Reflections on Radical Hope and Growth
Learn more about ICAway, visit https://www.icaway.com/ In this special recap edition of Hope & Optimism, Kwan and Betsy come together to reflect on the powerful insights shared by our four recent guests—Dylan Rust, Fiona McEntee, Dr. Ling Gao LeBeau, and Dr. LaNitra Berger. From building belonging and navigating immigration challenges to implementing frameworks for student success and championing inclusion, each conversation added a new layer to our understanding of international student support. Hope & Optimism, became a space to surface both the emotional and structural burdens that international students face—and to reimagine what true support could look like in higher education and beyond.If you enjoy the episode, let us know by leaving a quick rating on Spotify or Apple Podcasts. 💬 If we reach 50+ ratings, we’ll launch a new season this fall!
Hope & Optimism with LaNitra M. Berger: Advancing Inclusion and Belonging in International Education
🎙️ Hope & Optimism Podcast | Season 1 Finale And just like that, we’ve arrived at the final episode of Season 1 of the Hope & Optimism podcast! Kwan, Betsy, and Dania wrap up the season with an inspiring conversation on how institutions can build stronger, more supportive communities for international students through fairness, equity, and inclusion. 🎧 This week’s special guest: Dr. LaNitra M. Berger—award-winning scholar, educator, and past President of NAFSA—joins us to explore how colleges and universities can foster belonging, break barriers, and advocate for justice in international education. 🗣️ From inclusive program design to strengthening cross-cultural connections on campus, Dr. Berger offers both practical guidance and heartfelt encouragement for educators, advisors, and international students alike. 💡 Highlights include: How institutions can center fairness and access in student services Real-world strategies to support belonging and community Why hope is essential in shaping the future of international education Advice for international students navigating uncertainty and seeking belonging Plus, we hear from an audience member with a powerful question about how to thrive in the U.S. despite feelings of exclusion—and close with key takeaways and a mindfulness reflection to carry forward. 🌍 No matter your role—student, advisor, or advocate—this episode is for you.Let’s continue to build bridges of understanding, one conversation at a time. 🔗 Resources mentioned:📘 “Social Justice and International Education” by Dr. LaNitra M. Berger🌐 NAFSA.org for articles, webinars, and advocacy tools #HopeAndOptimism #ICAwayCoaching #InternationalStudents #InclusionMatters
Hope & Optimism with Ling Gao LeBeau: Transforming Success Through 5 Pillar International Student Support
Learn more at ICAway.com 🌐 In this inspiring episode of Hope & Optimism, we sit down with Dr. Ling Gao LeBeau to explore her powerful 5 Pillar framework for supporting international students. From academic success to career development, Ling shares stories, strategies, and insights that help students thrive in the U.S. and beyond. 🎓 Discover what truly matters in international student support🌍 Learn how cultural understanding can transform advising💡 Be inspired by Ling’s journey and her optimistic approach to change Whether you’re an advisor, educator, or advocate, this episode will give you practical tools and fresh perspectives to support global talent on your campus. 🔔 Don’t forget to like, subscribe, and share! #InternationalStudents #ICAwayCoaching #HigherEd #StudentSupport #HopeAndOptimism
Hope & Optimism with Fiona McEntee : Protecting International Students in a Shifting America
Fiona is the founding and managing attorney at McEntee Law Group, a nationally recognized immigration firm based in Chicago. She’s an award-winning lawyer, a passionate advocate for startups and creatives, and a leading expert on O-1 visas, EB-1A green cards, and pathways that help international talent build their futures in the U.S. She’s also the author of Our American Dream, a children’s book that celebrates immigrants and her second book- U.S. Immigration Options for Startups: Accelerate Your American Dream.
Today, she’s here to talk with us not only about the challenges—but about the hope, advocacy, and resilience that define the international student journey in 2025.
Hope & Optimism with Dylan Rust: International Student Retention & Creating a Sense of Belonging
In this inaugural episode of Hope & Optimism, host Kwan Segal, founder of ICAway, is joined by co-hosts Betsy and Dania for an important conversation with Dylan Rust, a leader in international student inclusion at Northern Arizona University.
