How the LEAD program helped Navrioska Mateo find community and a job she loves

LEAD and LEAD for New Moms are free workforce development programs for young immigrant women. Currently offered by New Women New Yorkers several times a year at four New York Public Library branches in Manhattan and the Bronx, the programs focus on soft skills training, teamwork, and leadership development to support and prepare participants for entry or reintegration into the workforce in NYC or to pursue higher education. Here, we introduce you to one of our inspiring LEAD series graduates.

Interview by Edil Cuepo
Photos courtesy of Navrioska Mateo

When I called Navrioska on a recent night, she answered warmly, but admitted she was tired from a long day at work. She did sound tired, but still spoke with an air of confidence and sureness. I was eager to learn more about her story and her experience with the New Women New Yorkers LEAD program, which she participated in at Mid-Manhattan Library in spring 2017.

Along with her dog, Princess Leia, Navrioska moved from Dominican Republic to New York in September 2016 to be with her sister. I was impressed to learn that Navrioska is a skilled telecommunications engineer and project manager. She arrived in New York with an MBA degree and five years of experience in building and managing network solutions in her home country. Finding a job in New York was the last thing she was worried about, as I discovered over the course of our conversation, but life didn’t quite go according to plan.

How did you hear about the New Women New Yorkers LEAD program?

As I didn’t have a lot of things to do while I was looking for a job besides existing, I was looking at random events on Eventbrite. I saw the LEAD program, but I didn’t pay attention. My boyfriend sent me a link to the same LEAD program. I was like, ‘This is meant to be. You do something with your life here.’ So, I read it again and registered and just started the program. It was very organic.

 

Did you know anyone else who was going?

No, I went to the library knowing no one.

What was that like on the first day?

The first day was super awkward because we were all unknown to each other. It was just a bunch of women, sitting, staring at each other. And then, after two weeks, most of us were friends. I still have really, really good relationships with a few of them.

How did you find the LEAD program?

The program for me was cool. It is more of a support team, just letting you know that you’re not alone in that situation – being new in a country, not knowing enough people, leaving everything behind, and the struggle of finding the first job. That was the situation that I had when I started the program.

Tell me more about your experience trying to find a job.

So for me, moving to the US, I had never had a gap of working. I have always worked. After I graduated, I was a network engineer for a few years and then a technical project manager for the last two years, and then I decided to move to the US.

In New York, I applied to hundreds of jobs without getting a job. Even though I had a Master’s degree, I had a project management certification, I had my CCNA (Cisco Certified Network Associate Routing & Switching certification), I had a bunch of work experience, they were still not giving me the job. It was either because I didn’t have local work experience or because I was overqualified for the position. Those are the reasons that I got after I interviewed.

How did that experience make you feel?

Frustrated and awful. At some point, I didn’t even want to leave the house. It was a struggle of up and down and then I started exploring other things. I did an art exhibit because I do watercolors. I went to The Moth for storytelling (New Women New Yorkers partnership with The Moth for story-telling). I told two stories to more than 300 people — random strangers — on a stage! So, I did this out-of-the-box experience that I would never have experienced if I was working.

That is so great that you were able to make the most out of your time.

It was hard for me, and some days were really bad. I cried and everything. But now, I am really glad it happened because I did so many different things that I would have never done if it weren’t for that situation.

How are you doing now?

Right now, I am at my second weekend into a new job. I finally got a job as a network engineer! I am super hyped and happy. It was perfect. Everything was not how I planned it to be, but as it was meant to be.

Do you think the LEAD program helped you find a job? Did it give you confidence?

Yes, I think for me going through the LEAD program and the mock interview sessions, it was really good. It gives you tips on what they (employers) are expecting when you go into an interview. The US culture is very different from any other cultures. So there are triggers: what words you have to avoid, what maneuvers you have to avoid, things that normally you don’t even think (about). Locals do it by default and we don’t know because we’re immigrants, so it did help. It’s as simple as selling yourself. For some cultures, selling yourself is a bad thing. For the US, it’s expected. So those types of tips are really useful to have in mind.

What were some of the biggest challenges of the program?

I don’t think there were any real challenges … but waking up early! I had a bad sleeping pattern when I attended the program! So, that was pretty much it. Waking up on time because I like to be on time. The program has a little bit of everything that you need.

Do you have any advice you could offer someone else who is thinking about trying LEAD?

Jump right in and tell all your friends!

If you’d like to know more about the talented and free-spirited Navrioska, follow her on Instagram @navrioska and follow her and her sister @dos.afros, her dog @leiathecocker, and her art @navrix.