What do you do when you lose everything and have to rebuild your life in a new country?
In this episode of The Chair, Tareq Hadhad shares his family's journey from Syria to Canada after war forced them to leave everything behind. From rebuilding a chocolate business in Nova Scotia to redefining what home means, this conversation explores resilience, grief, identity, and hope.
In this conversation:
• Why healing starts with accepting reality
• How family, faith, and community help us navigate loss
• What trauma can teach us about kindness and belonging
• Why home can become more than a place
Here’s what you’re in for:
00:00 Welcome to the Show
00:12 Why This Conversation Matters
01:16 Syria Roots and the Chocolate Business
03:10 War, Bombing, and Becoming Refugees
06:34 Rebuilding Through Hope and Family
12:26 Finding Hope When You're Alone
18:11 Accepting Where You Are to Move Forward
20:56 Being Celebrated as a Refugee
22:31 The Kindness of a Small Town in Nova Scotia
24:06 Turning Survival Into a Way to Serve Others
26:19 Finding Kindness After Trauma
26:55 What You Carry That Nobody Sees
29:25 Healing Through Memories
31:40 Redefining What Home Means
36:12 Identity, Faith, and Belonging
40:40 Why Canada Felt Like Peace
44:54 Keep Showing Up
49:39 Final Thanks and How to Connect With Tareq
ABOUT TAREQ HADHAD
Tareq Hadhad is the founder and CEO of Peace by Chocolate, a Syrian-Canadian entrepreneur, and public speaker. After losing his family’s chocolate business during the war in Syria, Tareq and his family rebuilt their lives in Nova Scotia, turning their story of displacement into one of resilience, community, and hope.
Their journey was later highlighted by Justin Trudeau in a global speech and became the subject of the bestselling book and feature film Peace by Chocolate, while Tareq continues to share messages of resilience, entrepreneurship, and giving back on stages around the world.
You can reach out to Tareq through:LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/tareqhadhad/
Website: https://www.tareqhadhad.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tareqhadhad/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/peacebychocolate/
ABOUT JIDE LADIPO-AJAYI
Jide Ladipo Ajayi is a transformational leader and host of The Chair, a podcast about resilience, leadership, and the moments that redefine us. Through thoughtful and honest conversations, he explores the human stories behind success, adversity, and personal growth. Drawing from years of experience leading change and developing people. Jide brings curiosity, empathy, and insight to conversations that inspire reflection and growth.
You can reach out to Jide through:
Website: https://www.thechairmedia.com
ABOUT THE CHAIR
The Chair is where real conversations happen.
Not the highlight reel. Not the polished version of success. The moments that actually changed everything — the ones that shaped who we are when no one is watching.
Hosted by Jide Ladipo-Ajayi, while still recovering from brain surgery, The Chair was never about content. It was about necessity. About finding meaning in the hardest moments and creating a space where others could do the same.
Every guest who sits in The Chair comes with a story worth hearing. No pressure to perform. No script. Just honest conversation with real depth.
Because the stories that change us are rarely the ones we planned to tell.
Listen. Reflect. Be changed.
To know more about The Chair you can visit the links below:
