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degree. I learned quite quickly how imperative it is to take the time to get to know people and the context when the project was not meeting its goals and people were starting to avoid me. I learned that first and foremost, you must take time just to sit with communities, to connect with people individually and to learn about where you are. The barriers to diversity, equity and inclusion can look different in every context and for every individual. What we need to look at is what stands in the way. Where can we move a wall that does not need to be there, instead of trying to build over it or around it?Q: What inspired you to pursue an MBA with a specialization in leadership, and how has it impacted your work?A: I love to learn and have always been a bookworm and often prefer libraries over parties! The pursuit of higher education was always something that has lit up my life. This is especially important because no one in my family went to post-secondary school and my sister and I were among the first in our family to earn university degrees. For a number of years, following my undergraduate degree, I was in the field doing a lot of work abroad with international development projects focused on youth, leadership and Indigenous human rights. There was a lot of analytical and management skills required with proposals, project audits and reporting that also required strong financial literacy. I decided that earning an MBA would give credence to the work I was already doing and would be beneficial for my continued learning in the field and my competitive edge as a young female. Getting an MBA, with a specialization in leadership, has inspired me to set up a consulting firm and to continue to learn more about the intersection of international development, peacebuilding and business.Q: Who were some of the key mentors or influences in your life, and how did they help you overcome challenges?A: I always think about my kookum (grandmother) Delia and my papaa (father) Jack in whatever I do. My kookum went to residential school and she was one of the first of our family, along with her siblings, to have to navigate some of the most repressive policies in Canadian history and also navigate her own identity as a M%u00e9tis woman. She had to keep her family safe amidst threats of knocks on door from the Indian Agent and she simultaneously had to find ways for us future generations to be able to find our way back to our culture when it was time. She has passed on but she is always with me as I think about the grit, pride and determination she instilled in our lineage to change the narrative of our family around being M%u00e9tis. My papaa lived through all of the impacts of the repressive policies and faced a large amount of racism and shame for how he looked, from what he shared with me. He recently passed on and but his wild sense of humour, his love for people and his kindness will live on forever in the hearts of those who knew him. It was later in life, that he embraced his M%u00e9tis heritage and he would spend hours telling family stories and what he remembered growing up. From my papaa, I am forever reminded to first act with kindness and to find humour where I can. My papaa%u2019s wit was like no other and he always reminded me to not take myself or any situation too seriously. We are all just human beings. My papaa was so very proud of me and my achievements. He would carry a picture of me around with him in his shirt pocket and would stop to tell people about my schooling, what I was up to, where I was travelling in the world and all about me being Mrs. Canada, proudly wearing my M%u00e9tis sash. He passed on right before I was crowned Mrs. Unity World Elite but I felt him right there with me every step of the way. I know he is so proud. Q: As someone who travels the world for both work and family adventures, what have been some of the most memorable moments from your travels?A: The most memorable moments are always the ones where I get to connect with people, heart to heart. Recently, I was in El Salvador on a Mrs. Canada community service project. A friend%u2019s mom asked if she could touch my crown. I said I could do even better and I let her try my crown on and she teared up. She said that growing up she was not allowed to be in pageants because her dad was the mayor and it was always her biggest dream to be in the pageant and to wear a crown. She said I made her dream come true. That moment will stay with me forever. On another trip recently, my kids and I went to the Philippines to visit family over Christmas. My kids decided that they wanted nothing for Christmas but wanted to give what they had to others. They made bags of LEGO for all the kids in the barangay and gave away their most prized stuffiest. Seeing my kids so overjoyed to connect with others and to share what they had was one of the most rewarding moments as a parent. We asked the community what else we could do while we were there to be of service and they asked that we visit every house in the barangay on New Year%u2019s Eve as Mrs. Canada and the Canada Kids and that we deliver rice and fruits to each house. This will stand out for me as one of the most connective experiences of all my travels. My kids and I got to share the hearts and homes of every single person in the barangay together. We made friendships that will last a lifetime.MOSTMAGAZINEMOST MAGAZINE - ISSUE 61 63