Welcome to our final Episode of Project Give Back Connects Season 2.
This Episode features esteemed trailblazers in their fields. We are so lucky to have these leaders here sharing their time and wisdom with all of us. They know the secrets to leading with compassion, empathy and kindness.
Our logo, the boomerang is all about the power of giving. When we throw it away, it comes back to us. These leaders, not only know this, they live this. They are completely respected and admired by all those lucky enough to work under their direction. They are literally walking sermons, and actually don’t even realize this. Every step they take makes an impact to all those watching with admiration and learning from their actions.
Our first guest is Laurie May.
Laurie has been in the film business for over twenty-five years. She is Co-Founder and Co-President of Elevation Pictures, one of the largest independent film companies in Canada. Have you heard of the Academy Award winners, the Imitation Game, Room, Moonlight, the Cove, or Crash? Laurie was a big part of the team who brought these films to Canada.
In her spare time – that she has very little, she is a board member of the Toronto International Film Festival and acted as a mentor for Women in Film and Television and was a recipient of their Outstanding Achievement Award. Laurie shares sage advice on giving back, on passion as a driver for everything. She speaks about resilience, the beauty of imperfection and the power of a growth mindset.
Our next guest also is so admired by all lucky enough to work with him or know him on a personal level. He truly is a leader who is respected by all and his title, no easy feat. His name is Dr. Ronald Cohn,
President and CEO of The Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids).
Before this prominent position he was the Chief of Paediatrics at SickKids and the Chair of Paediatrics at the University of Toronto. He is not only respected by his SickKids community of thousands, he is a sought after lecturer and guest speaker all over the world. He has received numerous awards and accolades, including the David M. Kamsler Award for outstanding compassionate and expert care of pediatric patients. There aren’t enough hours in a day for this man and yet he took the time to share his insights and wisdom with our community. Dr. Cohn shared his personal story about his journey to becoming a Paediatrician, Geneticist and ultimately the head of SickKids. He also stressed the importance of giving back. He says, “When we support and lift up others, it allows us to grow.”
Our next guest is a dynamic and well respected leader who is responsible for 54 radio stations, 2 podcast networks, 29 local television stations and 15 television channels. Have you heard of CityNews, 98.1…CHFI, Citytv, KISS 92.5 and so on? This leader is behind it all. Julie Adam oversees the management and development of Rogers Sports and Media’s local and National News and Entertainment.
In her spare time….Julie is proud to sit on the board of Big Brothers Big Sisters Canada, the Canadian Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences, MusiCounts, Radioplayer Canada, and Canadian Broadcast Sales. At Rogers, Julie is Chair of Rise for Women, a part of the Rogers Women’s Network, and sits on the board of the company’s Inclusion & Diversity Council. She also just recently published her first book all about leading with Kindness. It is available on Amazon and it is called, ‘Imperfectly Kind: Why Kindness is the Must Have Superpower You Need to Lead.’
Julie speaks about the three most important lessons she has learned in her life and career. Watch and listen to her wise and pertinent lessons.
Next, singer/songwriter Seth Zosky treats us to a sensational rendition of ‘She Used to Be Mine’ from the musical ‘Waitress’.
Our Shining Star this week is Emily Strike. Emily is from Markham, Ontario and entering her fourth year at Queen’s University, studying Psychology and Health Studies. She loves to play sports, cheer on the Leafs, and spend time at her cottage. At six weeks old, Emily was diagnosed with Cystic Fibrosis (CF) and was a patient at SickKids Hospital for the first 18 years of her life. In the face of adversity, Emily has grown strong and determined to make the most of out life. An active advocate for SickKids and Cystic Fibrosis Canada, Emily has spoken at several events and raised over $200,000 to date for these causes close to her heart. Now, at 21, she’s working an as Impact Ambassador for the SickKids Foundation. She is a true shining star and she is here to shine some light on us. Emily blows us away by her courage, her story, her passion and the wisdom she has gained. She truly is a Superhero!
Lindsay from Kindness Corner and @one2giveto fills us in on how we can continue to help her initiatives during the summer months.
As always, please be kind to one another, let’s embrace one another and let’s learn from one another.
Have the most wonderful summer!
See you in the Fall.
Warmest wishes,
