Entrepreneurial Grit and Grace with special guests Tomer and Anastasia Arwas
Release Date: 05/20/2025
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info_outline“When you lose everything, you realise what you actually need to live a good life.”
In this episode, Michael Dargie welcomes husband and wife duo Tomer and Anastasia, Ukrainian immigrants who rebuilt their lives and careers from scratch after arriving in Canada. As war displaced their lives, their response was bold: uproot, relocate, and start anew in a country where they knew no one. The conversation follows their incredible journey from fleeing conflict to becoming proud business owners in Calgary, Alberta.
This episode is sponsored by my new book BRANDJITSU, helping you find, shape, and share your story with the world.
Tomer, a former industrial designer and seasoned entrepreneur, shares his struggles adjusting to a new economic and cultural landscape. He unpacks the grit it takes to pivot from success in one country to taking odd jobs in another, all while learning the language and regaining his confidence. Anastasia opens up about the personal toll of war, the strength required to adapt, and how she eventually found her voice through photography and design.
Together, they launched Honest Agency—a branding and design firm dedicated to authentic storytelling and helping other businesses stand out. Their journey isn’t just about survival. It’s about choosing to thrive. From community support to inner resilience, this conversation is a lesson in what it means to live courageously and authentically.
Their story is one of hope, not in spite of adversity, but because of how they chose to meet it.
Quotable quotes
“We had to start from zero. No money, no clients, no English. Just our skills and each other.” —Tomer
“When you lose everything, you realise what you actually need to live a good life.” —Anastasia
“Calgary embraced us before we even knew how to ask for help.” —Tomer
“Being a creative is not a job—it’s how we survive.” —Michael Dargie
Episode highlights
- [00:03,000] The Beginning | Tomer and Anastasia introduce themselves and their journey from Ukraine to Canada.
- [00:08,500] Conflict and Decision | The couple shares what it was like living through the early days of the war.
- [00:15,300] Starting Over | Tomer talks about taking on any job he could find to get by.
- [00:21,100] Learning English | They explain their challenges in adapting to a new language and culture.
- [00:29,000] Finding Community | A breakthrough moment as they are embraced by local Calgary networks.
- [00:35,400] Honest Agency | The founding of their new design business in Canada.
- [00:43,000] Life Philosophy | Anastasia reflects on how war changed their values and goals.
- [00:51,200] Design Ethos | Tomer explains their approach to branding: “authenticity first.”
- [00:58,500] Advice for Creatives | The couple offers heartfelt advice to anyone starting from scratch.
- [01:05,000] Looking Forward | They share their dreams for the future in their new home.
Links from the episode
- Generation Nomads IG (https://www.instagram.com/generationnomads/)
- Generation Nomads LI (https://www.linkedin.com/in/tomerarwas/)
- Generation Nomads (https://generationnomads.com)
- Ukraine Crisis Relief (https://www.redcross.ca)
- Calgary Immigrant Services (https://www.cisoc.net)
Hosted by: Michael Dargie
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