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28 Leaders To Watch: Meet Chantal Carter Taylor

28 Leaders To Watch: Meet Chantal Carter Taylor

This February, all month long, we’re honouring the work of 28 inspiring leaders. Women who are drawing upon and celebrating their culture while making a lasting difference in their community using their gifts. From authors and teachers, CEOs to entrepreneurs, not-for-profit directors, artists, and more, these women are changing the face of leadership.

These are truly women to watch and veza community is so pleased to share their brilliance.

May their stories inspire YOU to rise.

Meet Chantal Carter Taylor.

Born and raised in Montreal, Chantal Carter Taylor is an entrepreneur who has worked in the fashion industry for over 20 years, as a Stylist, Image Consultant, and magazine Style Director. She was a key player in winning the Kenneth R. Wilson Award for best art direction and ranked 3rd best speech in a Toastmasters International area speech competition. She also appreciates creating high-end simplicity in fashion and food. She displayed this talent as a contestant in the 1st episode of Four Weddings Canada, winning 1st place for her wedding. Chantal’s passion to uplift women of colour through fashion inspired her to develop a diverse skin tone intimates line called Love & Nudes. This brand is more than just fashion, it’s a social movement connecting women and celebrating the beauty of difference through social media and events. She believes apparel and cosmetics should be accessible to all in the manner that allows them to showcase their personal style.

Chantal is a person who never felt like she fit into societal expectations and obligations, e.g. working in a job she hated simply because the pay was decent. She always wanted to do something more, and meaningful. Chantal is happy when she’s being creative, socializing and hanging out with family who love her no matter what! Finally, she is a dark chocolate fanatic and is currently obsessed with white wine, as well as sparkling and special spirits.

So tell us, Chantal: What inspires you most? What motivates you to get up every morning?

Doing work I want to do, not work I have to do.

Sometimes I am not inspired each day and that’s okay. I understand that we all have things we must do whether we love it or not, but the bigger picture has to be something I love, where I can use my creativity and the best parts of me for something meaningful. Right now it’s Love & Nudes.

How do you feel that your actions teach or inspire others?

I feel that I embody consistency and perseverance.

What is one change you’d like to see in the world?

Representation for people of colour at the highest level everywhere: in medicine, media, government, business, law, etc.

Which of your contributions to date have given you the greatest sense of pride?

I am really proud to have launched a line of bras and panties that reflect the skin tones of women of colour, and of all the things that I had to do to get it launched!

We hope you’ve enjoyed getting to know Chantal! Learn more about her work and stay connected via her Facebook and Instagram @loveandnudes, or on Twitter: @loveandnudes_

Ready to RISE as a leader in your own right?

Get your copy of veza community’s NEW Feminine Leadership Guide. It’s our gift to YOU.

Inside the Feminine Leadership Guide you’ll receive a series of activating journal prompts and action exercises to inspire your next steps on the journey to greater impact.

28 Leaders To Watch: Meet Mollie Sommer

28 Leaders To Watch: Meet Mollie Sommer

This February, all month long, we’re honouring the work of 28 inspiring leaders. Women who are drawing upon and celebrating their culture while making a lasting difference in their community using their gifts. From authors and teachers, CEOs to entrepreneurs, not-for-profit directors, artists, and more, these women are changing the face of leadership.

These are truly women to watch and veza community is so pleased to share their brilliance.

May their stories inspire YOU to rise.

Meet Mollie Sommer.

Mollie is the proud mother of two beautiful children, and owner of Mollie Sommer Wellness in Kamloops, BC. Learning to let go and embracing her faith, she has opened her heart to a new way of life. Through trial and error, Mollie’s life has become a teaching tool for those struggling to find their feet. She uses her experiences to authentically teach, coach, and lead others. Her company offers meditation, mindfulness, yoga, Reiki, life coaching, and retreats to help clients grow, expand, and step into the life they want.

Mollie feels that life has been her education. She has experienced life’s highs and lows and has come out the other side with her lessons stored as tools in her toolbox. She has turned her Karma into Dharma, using her past to build her purpose. She feels that her past has made her strong: a lioness who uses the infinite love of the universe to help people rise out of their fears and fog.

So tell us, Mollie: What inspires you most? What motivates you to get up every morning?

Gratitude, love, and the great opportunities life offers.

How do you feel that your actions teach or inspire others?

I try to lead with love in everything I do. Every day, I practice gratitude, compassion, love, and excitement for life’s adventure. I hope that I teach others to do the same.

What is one change you’d like to see in the world?

I would love to see people shift from living from a place of fear into a place of faith and love.

Which of your contributions to date have given you the greatest sense of pride?

My children. They are pieces of my soul shining back at me.

We hope you’ve enjoyed getting to know Mollie! Learn more about her work and stay connected via social media @molliesommerwellness, or via her webpage: www.molliesommer.com

Ready to RISE as a leader in your own right?

