Olaitan Onyebuoha

7th Laurel Immigration Consulting Inc

Olaitan is the Director and Founder of 7th Laurel Immigration, a black female-led immigration consulting firm based in New Brunswick. She believes everyone should have access to immigration services, regardless of their purchasing power; hence, she is on a mission to make immigration support solutions safe and easy with a mobile app and digital enabled knowledge sharing and information hub.

Olaitan immigrated to Saint John from Nigeria in 2014 as an international student in the University of New Brunswick (UNB) 's MBA program, majoring in Entrepreneurship and Technology Management. She founded her first business Ocrej Consulting where she assisted with the settlement of over 100 international students in Canada from inception to date.

Olaitan Onyebuoha is a trailblazer committed to making a difference in the lives of Blacks and immigrants in Canada. She is instrumental in building rapport and fostering relationships in professional, business, community, and family relationships. This social entrepreneur is very civic minded.

She is the visioner and pioneer president of the Black Business & Professional Network Inc, vice-president of the Nigerian Canadian Association of New Brunswick, and a mentor with the SJMNC Jump Start Program and Study & Stay NB program to mention but a few.

A wife and mother of three, Olaitan is passionate about empowering immigrants to employ their skills and experiences in their communities.

Olaitan received several awards and recognition for excellence in academic, business, professional, and community space. In 2021, she received the Canada Vendor's Community Personality Award, and was appointed a member of the Advisory Committee, New Brunswick Women in Business in 2022.

As a top-24 semi-finalist who will get to pitch, what does this opportunity mean to you?

Being selected as a top-24 semi-finalist women-owned business is a tremendous honor for me as a black immigrant who arrived in Canada nine years ago with toddlers. It has been a challenging journey to build my business and access the support I need, but being recognized in this way gives me hope and validation that my hard work has not gone unnoticed. The opportunity to pitch my business is a dream come true. It means that I have the chance to showcase my passion and dedication to the world and share my story with others who may be facing similar struggles. This opportunity also means that I have the potential to secure the resources and funding I need to take my business to the next level and create a better future for my family and community. As a black immigrant woman in Canada, I know firsthand how difficult it can be to access support and resources for your business. But this opportunity has given me a platform to make my voice heard and inspire others to pursue their dreams regardless of their challenges. I am excited and grateful for this chance to share my story, and I hope to make the most of this fantastic opportunity.

What has been a highlight for you in participating in the Rise Up Pitch Competition?

Participating in the Rise Up Pitch Competition was a life-changing experience for me as a small business owner. The training and mentorship I received on creating realistic goals for my business, developing effective marketing strategies, and building a solid business foundation were invaluable. This program gave me the tools and resources to take my business to the next level. One of the most powerful highlights of this program was the one-on-one moments with experts and mentors. These sessions helped me to change my mentality and adopt a more optimistic outlook on my business. The encouragement and guidance from these experienced professionals helped me see the potential for success in my business and gave me the confidence to pursue my goals. Participating in the Rise Up Pitch Competition was a genuinely transformative experience. I am so grateful for the support and guidance I received, and I am confident that the skills and knowledge I gained will serve me well as I continue to grow and develop my business.