Hodan Nalayeh
| Hodan Nalayeh هودان نالايآه | |
|---|---|
 Hodan Nalayeh in 2011. | |
| Born |
1976 (age 39–40) Las Anod Somalia |
| Nationality | Canadian |
| Ethnicity | Somali |
| Alma mater |
University of Windsor Seneca College |
| Occupation | media executive, marketing consultant, activist, entrepreneur |
| Title | President of the Cultural Integration Agency |
| Religion | Islam |
Hodan Nalayeh (Somali: Hodan Naalaye, Arabic: هودان نالايآه) (born 1976) is a Somali media executive, marketing consultant, social activist and entrepreneur. She is the President of the Cultural Integration Agency and the Vice President of Sales & Programming Development of Cameraworks Productions International.
Personal life
Nalayeh was born in 1976 in Somalia.[1][2] She grew up in a large family, with four brothers and seven sisters.[2][3]
Along with her parents and siblings, a six-year-old Nalayeh later emigrated to Canada in 1984. They initially settled in Edmonton, Alberta before eventually moving to Toronto in 1992.[4]
Nalayeh attended the West Humber Collegiate Institute, a high school in Etobicoke. For her post-secondary education, she studied at the University of Windsor, where she received a Bachelor of Arts in Communications. Additionally, she earned a postgraduate certificate in broadcast journalism from Seneca College.[4]
Hodan is a mother of two sons.[4] Her sister Dega Nalayeh is a senior vice president private client advisor with U.S. Trust.[2][3]
Besides Somali, Hodan is also fluent in English.[5]
Career
Nalayeh has over thirteen years of experience in client management, sales and production in radio and television. She has served as a producer on a number of TV shows, including American Idol and So You Think You Can Dance.[6]
Additionally, Nalayeh has provided marketing and writing consultancy to burgeoning companies. Her work in this area is centered on video marketing combined with online branding.[6]
In September 2013, Nalayeh was appointed Vice President of Sales & Programming Development of Cameraworks Productions International's Canadian operation based in Vaughan, Ontario. The company is a global, full-service and comprehensively-equipped video and television production facility focusing on pre- to post-production of business-to-business video assets.[6]
Nalayeh also serves as the President of the Cultural Integration Agency, a full-service media firm specializing in the development, production, marketing and distribution of multicultural programs. In February 2014, the company partnered with Cameraworks Productions International to produce a new television format for cultural community programming. To this end, Nalayeh on March 1 began hosting the half-hour Somali community show Integration: Building A New Cultural Identity, which airs Saturday nights on CityTV. She also serves as an Executive Producer on the weekly Toronto program.[1]
Philanthropy
Besides media production and consultancy, Nalayeh does a lot of volunteer and advocacy work for the Somali community.[6] She founded the Somali Refugee Awareness Project, which in 2011 presented the veteran Somali artist Saado Ali Warsame with a Lifetime Achievement Award.[7] In this capacity, Nalayeh also works closely with a number of non-profit organizations.[6]
References
- 1 2 "New Television Show Uplifts the Image of Somali-Canadians in Mainstream Media!". Hiiraan Online. 26 February 2014. Retrieved 19 March 2014.
- 1 2 3 "Hodan Nalayeh". MyLife. Retrieved 19 March 2014.
- 1 2 "Somalia native right at home with U.S. Trust". Los Angeles Sentinel. 20 December 2013. Retrieved 19 March 2014.
- 1 2 3 Reason, Cynthia (14 June 2014). "TV host Hodan Nalayeh shines a light on Somali life in Toronto". Metroland. Etobicoke Guardian. Retrieved 16 June 2014.
- ↑ "Hodan Nalayeh". LinkedIn. Retrieved 19 March 2014.
- 1 2 3 4 5 "International Award-Winning, Cameraworks Productions, Introduces VP, Sales & Programming Development". Cameraworks Productions International. Retrieved 1 April 2015.
- ↑ "Somali singer, composer, poet, Saado Ali Warsame, to receive Lifetime Achievement Award". Allboocame. Retrieved 19 March 2014.