Get your copy of veza community’s NEW Feminine Leadership Guide. It’s our gift to YOU.

Inside the Feminine Leadership Guide you’ll receive a series of activating journal prompts and action exercises to inspire your next steps on the journey to greater impact.

28 Leaders To Watch: Meet Balwinder Dhillon

28 Leaders To Watch: Meet Balwinder Dhillon

This February, all month long, we’re honouring the work of 28 inspiring leaders. Women who are drawing upon and celebrating their culture while making a lasting difference in their community using their gifts. From authors and teachers, CEOs to entrepreneurs, not-for-profit directors, artists, and more, these women are changing the face of leadership.

These are truly women to watch and veza community is so pleased to share their brilliance.

May their stories inspire YOU to rise.

Meet Balwinder Dhillon.

A proud stay-at-home grandmother, Balwinder is a 58-year-old South Asian woman who married at the age of 17 and moved to Canada, where she didn’t really know the language or know the man she had married. She was fortunate to have the opportunity to attend high school here, even though she had her first child at 19, and the second at 21. At age 24, she had to deal with her daughter struggling with an autoimmune disease, which impacted her entire family.

Balwinder ran two very successful businesses at the same time when she was 31 years old, and at 47, she pursued a life-long goal and went back to school to earn a diploma. Then a few years ago, she had to learn to live life positively as a parent surviving their child.

So tell us, Balwinder: What inspires you most? What motivates you to get up every morning?

My grandkids:  their laughter, their curiosity, and the joy they bring me.

How do you feel that your actions teach or inspire others?

I think I inspire others to be better people and be more caring. I have a habit of forgiving others quickly, which can be questionable sometimes, but it’s a quality of mine that I wish others had more of.

What is one change you’d like to see in the world?

I’d like to see the elimination of drugs so people can focus on enjoying life in other ways.

Which of your contributions to date have given you the greatest sense of pride?

I went back to school at 47 and earned my hospitality management diploma, I went hiking in Nepal on a volunteer trip, and in general I’m proud of helping others to have an easier life.

We hope you’ve enjoyed getting to know Balwinder! Learn more about her work and stay connected via Facebook:
www.facebook.com/balwinderd

Ready to RISE as a leader in your own right?

Get your copy of veza community’s NEW Feminine Leadership Guide. It’s our gift to YOU.

Inside the Feminine Leadership Guide you’ll receive a series of activating journal prompts and action exercises to inspire your next steps on the journey to greater impact.

28 Leaders To Watch: Meet Bippan Dhillon

28 Leaders To Watch: Meet Bippan Dhillon

This February, all month long, we’re honouring the work of 28 inspiring leaders. Women who are drawing upon and celebrating their culture while making a lasting difference in their community using their gifts. From authors and teachers, CEOs to entrepreneurs, not-for-profit directors, artists, and more, these women are changing the face of leadership.

These are truly women to watch and veza community is so pleased to share their brilliance.

May their stories inspire YOU to rise.

Meet Bippan Dhillon, the creatrix behind Love on Paper.

Bippan is a nature fangirl who started collecting greeting cards in high school, got her business chops at The University of Washington where she studied Marketing and Finance, and loves to find any reason to celebrate with her crew. After watching her immigrant parents chase the American Dream, she realized there was more to be said for standing out than fitting in.

Bippan’s own wedding invitations were crafted using handmade papers in ivory and gold and included the verses of an Indian Song. And despite the misspelling of her father-in-law’s name and a misprint of her wedding date that she had to creatively correct, Bippan believes that this little misadventure was what set the tone for her marriage—perfectly imperfect.

She is a visionary, an entrepreneur, a pioneer, a Mom, a magician, a wife, and so much more that she is still discovering.

So tell us, Bippan: What inspires you most? What motivates you to get up every morning?

I see each day as being new: a chance to start anew, a chance to do something new, meet someone new, have amazing new experiences.

How do you feel that your actions teach or inspire others?

I’m curious, I question, I learn, I take risks, I mess up and tell them how I mess up.

What is one change you’d like to see in the world?

I’m really intentional about words and I would love for people to see their lives as if they were growing wiser instead of growing old.

Which of your contributions to date have given you the greatest sense of pride?

The contribution I’ve made to myself that has then allowed me to contribute to others. To be a better Mother, Wife, Sister, Community Member, Business Partner.

We hope you’ve enjoyed getting to know Bippan! Learn more about her work and stay connected via social media @loveonpaper_

Ready to RISE as a leader in your own right?

Get your copy of veza community’s NEW Feminine Leadership Guide. It’s our gift to YOU.

Inside the Feminine Leadership Guide you’ll receive a series of activating journal prompts and action exercises to inspire your next steps on the journey to greater impact.

