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Get to Know…Arif!

The past year has been a weird one (to put it lightly) but a bright spot was being able to welcome new team members. One of our most recent team members to join us is Arif, who faced the tricky task of starting a new job during a pandemic AND remotely from home. We were able to catch up with him to get to know him better, so read on!

What is your role/what do you do at Vovia?

As a senior digital media specialist, I add value to our client’s business by driving strategy and performance across digital channels. It involves a sweet combination of left and right brain where analytical insights are weaved through storytelling to connect the dots.

What do you do in your spare time?

I enjoy parenting care and undistracted time with my toddler son. Or we could say that he lets me have fun with his toys, books and sing-alongs. My favourite part is where he replicates my hand and body gestures and hums the same sound that I used during reading and sing-alongs.

Tell us something about yourself that would surprise people.

Sometimes when I say to people that I have never been to the US, Mexico, Caribbean or Europe, I get that surprised look. Is it really surprising? Have you been to the beautiful northern regions of Pakistan? 😛

What do you love/what are you most passionate about?

I love connecting with nature. I have recently experienced forest bathing, which has given a new dimension to my perspective of life. I believe nature cares and looks after its creations. The key is to surrender and believe!

What is your favourite part about working at Vovia so far?

I like that the leadership gives importance to the mental health and the quality of life of everyone that works here. The team truly believes in the diversity of ideas and empowering those ideas.

You are originally from Pakistan. What brought you to Canada?

At first, it was for a better quality of life and the excitement of winter. But learning and seeing Canadian value systems in action inspires me and makes me proud of my Canadian identity.

What is one of the biggest differences you notice between Pakistan and Canada?

On the day of my landing in Calgary, I noticed the two major differences: humidity and population density. I am from Karachi- a city 2x denser than New York, 16x denser than Calgary, and the average annual relative humidity stays in the mid-70s.