Power Of Why With Naomi Haile

Sherrell Dorsey is the founder and CEO of The Plug—a digital news and insights platform covering the Black innovation economy. Her work has been featured in VICE, The Washington Post, Seattle Times, The Information, and more. Sherrell has been a contributing writer for notable publications like Columbia Journalism Review, Fast Company, Black Enterprise, and others. In 2018, she was named an inspiring woman in tech by CNet, and most creative people in business by AdWeek in 2021. Prior to launching The Plug, Dorsey served as a marketing manager for companies like Uber and Google Fiber. She holds a Master's degree in data journalism from Columbia University. She is the author of Upper Hand: The Future of Work for the Rest of Us published by Wiley. This episode is for you if: You want to learn how Sherrell built a digital news and insights platform The Black Innovation Economy fascinates you You value journalism and want to find a community who does too You are juggling many ideas, and want to grow one fir

Dimple Thomas wants you to embrace the opportunity in uncertainty. As an Engineering Manager in Ericsson’s Cloud RAN Systems-DevOps, she does just that—with an eye to creating a high-speed, -bandwidth and low latency future where Zoom calls might be replaced by life-sized holograms of your loved ones. Committed to building systems that truly serve everyone, Dimple has also dedicated herself to empowering diverse leaders to succeed in tech as Theme Driver of Diversity and Inclusion at Ericsson. Dimple shared why she’s never charted her career path, why you should take risks at work, and tech’s potential for transformational good. This episode is for you if: You worry that your career isn’t following a clear, linear path You’re curious about 5G technology and how it’ll impact your life You want to see more diversity in tech You’ve recently been promoted but don’t feel like you’re ready for the job Connect with Dimple Thomas LinkedIn: Dimple Thomas Connect with Naomi Website: naomihaile.com Inst

Data, machine learning and AI augments impact across sectors, creating life changing technologies that transform how we live, work and play. But to drive meaningful change, we need equitable representation among the leaders driving its evolution. That's why Solmaz Shahalizadeh, Shopify's former Head of Data Science and Engineering, became a Founding Partner of Backbone Angels: investing in women and non-binary founders with a focus on investments in Black, Indigenous, and Women of Colour-led companies. She joins us to share why great career paths aren't linear, what you need to know to impress investors, and the difference between sponsors and mentors (and why you should have both). This episode is for you if: You’re a woman in STEM You want to understand why data is so important You’re a founder who wants to leave a good impression on investors You want to advance in your career but don’t know how to approach people for help Connect with Solmaz Shahalizadeh Website: www.backboneangels.com Linked

Repeat after me: Anti-colonial models are not radical. With her diverse team of experts, Co-founder and CEO of Archipel Research and Consulting Inc. Sabre Pictou Lee is harnessing them to help organizations change for the better. A highly acclaimed Indigenous speaker, trainer, liaison and researcher, Sabre’s company has supported the Canada Council for the Arts, Assembly of First Nations and Global Centre for Pluralism (to name a few). Today, Sabre shares why anti-colonial ways and concepts aren’t radical, how she built her business from the ground up, and the frameworks you can apply to make yours more inclusive. This episode is for you if: You’ve heard of anti-colonial principles but don’t know what they mean You want to start a business that challenges the status quo You want to meaningfully support Indigenous peoples You’ve struggled to work through your anxiety Connect with Sabre Pictou Lee Website: www.archipelresearch.com LinkedIn: Sabre Pictou Lee Connect with Naomi Website: naomihail

Touching the most complex organ in the human body, concussion treatment continues to evolve as experts learn more about the workings of our brain—to mitigate the debilitating, long-term consequences of mistreatment. That’s why Dr. Ashleigh Kennedy co-founded health-tech startup Neurovine AI: combining deep tech, machine learning and the art of neuroscience to empower concussion patients and optimize their recovery process. Ashleigh joined us to share how she co-founded Neurovine from personal experience and professional need, why a values-based business is key to securing top talent, what it’ll take the health sector to adopt new tech, and how modern concussion treatment is helping patients do more than recover, to thrive. This episode is for you if: You’re building a health-tech startup You want to know the treatments that can help you, or someone you love, overcome their concussion You have concerns about the ethical implications of introducing AI to healthcare You want to know what it’ll take for the

