Power Of Why With Naomi Haile

“Being able to discover entrepreneurship was revolutionary for finding my path.” - Katonhetsheriio Ashley ClarkAshley Clark is a Mohawk entrepreneur, founder of Bougie Birch, and an indigenous relations advisor whose work sits at the intersection of business, culture, and systems change. With an academic background in international relations, Ashley brings a systems-aware lens to entrepreneurship, leadership, and community development.Through Bougie Birch, Ashley creates immersive cultural experiences and workshops grounded in indigenous knowledge and relational ways of being. Her work emphasizes clarity over urgency, long-term thinking, and the intentional creation of culturally safe third spaces where innovation, learning, and relationship building can thrive.Ashley mentors early indigenous startup entrepreneurs through the Indigenous Prosperity Foundation, and is currently in a deliberate foundation-building season toward a brick-and-mortar third space for Bougie Birch in Ottawa, on unceded Algonquin terri

"Be a good comms person, but be a better business person. That is the key to unlocking the strategic value as a comms person. When you can create an environment where people want to know what you think on a topic that's not necessarily related to comms, you have built a relationship of trust and respect." - Amy MacLeodAmy MacLeod is a senior communications executive with 25 years of experience shaping complex business, financial, and technical developments into strategic communications programs. She believes that good communication comes from connecting people with information that conveys passion and purpose — and that truth, simply told, is the best path to leadership, influence, and corporate credibility.Amy was named Vice President of Corporate Communications at MDA Space in 2021. Prior to that, she served as VP of Corporate Affairs and External Communications at Seaspan Shipyards and VP of Corporate Communications at Mitel, where in 2018 she was appointed as Mitel's first Corporate Dive

“When you're hiring your number two, your number three, your number four — make sure you're complementing your skills as a founder with somebody who does have an operational mindset.” - Megan PatersonMegan Paterson is the Chief Operating Officer of Kinaxis, a publicly traded SaaS company that manages some of the world’s largest supply chains. She has spent nearly 18 years at the organization, watching it grow from roughly $20M in revenue to over half a billion, and from a privately held company to a publicly traded one.Megan’s career began in recruiting at a consulting firm, and she steadily rose through the HR function, holding roles as HR Advisor, Director of Human Resources, VP, and Chief Human Resources Officer, before stepping into the COO role. The transition was unconventional, and by her own account, she spent five months saying no before eventually accepting. Her path has given her a rare vantage point on both the people side and the operational side of scaling a technology company.Her areas

“We own our future. We are not passive participants in our businesses or communities.” - Sueling ChingSueling Ching is the President and CEO of the Ottawa Board of Trade, a unified and influential voice for businesses across the city of Ottawa. Sueling is a dedicated community builder with a passion for innovation and business advocacy, she has spent more than twenty years working at the intersection of business leadership and community development. Sueling's connection to the Ottawa business ecosystem began in 2016, when she took on the role of CEO at the West Ottawa Board of Trade. In that role, she led the consolidation of three local chambers of commerce into the Ottawa Board of Trade, which was a landmark achievement that positioned the organization to advocate more effectively for business interests at every level of government. Prior to Ottawa, she served as CEO of the YMCA of Brockville and Area, and CEO of the Brockville and District Chamber of Commerce, and has served on the board of directors f

"In an abundance of water, only a fool is thirsty. And here it is that we're living in this great abundance, especially with technology. Everybody's connected. If you want to learn anything, it's right there. Now, how do you determine what is relevant to what you need to do?"Diane Watson is an illustrious technology leader with over two decades of experience in telecommunications, cloud technologies, and cybersecurity, Diane has held senior roles at global firms such as Nokia and Fujitsu, and is currently leading product security initiatives as a Product Security Program Manager at Ribbon Communications.Diane has been a driving force behind inclusive leadership in Canada’s tech ecosystem, serving on the Women in Communications and Technology National Capital Region board for seven years. Fun fact: this is how Diane and I officially crossed paths.Diane now serves in an advisory capacity as Past Chair, while also holding the role of Vice President of Advocacy and Partnerships at Tech2Step

Chanel Cathey is the founder and CEO of CJC Insights, a strategic communications and public relations agency headquartered in New York City. Since launching the firm in 2018 with her savings and a bold mission, Chanel has built a powerhouse agency that partners with global companies, high-growth startups, mission-driven nonprofits, and private equity teams to craft narratives that resonate, build trust, and drive real impact.Looking for a specific gem?00:00 Introducing Chanel01:47 Editing newspapers at age 403:42 How growing up in a house of educators shaped her04:54 Creating a goal list with her mom and grandma05:22 Goal lists > checklists05:56 Learning to read and phonetics changed her life trajectory (she went from not reading to reading in just one summer)07:40 Why she switched from business to communications08:20 Her first networking event and homemade sunflower business card09:24 The bold ask that got her an internship at ABC News13:41 What it was really like interning at a political news show11:37 D

