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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 Ami Kambo

28 Leaders To Watch: Meet Ami Kambo

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 Ami Kambo.

Ami is a secondary school teacher, and has been an educator for 15 years. She is also a wife, and proud mom to boy/girl twins. Ami is passionate about social justice issues, and embraces teaching issues in social justice and multiculturalism. Ami feels that everyone has a special trait that they should recognize and be proud of, and she strives to make learning fun and meaningful for her students

She also feels that she learns something new every day.

So tell us, Ami…

What inspires you most? What motivates you to get up every morning?

My passion for discussing current issues in our community, and the guarantee that my day will include some laughs! My students are awesome.

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

Being honest and vulnerable. Showing others that it’s okay to be real, and also that it’s okay to be excited for school and learning. Not to worry what others think: own who you are.

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

I’d like to see more empathy and compassion for each other. Less judgement, and more positive action.

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

Finding love, and mommyhood. It’s a dream come true raising twins with the man I love.  

We hope you’ve enjoyed getting to know Ami!

Learn more about her work and stay connected via her Facebook page.

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 Laura Furtado

28 Leaders To Watch: Meet Laura Furtado

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 Laura Furtado.

Laura is a humble, hardworking, sassy entrepreneurette, and the Founder/Owner of two women-focused communities: DivaGirl, and Sexy & Wealthy in Heels. Her business and lifestyle programs span various Canadian/USA cities, and have over 20 leaders. She also runs her volunteer trip experience, Divas Abroad, and lives bi-coastal between Toronto and Vancouver.

Laura loves learning, educating, and discovering people who have “done cool stuff”, such as those who are creating change, influencing others, and helping great things happen. Laura is immensely creative, and her entrepreneurship draws upon both her creativity and her business sense. She grew up as a dancer, pianist, and actress—really immersed in fine arts and culture—and her father, who was an entrepreneur, taught her a great deal about running a business.

She strives to help women step into leadership roles and cultivate strong female leadership qualities. Laura knows the importance of creating a life that you want to live, finding a balance between personal and business life, while taking risks, being creative, and working hard to create a movement.

So tell us, Laura…

What inspires you most? What motivates you to get up every morning?

My goals motivate me. I’m very Type A, and if I say that I’m going to do something, I’ll do it.  I’m very competitive and committed to my goals—I always feel accomplished once I’ve achieved a goal. Most importantly is my feeling of accountability: when I’m helping someone and know that they’re relying on me.

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

I feel that I inspire women to be independent and be content with the people that they are; to create what they want to be, and surround themselves with positivity.

I inspire them to be the best version of themselves.

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

I’d like to see more financial literacy amongst women. Money is a tool for living, and with greater financial literacy, we can do so much more. People who have money can do more, and people who don’t, can learn to create it.

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

 When I say I’m going to do something, I do it, and everything I envisioned ten years ago about what I would achieve, I’m actually doing. I travel a lot, have houses in two different locations, and I hang out with cool, smart people.

I’m committed to my dreams, and to myself, and I’m creating a community that is awesome.

Is there anything else you’d like to add?

Even the littlest things you do can change someone’s life.

We hope you’ve enjoyed getting to know Laura!

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 Jill Valentine

28 Leaders To Watch: Meet Jill Valentine

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 Jill Valentine.

Jill is the founder of UGO Travel for Change, which offers life-changing volunteer experiences, and Dare to be a Dandelion—an organization that uses life coaching and consultation to help volunteers, humanitarians, and social entrepreneurs harness their skills and passions to do good in the world.

She is an author, transformative travel coach, humanitarian entrepreneur, disability sport advocate, travel enthusiast, volunteerism specialist, and mother. Jill believes strongly in being of service to others, and she enjoys helping to enable others to find their way to be of service, and then connect them to service that inspire and fulfill them.

Prior to becoming a social entrepreneur, Jill poured her energy and passion into the nonprofit sector for over 20 years at organizations such as the Heart & Stroke Foundation, Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation, and ParaSport Ontario amongst others.  As an avid humanitarian Jill has volunteered thousands of hours of her time for over 30 different organizations both locally and abroad, most passionately within the disability sport arena in East Africa. Currently Jill is a board member of the Toronto Accessible Sports Council, promotes volunteerism for Volunteer Toronto, and launched her book Dare to be a Dandelion as a fundraising tool in the fall of 2017.

Jill sees the immense benefits of volunteering abroad as a tool for personal and global change, and also strives to empower women and girls to step into their own power. She tries to be a role model in this whenever she can, especially as an example to her young daughter. Authentic community and connection are both extremely important to her, and she enjoys supporting others to succeed and find joy.

So tell us, Jill…

What inspires you most? What motivates you to get up every morning?

Knowing that the projects I am working on can make a real difference in the lives of others: both locally, and internationally.

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

How being of service can enrich and benefit the lives of those you serve, as well as yourself.

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

I’d like to see more compassion, and resulting action being taken. I would like to see people helping and supporting each other more—both in our own community as well as those far away.

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

 The year I spent in Uganda supporting the disability sport movement, which culminated in me organizing and facilitating the first national disability sport summit.   

Is there anything else you’d like to add?

I love this initiative!!!

We hope you’ve enjoyed getting to know Jill!

Learn more about her work and stay connected by following her on social media: @daredandelion and @UGOTravelforChange

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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.

