“Becoming Chartered propelled me to the top”

Harry Cassie CMgr FCMI took a huge leap of faith when he moved to Canada in 2003 with his wife and young son. He relocated from Trinidad and Tobago, seeking a better way of life. His home country was experiencing a big spike in crime, and although professionally Harry was highly successful – working in a senior role in oil and gas – crime was a big concern. 

With no job lined up, Harry spent six months applying for roles. 

“I came to Canada without any idea of what I was getting into,” he explains. “It was really tough. Canadian businesses wanted you to have Canadian experience, but how could I get experience if I couldn’t get a job? You end up second-guessing yourself.” 

But, Harry says, these challenges were exactly what propelled him to break through. 

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“I was determined to make it. I’d come to Canada to succeed, and that was exactly what I was going to do. Nothing was going to stop me.”

Propelled to the top

Harry’s determination and persistence paid off. He decided to pursue a second career as a chartered accountant, going on to work at management level in finance functions across a range of sectors, including construction, public sector, financial services, education and not-for-profit.