Meet Igxtelle Mbah Acha | Immigrant Inclusion Strategist, Attorney and Founder of The Immigrant Mom, Inc

We had the good fortune of connecting with Igxtelle Mbah Acha and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Igxtelle, can you tell us more about your background and the role it’s played in shaping who you are today?
My name is Igxtelle, pronounced ixtell, and I am from Cameroon, a beautiful country in Central Africa. I left home when I just turned 20, travelling thousand miles away from home, away from my siblings, my parents, my friends, everything I was familiar with to a new country-South Korea. The reason for my journey was strong but not strong enough to absolve the homesickness I felt on a daily.

Something about leaving your comfort zone teaches you Bravery. I always said, that staying in South Korea for three years gave me the resilience to stay anywhere else in the world.

Like every phase in life, moving to America had its own set of challenges that were different and ones I had not anticipated.

After taking the bar exam, and sworn in as a lawyer in New York, I was introduced to the Corporate culture which was significantly different from the culture engrained in me. This was going to be a challenge like none other I had ever faced.

I remember being so excited about getting a job offer into the risk and compliance industry as a recent law school graduate and a recently admitted lawyer but that excited quickly faded as I became more and more conscious of my diversity, my accent, my inability to flow in conversations on sports or food, the fear to speak up during meetings, inability to understand the workplace idioms or jokes.

Slowly but surely I was losing myself, and it became a daily dread each day I had to go into the office. I started putting on a persona that was not my true self, thinking that fake persona will help me better integrate or feel included in the Corporate America culture- it did not.

I needed to keep my job, I needed to survive in America, I need the lights on, and most especially food on my table so I stayed stuck in this rut for much too long and then I started observing how others around me, who were brought up in the US culture were navigating the workplace environment. I started doing the mind work on self acceptance, as well as understanding the work place culture, learning assertiveness, and rudimentary things like a firm handshake and the art of asking intelligent questions.

Over a long period of time, I figured my way around this work culture although with scars and experiences I will never want to relive. Fast forward to where America stands as a nation today with millions of immigrants spread across the country, based on my experience and the need for an Immigrant Inclusion Strategist, I decided to advocate for others and to teach them what I wish I knew 10 years ago.

It was all about meeting a need. Helping Immigrants integrate and have a sense of belonging in in the US culture is a much needed service, that spans beyond English lessons, and Citizenship preparation classes. The work I do is committed to helping companies provide the most support to their immigrant or multinational employees, to enable them integrate, feel included, which will in turn dramatically improve their productivity, engagement and yield a favorable return on investment for the company.

Helping immigrants succeed in their careers or even just providing that resource that enables them enjoy the work experience, goes a long way to help their mental health and their overall immigrant journey.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
I am an Immigrant Inclusion Strategist, who tells the story through the lense of an immigrant who knows first hand how it feels to be present and yet absent. To be able to provide resources and support to thousands of Immigrants in North America who work tirelessly, through sacrifice to attain the American dream and beyond, in understanding self development which is necessary for integration and wholly become a part of the fabric of their new country.

Getting to where I am today was a long journey which I teach in my course to empower others to gain knowledge as soon as possible of the culture and avoid making some fatal mistakes in their career. In 2021, I was raising awareness about cultural intelligence in the work place for the Immigrant or Multinational who might be perceived in a light not helpful for their career and I am extremely proud that companies, even city councils are coming up with initiatives for Immigrant Inclusion.

Diversity is only good if there are actionable steps towards inclusion and developing a sense of belonging. And while the conversation on Diversity and Inclusion has been ongoing for a long time, not much has been said about Inclusion for Immigrants in the workplace. I am happy to be a voice that advocates for immigrant inclusion

The Immigrant Mom, which is a non profit I founded, is geared towards supporting mothers who are raising children in a country they did not grow up in. To educate, empower and equip her as she navigates a number of systems, seasons and holidays she may not be familiar with. The Immigrant Mom is a platform where stories of the Bravery of the Immigrant Mom is highlighted and shared. The Immigrant Mom seeks to create a system matching mentors to mentees and creating a safe place for knowledge share and development.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
I am a very homely person, meaning I love indoors, good food and good conversation. I will most likely cook a sumptuous meal, barbeque or something more traditional, checkout an indoor park and just enjoy our companies with laughs and talk

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
Shoutout to God Almighty through whom all I have and ever will be is as a result of His Grace and Mercy towards me.

Shout out to my Dad, Mom and Siblings who believed in me and supported all my endeavors.

Shout out to my darling husband who supports me, cheers me on and prioritizes my happiness.

Shout out to my children whose birth revealed a deeper purpose for my life

Shout out to two bosses who played a significant role in my career experience-Issa Dababneh and Bassel Korkor

Instagram: The Immigrant Mom

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/igxtelle-mbah-acha-esq/

Twitter: Momimmigrant

Facebook: Igxtelle Mbah Acha

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GemB3lakGvQ&list=PLWz1J_QVtbRdl1wf2_ZUrGTSItDkf0_PA

Other: https://igxtellema.mykajabi.com/igxtelle-mbah-acha https://www.linkedin.com/in/igxtelle-mbah-acha-esq/

Image Credits
Thrive Studios