Meet Alyssa Lai. Alyssa was born in Malaysia but now calls Hamilton her second home. Since arriving to Canada in 2008, she’s worked and volunteered for more than 10 nonprofits and continues to sit on numerous boards. A former DiverseCity Fellow and current ELN communications lead, Alyssa wields her public relations background as a tool to highlight the important work of community organizations across the city.
To learn more about Alyssa, read her spotlight below.
I speak (other than English) …
Other than English, I speak Cantonese (my mother tongue) and Malay language (Malaysia’s national language). Sometimes, I throw in a little Manglish (Malaysian English) that’s all three languages combined in a sentence!
I was born in …
I was born in the northern peninsular Malaysia. Located in Southeast Asia, Malaysia is where you’ll see sunshine all year round. I spent 18 years in the city of Ipoh, which is home to more than 710,000 residents and is Malaysia’s third largest city.
But I currently live in …
I’m one of those lucky people who have two homes: in Malaysia and here in Hamilton, where I currently reside. To borrow a friend’s joke, Hamilton is not a city of half a million residents but it’s a city where you’ll meet the same group of people half a million times. It’s two degrees of separation here in the Hammer! I’m proud of the city’s grittiness, the people who are unapologetically themselves, the supportive business community, and the many individuals who roll up their sleeves to get to work for the greater good. Hamilton is made of steel, both in its history and human spirit.
I spend most of my free time…
My most relaxing time of the day is when I’m working out at the gym. For at least an hour, I remove myself from distractions and focus on a range of exercises. Trust me, it’s therapeutic – and fun!
The issues in our region that keep me up at night are…
I’m concerned about precarious work, particularly among young people, and immigration and settlement of newcomers. These are systemic issues that require multi-level and cross-sectoral collaboration across the region for us to tackle them effectively. While these issues often keep me up at night, I remain persistently patient, driven and hopeful so that I can best contribute and be a part of the solution.
My greatest city-building accomplishment to date is …
I’m most proud and grateful for an incredible year leading a young professional network, Hamilton HIVE in 2016 as a newly-minted registered non-profit. Together, as a team of young professionals, we created the organization’s first strategic plan, significantly increased sponsorship dollars and achieved a record-number of attendees at our signature young professional conference, HIVEX. But the real rewards were the friendships I’ve gained and the lessons I’ve learned from each one of my talented peers, who’ve made me a better person and leader.
One characteristic every leader should possess is …
Every leader should listen. It’s one of the most basic communication skills but also the hardest to master. True listening is about digesting and processing what you have heard to prompt action and response. In a world where it is so easy to succumb into echo chambers, with everyone having opinion about everything – and thinking theirs is more righteous than others – it is increasingly important to seek new, competing perspectives, shut up, sit back, listen, reflect, and learn.
One thing I do to ensure I continue to grow and develop as a leader is…
As someone who has been on the receiving end of many opportunities and privileges, I’m a firm believer of making space to elevate others. This means to give and give more. Whether it’s a simple referral to a contact, being a reference, inviting someone new to participate in an initiative or sharing insights on a specific issue, I’m determined to expand the table, to make more room for others to exercise their own leadership.
If you want to get more engaged in your city or community you should ….
If you’re within the region, come out to Hamilton HIVE and ELN events! 😉
But that aside, start with exploration. This means figuring out your interests and finding avenues or events that may interest you. Be open to learning and inserting yourself in uncomfortable situations, such as in spaces where you may not know anyone.
Have the courage to reach out for coffee chats to seek suggestions or referrals. You would be surprised by how supportive people are.
Above all, start somewhere to get to know your community.
One surprising thing about me/little known fact is… (can be personal or professional!)
I come from a family of teachers. Dad was a principal in an all-boys school. Mum was a lecturer in a polytechnic. My sister is a postdoctoral fellow at the University of Oxford. Now, I teach part-time at Mohawk College. The apple didn’t fall far from the tree!
A hobby or talent of mine that people may not know a lot about is…
I’m an avid (but picky) video gamer. I immerse myself in fictional worlds, embody characters who wield the most elaborated (and cool) weapons and cast complex spells to defeat monsters.
To me, leadership means…
To me, leadership means creating the conditions and environment for others to become leaders in their own way.
Diverse leadership is important because….
Inclusive solutions to complex societal issues cannot be created by a homogenous group of people because no two lived experiences are the same. By challenging ourselves to listen, inviting new and underrepresented voices, and being open to competing views, we can foster inclusion and build a region where we all thrive.
To me, an inclusive city/region/GTHA looks like…
It’s a space where no one is afraid to speak truth to power – and be listened to. This means a region where everyone feels like they belong and are equipped to maximize their full potential.
The impact I hope to see through my term with the ELN is…
I hope to build and strengthen partnerships across the region through integrated communications. I aim to leverage and build on existing ELN channels to encourage engagement and exchange of ideas between ELN members, whether it’s through social media, events or one-on-one over a good cup of coffee.