OUR PURPOSE
The purpose of Onyx Initiative is to expand the recruitment pipeline by offering comprehensive career development resources and forging mutually beneficial corporate, educational, and community partnerships to close the systemic gap in the hiring, retention and promotion of Black college and university students and recent graduates for roles in corporate Canada.
This initial gap is caused by the lack of family or social networks, lack of student knowledge of opportunities, lack of mentorships/coaching and the lack of corporate Canada’s ability to identify candidates. This gap perpetuates itself in future years as these candidates enter the job market in their chosen field later in life, leading to insufficient representation of Black talent in executive roles.
"The Onyx Initiative has helped me bridge thoughts with reality, proving that with the right support, anything is achievable."
KESHANA KING
“As I navigate my final semester at university, I am profoundly grateful to the Onyx Initiative for the invaluable access and support that enabled me to produce and host a talk show pilot for my thesis project.”
CHELSI CAMPBELL
“Being part of the Onyx Initiative has given me the courage to dream big and the support to make those dreams a reality.”
ADA EKAEDAH
“I wanted to express my thanks for the resources provided by Onyx. The support from the job postings and events is very valuable and I appreciate the commitment to assisting individuals throughout their process. It's reassuring to know that the Onyx team is dedicated to supporting our success.”
DANIEL OSAWARU
“The Onyx resources are definitely helpful. I have goals for what I am doing. I feel some validation for my thought process.”
CHIMDINMA CHIJIOKE
“Being a part of this initiative has instilled in me the confidence to advocate for myself in every space I enter.”
TRESHEKA HEMMINGS
"PwC Canada is proud to take part in this important initiative that impacts the future of many people, and ultimately the future of this country. Over the past three years, we’ve focused our corporate responsibility efforts on addressing youth unemployment. Being a part of the Onyx Initiative is an important way we can help individuals from Canada’s BIPOC communities to achieve their goals and dreams."
NICOLAS MARCOUX, SENIOR PARTNER & CEO, PWC CANADA
“The BlackNorth Initiative is proud to partner with Onyx - a fabulous initiative dedicated to facilitating entry to the job market for Black students seeking internships or full-time employment. CEO’s who have signed our pledge know that their companies will benefit greatly by having access to the talent pool that can be accessed through Onyx. I am also heartened to know that our formal relationship with Onyx will give Black students renewed hope as they seek out new career opportunities and meaningful employment with companies that will fully value their talents and contributions.”
DAHABO AHMED-OMER, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, BLACKNORTH INITIATIVE
“We are excited to partner with Onyx as an educational partner in this important initiative, which will help support Black students at McMaster in reaching their professional and career goals.”
SEAN VAN KOUGHNETT, ASSOCIATE VP (STUDENTS & LEARNING) & DEAN OF STUDENTS, MCMASTER UNIVERSITY
“Bell is committed to taking concrete steps to identify and eliminate systemic racism in our company and industry, and to embracing proactive measures to identify, recruit and advance Black talent across the Bell group of companies”
BERNARD LE DUC, EXECUTIVE VP & CHIEF HR OFFICER, BELL CANADA
"Our Human Rights and Equity Office works across the University and with partners to advance Brock as an inclusive university community. These efforts benefit all students and advance Canada as an inclusive society."
DR. GERVAN FEARON, PRESIDENT, BROCK UNIVERSITY
"George Brown College is excited to be one of the early educational supporters of this important initiative. The disproportionate challenges Black students face in accessing corporate Canada is an enduring and pervasive issue. This is a concerning issue which we hope to tackle by leveraging GBC's Black Student Success Network and our Career Centre in continuing the dialogue, and creating solutions that promote Black student success and economic sustainability"
KIZZY BEDEAU, DIRECTOR COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS, GEORGE BROWN COLLEGE
"At Brock University we support the success of all students and, where specific needs are identified, we work to bridge the gaps. We are excited to partner with The Onyx Initiative to overcome systemic barriers that have impacted Black students' success within corporate Canada."
LEELA MADHAVA RAU, DIRECTOR OF HUMAN RIGHTS & EQUITY, BROCK UNIVERSITY
"Ryerson University is inspired and encouraged by the important work that the Onyx Initiative is doing to connect Black college and university students with rewarding roles in corporate Canada. We are proud to be a partner in this initiative and look forward to connecting our students to the comprehensive programming, networks and supports that the Onyx Initiative has to offer."
MOHAMED LACHEMI, PRESIDENT & VICE-CHANCELLOR, TORONTO METROPOLITAN UNIVERSITY
"The obstacles to the socio-economic growth of the Black community requires clever forward-thinking solutions. This is what the Onyx Initiative is. It is a promise to harness the right resources and to leverage the full weight of educational and corporate partners to advance the professional and personal growth of Black post-secondary students. The Onyx Initiative is both conceptually sound and timely and will be an effective partner to organizations like the Lifelong Leadership Institute in overcoming the barriers to the success of our youth."