She started her career on Broadway before founding fashion startup Kania Couture Inc., whose designs were showcased at New York Fashion Week, World Mastercard fashion week, and project Las Vegas. Today, Stacey Martin is the founder of Canadian luxe loungewear company Stacey Martin Lifestyle, at the intersection of sustainability, comfort and style. Stacey joined us to share the greatest lessons she’s learned as a serial entrepreneur: from overcoming failure and channeling your purpose, to finding the right people for guidance, and raising money during a pandemic (with the power of crowdfunding). This episode is for you if: You’d love to have a mentor but worry about wasting time with the wrong person You’re struggling to raise capital for your business You’ve considered crowdfunding, but don’t know where to start You feel overwhelmed by the big projects your business needs to thrive Connect with Stacey Martin Website: www.staceymartinlifestyle.com LinkedIn: Stacey Martin Instagram: @staceymarti

Sergio Ezama is Netflix’s Chief Human Resources Officer (CHRO). He recently joined the team in September 2021. Previously, Sergio served in several HR leadership roles at PepsiCo, and spent 20 years exploring many learning opportunities. In this episode, Sergio delves into some of his HR, life, and work. He also speaks to the culture of freedom and accountability at Netflix. And one of my favourite pieces was Sergio’s musings about keeping your values at the forefront of your decisions. And if you are curious about the Netflix aspect of his story, he also speaks about what it has been like to navigate his new role as Netflix’s Chief HR officer. This episode is for you if: You’re a people leader and are interested in learning about an unconventional approach to HR Netflix’s culture intrigues you You want to learn what it really means to operate with little rules You’re interested in empowering your leaders and employees to make sound decisions Connect with Sergio  LinkedIn: Sergio Ezama Connec

African American buying power in the United States well exceeds $1.2 trillion annually, as reported by Nielson in 2018. A demographic often overlooked by businesses and brands, Anthony’s company, ABF Creative is storytelling for this audience and has seen incredible growth doing so. Not only that, Anthony expresses that the gap his company fills in the marketplace, creating multicultural content, is what fuels him. He also believes there remains an immense opportunity in this space to create meaningful content. Anthony Frasier (@anthonyfraiser) is the CEO and founder of ABF Creative (www.abfc.co) – a data-driven podcasting production company that leverages machine learning technology to reach very specific audiences. What really drew me in about ABF Creative is that this a team of storytellers that are focused on creating multicultural content, original narrative and live podcasts. Anthony has produced a wide-range of podcasts, including Through Her Eyes which is an intimate podcast that shares the stories of

Mutiat Bello is a real estate wealth strategist and soon-to-be private lender, and developer. Mutiat is doing this work with the purpose of understanding what longevity in the real estate space looks like, having choice and ownership over your time, passing down wealth to your children, and her family members. Mutiat is a mother, she loves to travel and is on a mission to helping you understand and take advantage of different pathways to real estate wealth. Mutiat’s goal is to close the real estate equity gap by helping people make strategic decisions that suit their goals without having to sacrifice their time and financial resources. This episode is for you if: You’re looking to purchase your first property You’re interested in growing your wealth through real estate You are on the search for a mentor and want some gems on how to position yourself as a star You want to understand how you can take 1 property and turn it into a portfolio through pre-constructions Connect with Mutiat Email: mutiat@mut

Trishala Pillai is an Indian-Canadian, born & raised in the Middle East, and she currently lives in the US. Over the past 5+ years, she has contributed to building some of North America's avant-garde, leading social technology start-ups/scale-ups with her skills in new product development, research, business strategy & development. Currently, she is a graduate student at Carnegie Mellon University's College of Engineering. She explores how to tackle society's most significant challenges through integrated product development at the Integrated Innovation Institute. In her spare time, Trishala advises Greenhouse (University of Waterloo’s social innovation discovery lab) and participates in high-stake public discourse on topics at the intersection of technology, society & culture at global events. Most recently, she created, hosted and produced a soon-to-be-released talk show on immigrant entrepreneurs called Newcomer Rise Up. This episode is for you if: You are curious about the process of studyin