Pilot Episode: Hope & Optimism
Welcome to the very first episode of the Hope & Optimism podcast, a space where international student advocates, experts, and changemakers come together to build a more supportive, resilient future. In this pilot episode, host Kwan Segal, founder of ICAway and a dedicated career coach for international students, introduces the heart behind this podcast and is joined by two powerhouse co-hosts: Betsy Cohen is a respected leader and longtime advocate for immigrants and international talent. As the founding Executive Director of the St. Louis Mosaic Project, she spent over a decade advancing the region’s growth and inclusion efforts. Her visionary work has made a lasting impact on immigrant communities and positioned St. Louis as one of the most welcoming regions in the country. She is now a Philanthropic Futurist at FutureGood, the organization that helps leaders that do good for a living predict and shape the future through strategic insights and strategies for success. We also have, Dania Javaid a Doctoral Fulbright Student and Instructor at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln whose research on mindfulness and self-compassion representing the international student community. 🔗 Stay connected:Subscribe at icaway.com/subscribe and follow us for future episodes.Tell us what topics matter most to you—we’re in this together.
Four Strategies to Stop the OPT Unemployment Allowance Clock
To learn more about job search strategy for F-1 international students, visit https://www.icaway.com/ I’ve been getting a bunch of requests from new international grads who are on the hunt for jobs in this tough economy. And guess what else? Their OPT is about to start! So, I wanna share four cool strategies with you that can actually stop the OPT unemployment allowance clock. If you just graduated and your OPT is about to start! You have only 90 days after your OPT starts to find a job that’s related to your field of study. What I’m going to share today is based on real stories from a few international students who have used these strategies to stop the clock. Before deciding to pursue any of these options, please remember to contact your International Student Services office to ensure eligibility. Consider volunteering to avoid accruing unemployment days. How can you find non-profit organizations in your area to volunteer with? One effective way is to utilize online platforms and directories that connect volunteers with non-profit organizations. Websites such as https://www.volunteermatch.org/ https://www.idealist.org/en https://engage.pointsoflight.org/ can be great resources to find volunteer opportunities. 2. Consider seeking contract jobs. Contract work can be a viable option for your first-year OPT. Many companies and organizations hire contractors for short-term projects or assignments. These contract positions can provide valuable work experience and help you meet the employment requirement of your OPT period. And sometimes, when you’re a good fit for the team, you may have a chance to convert your contract role into a full-time opportunity. 3. consider reaching out to your professors for an offer letter that can potentially be considered an OPT job opportunity. Your professors may have research projects or other academic initiatives where they could hire you as a research assistant or provide you with a job offer letter. This can be a valuable experience and help you fulfill the employment requirement during your OPT period. 4. explore the possibility of building your own business and working on OPT. If you have an entrepreneurial spirit and capital to invest in the business, starting your own venture can be an exciting path to consider. Not only will you have the flexibility to work on projects directly related to your degree, but you’ll also gain valuable entrepreneurial experience. Ensure that your business complies with all necessary licenses and regulations, and consider consulting with professionals or organizations that provide support for startups and small businesses. They can guide you through the process and offer valuable advice to help you succeed. Remember, these are options for you to pause the OPT clock in your first year after graduation while looking for a full-time job at your dream company. For STEM international students who are on OPT and when you’re approaching your STEM extension, your employers must be e-verified in order to utilize your STEM OPT for work in the US. To check whether the employer is verified or not, check out the link I provided in the caption below. Use the E-Verify search tool below to find employers who are currently enrolled in E-Verify. https://www.e-verify.gov/about-e-verify/e-verify-data/how-to-find-participating-employers If you have any questions or concerns, don’t hesitate to reach out to your designated school official (DSO) for guidance and clarification. They are there to assist you throughout this process and ensure that you make the most of your STEM OPT extension. Remember, you’re not alone in this journey. You can reach out to me and our community at www.ICAway.com. Let’s listen to this episode to receive more information on how to stop your OPT unemployment allowance clock. Think Big & Live Your Dream! Coach Kwan, ICAway Disclaimer: Please note that the information provided here is of a general nature and should not be considered as legal immigration advice. We are unable to assess individual circumstances and provide specific guidance on immigration matters. It is essential to consult with your international student services office or a qualified immigration professional to ensure eligibility and obtain accurate advice tailored to your specific situation. — Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/icaway/support
