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Founder, 10Fold-HFX

City: Halifax, Nova Scotia

Country of origin: Turkiye

Named one of Atlantic Canada’s Most Inspiring Immigrants in 2024, Burcu Kaptan’s journey reflects resilience, determination and a profound commitment to social responsibility.

Originally from Ankara in Turkiye she began her Canadian journey by settling in Halifax in Nova Scotia in 2002 while eight months pregant, and establishing roots. Kaptan, like the newcomers that she supports, faced many challenges in her new country as a permanent immigrant, without her support system as a woman and mother.

With her international experience and post-graduate studies in human resources management from both Istanbul University and NSCC in Atlantic Canada, she embarked on a journey of professional growth intertwined with community empowerment.

Kaptan’s advocacy extends to identifying talent and supporting individuals to reach their potential, especially immigrant women, and advocating for role models in senior leadership positions. As president of the Turkish Society of Nova Scotia (TSNS), her efforts encourage newcomers to stay in Canada and the Atlantic region. Her commitment to fostering inclusive community has earned her recognition as an influential leader who is committed to diversity, social impact and supporting the Turkish Community. This recognition was further solidified by her active involvement in community relief efforts following the Turkish earthquake, where she played a pivotal role in supporting the reunification of affected families.

Furthermore, leveraging diverse platforms, Kaptan has dedicated herself to linking different generations of immigrants, spanning from children to international students, newcomers and emerging businesses, with Canadian partners throughout the year. Through her LinkedIn and Instagram account @KanadaliKadin, she has built a community of over 5,000 women from Canada and Turkiye, offering guidance on navigating the Canadian experience. She is committed to promoting gender equality and ensuring that newcomers have access to information.

Kaptan is a digital HR entrepreneur who has a 20-year career in corporate Canada and the public sector. She founded 10Fold-HFX after a 20-year career in corporate Canada and the public service. She is not only interested in sharing her expertise on systemic change, digitizing culture and people programs, but also committed to supporting immigrants and working on an integration project for newcomers.

She stands tall, not only for her own professional achievements, but also for the immigrant woman across Canada who is redefining success in spite of the barriers and striving to achieve their true potential. Moreover, she serves as a founding executive committee member of the Canadian Turkish Business Council-Women’s Network, further supporting her commitment to empowering immigrant women.

Her journey is a testament to community building and the transformative power that determination can have. It embodies the resilience and spirit of immigrant communities who enrich their surroundings with the diverse perspectives and experiences brought by immigrants. Kaptan fittingly concludes her community speeches with the profound reminder that in a community, there is no “me”The following are some examples of how to use “you,”Only “we,”Together, we can achieve more.