Ten Thousand Chais | The Ismaili Canada
Ten Thousand Chais

Have you missed the opportunity to connect, recharge and revive through chai with friends, acquaintances and even the occasional stranger in the social hall? If so, Ten Thousand Chais may be for you.

 

Ten Thousand Chais is an established and successful initiative, adapted especially for the Canadian Jamat, to enable connections with others who share similar interests, over a chai, a smoothie, a coffee, or simply just a chat! The goal is to build social networks, whether for personal growth, career advancement, or simply for human connection, amidst these isolating times.

There has perhaps never been a more important time for our Jamat to stay connected, to meet and make new friends, learn from each other, and find ways to strengthen relationships.

Join today! 

 

Watch this video for more information:

Frequently Asked Questions
What is Ten Thousand Chais?

Ten Thousand Chais (10K Chais) is a platform that will allow members of the community to create personal and professional connections, based on shared interests and goals. It will allow members to expand their professional and personal networks across the country.

How does the platform work?

The platform has 3 key features: connections, office hours, and a member directory. The connections feature will match you with other members, based on shared interests and goals. The office hours feature will allow the Jamat to engage with industry and institutional leaders in an intimate and informal setting. Finally, the member directory will allow you to search for Jamati members who have expertise/interest in specific fields.

Who can sign up for Ten Thousand Chais?

Any member of the Jamat, including multi-faith family members, above the age of 18.

What are Office Hours?
Office Hours are a way for Jamati members to connect with senior industry leaders in an informal and intimate setting. Office hours allow for a unique opportunity to learn about their career journeys and experiences on the road to success.
How do I sign up for Office Hours?
Join Ten Thousand Chais to be notified of upcoming Office Hours! Office Hours will be available to RSVP 1-2 weeks prior to the session date through your Ten Thousand Chais account. 
Who will I meet at Office Hours?
  1. Wednesday, July 7: Zabeen Hirji -  Executive Advisor Future of Work | Corporate Board Director | Not-for-Profit Board Chair | Connector - Convenor | Speaker | Former Chief Human Resources Officer, RBC

  2. Saturday, July 10: Murad Bhimani - Partner at MNP LLP | Corporate and Civic Leader | Chair and Board Member

  3. Wednesday, July 14: Aayaz Pira - President & CEO, Canadian Tire Bank | President, Canadian Tire Financial

  4. Saturday, July 17: Farah Bundeali - Partner, Consumer Markets, KPMG Canada

  5. Wednesday, July 21: Rahim Hirji - Chief Risk Officer, Manulife

  6. Saturday, July 24: Shehni Dossa - Judge of the Provincial Court of British Columbia | Former Assistant Deputy Chair of the Appeal Division of the Immigration and Refugee Board

  7. Wednesday, July 28: Shamira Madhany - Managing Director and Deputy Executive Director, World Education Services

  8. Saturday, July 31: Riaz Ahmed - Group Head and Chief Financial Officer, TD Bank Group

  9. Wednesday, August 4: Alfan Jetha - CEO, RxBIO

  10. Saturday, August 7: Noorjean Hassam - Chief Operating Officer & Chief Professional Practice Officer, BC Centre for Disease Control

  11. Saturday, August 14: Natasha Walji - Director @ Google | McKinsey | Yale | Cambridge | Computer Science | Top 100 | Angel Investor

  12. Wednesday, August 18: Farhad Mortezaee - Architect, AAA, AIBC, OAA, FarMor Architecture

  13. Saturday, August 28: Rosemin Madhavji - Media Personality, Presenter and Brand Ambassador

  14. Wednesday, September 1: Rumina Velshi - President and CEO, Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission

  15. Saturday, September 4: Reza Satchu - Founder and Managing Partner, Alignvest Management Corporation

Can I opt out of any of the features?

Absolutely! You can opt out of or pause connections, and choose not to be shown in the member directory.

How often will I be connected to someone?

During the first month (July), you will receive 2 connections. After this, you will receive 1 connection per month.

What is the sign-up process like?

The sign-up process takes less than 5 minutes! Simply click here to join. You will be asked for the following information: first name, last name, email address, your role (ex: student, early in my career, etc.), region, and your goals and interests. You will then be asked who you would like to be introduced to, based on role and region. Once your profile is set up you can continue to enhance it by adding a photo, icebreakers, information about your work, where you went to school, and more (but remember, this is completely optional!).

Can anyone find me or send me a message on the platform?

You can opt out of receiving messages and being included on the member directory.

How does this platform differ from formal mentorship programs like Fast Track?

10K Chais is a platform for Jamati members to connect, on an informal basis. There is no obligation in terms of time or to continued engagement with your match if it simply isn’t a good fit. You will receive new connections on a consistent basis, which means you will have the opportunity to meet many different members of the Jamat. If the connection turns into a mentorship-like relationship, that’s fantastic! 

How do I connect with my match?

Once you have a new connection, you will be notified by email. It is then up to the both of you to initiate a conversation. This conversation can take place however you like! By phone, Zoom, Teams, FaceTime – whatever makes the most sense for you and your match.

The Ismaili

Contact Us

His Highness Prince Aga Khan Shia Imami Ismaili Council for Canada

49 Wynford Drive Toronto, Ontario M3C 1K1 CANADA

Tel: +1-416-646-6965

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