Murdock (@amurdock_ii) is a purpose-driven, action-oriented, servant-leader and proud product of Indianapolis, Indiana. He graduated from Butler University in 2017 and is currently a Juris-Doctorate candidate at the Indiana University Robert H. McKinney School of Law. He’s passionate about leveraging the power in his story and other Black stories to create opportunities for economic & community development. Ultimately, he's in the business of becoming the greatest "powerpreneur" Indianapolis has ever seen. Murdock is the founder of City Circle Storytellers, the Side Hustle Economy, the Make it Make Sense center in Indianapolis, and Power Moves Only. This episode is for you if: You want to learn the 8 step process of communicating value to your community You want to learn how to keep your integrity intact and not abandon your character and values You want to keep thinking bigger when you’re bigger and better than you imagined You want to start documenting your process to help others own their stories

She’s the President & Co-founder of Hyperion Global Energy — the world’s first industrial carbon recycling system. But this impact-focused entrepreneur wasn’t always a carbontech leader. From marketing, to advertising, and even hospitality, Heather Ward’s knack for identifying emerging trends and connecting the right people to address them has helped this impact-focused entrepreneur and creative strategist bring mission-driven visions to life. Today, that vision is helping make the planet cleaner and safer for all, where Heather leverages next-generation technology to help companies ‘Clear the Air’ and propel innovation in the circular economy. We caught up with Heather to learn how we can change systems from the inside out, the power of slow, and why you should never count yourself out — even into a new industry. This episode is for you if: You want to drive meaningful change from the inside out You’re curious about cleantech and are eager to learn more You just launched a business and need a go-to-m

I had $300 in my pocket after I got laid off, and now my business is valued at $22 million. In the midst of losing her job, Bobbie Racette set out to build a platform that would economically empower others. As the Founder and CEO of Virtual Gurus, this Cree-Metis champion for Indigenous and 2SLGBTQIA+ communities is doing just that through her inclusivity-first talent and services solution. Today, Bobbie, recently named Canada’s Indigenous Entrepreneur of the Year, works with a 150-person-strong team to champion marginalized groups, setting a new business standard rooted in community impact. We caught up with Bobbie to talk about approaching the right investors for your business, staying true to yourself, and taking your power back.This episode is for you if: You’ve recently lost your job You want to create a meaningful diversity strategy You’re struggling to raise money for your business You believe economic empowerment is critical for equity Connect with Bobbie Virtual Gurus’ Website: thevirtualg

Tecla Kalinda is on a mission to solve Canada’s trillion-dollar problem – starting with our kids. I’m not materialistic. But when you don’t have anything, you see what money can do for you in your life. With an eye to ushering a new generation of financially empowered youth, Tecla Kalinda, a Senior Analyst at the Bank of Canada, founded ZalaSmart: a financial education company geared to helping kids gain the skills to manage their money and grow generational wealth. Since launching in 2018, Tecla has established strategic partnerships with youth-centered organizations like the Ottawa Public Library and their 33 locations, For Us Girls, Global Shapers, Girl Guides of Canada, to make ZalaSmart accessible to young people, no matter their means. We caught up with Tecla on talking to kids about money, why entrepreneurs need to delegate, and how we can solve Canada’s trillion-dollar problem. This episode is for you if: You’ve struggled with your finances You want to grow generational wealth You’re an entreprene

“Everyone thinks you're competing with them, but you're really in competition with yourself.” She raised $1.4 million and co-founded Black Women Talk Tech along the way. Today, Esosa Ighodaro-Johnson wants to help you get out of your own way. From banking executive to tech founder, Esosa has learned the power of community. With Black Women Talk Tech and Roadmap to Billions, she unites Black women tech and scalable business founders across the United States to bridge critical knowledge gaps — helping them grow their business and build independent wealth, establishing legacies that can change the world. We caught up with Esosa to find out how she pivoted from the conservative world of finance to tech, and why self-awareness and failing forward are the key to success. This episode is for you if: You want to build something that serves your community You’re eager to transition into tech You feel like you’re getting in your own way You’re hungry for insights on how to launch your business Connect with Esos

