Erika Reyes moved to Toronto, Ontario, from Mexico four years ago. Soon after, she became enamoured with starting her own company. An unfulfilling marketing job, the effects of single-use plastic and words of encouragement from her husband eventually set her in motion towards opening Inwit, a sustainable take-out container company with a promising future.
Arriving in Canada and Changing Career Directions
Reyes’ move towards owning her own start-up company came with several challenges. Some of which related to her status as an immigrant. Like countless other newcomers, her first goal was to find a job to gain footing. But she had discrimination concerns.
“I think it’s difficult for companies to trust you when English is not your first language. Many people hesitate to give you an opportunity,” Reyes says. Despite that obstacle, Reyes secured employment relatively quickly. “I had a job when I first arrived, in marketing and communications.”
But being a newcomer in Toronto forced Reyes to look inwardly at who she is as a person. After a short time in her new position, she began losing her sense of self, eventually pushing her towards a drastic yet beneficial career change. “I always knew I was a super achiever and super competitive, yet I did not trust myself because I was in an English-speaking country,” she says. Not only did she become less confident, but Reyes soon felt unwelcome at her job.
These feelings can often be a blessing in disguise and inspire immigrants to pursue their passions. Reyes’ career overhaul began after losing her job and receiving much-needed encouragement from her partner. “I remember being fired four weeks after I came to Canada. I was not fitting into the toxic culture,” Reyes says. “But my husband has been a huge support. He pushed me to start thinking about my own business, and I think that’s the way everything started.”
But becoming your boss is not a decision one should take lightly. Reyes weighed the pros and cons of business ownership by asking herself essential questions. “Do I stay in the industry I have always worked in, or do I tackle one of the biggest pains I’ve ever had in my life? It was the known versus the unknown.”
“Do I stay in the industry I have always worked in, or do I tackle one of the biggest pains I’ve ever had in my life? It was the known versus the unknown.”
Erika Reyes
Inwit Comes to Life
The pain Reyes speaks of is society’s overall lack of concern for the environment in Toronto. The city hosts thousands of restaurants, most of which still use single-use plastic take-out containers that contribute to climate change.
The article “The Impact of Climate Change on the Food System in Toronto”, published in The International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, states that climate change can increase the severity and frequency of disruptive weather events, directly impacting urban food systems and the health of urban residents. Furthermore, a report from the House of Commons stresses that single-use plastic can have a devastating impact on the natural world and wildlife, especially various marine species. The same report notes that breathing in microplastic particles may harm human lung health, and humans may unknowingly consume seafood and water with microplastic residue.
And, of course, single-use plastics emit greenhouse gasses as they decompose, and the fossil fuels used to create these products also release tremendous amounts of greenhouse gasses. These gasses trap the sun’s heat, which may eventually lead to global warming.
Reyes agrees with these sentiments. “The carbon footprint in this country is enormous, and in my personal life, I try to reduce my carbon footprint every day. But I cannot do it all, so she states that I decided to tackle one of the biggest pains in my life, single-use plastics in the food industry”, she states.
Reyes launched Inwit in January 2021. The company distributes sustainable take-out containers made with stainless steel to its partners. The containers come with several perks, including being dishwasher and oven safe and having a lifespan of 10,000 uses.
After a couple of years, Inwit has a growing team and continues to flourish and make a name for itself in Toronto. Reyes maintains her position as president and Chief Growth Officer (CGO), but the team also includes a sales, growth and business advisor, amongst other critical roles.
The company is showing no signs of slowing down. “We work with restaurants and food providers. We have 16 restaurant partners, including two food chains, and we are adding new restaurants every month,” Reyes says.
A Day in the Life of a Business Owner
Reyes believes it is vital to practice energy-enhancing routines.
She starts the day with a quick meditation regimen and a healthy breakfast. Afterwards, she dives into the exciting world of growing Inwit, which entails a lot of communication, outreach, and looking to the future.
“I start thinking about what I want to accomplish that day. Are there any important dates that we have to think about? And what does the next month look like? My day-to-day also looks like connecting with new clients and interacting with our existing clients, helping them out and answering their questions.”
As a business owner, Reyes knows the importance of hard work. “I wear many hats at the start-up,” she says.
Her shaky start in Toronto gave Reyes confidence that continues to push her toward success. As an immigrant in a new country, she believes that maintaining that confidence is the key to making Inwit a household name. “When we want someone to validate us, we must also ask how much we value ourselves.”
Immigrant Muse Magazine 