Sigute Zitikyte is a personal brand strategist, writer, and business coach leading the Multi-Passionate movement—a platform created for high-achieving women who are done choosing between their creativity, ambition, and authenticity.She’s helped hundreds of women stop playing small, embrace the full spectrum of who they are, and confidently build brands that reflect who they are, not just their résumés. From breaking cycles of people-pleasing to owning their voice and vision, Sigute teaches you how to build with clarity, consistency, and courage.00:00 Introducing Sigute02:26 Where Sigute's Story Begins03:40 Why Identity Shaped Her Brand Voice05:00 Does Your Environment Give You the Nourishment You Need?07:11 Split Identity or Secret Superpower?08:40 The Moment It All Clicked in Malaysia10:00 How Her Parents Inspired Her Reading & Writing13:12 Why Sigute Always Had 3 Jobs13:41 Planting Seeds In Your Career17:55 Applying to Mindvalley with 24 Hours’ Notice21:57 How Mindvalley Shaped Her View of Work23:58

“I promised myself I’d get this job the Justine way. I wasn’t going to follow someone else’s script—I was going to show up as me.”Justine Hendricks, sits as Farm Credit Canada’s President and CEO after 17 years with Export Development Canada (EDC) and 7 years with Royal Bank of Canada (RBC). Throughout her career, she has championed Canadian businesses across agriculture, agri-food, and other critical industries—helping them access the capital, risk management solutions, and strategic support they need to grow and thrive.But what sets Justine apart isn’t just her impressive track record—it’s how she leads. Whether spearheading EDC’s $9B Insurance and Working Capital Solutions portfolio, being appointed and becoming its first Chief Sustainability Officer, or aligning corporate strategy with evolving environmental and human rights standards, Justine is redefining what it means to lead with integrity, vision, and action.Connect with JustineLinkedIn: Justine Hendricks    Farm Credit Canada Website: Farm Credit Ca

"This is what true grassroots entrepreneurship looks like. It’s relational. It’s reciprocal. It’s sacred."Denyse Nadon is the Founder and CEO of Tribalure, a grassroots cosmetics and skincare brand rooted in Ancestral knowledge, ceremony, and community healing honoring the Seven Sacred Teachings of wisdom, love, respect, bravery, honesty, humility, and truth.. An Algonquin woman from the Apitipi Anicinapek Nation, a proud matriarch, Denyse isn’t just redefining beauty—she’s reclaiming it.Denyse leads Bear Vision Consulting & Training, a 100% Indigenous woman-owned business specializing in cross-cultural education, truth and reconciliation training, and leadership development. With 25 years of experience as an Indigenous adult educator and trainer, she has empowered countless communities through culturally grounded workshops, and keynote addresses.We’ll be diving into what it means to build a business that’s rooted in identity and storytelling, the power of matriarchal leadership, and why beauty—when done

"The biggest limitations we have are in our own brains. My job is to unconstrain my team’s thinking, create a culture of trust, and allow innovation to thrive."For  France Hébert, the biggest barriers aren’t external—they exist in our own minds. As VP & General Manager at CAE and President of SkyAlyne, she’s leading the future of aviation training and defense innovation, leveraging AI, simulation, and emerging tech to push boundaries.A former officer in the Canadian Armed Forces, France’s career has been built on strategic thinking, execution, and leadership under pressure. She thrives on removing self-imposed limitations, empowering teams, and creating a culture where bold ideas can thrive.A Professional Engineer and champion for women in STEM, she’s proving that the future of aerospace isn’t just about technology—it’s about the people who have the courage to shape it.Connect with FranceLinkedIn: France HerbertCAE Website: www.cae.comSkyAlyne Website: www.skyalyne.ca Connect with NaomiWebsite:

Building a startup while in medical school sounds impossible.But Yoobin Lee, founder of Quip Medical, is making it work—not by working harder, but by working smarter.Growing up across Vancouver, Seoul, and California, she saw different cultures, different expectations, and the idea that success meant choosing just one path.Then, in medical school, she saw something she couldn’t ignore: Doctors losing thousands in unbilled work—because the system was outdated, complex, and broken.So she started building.✅ Validated the idea through market research.✅ Brought on a technical co-founder.✅ Landed her first customer and refined the platform with real-time feedback.That idea became a pitch.That pitch became Quip Medical—helping physicians spend less time on admin and more time with patients.She didn’t wait for permission.She didn’t tell herself, I’m just a med student.She asked for help. Found the right people. Built the product.Today, Quip Medical is working with real physicians, solving a real problem, and making s

For as long as she can remember, Sarah Sedgman has been fascinated by the intersection of learning, creativity, and innovation. Growing up in the countryside—where she and her brother would invent and build things just for fun—she was surrounded by a family of educators and entrepreneurs who encouraged her to think differently.That curiosity shaped her career path, leading her from instructional design to the C-suite, where she spent years driving global learning strategies for some of the largest technology companies in the world—Cognos, IBM, PTC, and Kinaxis. No matter where she went, one challenge remained:Training programs were slow to develop, costly to execute, and struggled to keep pace with business needs.Instead of waiting for a solution, Sarah built one.As Founder & CEO of LearnExperts AI, she is transforming how organizations create training by automating the instructional design process, cutting development time by 67% and unlocking knowledge at scale. With LearnExperts’ LEAi platform, compani

"I liked doing things that scared me. I always knew if you did something that terrified you, you’d be less scared of it at the end." In this clip, she shares how an acting class at UCLA helped her overcome painful shyness at 18. Despite her fear, stepping into the unknown sparked a deep love for acting that changed the course of her life. She reflects on battling thyroid cancer at 21—a wake-up call that pushed her to take her acting career seriously. From voice lessons to intense acting scenes, she committed to her craft, building discipline and resilience along the way. Hear how her dedication paid off, from landing guest roles on Friends to eventually starring in JAG. This clip is a testament to the power of courage, focus, and pursuing what truly excites you.

