay calm in high-pressure environments
→ You enjoy technology and life-support equipment

And the best part is, you don't have to stay in the career forever.

Many perfusionists later pivot into heart-lung machine sales or device-training roles, offering greater flexibility and strong earning potential.

If you’re a STEM grad looking for a niche, high-impact path, this is one worth knowing.

The best STEM candidates don’t have the ‘right’ background.
They have the right story.

And it makes all the difference.

You might not have the perfect job title.

Or the “ideal” degree.

Or 5+ years of exactly the experience the posting asks for (if it's not too technical, of course).

But can you connect the dots between your skills and the role?

You’re already ahead of the game.

Because here’s what hiring managers actually want to know:
🔹 Can you solve the kinds of problems we deal with?
🔹 Can you communicate clearly with people outside your field?
🔹 Can you adapt, learn, and grow with the team?

If you’ve worked in a lab, written a thesis, presented at a conference, trained a new hire, led a project, or translated complex data into real decisions…

You already have more than the right background.

What you need is a story that makes it obvious.

❌ Not a list of tasks.
❌ Not a copy of your CV.
✅ A narrative that shows how your work matters — and how it prepares you for this role.

This is especially true for STEM grads switching industries or leaving academia:
You’re not underqualified.
You’re just undermarketed.

Your background doesn’t need to be perfect.

 It needs to be positioned.

If you hate benchwork, you might love building.

Not every scientist is meant to wear a lab coat forever.

Some get their thrill from creating, not pipetting.

From designing tools that enable discovery, not just running experiments ourselves.

🔧 Some build software to automate lab workflows.
 🎨 Others design user experiences for scientific tools.
 🧠 Many bring systems thinking into product, innovation, or operations roles, applying their science brain to new kinds of puzzles.

I’ve seen scientists thriving as:
→ Product managers at health tech startups
→ UX researchers designing tools for geneticists
→ Data scientists supporting clinical trials
→ Innovation leads the shaping of future R&D strategy

Because some people build experiments, others build the systems that enable experiments.

If you're a scientist who loves the why, but not the wet lab, there's a whole world of "building" waiting for you.

Science trains you to be exact and granular (until it’s time to talk about yourself in an interview).

And that’s exactly why so many science grads bomb interviews. 

They know the data.
They’ve published the results.
They’ve spent years training their brains to focus on accuracy.

But when it comes to communicating value in a job interview?
❌ They go vague.
❌ They list tasks.
❌ They give a timeline instead of a takeaway.

“I worked on X, then I did Y, and then I presented at Z…”

Interviewers aren’t grading your research.

They’re searching for impact.

If you want to stand out, you have to translate your work (not just describe it).

Here’s how to fix it 

1️⃣ Turn facts into outcomes
Instead of: “I conducted protein assays…”
Try: “I reduced experiment time by 30% through a more efficient assay method.”

2️⃣ Frame your experience around results
Instead of: “I was part of a grant proposal team…”
Try: “I contributed key data that helped secure $500K in funding.”

3️⃣ Replace tasks with transformation
Not: “I taught undergrads.”
But: “I redesigned lab sessions that boosted student confidence and engagement.”

Your goal in an interview isn’t to sound smart.

Your goal is to show how you solve problems and how you can make your employer's life easier.

You already think like a scientist.

So learn to speak like an ideal candidate.

If you're overthinking the “Tell me about yourself" question, the real answer is simpler.

Don't list every degree and job you've ever had in chronological order 
(They have your resume...they know.)

This gives a long-winded timeline with no clear takeaway.

A better answer starts with something like:
“I’m a research scientist turned project manager, with a track record of leading teams and translating technical results into decisions.”

This makes the interviewer curious, 
How did you get there? Then opens the door to showing value.

Then, share a few highlights relevant to the role.
✅ What is your why?
✅ What problems have you solved?
✅ What are you great at (with metrics)?

And finally, add a small personal detail.

Not because it’s “professional.”

But because it makes you memorable.

✅ One line about how you coach youth soccer.
✅ Or your love for hiking.
✅ Or the science podcast you never miss.

It humanizes you.

And sometimes, that’s what actually makes people lean in.

Because at the end of the day, interviews aren’t only about checking boxes.

They’re about connection.

Don’t narrate your academic timeline.

 Tell the story of the version of you they’d be excited to work with.

7 high-paying healthcare jobs no one tells science grads about.

1️⃣ Radiation Therapist
→ Delivers targeted radiation to treat cancer.
Salary: $80,000–$120,000+

2️⃣ Dosimetrist
→ Calculates the exact radiation dose a patient needs.
Salary: $95,000–$140,000+

3️⃣ Perfusionist
→ Runs the heart–lung machine during open-heart surgery.
Salary: $90,000–$180,000+

4️⃣ Heart & Lung Machine Sales / Clinical Specialist
→ Trains hospitals and surgical teams on bypass equipment (high commission potential).
Salary: $110,000–$200,000+

5️⃣ Nuclear Medicine Technologists
→ Uses radioactive tracers and imaging to diagnose disease.
Salary: $70,000–$110,000+

6️⃣  Respiratory Therapist
→ Helps patients breathe — from NICU babies to ICU patients.
Salary: $65,000–$100,000+

7️⃣  Speech-Language Pathologist
→ Treats communication, swallowing, and cognitive disorders.
Salary: $75,000–$110,000+

These careers sit at the intersection of science, technology, and patient care. 

And they don’t require becoming a doctor to make an impact (or earn well).

Did any of these pique your interest?

Did you know almost every country has its own career handbook? 

In the US, it’s the Occupational Outlook Handbook.
https://www.bls.gov/ooh/

In Canada, it’s the NOC Career Handbook.
https://lnkd.in/dizD6PJn

You can look up any job and instantly see the salary, skills, growth outlook, and more...

If you’re exploring new roles, these tools make it so much easier.

What job are you curious to look up first?

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Kundai Mufara

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