Ep. 25 with Nigora Yulyakshieva from the City of Regina

Barb McGrath 0:00
Welcome to The Secret Life of entrepreneurs. A 91.3 FM CJ tr Regina community radio. You’re listening to your host, Barb McGrath, local business owner, marketing guru and founder of the get found on Google program. This week, I’m talking with a very special guest, who is she is a leader in our community. She is a warm, welcoming, wonderful, wonderful lady and I cannot wait to introduce her today. She’s a leader in our business community. She’s making a positive impact in her place of employment with her stakeholders with her children. She is making a difference in why Cqr she is one of our first guest. She’s actually I guess, our second guest in our women in leadership series. And so today we’re going to talk with Nora. I got to do again. I practice a hard today Nigora Yulyakshieva. No, I still didn’t, I’m close. Okay, she’s giving me the nod. I’m close. So stay tuned to learn her secret about what makes her tick. What keeps her going? And you know, I tell you, there’s times i think that that all of us as citizens here in Regina as as Canadian residents, you know, it’s really easy to look at life and think oh, you know, life is tough. But when you hear Nigora’s story today, you’re gonna go home and think wow, do I have it? Good. So let’s get started. I would like to welcome Nigora. Nigora is the manager of roadway preservation at the city of Regina and she’s also the winner of the mentorship award with the YWCA of Regina and their women of distinction award. So welcome Nigora, please tell us a little bit about yourself.

Nigora Yulyakshieva 1:49
Thank you Barb and inviting me for the deal shop and I happy to be here. And so I just want to talk a little bit introduce myself so I was born in the summer as CEO of the world’s biggest fan and I have six siblings and five sisters and one brother and I also have like into this take opportunity my parents today my mom yeah however hot she was a physiotherapist and my dad designs so burb he was at cook and they both was raised during the second world in the world. So it’s they have very rough childhood particular my dad he’d become orphan and he was always telling us stories. And he says I put gold that Monaco kids have ever seen. I think he not only reach his goal his exceed because all our siblings we have university degree and also and one of that I got my engineering degree at summer gun engineering University and also my parents was they always believe in us and they always say that we can achieve and handle all the challenges in be successful I only as a growing up I only hear from that oh you can handle you can handle. So I guess this and now I see my siblings where we are all and I see those tools they give us and those grudges and I cannot say we all successful successful means different for

Barb McGrath 3:32
Everybody different for everybody.

Nigora Yulyakshieva 3:35
So we handling all the life challenges giving a pass. So that’s and I’m very thankful to my parents that and where I am today it’s they play a big role on it. Absolutely. So based on the life circumstances we become a refugee 1999

Barb McGrath 3:56
Might have to buy money years ago now.

Nigora Yulyakshieva 3:58
Yes. And my husband and the Bahadur Eunuch shave, and my two kids Nafisa boba and I was pregnant seven and a half months,

Barb McGrath 4:09
Seven and a half months like I just seven and a half months there were six weeks to go until baby could come and being your third pregnancy like baby can come any time

Nigora Yulyakshieva 4:18
Yeah, that’s I thankful to Canadian immigration, they helped me because otherwise my baby at the time he wouldn’t get documentation we will know what variable in doubt what will happen with him. So anyway, so I we here in Regina, and at this moment I would like saying opendoor society they will tomasetti report and since that this provides lots of support and help and welcome and I always say they are my family is my home. Yes. So that’s how we came to Regina. Actually this small thing I will say we Thought Regina. Oh, I remember always and I tell this many many times yeah on the way at the airport like landed and flight and then they say you are enjoying and I’m looking at my husband I say we get lost in the language with a no and not beginner. Right? And so anyway so when we went out we see the open door people with our names. I was very new we’re in the right place.

Barb McGrath 5:30
So just take me back in that process a little bit Nigora. How How did you end in Regina or Regina? Like why here coming from? I’m sorry, your home country name again was Vegas then. Thank you. So when we become a refugees, we applied to the United Nation. Okay. And Meantime, my sister in law got file. They also apply. It’s my husband’s sister. And they came to Canada. I had to pass so then we choose also so far, maybe two unit? Come here.

