Honouring Black Excellence: Celebrating stories of achievement and community
This Black Excellence Day, we’re sharing some of the many stories of Black excellence within our university community. Observed annually on Jan. 15, Black Excellence Day honors the achievements and stories of Black people while fostering solidarity with Black Canadians ahead of Black History Month in February. The day was established by the Ninandotoo Society, whose president and co-founder is Royal Roads Bachelor of Commerce in Entrepreneurial Management grad Kamika Williams.
Order up: coffee with a side of community inspires grad to give
For as long as James Gatiti can remember, his life has centered around two passions – coffee and community service.
For Gatiti, the son of third generation coffee farmers in Kenya, coffee isn’t just a family business. It’s a way to influence social change.
“The coffee business can be a win-win,” says the Master of Arts in Intercultural and International Communication alum. He co-founded Taste of Kenya, a direct trade coffee company that bypasses intermediaries, ensuring farmers receive fair compensation for their produce. Managed exclusively by his mother and sister now, Taste of Kenya exemplifies Gatiti’s mission to prioritize farmers’ livelihoods over profits.
Read his story about paying it forward and how he’s keeping his commitment to social change brewing.
Appiah-Brafoh is Royal Roads’ inaugural DBA graduate
When Edward Appiah-Brafoh walked across the Convocation stage at the Dogwood Auditorium this spring, he took the latest steps in his long personal, professional, educational and geographic journey to become the first-ever graduate of Royal Roads University’s Doctor of Business Administration program.
Earlier this year, Appiah-Brafoh became the first student from the inaugural DBA cohort to successfully defend his doctoral dissertation.
Talking the talk with the skills to back it up
Bachelor of Arts in Professional Communication alum and Master of Arts in Tourism Management student Lisa Wallace used to avoid mentioning she was raised in Toronto’s Regent Park.
“I’ve been living my whole life trying not to perpetuate an ignorant stereotype,” says Wallace. “The assumption is you’re going to be a good-for-nothing.”
Now, Wallace says she is open about her roots. She aims to harness her lived experiences to inform the next chapter of her life.
Dapo Bankole: The hidden struggles and triumphs of immigrant professionals in Canada
Dapo Bankole had a dream – to make a new life in Canada.
But when the IT professional arrived in Canada from Nigeria with his family, his belongings and 12 years of professional experience, his dreams were quickly dashed.
“Recruiters and hiring managers ignored me,” says the Royal Roads Master of Arts in Leadership alum and current RRU Doctor of Social Sciences student. “I lacked Canadian experience.”
Why do nurses leave rural jobs? This DBA candidate is seeking answers
With a shortage of nurses in many provinces, Canadian hospitals struggle with staff retention. In the case of rural hospitals, research by Royal Roads University Doctor of Business Administration candidate Nathan Banda found that internal factors around job satisfaction, workplace culture and support are critical in many nurses’ decisions to leave for urban centres.
Read his story and what his research found that might help better support recruitment and retention.