Makini Smith is an award-winning entrepreneur and the founder of A Walk in my Stilettos. As a mindset coach and Proctor Gallagher certified consultant, Makini helps you turn your goals into accomplishments. Not only does she share her message through her coaching practice, she also speaks at events, conferences and live functions where she deeply connects with people + their stories. Makini has shared your expertise on global media platforms, including Chatelaine, xoNecole, iHeart Radio, CBC, Vice News, a Times Square billboard, to name a few. This episode is for you if: You want to define success on your own terms You struggle with seeing a vision for your life You’re working towards moving from a mindset of fear to faith You want to create gratitude statements that shift your energy & spirit Connect with Mark Website: www.awalkinmystilettos.com Twitter: @makinismith Order Makini’s book: A Walk in my Stilettos: How to Get Through the Struggle with Grace Order all of Makini’s books on Ama

Lola Plaku is the founder and CEO of Lola Media Group – a firm focused on artist management and brand development. And she is also the founder of Girl Connected - a mentorship program for women looking to build in the music and entertainment industry. You’ll learn: How Lola put on her first show in the music industry How to build rapport, relationships, and creative brands Knowing your shit and commanding a room – why is this important? What work in the music industry is really like when you are managing talent Why Lola worked for free when she was first starting out in the music business How Lola invested in herself earlier in her career (and how it looks slightly different from how she invests in herself today) How to come correct when pitching someone for a job position that is not advertised How to sell / pitch yourself for an opportunity Connect with Lola Website: lolamediagroup.com Website: beagirlconnected.com Twitter: @iluvlola Instagram: @iluvlola Instagram: @beagirlconnect

Stephanie Harrison is the Founder and CEO of The New Happy – a platform that is focused on lasting happiness and how we can actually focus on changing the world for the better. Stephanie is focused on delivering the best content and does so every week, on Sundays. You can check out her newsletter here. You can expect writings and research where she will help you to redefine happiness (for yourself) so that you can flourish. You’ll learn: How to not get caught up in society’s definition of happiness A new definition of happiness (that may actually work better for you) Ways to show up for the people you love when they are in pain More ways to ease on rigid plans and lead with intention Connect with Stephanie Website: thenewhappy.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/newhappyco/ Newsletter: Subscribe here Email Stephanie: stephanie@thenewhappy.com Connect with Naomi Website – naomihaile.com Instagram – @naomiahaile Twitter – @naomiathaile LinkedIn – Naomi Haile 

Subscribe to the Power of Why on Apple Podcasts. Welcome to a special *recap*episode of the Power of Why. We are officially wrapping up season 3 of the show with some conversations that we’ve had this season with creatives, executives, business operators. These are all conversations captured on the Power of Why with guests who are so focused, brave, creative and thoughtful. Here they are: Joanne Bezzubetz [1:02 – 2:39] Mussie Hailu [2:39 – 4:10] Lola Plaku [4:10 – 5:30] Vanessa Griffiths [5:30 – 6:44] Victory Omotayo [6:44 – 8:12] Trishala Pillai [8:12 – 9:20] Paula Whitelocke [9:20 – 11:17] Natasha Roy [11:17 – 12:23] Erin Blaskie [12:23 – 14:00] Tim Salau [14:00 – 15:12] Ben Branson-Gateley [15:12 – 17:42] Mari Galloway [17:42 – 18:33] If there is a particular episode that resonated with you – search the power of why + their name to listen to the full episode. For the month of August, we will be showcasing replay episodes with some past guests who have blown me away. In September, we

Mark Goudie is the President and CEO of the Ottawa Sports and Entertainment Group (OSEG). He’s had quite the corporate career, formally educated as an accountant. Mark has advised clients on value creation strategies with PwC Canada. And with time, he moved into the sports and entertainment industry as CFO and Vice-president of Finance & Administration with the Ottawa Senators Hockey Club and the Canadian Tire Centre. Today, Mark oversees all facets of OSEG’s business operations including Ottawa REDBLACKS Football Club (CFL) and the Ottawa 67’s Hockey Club (OHL), concerts, major events, TD Place and the Lansdowne Live retail district. I hope that Mark’s career is an example that your path is your path. This episode is for you if: You’re curious about the sports and entertainment industry and what opening up stadiums means in 2021 You want to know what it’s like being a leader at the helm of a sports organization in Ottawa You want to understand the reach and responsibility that organizations have to