🎉 From Morocco to a Full-Time Job in the USA! Younes’ Success Story 🌟
Join us as Coach Kwan and Younes Ben share his journey from Morocco to the USA, leading to his first full-time job as an Energy Engineer! From balancing studies and cultural integration to securing interviews and navigating the job market, Younes reveals his strategies for success. Transcript: [00:00:00] Coach Kwan: Hello everyone. Today is Sunday morning. What time is it now? 9:30 a.m. In Chicago. And we are here at the Chicago Botanic Garden because my good student here, Younes, he’s going to travel to Pennsylvania. He’s going to move away from me, right? Because he’s got a new job and today he’s going to share his experience with you all. [00:00:25] [00:00:38] Coach Kwan: Younes, can you please introduce yourself a little bit? [00:00:40] Younes: Hi, everyone. My name is Younes Ben. I came from Morocco and France and I’ve been studying and I just graduated from Illinois Institute of technology in Chicago. [00:00:52] Coach Kwan: Awesome. Awesome. Yeah. So, when did you come here to Chicago? [00:00:57] Younes: So, I came like a year ago in August. And I spent like full 12 months graduating, like taking classes and I had been thinking about like looking for jobs as well. I had to like, be planning my time of courses, for courses, trying to integrate with Americans here, understanding their culture and in the same time looking for jobs, getting some interviews, and for finally being able to get a job. [00:01:31] Coach Kwan: Wonderful. So it was just a year ago. August last year. Now we are in October of 2024. August last year, you came here to the U.S., but we connected. We got connected before August, right? Can, can you tell our friends a little bit about how you found out about I-C-A-way and what made you decide to join I-C-A-way? [00:01:52] Younes: That’s correct. So first of all I knew the platform, I think it was like a month or before being actually physically in the us. And the reason why I, I wanted to be part of this platform is to be sure if I come to the US I would really be able to get a job. So before even deciding if I’m gonna be in the US or not, I, reached out to coach Kwan and we, we met like before being here and we have discussed like the plan that we might be doing during the year, which was very great plan. And again, it was like during 12 months only. So during the 12 months I had to manage having a very good grades having the. [00:02:41] Younes: Like, learning the American culture, the job market, and starting getting interviews. That was very manageable, but only since I was, like, with as a member with the I-C-A-way platform, it’s really helped a lot and yeah, it was a very good experience. [00:02:57] Coach Kwan: Thank you. I really enjoy coaching you. [00:02:59] Coach Kwan: And you know, it’s just 12 months master’s degree, right? It’s very quick. It’s so hard for international students, even though the benefit of like a short timeline program is that you take benefit of it by getting jobs faster But that 12 month 12 month integration into the US, managing everything. [00:03:24] Coach Kwan: It’s just so tough, right? Can you tell us a little bit more about? Like some of the challenges that you experienced as a graduate student coming here and needed to find jobs within 12 months? [00:03:37] Younes: Yeah, sure. So I remember like, as anyone coming here for the United States for their studies. They would need like the first month at least for like doing some paperwork understanding the courses, maybe even what courses they should take. [00:03:53] Younes: So the first month you’re really just trying to understand what you’re going to do during the whole year, how you’re going to graduate. I didn’t, when, when I came here, I didn’t have like a very good understanding of the immigration system as well, which is very important as international. So you need to know what are your rights, what kind of work eligibilities you do have because as an international you’re you have like some limiting limitations compared to americans So you should really be aware of those if you want to get a job and yeah, so I had a lot of challenges including like how to get interviews and how to pass interviews and But that was actually like, I was able to go through that with Coach Kwan and she really helped a lot from the resume process till getting interviews till even at the end having like salary negotiation, which is something I never prepared before. [00:04:54] Younes: So she really helped, helped a lot and I’m sure since it’s lifetime plan. I’m sure it’s, there’s a lot more to come and I’m very excited for what is coming next. [00:05:07] Coach Kwan: I’m so proud of you Younes. Thank you. Tell us more about this new job please. [00:05:12] Younes: Yeah, sure. So it’s an energy engineer too with CLEAResult. [00:05:17] Younes: So CLEAResult is a consulting company. They’re the largest provider of energy services in the US and Canada. So basically in North America. And I had the chance to have this job remotely as well, which is something I was not expecting. It’s very good. So it’s a very good opportunity to be like not only in the office because it’s it’s kind of the job is Site based you need to go to the sites as well and to meet with clients as well. [00:05:55] Younes: So it’s Not i would say it’s not 100 percent Remote, but instead of being at the office. I have the opportunity of being like home [00:06:06] Coach Kwan: Travel [00:06:08] Younes: and travel to the sites, which is still requiring to be in contact with other people. So it’s a Very
From China to Wall Street: Shiyun Ye’s Journey of Resilience, Adaptability, and Career Success