Nigora Yulyakshieva 6:05
But in Toronto. Firstly, they ask us where we go because my sister in law lives in moisture. Oh, yeah. And then my husband said okay, is the giant and it’s capital city or the most chill and they say no. So we say No, we’ll go to rich. Okay. So that’s how we ended up but we didn’t know actually that this wasn’t the right to choose the country. For her also the same they were put her name to for Canada so we follow him. That’s how we came here.

Barb McGrath 6:41
And so did she pick Moose Jaw or was Moose Jaw chosen Florida. Okay, now ironically, Moose Jaw is home for me. Yeah. So I mean, I know the community well, and our shit Laos. Exactly. We go visit and it’s lovely city, Moscow. So yes. And good for them. secondlargest moose. Just sayin. Okay, no, I’m sorry, I interrupted your story. So let’s continue.

Nigora Yulyakshieva 7:07
Yeah, so so we came here. And one thing also the Canadian Embassy, they review our education and all that the process you’re going through, and then they say, you know, your degree cannot be recognized. And we you know, at that point, you agree with everything. And in the moment happy that they told us that.

Barb McGrath 7:34
Now, what was your degree? I don’t think you said yet.

Nigora Yulyakshieva 7:36
Sorry. My degree is industrial and civil engineer engineering. Okay. So that so we can hear and drop in their society we start learning language. And it’s again open their society into this to meet the right people and right time. So they introduced to me to them, woman engineer, and I don’t like to call a woman engineer. It’s engineer’s.

Barb McGrath 8:02
Still just an engineer. That’s right.

Nigora Yulyakshieva 8:04
Stella Matson and she introduced to me two other engineers so and she gained and on me the trust that I can achieve my engineering here. So this lots of people that helped me and also in meantime, I met Pontus rubra. And she was a language teacher at the University of Regina. Actually, when we came to Canada that time she went in specie Stan, teaching English there.

Barb McGrath 8:35
Really?

Nigora Yulyakshieva 8:36
Oh, yeah. Again, so we since I call her my Canadian mom, so she helped me a lot with my English and with my speaking was writing and also she like, opened the classes because seeing that educated immigrants they need more professional language training and work placement. So it’s again I believe that destiny so you always will meet right people right at the right time.

Barb McGrath 9:07
Exactly.

Nigora Yulyakshieva 9:09
So and 2000 to the workplace meant I was the god job at the Ministry highway six months, and then they gave me another one and a half year temporary position. Okay. And then my position and that’s the rule. Yes. So the I was looking for a job and there was another temporary position to secure for China senior traffic engineer position. Okay, so I worked there, one in half here. And that time, it’s 2003. And four, it was very last time, any opening engineering position. So I applied to albertan. And I got a call Actually, I got a letter I wasn’t selected. And then after, why have I got the phone call? From the George theraplay cave, and I’m thankful for him, and he says, You go, can you come? I would like to talk to you about the job. Oh, wow. Yeah. So that’s I got my permanent position and color. But I was working and I located the city of Edmonton and providing technical support as a traffic engineer. Okay, working on them. signalized traffic intersection doing designs orders. So I worked there for four years.

Barb McGrath 10:29
Oh, good for you. Yeah. Okay. Can I ask a traffic question? Just to, just to jump off your story here for one second. So I mean, we hear people in Regina complain on a regular basis about our traffic lights and travel time and whatnot. And having lived in Toronto, I used to live 17 kilometers from where I lived, to where I needed to work. And depending on what time of day I left, it could take me 45 minutes to get here. Now in Regina time, if I was 17 kilometers from something, it probably takes me seven minutes. So I’m not one of those people who think that we should complain about our traffic lights. But you just quickly tell me. Do you guys get a lot of complaints from residents about traffic lights and how they work? And you know, oh, she’s nodding her head.

Nigora Yulyakshieva 11:15
Yes. You know, again, that’s what traffic it’s very unique. So it’s always based on the people experience. When I live in Edmonton, it took an hour to go to walk Exactly. Come back. Because you get used to this is the the biggest bigger city more travel, but city of China traffic signal. It’s all coordinated. And yes, we will have delays, maybe 15 minutes. Okay. When I was in traffic, I count how many intersection. But again, yes, people complain. And we try our best and traffic engineering branch. They work very hard. But this is the life

Barb McGrath 11:59
Exactly. Yes. No. Do you have to field any of those concerns from residents? Or is there another area that’s responsible for sort of now yielding not so right now?

