My Personal Development Journey: Embracing My Assyrian Heritage
Background
My name is Ashur Sada, and I proudly embrace my Assyrian heritage. I was born in Baghdad, Iraq, in 1980, just a few weeks after the Iraq-Iran war began. Baghdad was my home and the backdrop of my childhood until 1993, a year that profoundly shaped my life. It marked the passing of my father at the young age of 44 due to a heart attack. It was also the year my family and I left our country, and we have not returned or revisited since—over 30 years ago.
Our journey led us through various countries, including Jordan, Turkey, Albania, and Greece, with brief transitions in places like Egypt and Slovenia. In 1997, we arrived in Toronto, Canada, and have called it home since.
As part of my personal profile, I take pride in speaking our native language, known as Neo-Aramaic, which carries great historical significance—Jesus himself spoke a dialect of Aramaic. My background as an Assyrian continues to influence my perspective, especially in my career in project management.
Education
After graduating from high school, I took a one-year sabbatical before attending Seneca College for a transitional year. Subsequently, in 2002, I enrolled at York University, where I earned a B.A. in Business and Society, majoring in Economics and Psychology in 2005. My personal profile reflects my Assyrian heritage and my diverse academic interests.
Despite my initial passion for psychology and economics, I gradually transitioned into the field of IT, where I have been working since around 2005. Over the past few years, I have expanded my focus into project management within IT and finance. Looking ahead, I aspire to obtain my "ITIL Foundation" certification and possibly the "Certified Supply Chain Professional" designation, as these align with my responsibilities in procurement.
My educational background includes:
B.A. in Business and Society (Economics, Psychology), York University - 2005
CompTIA A+ (Plus) Certification - 2006
'Project Management Principles' Certification, Humber College - 2017
ServiceNow Certified System Administrator (CSA) - 2020
Project Management Professional (PMP) - 2022
Achievements and Projects
- AssyrianVoice.net: This is an Assyrian community website I started at the age of 18 in 1999, while I was still in high school. I grew it into a worldwide phenomenon that celebrates Assyrian heritage, boasting tens of thousands of registered members and millions of annual visits. It became a vibrant platform where Assyrians interact, communicate, and access the latest Assyrian news and updates from around the globe. On April 15, 2024, the website proudly celebrated a quarter century of existence, which is like a light year in the context of the web, given how quickly things come and go online. This journey has also been a significant part of my personal profile in project management and community engagement.
- BudgetSense.ca: Launched in November 2010, this blog reflects my passion for finances and wealth management, focusing on budgeting and finance. I regularly publish articles on various financial topics. In 2024, I expanded my outreach by creating a YouTube channel to present some of my subjects in video format, further engaging with the community.
- MySmileHygiene.ca: This is my wife's dental hygiene business, and I take pride in being the person behind the website. I also played a crucial role in the project management of starting the business back in 2021.
Interests and Hobbies
- Shortwave radios, despite falling out of favor due to the advent of internet streaming and mobile apps, still hold a certain magical allure. If you've read my infamous story, you'll understand the fascination with the world of shortwave radio and how it connects to my Assyrian heritage.
- Podcasts covering self-help, business, economy, and travel have been a significant part of my life. I started my podcast journey as early as 2015, but it was during the height of the pandemic in spring 2020 that I truly immersed myself in them. Since then, I've devoured well over 5,000 episodes, essentially replacing my music and radio listening time with them. Click here for more about my podcast listening habits and favorite ones in my personal profile.
- Reading books is something I have cherished since I was around 7-8 years old. Although my parenting life often gets in the way, I strive to read an average of 12-15 books annually, a goal I've successfully maintained since 2019.
- Soccer has been a lifelong passion for me; I have been a die-hard Brazil soccer fan since I was 7 years old. Click here to read my story about how I fell in love with Brazilian soccer at such a young age.
- Cruise ships: I’ve been on three so far, but I would undertake a cruise every month if time and finances permitted! We first experienced one during our honeymoon and were instantly sold. There’s nothing more exhilarating than touring the world, experiencing different cities and cultures, and savoring a variety of cuisines—all while aboard a floating city in the middle of the sea.
- My passion for IT and the new world of AI plays a significant role in my project management career, as I continuously seek to integrate the latest technologies into my work.
Interesting Personal Tidbits and Insights
I have a birthday that some kids might envy: Halloween! However, it’s not as fun as it sounds, since we can barely celebrate due to all the Halloween festivities that day. This is a little ironic considering my personal profile includes a rich background of Assyrian heritage, where celebrations are typically vibrant and lively.
Although it's not something I often brag about, I must admit it’s a tad embarrassing. Here’s a funny tidbit from my childhood: between the ages of 2 and 4, I had quite a unique diet. I used to munch on ants and nibble on small pieces of wood from the trees in our backyard. You could say my palate was as adventurous as someone who dines on ants and wood, though I’ve since upgraded to more conventional fare!
In Grade 3, back in Baghdad, Iraq, I was selected as the equivalent of a class valedictorian. When my name was announced and my classmates cheered—some even carried me in class—I started crying. It wasn’t tears of joy; I was simply overwhelmed by the whole experience. I was honored to be elected again for grades 4 through 6, but by then, I was used to it and didn’t cry!
My first official job ever was in Athens, Greece, at around 15 years old, where I worked in project management delivering flyers to homes and businesses. I would walk for 5-6 hours daily. Imagine if I had my Apple watch back then!