Ever pressed 2 for French or Spanish to dodge an accent? This episode exposes the not-so-subtle bias behind “accent shopping” in customer service calls. From real-life contact center stories to AI now being used to mask employee accents as digital whitewashing, we dive deep into the uncomfortable truth: It’s not always about comprehension—it’s about who sounds “acceptable.”

So here’s how it goes…

You call a contact center. You don’t press 1 for English—because let’s be honest, you don’t want to get ‘Raj from Bangalore’ or ‘Mei from Manila.’

Nope. You press 2 for French… or Spanish.

Then go, ‘Oops! Meant English!’—knowing that bilingual reps are usually North American-born.

Welcome to Accent Shopping.

It’s not in the handbook, but it’s alive and thriving in every customer service line across North America.

And now?

Companies are using AI to MASK employee accents.

Yes. We’ve gone that far to please a customer.

So I gotta ask:

What will customers complain about now? That the AI sounded too ‘neutral’?

Let’s dive in.”

🎧 Listen as we unpack:

• Why customers game language menus to avoid international voices

• How AI is erasing human identity for “neutral” North American speech

• What counts as a “Canadian,” "American" or “professional” accent

• Real examples of bias in call transfers—and who gets deemed “Canadian enough”

Whether you’ve ever been judged for your voice or caught yourself preferring certain accents, this one’s got some real talk you need to hear.

Free Career Resources: https://www.teachndo.com/resources

• Diaspora's Career Challenge Podcast Episodes: teachndo.com/podcastepisodes

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  Sweta Regmi - https://www.teachndo.com/speaker

In this episode of Diaspora's Career Challenges, we tackle the hidden job market stats and break down why it’s not actually hidden—it’s just exclusive. If you’re an immigrant, newcomer, or someone without an Ivy League connection, you’ll want to hear this. We dive into why networking is often more about privilege than merit, and what strategies actually work to land the job you deserve. Tune in for the truth on navigating today’s job market and getting noticed in a system that’s stacked against you.

The Hidden Job Market Exposed: Why It Was Never Meant for You

“80% of jobs are hidden.” Sounds great, right? But here’s the truth: the hidden job market isn’t hidden—it’s exclusive. If you’re an immigrant, newcomer, or anyone without an Ivy League bestie, guess what? You’re not on the guest list. That’s the reality.

While gurus, networking coaches, and LinkedIn influencers preach about tapping into the “hidden market,” here’s the real deal: 500,000+ job vacancies in Canada in 2025. So, why are we pushing people to chase these so-called hidden opportunities when there’s a stocked pond right in front of them?

Let’s talk about the biases that fuel the so-called hidden market:

• People hire people who look like them.

• People hire people who went to the same schools.

• People hire people they golf with.

That’s not networking. That’s bias.

The Biases Keeping the Job Market ‘Hidden’

Let’s just call it what it is:

🚨 Affinity Bias – Hiring people similar to you.

🚨 Confirmation Bias – Seeing an immigrant name and assuming they won’t “fit.”

🚨 Halo Effect – Assuming a Harvard grad must be the smartest person in the room.

🚨 Opportunity Hoarding – Keeping jobs in exclusive circles.

🚨 Privilege Bias – If you have to network to survive, was the system ever really merit-based?

I’ve worked at top companies, and I can’t imagine not posting jobs. Hiring isn’t random—there’s a system behind it. But yes, some jobs aren’t posted:

• Small businesses with no HR team hire based on word-of-mouth.

• Executive search firms recruit for C-suite roles confidentially.

• Companies pulling from networks before jobs even go live.

But is that 80% of all hiring? No. That’s an outdated myth recycled over and over.

Here’s what’s real:

• Strategic personal branding – Make it impossible to ignore you.

• Targeted job applications – Yes, they work if done right.

• Informational interviews – The right kind, not just “pick your brain” sessions.

• Storytelling on LinkedIn – So hiring managers find you.

The truth is, the so-called “hidden job market” favors privilege, not merit. So when people tell newcomers, “Just network harder,” we need to question what that really means.

What works instead? Focus on strategies that you control—personal branding, applying strategically, building real professional relationships, and ensuring that you are seen. Stop chasing shadows and focus on what’s tangible.

Free Career Resources: https://www.teachndo.com/resources

• Diaspora's Career Challenge Podcast Episodes: teachndo.com/podcastepisodes

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  Sweta Regmi - https://www.teachndo.com/speaker

In this episode of Diaspora 's Career Challenges, Sweta Regmi explores how language – specifically English – shapes our professional lives and impacts career success, especially for immigrants. Language biases, particularly in ESL, profoundly affect how people perceive others’ intelligence, capabilities, and even employability. But why does this happen? And how does the way we speak influence our career growth?

Why is it that when non-native speakers of English try their best, they’re often met with condescension, but when a native English speaker attempts another language, they’re praised for their effort?

