Watch: International Ed Talks 2025
In celebration of International Education Week 2025, seven Royal Roads University students delivered thought-provoking presentations about the power of international education.
From forests to boardrooms and across continents, students share lessons on resilience and the power of seeing the world and themselves differently.
Anislene Tavares | The forest I didn’t see coming: My unexpected path to belonging
Imagine leaving everything you know behind – your home, your friends and your familiar life – and moving across the globe with your family. That’s exactly what Anislene Taveres did.
She came to Canada not just for a master’s degree, but also to start a new life. She found lessons in the most unexpected place, the forest surrounding Royal Roads.
In her International Ed Talk, the Master of Arts in Environment and Management student shares how quiet walks, the whispers of the trees and the colors of nature became her greatest teachers.
Cindy Alonso | Weaving paths of resilience: Lessons from nature, research and life abroad
When Cindy Alonso moved from Colombia to Canada, she faced culture shock, language barriers and unexpected health challenges.
“For the first 14 months I was just really surviving. Everything felt foreign, disconnected and distant,” says Alonso, a Master of Arts in Environment and Management student.
But her journey also became a lesson in resilience.
Watch Cindy’s full International Ed Talk to see how embracing small changes, connecting with nature and adapting to challenges helped her grow and how these lessons can inspire communities and cities too.
Fahim Andalib | From the tea stall to the boardroom: Learning to belong anywhere
In this International Ed Talk, Fahim Andalib shares how humble beginnings and life lessons shaped a perspective that belongs anywhere.
“Before you become men, before you become successful, learn to be human,” says Fahim, a Master of Global Management student.
From bustling tea stalls in Bangladesh to high-powered boardrooms, one lesson stays true: treat everyone with dignity. Leadership is not about titles, it is about empathy, respect, and seeing the humanity in everyone you meet.
Karolyn Chitwood | Recognising change: Turning over one rock at a time
In her inspiring talk, Karolyn Chitwood shared how a simple rock became her reminder to embrace change, take bold steps and keep learning.
“Sometimes the hardest change is simply deciding to move the rock,” says Chitwood, an MBA in Executive Management student.
From backpacking across continents to showing her kids what courage looks like, she reminded us that growth begins the moment we “unfreeze.”
Oyin Steve | Rewriting the narrative: Finding strength in cultural contrast
From Nigeria to Canada to Indonesia, Oyin Steve’s journey is a powerful reminder that our differences aren’t limitations.
“Your difference is your power,” says the Master of Arts in Intercultural and International Communication student.
In her talk, Steve shares how stepping into new cultures helped her see her identity in a new light and embrace the value she brings to every space she enters.
Christian Chiari Manni | Redefining Experience: How Culture Shapes Perception
In his International Ed Talk, Doctor of Business Administration student Christian Chiari Manni explores how culture shapes the way we see feel and connect. From his move from Italy to Toronto to leading teams across continents, he reminds us that great experiences aren’t just about what we do, but also how we make people feel. And that feeling changes across cultures.
His message is simple and powerful: empathy travels but it does not always look the same. When we learn to see through someone else’s lens we build better bridges and a stronger more inclusive world.
Amana Lee | A Lost Voice - A Roma Voice
When we don’t see ourselves reflected, our voices can feel lost. Amana Lee shares her journey as a Roma scholar finding visibility, voice and representation.
“Communication is not just about information. It is about who gets to speak, whose stories are told, and whose voices are missing,” says Lee.
From confronting stereotypes and historical erasure to weaving her identity into her academic life, the Bachelor of Arts in Professional Communication student reminds us that education grows stronger when all voices are heard.