Nigora Yulyakshieva 12:07
I don’t be in the front area. But yes, I was. I was a senior traffic engineer for two years at the city of Medina. Yeah, I was doing the work on that.

Barb McGrath 12:21
Oh, okay. Excellent. All right. Tell us a little bit more about your family and your work.

Nigora Yulyakshieva 12:30
So I guess, when I moved away, I got the opportunity as the CTO of Regina traffic engineer, and 2007 we move back to Regina. Okay. And my family. So now my daughter is I will not tell her age, but she working in the industry. And, and my older son, he walks them. And the two jobs because he has three kids to support him. And my youngest son still at the university. Okay,

Barb McGrath 13:07
So your youngest son is the son you would have been expecting when you first came to Canada.

Nigora Yulyakshieva 13:12
So he’s my sunshine. And I was with him everywhere learning language. And I remember one day when I was at the science, I will take him to the daycare backpack and just he was with me all the way. Yes, wherever I go, so, and my kids and the one thing was my family. I missed that because I couldn’t help them with their homework, I suppose. Yeah, the language barrier and also cultural barrier here. And I always, it’s not a regret, but I always say I missed that part. Because I become a student myself. And my kids was going to school and for them, it was big adjustment. They came my daughter at the time was 11 years old, my son, my oldest son nine years. For them. It was culture shock also. And so if I look back, I say it could maybe not to go to school and just work with them. But it’s again, you never know.

Barb McGrath 14:18
Exactly hindsight is always 2020. And when we don’t know how things would have turned out if we would have made that different decision. There’s other things that you know, may have changed so

Nigora Yulyakshieva 14:28
And my husband also for the years he worked as a pizza delivery in Cook, but he’s he had also engineering degree.

Barb McGrath 14:37
So they they cook at home then too. Oh, yes.

Nigora Yulyakshieva 14:42
Congratulations. Awesome. Yeah. So we both work so we share all the choices with the walk together. He says she taught us to so now he’s good cook actually good. So yeah, when I got mine, so he also actually Your work as an engineer starts in Alberta. And they give him opportunity to try and then they hired him. He worked for them. I don’t remember the name it was done for the oil company and designing the pumps for oil stations. Oh, okay. Yeah. So when I moved here, so he’s still keeping that job. And then until he find job, here was the CTO for China. So he’s a mechanical engineer. And so my work and as the leading I lead and support, and contributing to city of China’s development and growth, focusing and effort on engaged employees in striving for operational excellence. So how I’m doing that because I am responsible. We’re the leading one of the important branch of the city. And I can say that

Barb McGrath 15:58
Absolutely. Our traffic branch, I tell you, yeah, I thought that it’s an older roadway preservation. That’s still roads to me, but sorry, I’m not an engineer.

Nigora Yulyakshieva 16:07
Yeah, it’s all transportation. So our branch mandate is to provide safe and reliable traffic for the citizens. So we managing existing road in bridge infrastructure. Yes. And so we deliver every year, our new literally for for a million worth of improvement projects.

Barb McGrath 16:30
Oh, wow. Yeah. Oh, wow. That puts it in perspective,

Nigora Yulyakshieva 16:32
Doesn’t it and my team, it consists 25 people, they all professional engineers, and technologists. So as a leader, I it’s not only I have to provide technical advice, or working on strategic plan was them. It’s also for me, it’s the big, it’s the personnel. Because we all go to school, we all learn. If you finish the university, I will say you finish university, no, you know, a person already. Yeah. And so for me, it’s the, as a leader working, and one on one with my employees, and to understand their needs. And because each person is different, okay, and so you need to know how to work not to fail that employee rate so that it’s more important for me. So I try to set the career development plan with them. And not only setting the planets, everybody can, but also I support them to achieve that. Okay, so each, so up to date, I help more than 20 engineers to get their professional

Barb McGrath 17:40
Designations, that nation

Nigora Yulyakshieva 17:43
For the walk, right, the reports, and the support that in also for technologists, I’m providing all the opportunities to get trained, and to move forward with their carrier. And so that’s all good stuff. But we still have lots of challenges Also, do you

Barb McGrath 18:03
Okay, so tell me about a few of those challenges.

