Zenia Menezes on Moving Cities, Making Connections & Volunteering

Moving to a new place is as fulfilling as it is challenging. Building a network, while finding yourself in this new space, can be a daunting task.

As a first-generation immigrant, Zenia Menezes shares with us how she built pathways for growth, navigated networking and set up her own passion project that is blooming into a business.

This interview is part of a series – Women in the Six – celebrating extraordinary women in Toronto following their dreams and charting their own course for success. 

Excerpts from the conversation

On Moving Cities

Z: Moving to another continent was always my intention, but one I never thought I would go through with, simply because I’ve never been a big risk-taker, and uprooting your whole life at 28 can be daunting. There was a lot I would have to leave behind, yet this move held the promise of new opportunities. Moving to a new city/country I’d never visited was a challenge, but also one of the most humbling learning experiences of my life.

Coming to Toronto has been the most significant and rewarding leap of faith so far – adopting multiculturalism, embracing opportunities, exploring new places, widening my network, and meeting some of the kindest people I am honoured to call family. As a creature of consistency, watching everything in my life change so drastically was overwhelming at first - but this entire experience and this city specifically had pushed me to rediscover myself while holding on to who I am at the very core.

It pushed me out of my comfort zone and we all know too well, how that facilitates growth. I learned to insert myself into new situations that led me to meet new people, uncover new ideas, and become more open-minded and emphatic.

As a new immigrant, I believe you don't have to leave your culture behind, nor do you have to erase who you are to exist or be accepted. An open outlook to experience without judgement and a little courage to take chances will get you much further than your fears. Initially, when you move, especially as a woman, you may sometimes feel like you've lost your voice. You may feel like your confidence has taken a hit. I can assure you that it is only in the beginning. Once you start to scale the mountain and stop to take in the view, you will see how much you have achieved. And how all of this is worth it.

On the Value of Networking

Z: Networking is the cornerstone of my journey in this city. It opened up new avenues, led me to some of my closest friends today, and enabled me to give back in many ways. 

I encourage all newcomers to attend networking events in your area. There are so many forums – for artists, entrepreneurs, bookclubs, moms-to-be, freelancers – that you will find something aligned with your interests. I found most of these opportunities through Facebook Groups and LinkedIn. A simple hashtag search – #networking or #networkingevent – will provide you with a range of options. 

There were several people who met me for the first time, spoke to me, asked me a couple of questions, and were more than open to referring me for a job or introducing me to the right people who would enrich my professional journey. This really helped me build my network and unlock many opportunities which I would not have been able to bag if I were doing this on my own. 

On Making True Connections

Z: I think cultivating the habit of listening is very important when building your network. It's not always about an elevator pitch. You don't have to enter a conversation with a set of questions or a list of answers to give about yourself. 

Do you need to be prepared to concisely put forth what you do? Hell yes! But allow the other person to talk. Allow the conversation to take its course. Don't be sales-y. It's hard to connect with someone whose only agenda is to get a job/referral/connect. 

If you land a job because of the networking event, excellent, but always remember that you're going there to first make connections – that is truly invaluable. 

On the Power of Volunteering

Z: When I first came to Toronto, I looked for ways to get involved in the community – immerse myself in the culture, mingle with my neighbours and understand the place I called home. Volunteering gave me much more than I ever envisioned. 

When you volunteer, you cross paths with numerous people from varied backgrounds working across sectors. Due to these interactions, one of the top skills I walked away with was adapting my communication style to different people – to understand them, make them feel comfortable and connect with them. The second takeaway from volunteering was building a supportive network.

It is pretty easy to volunteer along with a full-time job. Most volunteering gigs ask you to commit no more than two to three hours in a week. I think if we add up all the time we scroll on socials, it would amount to much more than two to three hours a week. 

On Starting Something On Your Own

Z: I have always been a writer at heart – lots of words, none of the confidence to match it. As for many across the globe, 2020 proved to be a tipping point. Plenty of time to reflect, introspective, and no excuse to put pen to paper. I launched Life and Lemonade – a space that vocalizes the unspoken.

In the last 2.5 years, I have published 33 articles rooted in personal experiences and learnings from a very transformative phase of my life. I borrowed from every aspect of who I was; how I found my footing as an immigrant, lessons from a long-distance relationship – I posted raw pieces in a world of filters.

My tiny stroke of confidence was rewarded when so many people related to the topics I penned. It urged me to continue writing and pushed me to write even when I doubted myself. I also ventured into video and published a segment on co-existing with grief. I recently launched a sticker line that reflects the articles I have written. Through this journey of starting something from scratch, I learned to make the time, be disciplined and be committed to this body of work.

At the start, you really need to sit down and ask yourself why you want to do something – what drives you? What is your objective? Once you have that clearly laid out, you need to believe it and run with it. The rest will flow. Also, never underestimate how much time it will actually take you and whether you are ready to commit that kind of time to that project, that business, or that blog that you want to start.

You can catch up on all of Zenia’s writings on her blog. When she isn’t writing and basking by a pool, you will find her creating campaigns that reach your phone via the mobile-gaming advertisement agency she works at. You can connect with Zenia via LinkedIn and visit her online store to bag yourself a new set of stickers!

If you know any woman in Toronto who you would like featured in our series – Women in the Six – please reach out to naomi.menezes@ywib.ca