28 Leaders To Watch: Meet Jessica Dhaliwal

28 Leaders To Watch: Meet Jessica Dhaliwal

This February, all month long, we’re honouring the work of 28 inspiring leaders. Women who are drawing upon and celebrating their culture while making a lasting difference in their community using their gifts. From authors and teachers, CEOs to entrepreneurs, not-for-profit directors, artists, and more, these women are changing the face of leadership.

These are truly women to watch and veza community is so pleased to share their brilliance.

May their stories inspire YOU to rise.

Meet Jessica Dhaliwal.

Jessica was born in Surrey, BC. She was a curious and imaginative child who truly enjoyed her childhood, and naturally managed to filter out a lot of negativity. She has preferred to keep to herself as an observer, but she’s also interested in experiencing what it would be like to be surrounded by many. Jessica has made her decisions based on what she has wanted to do, rather than how many others are doing to same, so the gems she’s discovered have been quite barren when she discovered them. For example: she chose to go to university at TechBC, which eventually became SFU. It was a great program, and she has immersed herself in related design work until recently when she decided to do more finishing work instead.

She describes herself as a typical adventurous/rebellious/visionary/loyal Aquarius. Jessica feels that she has enjoyed a fun masculine sign (air and fire) influence for some time, but that her cranky and uptight side has taken over more ever since she discovered a connection with a Scorpio in 2011. She’s still not able to let go of Scorpios but maintains that it was the best thing that ever happened to her. It led to her focusing on a positive bucket-list of activities, believing in progress for humanity, and choosing traveling as a better direction for her energy.

So tell us, Jessica: What inspires you most? What motivates you to get up every morning?

Honestly? I’m inspired by good people.

How do you feel that your actions teach or inspire others?

I represent being real, and I stand for not doing trending things that don’t make sense, like using harmful chemicals for body products, as well as in food and for transportation purposes.

What is one change you’d like to see in the world?

I would like to see the world focus on equality, and also sensibly control population so it is a desirable place for everyone.

Which of your contributions to date have given you the greatest sense of pride?

I’ve been efficient with my design work, and I’ve been able to share my ideal visions and inspire others during my involvement in city planning.

We hope you’ve enjoyed getting to know Jessica! Learn more about her work and stay connected via her Facebook page at: facebook.com/jezzicad , or on Twitter @jess_ik_a  

Ready to RISE as a leader in your own right?

Get your copy of veza community’s NEW Feminine Leadership Guide. It’s our gift to YOU.

Inside the Feminine Leadership Guide you’ll receive a series of activating journal prompts and action exercises to inspire your next steps on the journey to greater impact.

28 Leaders To Watch: Meet Baljit Rayat

28 Leaders To Watch: Meet Baljit Rayat

This February, all month long, we’re honouring the work of 28 inspiring leaders. Women who are drawing upon and celebrating their culture while making a lasting difference in their community using their gifts. From authors and teachers, CEOs to entrepreneurs, not-for-profit directors, artists, and more, these women are changing the face of leadership.

These are truly women to watch and veza community is so pleased to share their brilliance.

May their stories inspire YOU to rise.

Meet Baljit Rayat.

Baljit is the founder of Lotus Destiny, creator of the Lotus Destiny Star Activation Method, an Akashic Records Consultant, and teacher. She helps people to connect powerfully to their Soul’s Purpose so they can bring their gifts and talents into reality.

Over the past 11 years she has supported thousands of people around the world, guiding them back to their truth, and creating profound results in their business and relationships. She considers it her mission to take people on a journey to recover their power, love, truth, gifts, and talents, and bring them growth, courage, faith, and self-empowerment.

She is also a creative visionary who loves to DJ, loves to laugh, and likes to step out of the “cultural norms” box.

So tell us, Baljit: What inspires you most? What motivates you to get up every morning?

The knowledge that I can support someone to transform his or her life. AND the fact that I’m creating something that I am passionate about, with my own schedule… I am my own boss!

How do you feel that your actions teach or inspire others?

I think I lead by example by setting intentions and having healthy boundaries

What is one change you’d like to see in the world?

The end of sex trafficking/child trafficking. Every human being deserves to live to their highest potential.

Which of your contributions to date have given you the greatest sense of pride?

That I have facilitated readings for over 1000 people from all walks of life.

We hope you’ve enjoyed getting to know Baljit! Learn more about her work and stay connected via her Facebook page at: https://www.facebook.com/lotusdestiny/, or on Instagram @lotusdestiny.

Ready to RISE as a leader in your own right?

Get your copy of veza community’s NEW Feminine Leadership Guide. It’s our gift to YOU.

Inside the Feminine Leadership Guide, you’ll receive a series of activating journal prompts and action exercises to inspire your next steps on the journey to greater impact.

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