Nigora Yulyakshieva 18:05
So what I say if you look back, when I started as a manager, it was 2008. So our city was smaller, and the population also it was around 180. k. And our network was it’s more than 800 kilometers of the roadway. And we had only 69 bridges. Okay. But now, we have more than thousand kilometer road infrastructure. Wow, we have 81 bridges. So it’s growing. And other biggest challenge is the different generation tape. So now, we have three generation working together. And we know they all have different needs. They need different support. And we know from our kids how it’s different expect as we ourselves. But I’m not saying the workforce. It’s not your kids, but I’m just trying to see how it changed it.

Nigora Yulyakshieva 19:10
So now is most of the employees are retiring, and young generation entering to the workforce. And they have different needs. Yes. So you have to work with them. And also you have to make sure that they all work together. So I’m very proud of my branch, they work well. And we do it’s each of them. They support community. And they volunteer, and they do different things for the community. And they work well. So that’s it’s always people say that branch work well and that’s what we deliver, and produce good work.

Barb McGrath 19:52
So can you share with us a couple of those things that that you do within your branch to help those multi generations work together.

Nigora Yulyakshieva 20:01
So I have a one on one with each my employees twice a year, just to hear not only the give, provide their feedback, the feedback, absolutely. And I, you know, it’s not always easy, I fail a couple of times. And some employees, it was very hard when they leave. It just wasn’t the right time, maybe the right feet, right. But I was really hard on myself. So actually, I have situation was one of my employees, he just say, I cannot work with you. And I sit down with him. I said, No, you know, what less, I say, I don’t want to give up on you. I say we both grown up people. So what’s the making so difficult to understand each other? Right? So we sit down, and I say, just come down and come back in, I asked Marshall, how we want to be given the work. situation was me when you have discussion. And now, you know, it’s in the past. And we just laugh about that. Okay. So that’s what happens. So it’s again, it’s very diverse. And each culture have different work ethics, right? And different challenges. So you have to overcome of that rate. And yeah, the most things I always tell not only employees to anybody who come to Canada, I say first thing, you have to accept the culture here, you have to learn the culture here. And then you will see how people start learning your culture helping you in asking the question, we cannot expect that Oh, people will learn about us. Yeah, no clueless people all over the place. They come here. And let’s work together. Culture a more easier. And one great things about Canadians. They don’t interfere until you ask, right? When you ask, they help you a lot. So that’s another good things. And yeah, so we do with my team, also some events. Okay, now, it’s how many years maybe it’s 10 years. We’re doing barbecue during the summer.

Barb McGrath 22:24
Nice. Yeah.

Nigora Yulyakshieva 22:24
So during the Christmas, overdoing this families, but then not everybody could participate in and now, still bidding twice, and you’ll be good friends. And then also, it’s social, like a social club. Okay. Other than that we do meetings we do together business planning, and planning our work employees, they put their work plan. Okay. So that’s

Barb McGrath 22:52
Wow. So you’ve actually got quite a few pieces that you sort of talked about there, right. And it’s all about building culture, building engagement, right. And so those are such core and foundational principles to being able to enjoy your work. And when you have a team that’s functioning well, they’re enjoying their work, they’re going to be able to perform at a much higher level. Right? Yes, absolutely. So tell us a little bit about the award that you won from the YWCA. I know that, you know, there was a bit of a process that they had to go through. It’s certainly a significant award. So talk about what that might mean to you.

Nigora Yulyakshieva 23:30
You know, first of all, the award, the nomination, it was surprised for me, okay. And I say, Okay, I will get that its nominated. Even that time everybody was congratulating with that I was nominated. And so it’s again, for me, it was different, because when people in my understand when people get nominated, I guess I didn’t know how because that. I think I just nominated. Okay, and then yeah, but getting the award, I will be honest, I was thrilled when I heard my name. Mm hmm. I all like pentas she was with me. I said, Pat, this this is another one or two nomination will be awarded. And then we’ll go and that moment, just a call my name. Oh, wow. I was just drilled out almost. Hmm. And it’s also my team was there to supporting me it was wonderful. So hey, you know what, this was lots of congratulations. And from the council or city council member, and our executive and the mayor and city manager. He was away in UK he sent me an email to congratulate you know, it’s event when I look back, it’s says that the work I did, it’s paid off. Absolutely. Yeah. So it’s means me a lot. It means me that I accomplished something. And so it’s rewarded. So that’s how I took. But it again, there was I was surprised why? Because there was another, there was 46 nominees, and their life story. I read each of them, it was so wonderful storage. And so you always compare yourself to others. And yeah, that’s what I was so surprised that they selected me for the award. Oh,