Life happens for us – my speech for the launch event

Last night was so magical in so many ways. Last night was the reading and celebration of my story “Thriving while Grieving” in the Chicken Soup for the Soul “Time to Thrive” book. I had the opportunity to celebrate with a room full of amazing souls.

Below is my speech that I wanted to share with you about my journey to this story and the celebration of who my brother is. For those who aren’t aware, my brother transitioned to a new life in July 2013 at the young age of 32. He is now the guardian angel of many.

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Life happens for us. We are constantly prepared for what is coming up in our lives. We never really truly know why things are happening or why are our intuition is guiding us a certain way but as long as we have faith and trust in what our intuition is telling us we will be guided to have the strength and tools to deal with any situation.

I remember back to 2001, I was “talking to someone” in a dating sense and I remembered saying to him that I would be the ones who took care of my parents when they are older. I remember he abruptly said that that was my brother’s role not mine. If me and him were to ever get married, his parents were priority not mine. Thank God that I listened to my intuition and ended things quickly with him.

Over the last few years as my brother and I moved in and out of my parents home even though they kept trying to get us married and kick us out. It was an interesting dynamic as I remember remarking to friends that sometimes I felt like an only child as my brother wouldn’t join us on family trips or for Sunday brunch. Little did I know that his soul was slowly preparing us for what was going to come forth.

We are here to celebrate him tonight. He would have been telling everyone that he’s my brother and how cool it is that my story is in this book. He used to brag about me a lot. I kind of miss that. It was always nice to know I had my own fan club in my family.

When I went on leave from UBC for burn out and depression, he wouldn’t accept it. To him I was his anchor and his rock so there was nothing wrong with me. He constantly was trying to make me laugh and wouldn’t listen to a word I said as that was better for me so he thought.

Even when my intuition strongly told me to move back home, I couldn’t understand why. I was angry at my intuition but I knew I had to do it. It didn’t make sense. I am so glad I listened because the 3 months that me and him spent watching movies, hanging out, and watching the Discovery Channel I will always treasure. He would be so needy when I left the house. So I would have to explain to him where I went.

The one memory that I really treasure is the party me and him hosted. He took himself off as a host so I would be responsible for cleaning and doing all the shopping. When it came to the party, he went into hosting mode. Making sure everyone was having a good time and had drinks. I asked him why he was doing that now, he goes “well you paid for everything and we already negotiated you are cleaning. I’m a better host than you are so I’m hosting now.”

The devastation that my parents and I experienced when we received the news of his passing is an understatement. I have told this story though many times but when we went to the viewing and it was my time with him, I for so much clarity of why my life was the way it was. It was like the puzzle pieces all fell into place. The message was very clear that I had been single up uptil this point to spend time with him and then take care of parents until they found their new normal. It was also clear he would be my guardian angel moving forward and he would be sending me new opportunities my way.

It is odd but since he has passed everything that I always wanted happened. I was fortunate enough to go launch the Dhahan Punjabi Literature Prize in India and Pakistan. Doing an international project had always been a dream of mine. I was also able to travel for 2.5 months at one time plus with many trips over the last two years. Financially, I didn’t have to worry while I took time to grieve and feel my emotions. I was fortunate enough to be introduced to the Tony Robbins community right before which was so instrumental in my reclaiming of my life and purpose. I relaunched my coaching business in that year. I knew that living my purpose is what my brother wanted for me.

I became clear that I would be supporting ethnic women become even more successful, break glass ceiling and move deeper into their passions/purpose. I received clarity that as the connector that I am, I am able to elevate and awaken women to aspects of themselves that they have forgotten. With these empowered women, we empower our children and men therefore, ending the cycles of sexual abuse, violence and emotional disabilities. We also launched my brother’s not for profit – Tka’s Eternal Life Society.

The night before he left, he had called me at 5am, and was telling me that I needed to help him with his business. I needed to make him successful, I needed to help him to leave his legacy. I wasn’t able to help him create his business but I was able to keep his legacy and his mission alive through the ball hockey tourney and other events where we will be focusing on men’s emotional, mental, spiritual and physical health. We are supporting children be healthy and have greater skills they learn through sports. Yes it is difficult to build three organizations at the same time but again listening to my intuition of bringing the right people on the ride is the most important lesson.

My brother has taught me many lessons from having more authentic relationships, to listening to messages/signs, to allowing myself to be supported. After he left us, I felt really lonely. I treated him as my child for most of our lives. It was until recently I started to be his friend. I never realized how close we were until I heard the stories from his friends. They had to tell me that he considered me one of his best friends. I realized I did the same. I wish I had the emotional awareness to have that conversation with him when he was alive. These types of “regrets” are not what I want anyone else to live with.

The goal of the awareness of this story is to raise awareness of depression/grief and most of all how our emotions affect our success. Success is something we all define differently. Success shows up in All areas of our lives. Success can be just being happy, satisfied and in alignment to what your heart says.

My mission has become to empower people to be successful in all areas of their lives. I do this through coaching using emotional intelligence and intuitiveness. No I don’t read people’s minds. Living my purpose allows me to feel more alive than ever before. After my brother passed, I also questioned why I was still here. I wished I was the one that had gotten to leave (which is survivor’s guilt) but living my purpose I’m constantly reminded that I have so much to do here on earth, to impact others and change how south Asian women view themselves and empower them to achieve new heights within their worlds including starting and growing their businesses.  My brother left but his guidance has allowed me to become a voice for those who lost hope, desire and the will to live in hopes they will reclaim their purpose and passion as well.

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