In this insightful episode, we discuss:

• Language Bias in the Hiring: How accent discrimination affects immigrant job seekers and employees, and the implicit biases that hinder career progress.

• The Power of English Proficiency: Why non-native English speakers are often judged unfairly, and the impact of this on self-esteem and career advancement.

• The Science Behind Language Biases: How our brains are wired to favor certain accents over others, and how this influences hiring decisions and professional relationships.

• Overcoming Language Bias in Careers: Strategies to navigate bias in the workplace, leveraging your unique language skills, and turning accent challenges into career advantages.

• Cultural Influence on Communication: How the globalization of English affects career success for immigrants and minorities, and how cultural differences play a role in workplace dynamics.

We’ll take a deep look at:

• The stereotyping of non-native speakers and how their language proficiency is often unfairly questioned.

• The double standards in how accents are perceived, especially when comparing South Asian accents to European ones.

• My personal story of navigating language bias as an immigrant who changed the way I speak without even trying.

• The role of AI in perpetuating language bias and how even technology is skewed against non-native speakers.

• The unwritten rules of what “correct” English sounds like, and how they often exclude those who speak it differently.

Whether you’re someone who speaks multiple languages or someone who has faced judgment based on your accent, this episode is for you. It’s time to break free from the biases tied to language and accent.

This episode is essential for anyone navigating the challenges of language barriers, accent discrimination, or working in environments where English is the dominant language. Whether you’re an immigrant job seeker or a professional working in an English-speaking country, this episode provides critical insights to help you break free from language-based bias and thrive in your career.

Whether you’re someone who speaks multiple languages or someone who has faced judgment based on your accent, this episode is for you. It’s time to break free from the biases tied to language and accent.

Key Takeaways:

• Understand how English language bias affects your career opportunities

• Learn how to overcome accent discrimination in professional settings

• Gain strategies to embrace your multilingual skills and turn them into career assets

• Discover how cultural and language biases shape hiring decisions and workplace interactions

Free Career Resources: https://www.teachndo.com/resources

• Diaspora's Career Challenge Podcast Episodes: teachndo.com/podcastepisodes

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  Sweta Regmi - https://www.teachndo.com/speaker

In this eye-opening episode, we reveal how AI is secretly shaping who gets hired, promoted, or fired — and why it’s a disaster for immigrants, diaspora, people with accents, and marginalized groups. With Emmy-winning investigative journalist Hilke Schellmann, we dive into the hidden biases baked into AI hiring algorithms, from accent discrimination to gender bias.

AI Bias in Hiring: From One-Way Video Interviews to Resume Screening

This isn’t science fiction, it's happening right now. Tune in to learn how AI is impacting your career, and what you can do to fight back before the robots make all the decisions.

Guest Speaker, Hilke Schellmann, Author of "The Algorithm", Assistant Professor of Journalism at New York University | Keynote Speaker | Emmy-award winning investigative journalist

Host: Sweta Regmi , Certified Career & Resume Strategist @ Teachndo

AI is rejecting you during an interview: Here is how to ace and fix it.

Your Interview Could Be With AI, Ace Job Interview!

Diaspora's Career Challenge Podcast Episodes: Diaspora’s Career Challenges | Sweta Regmi Podcast| Teachndo

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Sweta Regmi - Top Global Speaker, Career Strategist & Personal Branding Consultant | Teachndo Canada

How Diaspora and Immigrants Navigate Bias Through Name Changes on Resumes.

Do Immigrants Navigate Bias Through Name Changes on Resumes?

Are they Breaking the Mold?

What would they do to fit in?

Would you change your name to an English-sounding one just to land an interview?

If you’ve never thought about it, it’s likely because you don’t have an ethnic or non-English name. For many immigrants and diasporas, the pressure to fit in starts with their resumes. They are often forced to “whiten” their resumes—removing any trace of cultural identity—to navigate biases in the hiring process.

Welcome to the world of resume whitening, where changing your name could be the difference between being called for an interview or being overlooked.

But why? It’s because companies that claim to value diversity still sometimes gravitate toward familiarity—the kind that doesn’t challenge their comfort zones.

And so, people with ethnic names are left with a choice:

• Do you embrace your identity and risk being ignored?

• Or do you conform by changing your name, all to survive in a biased system?

Some even go so far as to legally change their names to sound more “acceptable.”

And honestly, I don’t blame them. It’s survival of the fittest out here, right?

Until next time, this is Breaking the Mold: Diaspora Career Challenges, where we unpack the struggles of fitting in and the strength it takes to stand out.

Key Takeaways from This Episode

1. What Is Resume Whitening?

• Resume whitening is the practice of anglicizing names or removing cultural identifiers to reduce bias during the hiring process.

• Many job seekers, especially immigrants and diasporas, resort to this practice to improve their chances of landing interviews.