Barb McGrath 25:29
You know, and to be honest, I have lived in Region and now for for 20 years, 21 years, actually 21 years this year. And I’ve known about the, the awards and the YWCA, women of distinction for years. And a number of times I’ve known folks who were nominated. And a few times, I’ve had the opportunity to also know people who won. And they’ve always, always looked at that award program, and thought, wow, like, it’s just, it’s been one of those things that I suppose as a woman, as a resident, I’ve always looked at that program and just thought, it’s a phenomenal program. And for me, it’s such an honor to have you on the show and be able to learn about you and understand, you know, sort of where you’ve come from. And, you know, if I look at the last 20 years of my life, I’ve known English the entire time. So it’s been that much easier. Right. And so, so hearing your story and being able to put it into perspective for what you’ve been able to accomplish. I mean, it is just fantastic. Absolutely fantastic.

Nigora Yulyakshieva 26:39
So Barb, if I can talk about a, you know, they gave me an award ceremony to talk, I was so vulnerable and couldn’t say so I always want to say one thing, okay. It’s a wonderful organization, and people, all volunteer base work. Because I know I work for open door society, I was a member of director for five years. I know how much work goes into that. I want to say we’re very fortunate here in Canada that we have organization like that, supporting women and kids, I have witnesses, the woman, they broken up, and they came to parents with their kids, and they don’t have place to go, the parents will send them back saying, this is your place. And through the open door, I met lots of woman and they will tell the stories how women get treated, and how abused they go through. So I always say we fortunate we have organization like that. That’s supporting and helping. So

Barb McGrath 27:44
Exactly. No, I think sometimes we forget how fortunate we are with all of the the support and the rich community that we have. So we are incredibly, incredibly fortunate. I agree with you, wholeheartedly. negara, believe it or not, we only have about three minutes left. So is there anything else that you would like to share with the audience today in terms of words of wisdom, things that you have learned something personal?

Nigora Yulyakshieva 28:14
Yeah, so wisdom, you know, it’s not something you learn from the school. The wisdom, it’s you teach your life. And I’m not in that stage. So I say I live long life and I was not one I want to say we all have something unique given by God, right? Just find what is that and drive your life. Don’t be a passenger exam and don’t hesitate ask the question. It’s better to ask, then worry about looking like a stupid and basically put all your life. So that’s what and I always say yes. When you want to achieve you just walk up because lots of good people to help you to achieve your goal. And be Don’t be afraid. Yes. So that’s what I will leave with everybody. Oh, and yeah, yeah. I mean, it’s it’s

Barb McGrath 29:07
Exactly. I promised her today that the time was gonna go faster than she would believe. And here we are at the end of 30 minutes already. So negara. Thank you. Thank you for coming today. negara has just returned from being at home. She got back on Monday very late. And so it to her it is still you know, nine hours ahead. So she she’s ready to put her head on a pillow.

Nigora Yulyakshieva 29:28
That does it’s not that home. I was into it again. Oh, okay. So that’s

Barb McGrath 29:34
No, thank you. I appreciate the correction. All right. Well, we are going to wrap up. Thank you for joining us for another episode of The Secret Life of entrepreneurs and our series women in leadership. My Many thanks tonight Gora, and the city of Regina for her time today. I’m not sure if this becomes her lunch hour or how she’s going to squeeze this into her day but I do thank you. I will be back here on July 10 with Dr. Anna Emily Bamforth from the Royal Saskatchewan museum to learn about her secrets, and how she may have made a life out of playing in the dirt as a paleontologist, so I’m quite curious to hear her story and you know, how do you tell mom and dad, hey, I’m gonna play in the dirt for the rest of my life and make a life out of it. If you would like to be a guest on the show, you can email me at barb@googlegirl.ca or reach out on Facebook and Instagram. Just to reminder, you can also post questions in advance of the live show on our Facebook page. I’m your host, Barb McGrath, local business owner and Google girl. Remember, you worked hard for your success. Don’t keep it a secret. Bye for now.