You can listen to the latest episodes of the ICAway podcast on YouTube, Apple Podcasts, Spotify or right on our website. In this episode of Career Guide for International Students, we are thrilled to welcome Shiyun Ye, an inspiring ICAway member, as she takes us through her incredible journey from China to the United States. Shiyun shares how she overcame financial challenges, managed multiple jobs, and navigated career setbacks—such as job offer cancellations during the COVID-19 pandemic. With stories of resilience, adaptability, and strategic planning, she offers invaluable insights on securing internships and full-time roles in the financial services industry. Tune in to hear her advice on networking, mentorship, and overcoming sponsorship hurdles, along with powerful lessons on mindfulness and staying present. Whether you’re an international student or someone seeking inspiration, this episode is packed with wisdom for personal and career growth. Transcript: [00:00:00] Shiyun Ye: My name is Shiyun Ye. I originally come from China and I came to United States in 2016. [00:00:07] Shiyun Ye: I am currently working at a fortune 500 company as a private client investment associate in the financial services industry. My journey up till today was not easy, but we can go to details and coach Kwan is certainly playing a big role in my journey. [00:00:26] Shiyun Ye: So thank you everybody. [00:00:28] Coach Kwan: Oh, so wonderful. Thank you for being here and , sharing your experience, you know, and your journey with the community. So you said that it wasn’t easy, but you know, at this point, if everyone like, let’s say, look on your LinkedIn profile, they will be saying like, Oh, I want to be her. [00:00:47] Coach Kwan: I want to be like her. She’s so lucky. Right? Everyone usually say that. And we all say that before, when we were younger, when we see a professional’s life out there, we always say, they are so lucky. I want to be lucky like them. So can you share with our community a little bit? If this depends on luck [00:01:06] Shiyun Ye: so whether it depends on luck, sometimes I always reflect and think half of it is luck, maybe, but half of it is because we prepared ourselves to the point that when the luck comes, we are able to grab it. That’s how I see it. But of course, sometimes timing is also a big part of it, but we cannot only see that. [00:01:31] If I have to introduce my journey up [00:01:35] till [00:01:35] Shiyun Ye: 2024, and I have to go back so long ago,I came here in 2016, and my first pivotal point comes two years later, was 2018. 2020 was when Coach Kwan came. That’s the most important one, but let me start two years earlier. So, I came here, and I was the straight A student. [00:01:57] Shiyun Ye: I focused on study only. I got 4. 0 GPA, I was so happy, and something happened in the beginning of 2018. Due to my family’s poor financial decision, I had to cover most of my expenses, including boarding fee, tuition fee, and just smaller expenses. That pushed me to start looking into my career path. That’s why I first started going to Career Center, learning what is LinkedIn, how do I do interview skills, and how do I do network even. [00:02:33] Shiyun Ye: So, I started working as a cashier at the school’s bookstore, then eventually from there I was able to finally grasp what is interview skills, then I was chosen within campus to be a peer advisor, and then also a tutor. So I had two in campus jobs. When I was a sophomore to junior year. During that time, international students, if we want to work outside of campus, we have to apply for CPT. [00:03:05] Shiyun Ye: That’s when I did my research on what is CPT, what is OPT, and able to get an internship at a New York boutique wealth management firm. At that time, what this period had taught me was, one, time management is crucial, not only in our career, but also in our life, because I was a full time student trying to save money taking extracurricular, but at the same time, working two on campus jobs, at the same time working a full time internship, so time management is important. [00:03:40] Shiyun Ye: a good lesson to learn early on. The second lesson from that is a hard pill because that taught me certain sacrifices has to be made in order to survive. The sacrifices I made was my resting time, also a lot of social life. But Without those period, I wouldn’t be able to be where I am today as well. [00:04:12] Shiyun Ye: Like, that’s a long stretch, but those valuable experiences has taught me these two very hard lessons early on. So that’s lesson in 2018. And then, because of my experiences working. I was able to secure two full-time offers when 2020 comes. I was supposed to graduate in 2019 December because I took extra curriculum. [00:04:41] Shiyun Ye: My original graduation date is 2020 in May. This is where international students. needs to research a little bit more. In 2019, I learned for international students, we are able to take one lesson or one class in our last semester, if we couldn’t find a job. And this Little, like this small information that I learned saved myself because 2020 happened, COVID happened. [00:05:13] Shiyun Ye: Even I was able to secure two offers, one from HSBC in Hong Kong, one from Charles Schwab in Austin, Texas. However, in January 2020, HSBC offer was canceled. And then Charles Schwab offer was withdrew because they couldn’t sponsor international students due to budget cut. [00:05:36] Shiyun Ye: Then what should I rely on? I relied on this small information, enrolled myself in one class. So I’m able to stay in United States as an F1 student. Again, planning
Bridging the Gaps for International Student Success
Tune in as we explore how colleges and universities can better support international students through proactive engagement and collaboration between faculty, career services, and international offices. From memorable stories to expert advice, this episode is packed with practical tips and thoughtful discussion.