"I liked doing things that scared me. I always knew if you did something that terrified you, you’d be less scared of it at the end." Catherine Bell is a renowned actress, entrepreneur, and mother whose career in film and television has captivated audiences for over three decades. Best known for her iconic roles as Lt. Sarah ‘Mac’ MacKenzie on the action-drama series JAG and as Cassandra ‘Cassie’ Nightingale on the beloved Good Witch series, Catherine’s ability to connect with audiences has made her a household name. Beyond the screen, Catherine embodies entrepreneurial creativity and purpose. She’s the founder of Everliving Beauty, a non-toxic skincare line inspiring confidence, and Catherine Bell Jewelry, a collection that channels her passion for vintage artistry, nature, and timeless design. Born in London to an Iranian mother, Catherine’s journey brought her to California, where she began exploring her multifaceted talents. Initially studying biomedical engineering at UCLA, her path shifted when

“How can we create behavior change as fast as possible?” In this clip, Kimberly shares her perspective on talent development trends, including microlearning and the rise of AI in the workplace. While acknowledging the value of these tools, she explains why Brown Leadership is leaning into a more “old school” approach—longer, in-person workshops and immersive learning experiences that drive meaningful behavior change. Kimberly discusses how she’s optimizing her curriculum, focusing on what’s most effective for clients, and leveraging data to guide her strategy. This counterintuitive approach challenges industry norms but delivers powerful results. Connect with Kimberly Personal Website: www.kimberlybonline.com Company Website: www.brownleadership.com/ Book: Next Move, Best Move: Transitioning into a Career You’ll Love LinkedIn: Kimberly Brown Podcast: Your Next Move   Connect with Naomi Website: www.naomihaile.com LinkedIn: Naomi Haile Instagram: @naomiahaile Twitter: @naomiathaile YouTube

“No one is ever going to share your skills and experience better than you.” In this clip, Kimberly explains why you must unapologetically own and share your skills, passions, and goals. She emphasizes that self-promotion isn’t bragging—it’s educating others about who you are and what you’re capable of. Kimberly shares her advice for building a career that creates its own opportunities by actively connecting with people and organizations. Her insights challenge outdated stigmas around personal branding and highlight the power of confidently communicating your value. Connect with Kimberly Personal Website: www.kimberlybonline.com Company Website: www.brownleadership.com/ Book: Next Move, Best Move: Transitioning into a Career You’ll Love LinkedIn: Kimberly Brown Podcast: Your Next Move   Connect with Naomi Website: www.naomihaile.com LinkedIn: Naomi Haile Instagram: @naomiahaile Twitter: @naomiathaile YouTube: Naomi Haile

“For me, I knew I didn’t want to make my business smaller to accommodate a larger corporate life.” In this clip, Kimberly shares how a pivotal move to American Express changed the trajectory of her career and business. She reflects on her decision to leave a role she loved to pursue her growing business, weighing the fear of failure against the potential for regret. Kimberly’s story is a powerful reminder to take bold steps toward what matters most, trusting in your abilities and support system while leaving room for the magic of unexpected opportunities.

“You have control over your career.” In this clip, Kimberly challenges the traditional mindset that success comes from waiting to be recognized for hard work. Instead, she emphasizes the importance of actively steering your career with your personal strategy. Kimberly explains how most company career plans are designed to serve the organization, not the individual. She shares her approach to guiding clients in building strategies that align with their goals—whether financial, status-based, or industry-specific—while leaving room for unexpected opportunities. This clip is a powerful reminder to take charge of your career and plan with intention.

“My largest client had $14 million in their checking account, but I also had clients who overdrafted every day. I saw the whole gamut.” In this clip, Kimberly shares the pivotal moment when she chose happiness over everything else in her career. After an unforgettable (and hilarious) encounter with a client, she realized the importance of aligning work with joy and purpose. She reflects on her transition to higher education, making intentional career moves, and leaning into what truly made her happy. Kimberly offers insights on finding fulfillment and handling challenges by connecting with work you genuinely respect and enjoy.

"I think there are a lot of things in life that we don’t get taught how to do. We have to learn through trial by fire and experience." Kimberly reflects on her passion for talent development and the challenges women and people of color face in navigating their careers. She highlights how delayed preparation often leads to missed opportunities and underemployment. Her mission is to equip professionals with practical, reusable tools to build success at every career stage. Hear how her strategies help clients achieve lasting growth and overcome systemic barriers.