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In 2020, right before the pandemic, I was hired as a senior manager by an awarded Singaporean proptech company to head its expansion into the Philippines. Two years later, I quit. Leaving behind a career of over 13 years in marketing to start over in Canada.
I was 35 when I brought my family on this journey. It’s been a year now, and I have never been happier. Here’s the short of it:
In my late 20s, I navigated my career to achieve my goal of heading my own marketing team. I became a brand manager at 27 and then a marketing head by 30. I was particularly proud of this because when I planned out my career at 22, my timeline was to be a head of marketing by age 35.
For all intents and purposes, I smashed that goal by 5 years. Yet, I left all of that, packed my bags, and took my wife and kids to start a new life. From scratch. As an international student.
I enjoyed my career as a marketer and a people leader: I had the fortunate role of being at the helm of strategy and working with talented professionals to execute campaigns. But, life in my home country wasn’t the best. In fact, I feared for the future of my kids if we stayed there. Not because the Philippines was unsafe, but, because I wanted to shield my children from the hurdles I faced. Endless hours wasted in soul-sucking traffic, a society plagued by classism and discrimination, and a scarcity of opportunities for success.
Please don’t misunderstand me; the Philippines holds its own unique beauty. However, I strongly believed that my children deserved better options in life.
As a marketer, I encountered numerous obstacles that could fill an entire blog series. These included political issues hindering a real estate project, a hierarchical culture that prioritized personal connections for promotions, and a system where money greased most wheels. Furthermore, navigating the daily commute often required adding two to three-hour buffers due to the consistent car-mageddon.
Though I cherished the creativity and strategic nature of my career, the daily grind took its toll and more often than not – I hated how hard life was becoming.
With much thought (and research consisting of consuming ungodly hours of YouTube content), my wife and I decided to take our chances in Canada—a first-world country in need of immigrant talent.
The whole process of how we went from a comfortable life in the Philippines to an enjoyable yet challenging rewrite of our lives in Canada warrants its own exploration through an article. However, there are key realizations I’ve had in our 1st year in Calgary, Alberta:
- Education is vital, not just within the academic realm, but also in maintaining an open and eager mindset for learning. It can shape your fate in a new country.
- Stepping out of your comfort zone accelerates personal growth, but be prepared for unexpected challenges along the way.
- Networking and volunteering your expertise are invaluable for building connections and establishing yourself in a new community.
- Cultural differences should be respected, appreciated, and celebrated. Embrace the diversity and learn from it.
In my first term as a Business Administration student, I was able to be part of my college’s student council as the Chair. This was a fantastic opportunity for me to work in an organization while studying, contribute to the campus community, and establish a network.
I was also able to get an internship position at a non-profit organization. In my final interview, the VP of Marketing asked me why I applied for such a junior role given my experience. My answer?
“I’m cognizant of the fact that marketing principles are similar wherever you go, I want to gain experience in a Canadian setting to see how marketing teams operate here.”
Well, it may not have been exactly worded like that, but you get the point, right?
Truth be told, I wanted to confirm if the skills I gained in the Philippines would stack up in a more progressive environment.
I’m happy to say that I could keep pace in both academics and my internship.
My decision to change paths from a successful career as a senior marketer in the Philippines to become an international student in Canada has been transformative. Through this journey, I’ve gained valuable skills, knowledge, and personal growth. More importantly, my family and I have found a better quality of life and brighter prospects for the future.
It’s never too late to change the path you take. I’m not yet at my destination, but this decision was well worth it.
Have you ever found yourself at a crossroads, where changing your life’s path was the best decision you made? How did it all unfold? What obstacles did you face, and how did they shape your journey? Share your incredible stories and insights in the comments below! Let’s have a chat, inspire each other, and embrace change together for a brighter future!
