Born and raised in Taiwan, Aisha Yang, EMBA’24, immigrated to Canada nearly 25 years ago, inspired by her early experiences as a flight attendant. Travelling extensively in her early 20s profoundly shaped her world view and was foundational in preparing her for leadership. That first job not only influenced how she approaches life and business but also led her to discover the kind of society she wanted to be part of. It was ultimately what drew her to Canada. In 2009, Aisha and her husband founded at their kitchen table. Today, the company exports its products to more than 45 countries.
My first job after university was with an international airline; I was very lucky to be able to travel to more than 30 countries in my early 20s. Being a flight attendant really opened my mind to different cultures and to learning and respecting perspectives different from my own – it’s something that stayed with me as an entrepreneur. I developed a global mindset through this experience and that really helped me as I shaped and managed the company.
When you work as a flight attendant, you serve passengers who kind of demonstrate their country and culture through how they react and how they treat people. It’s sometimes positive, sometimes not, but every interaction was meaningful and an opportunity to learn.
The decision to immigrate to Canada came directly from this exposure. Through my first job, my husband and I were able to see what kind of environment we wanted for our family. We knew we wanted to raise our children in a place that embraced cultural diversity and provided a global perspective.
Canada was that place.
As Herbaland grew, that international outlook became a cornerstone of the company’s growth mission. To succeed globally, we knew we had to build a team and a network that understood the world from multiple perspectives – not just one.
Sometimes I reflect on how I handled chaotic situations with 200- or 300-plus passengers and thousands of different demands, while still ensuring we had a safe and successful flight. You feel good about yourself and about being part of a team, because you can’t do it alone. That gave me flexibility as a team player and then once I became the leader, I tried to be thoughtful about creating a positive and inclusive working environment for everyone in the company.
Even though we have received many kinds of recognition and awards, I’m most proud of the diversity we built in our company. As an immigrant, I truly believe that creating a Canadian brand that exports to more than 45 countries only happens through respecting different cultures and creating a positive environment for everyone. We’ve hired talent from different backgrounds and more than 20 countries, but we all call Canada home, and that’s something I cherish. It makes me really proud to see our team reflecting the very same multi-culturalism that first attracted me to Canada years ago as a young flight attendant discovering the world and, later, as an entrepreneur building a life here.
