Judia Neida Joseph : Dream Bigger Than Your Fear: The Adventure of a Young Immigrant
3 min read
Judia Neida Joseph : Dream Bigger Than Your Fear: The Adventure of a Young Immigrant
When Judia Neida Joseph arrived in Canada in 2018, she was a teenager with little more than determination in her suitcase and an unshakable belief that she could build something greater than the life she left behind.
Today, she stands as the Founder of LEagler, a national non-profit empowering young immigrants and newcomers to not only find their place in Canada, but to thrive. Her story is one of courage, reinvention, and the transformative power of resilience.
Landing in Canada as an asylum seeker, Judia entered a world filled with uncertainty — a new culture, a new language, a new beginning. Yet even then, one conviction guided her: “I wasn’t going to let my circumstances define me.
Within six months of starting high school, she joined the student council, a first taste of leadership that would shape her journey. Soon after, she discovered the Youth Future Program, a local initiative offering young people hands-on work experience. Assigned to Bruyère, a healthcare organization in Ottawa, Judia began a summer job that would turn into a long-term opportunity — and the birthplace of her professional confidence. Over the next four years, she rose from summer student to supervisor, facilitating employee training sessions and leading teams of staff and volunteers. Each role became a classroom where she learned that leadership is not defined by titles but by impact.
The Pause That Became a Lesson
After graduating high school in 2019, Judia faced a silent crisis shared by many newcomers, her immigration status barred her from attending university. For a young woman whose dreams were rooted in education, it felt like watching the world move forward without her. But rather than give in to discouragement, she pivoted. She focused on what she could control — personal growth, professional experience, and community engagement. She built a foundation through work, mentorship, and relentless curiosity.
When her status finally changed and she enrolled at the University of Ottawa to study Accounting and Finance, she was already far ahead — a young professional armed not only with knowledge, but with life-earned wisdom.
Breaking Barriers — Redefining What’s Possible
In 2023, a new challenge emerged. “People like you don’t make it into top companies,” someone told her — a statement heavy with doubt, prejudice, and limitation. But Judia’s instinct has never been to accept limitations. “Was I scared? Yes,” she admits. “But I love trying instead of trusting people’s words 100 %.”
She applied anyway. She earned her first internship at IG Wealth Management, then another at Deloitte — proving that capability transcends bias. Through each experience, she redefined what it means to be a young immigrant professional: not someone seeking acceptance, but someone shaping the future of Canada’s workforce.
From Storytelling to Movement — The Birth of LEagler
In early 2024, a mentor encouraged her to share her journey publicly. Reluctant at first, she began posting on LinkedIn — reflections on leadership, growth, and overcoming obstacles as a newcomer.
The response was immediate.
Her words resonated with thousands of young professionals who saw themselves in her story. What began as storytelling became community-building.
By August 2024, that community had a name: LEagler — a non-profit dedicated to equipping young immigrants and newcomers with the tools, resources, and mentorship to thrive.
Since its inception, LEagler has:
Supported over 500 young immigrants through programs and events.
Built a network of 1,500 professionals across Canada.
Partnered with public and private organizations to open doors for underrepresented youth.
More than an organization, LEagler is a movement — a declaration that young immigrants are not defined by their struggles, but by their potential.
A Vision for the Next Generation
Judia’s mission reaches beyond her own success. She envisions a Canada where:
- No youth is left behind because of immigration status.
- Young immigrants possess the confidence and resources to excel in any industry.
- Communities celebrate diversity not as difference, but as strength.
“I believe that young immigrants don’t just have to survive in a new country,” she says. “They can thrive, lead, and create meaningful impact.”
Her journey continues — from student to founder, from newcomer to changemaker — each chapter a testament to what happens when courage outruns fear.
Because when you dream bigger than your fear, you don’t just change your life.
You inspire a generation.