2. The Cost of Fitting In:

• Erasing a name or cultural identity can feel like losing a piece of who you are.

• This is especially true when jobseekers feel pressured to conform to workplace norms that don’t value diversity authentically.

3. Diversity & Inclusion: The Irony

• Companies often tout diversity but unintentionally perpetuate biases through hiring practices.

• The pressure to “fit in” highlights how far we still have to go in creating equitable workplaces.

4. A Message for Immigrants and Diasporas

• You’re not here to fit in. You’re here to stand out. Your name, your accent, and your identity are assets, not liabilities.

5. Resources for Job Seekers

• Looking for help to overcome bias and stand out? Check out free career and job search resources at

Career Resources for Immigrants & Newcomers by Sweta Regmi: Free Resume, Interview, LinkedIn, and Job Search Help in Canada | Teachndo

If you’ve faced challenges like these, you’re not alone. Don’t let the pressure to conform strip away your unique identity. Instead, let it be your strength.

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Sweta Regmi - Top Global Speaker, Career Strategist & Personal Branding Consultant | Teachndo Canada

Diaspora's Career Challenges Podcast | Sweta Regmi - Career Strategies for Immigrants & Global Professionals Teachndo

In this powerful episode of Diaspora's Career Challenges, award-winning CBC journalist Angie Seth opens up about the often overlooked emotional impact of the question, "Where are you really from?"

Through her personal journey of navigating multiple cultures and raising children in a mixed-race family, Angie sheds light on the deep-rooted biases that shape our identity and how they affect both personal and professional lives.

From the internal identity struggles of immigrant families to the stereotypes faced by children in multicultural households, Angie shares candid reflections on how this question can trigger difficult conversations about belonging and heritage.

As someone who’s worked at the intersection of culture and journalism, Angie provides a unique perspective on how hidden biases can affect career paths, opportunities, and the professional growth of individuals from diverse backgrounds.

In this episode, we explore:

• The emotional toll of being asked, "Where are you really from?"
• How mixed-race families navigate identity in a multicultural world
• The role of stereotypes and cultural assumptions in shaping career paths
• The complexities of balancing heritage with modern identity
• Personal stories from Angie’s life as a background South Asian-Canadian journalist

This conversation is a must-listen for anyone interested in understanding the challenges faced by individuals from diaspora communities, and how these challenges influence their careers, relationships, and personal growth.

Podcast Host: Sweta Regmi, Founder & CEO Teachndo, Award-winning Career Strategist.

Speaker Contact:teachndo.com/speaker

Welcome to Diaspora’s Career Challenges, the podcast dedicated to empowering immigrants and newcomers as they navigate the complex journey of settling into a new country. This isn’t just about job searches—it’s about everything that comes with being part of a diaspora: career growth, workplace struggles, navigating bias and discrimination, and overcoming the unique challenges that arise when trying to build a life in an unfamiliar environment.

Whether you're climbing the corporate ladder, transitioning careers, or finding your place in a new industry, this podcast provides real stories, expert insights, and actionable strategies to help you thrive.

What You'll Learn:

Cultural Fit vs. Cultural Add: The delicate balance of staying true to your heritage while adapting to a new culture—without compromising your identity. The Cost of Code-Switching: How constantly altering who you are to meet corporate norms can impact your sense of self and limit career growth. SEIB Quotas: Seen: Being included for diversity quotas, but not truly valued. Exploited: Tokenism and being used for appearances or PR purposes. Isolated: Exclusion from decision-making spaces and career advancement opportunities. Blocked: Facing systemic barriers that prevent true career growth. The Silent Struggles: Tackling identity crises, imposter syndrome, and the mental toll of being a marginalized professional in spaces not built for you. Discrimination & Bias: Confronting racism, bias, and microaggressions in the workplace and beyond, and how to cope with, challenge, and rise above them.

Why This Podcast Matters: For too long, the struggles of diaspora professionals have been overlooked or swept under the rug. From feeling like an outsider in the workplace to facing systemic bias and discrimination, many immigrants and newcomers have navigated their careers in silence. As someone who has lived through these challenges, I’m here to break that silence. This podcast is for anyone who has ever felt like they don't belong, who’s faced barriers based on their identity, or who’s had to constantly code-switch to survive in a new environment.

Together, we’ll share stories of resilience, offer actionable strategies for overcoming career obstacles, and advocate for the change we deserve. It’s time to stop pretending these challenges don’t exist and start addressing them head-on.

Subscribe now and join a community dedicated to turning struggle into success. Let’s build our careers, reclaim our power, and pave the way for the next generation of diaspora professionals.

Free Career Resources: Career Resources for Immigrants & Newcomers by Sweta Regmi: Free Resume, Interview, LinkedIn, and Job Search Help in Canada | Teachndo

Speaker Contact: Sweta Regmi - Top Global Speaker, Career Strategist & Personal Branding Consultant | Teachndo Canada