Neha Kalota
Once a teacher, but born a learner
Neha Kalota, Account Manager, Newfoundland and Labrador
Neha Kalota may be a former math teacher by trade in her home country of India, but her journey from the classroom to ACOA shows that she’s also a born learner.
Neha taught math in India for 5 years before moving to Atlantic Canada in late 2019.
“Working with numbers always excites me,” she said. This passion has steered her career since she joined the Agency in August 2021.
She started as a payments and compliance officer at ACOA Newfoundland, where she had to manage client payments and review contribution agreements. She quickly learned the ropes and made an impact with her strong analytical thinking.
“When you are not enjoying your job, sometimes even a day seems like it takes forever to pass, but here at ACOA, I’m honestly not even sure where the last two and a half years have gone.”
Neha is currently an Acting Account Manager on the Communities Inclusive Growth and Skills team acting as an Account Officer on the Communities Inclusive Growth and Skills team. “In this role I have learned a lot about what goes into each project. From the very start to the very finish. Everything from calling a client initially to get more details, to wrapping up the project and discussing results.”
Reflecting on her favourite part about working at ACOA, Neha pointed to the impact that small businesses have on the local Newfoundland economy.
“Getting to go on-site visits to meet with our clients is incredibly motivating for me and truly one of the highlights of the role,” she said.
Looking ahead, Neha sees so many areas that ACOA can continue to support the Newfoundland economy, including tourism, clean energy and artificial intelligence.
Neha continues to be an insatiable learner each day at work. This shines through most when she speaks about the Canadian Indigenous population, who Neha wasn’t aware of before moving to Atlantic Canada. In 2023, she attended the conference "Reimagining Leadership - Portraits of Courage,” organized by Memorial University. This event inspired Neha to learn more about Indigenous culture. She is currently looking into courses from the Canadian School of Public Service to see where these lessons can help her become a better account manager each day.
“I feel like we have so much to learn from our Indigenous population. We can tap into their generational knowledge, truly collaborate on unique solutions for our clients and work towards a better and stronger Newfoundland for all.”