TREVOR MASSEY, CHAIR, LIFELONG LEADERSHIP INSTITUTE
"The Onyx Initiative is a unique opportunity for innovation leaders to step up and bring about change together. We have an obligation to our young Black talent to remove barriers that are preventing them as future changemakers from securing opportunities within our organizations and across the innovation sector."
YUNG WU, CEO OF MaRS & FOUNDER OF CILAR
"The Onyx Initiative is a great program that will ensure organizations are benefitting from the wealth of talent of Black post-secondary students. At TD, our goal is to embed diversity and inclusion throughout our recruitment and retention processes. That is why our early talent philosophy is about building a pipeline for diverse employees so that they can thrive and build a career that drives innovation and contributes to our growth."
MELANIE BURNS, SVP HR, TALENT MANAGEMENT, TD BANK GROUP
WHAT WE DO
Onyx Initiative aspires to be a catalyst for the professional growth and development of Black Canadians as they launch their careers after university/college, helping them through access to placements, mentorships, coaching and professional development.
This early intervention will facilitate a measurable increase in Black students and recent graduates securing internships and full-time employment in their chosen fields while serving the needs of corporations in sourcing qualified and diversified employees.
FOUNDERS
NIGELA PURBOO
“Stand for What is Right. Even if it Means Standing Alone.”
Thankfully, Nigela Purboo’s tireless efforts have always been bolstered by a collective of like-minded individuals and organizations who share her conviction and determination to ensure all people - regardless of race, gender, ethnicity, socio-economic background, or any other demographics - have equal access to the opportunities and necessities they seek.
Nigela graduated from Western University in 1992, with a Master’s in Cultural Anthropology, specializing in human rights and race relations. After graduation, she devoted her time to various organizations and causes, most notably The North York Committee on Community, Race and Ethnic Relations, The Urban Alliance on Race Relations, The Race Relations and Policing Unit of the Solicitor General’s Office and other government-funded initiatives. Prior to departing from the workforce on maternity leave, Nigela was a key part of the team that spearheaded the Toronto District School Board, Change Your Future Program - an effort that aligned perfectly with her passion for human rights and anti-racism issues and her philanthropic endeavours that focus on education and health care. Nigela was a member of the Foundation Board of the Oakville Trafalgar Memorial Hospital for several years, resigning in 2020 to pursue other ventures which led to the establishment of Onyx Initiative. In June 2023, Nigela and her husband Wayne were awarded Honourary Doctor of Laws degrees from Toronto Metropolitan University.
Nigela is an avid supporter of Food For The Poor Canada, The University of the West Indies, Oakville Trafalgar Memorial Hospital and The Hospital For Sick Children. She resides in Oakville, Ontario with her husband, Wayne Purboo and their three sons.
WAYNE PURBOO
“Walk Good”
Wayne Purboo is a McMaster University alumnus and DeGroote School of Business Honorary Doctorate recipient with 25+ years of experience as a serial entrepreneur in the media and telecom industries. He has a range of expertise in software development, systems engineering, sales, product, finance, and management. Wayne played significant roles in the creation of over $2B CDN in value across three startups and has acquired extensive experience in growing all aspects of technology companies.
As the SVP Products at AT&T, Wayne added direct to consumer understandings of carrier grade products for video and broadband to his already impressive list of skills. His portfolio included DIRECTV, Uverse and NFL Sunday Ticket. Prior to AT&T, Wayne was co-founder and CEO of QuickPlay Media. QuickPlay Media was acquired by AT&T in 2016. Wayne was also part of the executive team that led a successful exit of Solect Technology Group. Solect was acquired by Amdocs (NYSE:DOX) in 2000. At Amdocs, Wayne spent three years as CTO of the IP Division.
In 2019, Wayne became the SVP of Strategy at New Relic where he was responsible for partnerships, acquisitions, and new initiatives and in October 2021, he transitioned to a new role at Amazon as VP of Video Shopping.
Over the years, Wayne's success has been recognized by numerous professional and educational institutions including Canada's Top 40 under 40, Deloitte Fast 50, Canada's Spotlight Awards and most recently by the University of the West Indies - Vice Chancellor's Award. In June 2023, Wayne and his wife Nigela were awarded Honourary Doctor of Laws degrees from Toronto Metropolitan University.
He has also been active on the boards and advisory of Virgin Unite, Toronto International Film Festival, Arundo, Evergent, Print Parts and Cellwand. Wayne and Nigela live in Oakville, Ontario with their three sons.
FAQ
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What criteria do I need to meet in order to be considered for the Onyx Scholars Program?
In order to apply for the program you must identify as Black and must be either currently enrolled in a Canadian College/University or within 12 months of graduation.
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How can my company or I get involved with the Onyx Initiative?
Companies can get involved with the Onyx Initiative through paid partnership.
Individuals or teams are encouraged to become mentors to our scholars.
If you are a Black senior executive, we would love for you to participate in a fireside chat.
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What is the meaning of the name Onyx?
Onyx is a semiprecious stone that forms in bands of different colors such as black and white. It is not a rare gem. Qualified Black students and recent graduates are not rare, but bountiful. The stone is said to absorb negativity and is extremely powerful.
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What is the purpose of Onyx Initiative?
The mission of Onyx Initiative is to close the systemic gap in the recruiting and selection of Black university and college students and recent graduates for roles in corporate Canada. We do this by fostering cohesive, mutually beneficial partnerships with corporations, educational institutions, and Black student groups to expand the Black Talent pipeline.
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Why is this intervention needed?
Research indicates Black students and graduates continue to face discrimination throughout their educational and professional journey, from the time that they start school to when they enter the workplace and beyond. For instance, Statistics Canada numbers show that Black university and college graduates with a Bachelor’s degree earn significantly less than White graduates. Moreover, Black students and graduates are overrepresented in lower paying occupational areas, but underrepresented in higher-paying fields. All of this data points to a clear need for a targeted intervention aimed at empowering Black students and recent graduates – this is where Onyx comes in. Our goal is to help these students and recent graduates succeed in professional internships with support through training, coaching and mentorship.
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How does the Onyx program work?
Black university and college students, and recent graduates can fill out an application for the Onyx Scholars Program on our site. All submissions are reviewed during our selection process and candidates will be notified regarding the next steps once that process is complete.
The Scholars Program is two-fold:
- Comprehensive personal and professional development via a Plum Profile to assess strengths, personalities, problem-solving capabilities, and the types of roles and responsibilities that align with each scholars' particular work style. As well as a curated LinkedIn Learning Path with a variety of crucial online courses including: Interview Preparation, Business Etiquette, Building a Personal Brand, Teamwork and Networking, Project Management, Conflict Resolution, Oral and Written Communication, and much more. Live webinars, a speaker series, opportunities to engage with corporate partners, and direct access to internships and full-time roles are also an integral part of the support provided for career enhancement and employment.
- Mentorship and coaching via one-one-one and group meetings with experienced professionals across diverse sectors who can offer feedback and guidance on setting and achieving goals, navigating workplace environments/situations, staying motivated, identifying and implementing additional learning opportunities, and developing promotion and advancement strategies.
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What level of college or university students are permitted to enroll?
Onyx is open to Black college and university students at all levels as well as recent graduates, within one year of graduation. Our aspiration is to enroll students in the program early in their academic careers so that they may secure internships and part-time positions that are key to supporting their transition into full-time roles.
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How many students and recent graduates will be accepted each year?
We do not limit the number of applicants accepted each year. We thoroughly evaluate all submissions based on a number of criteria including completion of a Plum Profile Assessment which measures problem-solving capabilities and other personal skills and professional traits.
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What is the curriculum students will take as part of the program?
The program is focused on personal development to enable students and recent graduates to build the skills that will allow them to be successful in the corporate sector. The curriculum focuses on preparing participants for the internship and full-time employment process (e.g., interview preparation, cover letter and resume drafting training), as well as developing professional capabilities and skills (e.g., business etiquette training, PowerPoint/Excel training, data and digital literacy). Those in the Onyx Scholars Program also receive personalized mentorship and coaching.
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How is the Onyx Initiative funded?
Onyx’s initial funding comes from private donors. Ongoing funding will be from corporate placement fees. The program is free of charge for students and recent graduates.
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Will Onyx provide scholarships?
Any excess capital will be utilized as scholarships for Onyx students who are currently enrolled in a Canadian college or university.
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Will Onyx follow up with students post placement?
Yes. The program includes on-going mentorship/coaching, pre and post placement.
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Does Onyx Initiative partner with other Black organizations?
Since inception, Onyx has partnered with numerous Black community organizations and industry-specific associations across the country.
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What are the success criteria for Onyx Initiative?
In the short term, success for Onyx will be determined by the number of scholars going through the program and placed in internships/full-time employment. In the longer term, we will also track career advancement of participants (i.e., promotions to executive and C-suite levels.)
Furthermore, we will measure success by the extent to which Onyx is able to help corporations in Canada achieve their hiring goals.
Ultimately, our goal is to dissolve Onyx because there is no longer a need for the program, and equity and inclusion are natural, organic facets of the hiring process and workplace.