Kelowna91裸聊视频檚 Raghwa Gopal has been named one of the country91裸聊视频檚 top immigrants by Canadian Immigrant Magazine.

Gopal, CEO of Accelerate Okanagan and a well-known local entrepreneur, investor, business mentor, philanthropist and community builder, was selected as one of the country91裸聊视频檚 top 25 immigrants for 2017.

The Fiji-born Gopal, a former Kelowna Man of the Year award recipient, came to Canada in 1979 and settled in the Okanagan.

91裸聊视频淜elowna in 1979 was a very conservative society,91裸聊视频� he told the magazine. 91裸聊视频淭here were hardly any people of colour. When I applied for jobs, they looked at me differently.91裸聊视频�

One day, Gopal walked past a sign on a door saying 91裸聊视频渃omputer management.91裸聊视频� Gopal, who had a computer engineering degree, went in, met the owner and asked if the company was hiring. It wasn91裸聊视频檛. But Gopal offered to prove his worth by working for free for a month. Within two days he had a job, and shortly thereafter became his new boss91裸聊视频� business partner.

After that he became what he calls a serial entrepreneur, starting, growing, then selling businesses, including the one he had become a partner in.

And he says he feels well suited to the enterprise.

91裸聊视频淚 have a large vision and I have the flexibility to take risks,91裸聊视频� said Gopal.

One of the most important issues for him is education. And it is in that area that he loves to give back, especially when it comes to working with business student at Okanagan College.

Raghwa Gopal knows the value of education.

Back in Fiji, when he was just 11 years old, his parents had to pull him out of school because they couldn91裸聊视频檛 afford the tuition. He ended up convincing the owner of a local grocery store to hire him.

Gopal quickly proved himself, suggesting more cost-effective ways of running the business. His boss was so impressed, he financed young Gopal91裸聊视频檚 education.

Now Gopal is dedicated to paying forward the opportunity he was given.

In addition to working with up-and-coming tech firms through Accelerate Okanagan, he has also served as an entrepreneur-in-residence at Okanagan College, has given guest lectures and loves to inspire local students.

91裸聊视频淚t91裸聊视频檚 satisfying that someone (else) has succeeded because of the time and effort I put in,91裸聊视频� he said.

The Canadian Immigrant Magazine Awards, sponsored by RBC, recognize the outstanding accomplishments and contributions of those who chose to come to to Canada. This year marked the ninth year for the annual awards.