Our latest #SpotlightSeries features Etso Akamiokhor! Originally from Lagos, Nigeria, Etso now calls St. John's NL home, and works as a Project Manager with

‍Professionally, Etso is driven by a commitment to delivering projects on time and meeting stakeholder expectations. She is deeply invested in her team's success and the impact of their work on the Verisult. Passionate about self-development, Etso constantly seeks opportunities for personal and professional growth, fueled by natural curiosity. She love helping others, particularly newcomers, understanding the challenges of migrating and settling into a new country with a different culture and climate.When asked what advice she had for her younger self, Etso emphasized the importance of building and maintaining relationships:

“Networking isn’t just about finding opportunities—it's about learning from others, offering your help in return, and always staying curious. Never stop learning. The ability to adapt to new challenges and continually grow is invaluable.”

#SpotlightSeries: Meet William Ping!

Discover the inspirations behind his gripping novel, Hollow Bamboo. Based on a true story, Hollow Bamboo recounts with humour and sympathy the often-brutal struggles, and occasional successes, faced by some of the first Chinese immigrants in Newfoundland. It is a journey of heartbreak, sacrifice, brotherhood and family ties. But most of all, it is about love and survival on the Rock.

As for how his NL roots have helped him succeed, William shares:"My roots have been a huge part of my success. People all over the world enjoy reading about Newfoundland, as it is a kind of mystical place for a lot of people who haven't been here. As well, Newfoundlanders love to read about Newfoundland because there is such a fierce sense of pride for where we came from. And my work has generally been focused on telling stories about communities that we may not have stereotypically thought of as 'Newfoundland communities' but that have in fact been a part of Newfoundland culture for decades. Readers appreciate hearing and learning about things they didn't already know."

This weeks #SpotlightSeries shines a light on Angelise States! Originally from Toronto, Ontario, Angelise moved to St. John's at an early age and grew up along the narrows of Fort Amherst. She works as a Content Marketing Lead with trophi.ai, and in her spare time enjoys reading, spending time with family, and leading @MileOneRunClub on free social community runs.

Newfoundland’s supportive community has helped shape Angelise’s journey. She says:"The network I have in NL is pretty amazing. Newfoundlanders are truly so supportive and the people I have met throughout my life have exposed me to so many things. People often refer to St. John's negatively as a small town where everyone knows everyone...but I think that's a positive! How fortunate are we to have the ability to connect so closely with smart and successful people."

Meet Rebecca Angel, featured in this week's #SpotlightSeries! Rebecca calls Squamish, British Columbia home, but always finds joy when she revisits her roots in St. John's, Newfoundland. As a dynamic professional in business development and product and software training with Oticon Canada, Rebecca dedicates her time to creating resources and tools for the pediatric hearing aid market. Alongside her talented marketing team, she passionately supports children with hearing loss, their parents, and teachers. Rebecca's role takes her across Western Canada, engaging with clients and attending conferences. Outside of work, she keeps busy by skiing, mountain biking, hiking, hosting dinners, and spending time with her daughter, Zoey. How have her NL roots helped her succeed?"Growing up in Newfoundland, a place known for its friendliness and strong sense of community, played a big role in shaping my empathetic and social nature. The island's culture emphasizes connection and support, which undoubtedly fostered my ability to understand and relate to others - a key trait that has helped me grow in my career. "

This week's #SpotlightSeries highlights Lauren Wiseman! Meet Lauren, Stakeholder Relationship Manager at HDR, showcasing the power of networking in driving a successful career. Originally from St. John's NL, and now based in Toronto ON, Lauren has built strong connections that have been pivotal to her professional growth and is always eager to uplift others. Why is networking important to Lauren?"I pride myself on building and maintaining strong professional relationships that have helped grow my career. I have had a lot of support from my network throughout my career, and I am always happy to help others who are seeking career support."

We’re thrilled to feature Matthew Prim in this week’s #SpotlightSeries! Meet Matt, Engineering Supervisor at ExxonMobil. Originally from St. John’s, NL, Matt’s career in engineering has taken him around the world, with previous roles in St. John’s, Halifax, Houston, Moscow, and Abu Dhabi. Now based in Bangalore, India, he keeps busy exploring with his family and fostering his team's development, with a focus on drilling and carbon capture initiatives. Matt attributes much of his professional and personal growth to his Newfoundland roots, sharing, "I have tremendous pride in my Newfoundland identity. It has shaped me and taught me the importance of empathy and authenticity, both at work and in life.”

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A team member #SpotlightSeries featuring Sophia Murray! Sophia recently joined the team as our new Digital Marketing Strategist Intern for the summer. She is a fourth-year student at pursuing a Bachelor of Business Administration alongside a Bachelor of Arts in French. Originally from Conception Bay South and now based in St. John's, Sophia brings a unique blend of experience in social enterprise and digital marketing to our team. GlobalNL's mission resonates with Sophia's passion for forming impactful connections across industries through creative communication and shared interests. She believes in the power of storytelling and community engagement to bridge gaps and shape meaningful professional relationships." Joining Global NL as a Digital Marketing Strategist is an incredible opportunity to amplify the unique stories and talents of our community. I'm excited to contribute to a strong network that creates lasting connections worldwide."

Member Spotlight: Simon Mac Odemba! Meet Simon Mac Odemba, Founder and Consultant at Venna Consulting. Originally from Moshi, Tanzania, Simon found his second home in St. John's, NL, where he completed his Mechanical Engineering degree and kick-started his career.Now based in Vancouver, BC, Simon thrives in helping startups scale and grow, especially those with a social or environmental cause! For Simon, networking is everything. As he shares, "without a network, I wouldn't have pivoted into the world of tech startups or started my consultancy. 100% of my business comes from referrals in my network.” Connect with Simon and be part of his growing network!

We're thrilled to feature Taylor Young in today's #SpotlightSeries! Originally from St. John’s, Taylor is now the Chief Strategy Officer at Colab Software. Her advice? "You really don't need a master plan to enjoy your work and do things that interest you - just keep moving in the general direction of what you enjoy and what feels meaningful to you and keep on iterating."

A team member #SpotlightSeries featuring Gabriella Olmedo! Gaby has recently joined our team as the new Digital Strategist Intern for the Fall. She is a fourth-year international student from El Salvador, currently pursuing a Bachelor of Business Administration at . Her background in marketing and communications, coupled with her experience working with nonprofits, makes her a valuable addition to our team!Gaby is inspired by our leadership's commitment to give back to the community and sees GlobalNL as an excellent platform for Newfoundlanders worldwide to connect and share valuable insights.Her enthusiasm is contagious as she shares, "I’m especially excited to take on the Digital Strategist role because it gives me the opportunity to help connect young professionals, like myself, with global industry leaders."