Your Career Guide
Tareq Hadhad shares his perspective on creating opportunities for overlooked talent, building workplaces rooted in trust, and why empathy, adaptability, and human values will remain essential as the world of work evolves.
What does the future of work look like to you, and what role can businesses play in creating opportunities for Canadians from all backgrounds?
The future of work must be more inclusive and more human, and employers must lead with compassion and patience as the world is changing more rapidly than ever. The truth is that many people in Canada are still overlooked because of their name, accent, country of origin, postal code, disability, age, or where they gained their experience. Talent is everywhere, but many barriers still keep people out. When my family arrived in Canada after losing everything to the war, we wanted to help our community. We brought our skills and our work ethic and all we needed was someone to see our potential. Canadians gave us that chance. It changed our lives because it came from a place of compassion first and foremost. Businesses have the power to do the same for others. For many, a job is feeling like you belong somewhere and discovering what gives parts of life their meaning. We can hire people based on what they might become and help them find their way. This is especially important for youth, Indigenous people, newcomers, and others who have been left out in the past. A job can bring respect. It can also offer a chance to create a better tomorrow.
How can employers build workplaces where people feel empowered to grow, contribute, and succeed?
People want to feel that their ideas are important and that their employer sees them as a person. They want to feel supported when they fail just as much as they are celebrated when they succeed. Many employers still think of candidates as a position that needs to be filled. We have learned that people do their work when they know why their contribution matters. That’s why employers should speak openly and offer people real chances to take on responsibility and learn new skills while providing them with feedback. They also need to build an environment where mistakes can turn into lessons. If employees are scared to speak up or try something new, the organization will not grow, and the best workplaces are made up of trust. Every workplace needs a shared sense of purpose that everyone in the organization feels part of.
As technology and industries continue to evolve, what skills and qualities do you believe will be most important for the workforce of the future?
Technology can help with major advances in medicine or science, but relying on it for basic thinking creates intellectual laziness. Technology will also keep changing the way we work; however, it will not take away the qualities that help people do great work. Everyone will need to keep learning. The skills that are needed for a job today could be very different in five years; therefore, having the ability to ask questions and deal with change will be very important. At the same time, we should not forget about the value of empathy and kindness. Technology can make work faster and increase productivity, but people give this work the full meaning. The workforce of the future will need people who can use technology carefully while still leading with good judgment and human values.
What advice would you give to Canadians who are looking to build meaningful and resilient careers in today’s changing world of work?
For anyone just about to step into the work world, please know ahead that your career may change several times in your life, but your values should remain your compass at every turn. Accept the help when you need it and do not wait for the opportunity before taking your first step – go on and create that opportunity. Sometimes the most rewarding careers are built through unexpected turns and opportunities that start small. My family had to rebuild our lives and our business from scratch when we came to Canada. We did not have a plan. We started with what we knew and kept moving. We learned through all the hard ways that being resilient is believing that another path is possible and being willing to take it. Keep learning and only choose work that represents your values and is connected to something you care about wholeheartedly. In the end, we must recognize that success is measured by the difference you leave behind.
