Run it Like a Girl

Whether it’s because of  layoffs, redundancy, or personal choice, many people are starting over in their careers. Now imagine starting over, thousands of miles from home,  in a new country, and a new language.  Tetyana Dudnyk was a business woman from Ukraine, when she stepped off of an airplane in Canada 20 years ago. Tetyana talks about building her career and the importance of having a continuous learner mindset.  She also talks about how women tend to undervalue their skills, and are often hesitant about applying for a job that they aren’t 100% qualified for, and she questions why anyone would take a job where they already have 100% of the qualifications.  

Tetyana is also on the leadership team of the Toronto chapter of Ellevate, a world-wide network of professional women. This is an amazing organization that is driven by members supporting each other, and helping each other to grow. 

Renee Brinkerhoff is a rally race car driver, something she took up in her mid 50s. Believe it or not, she knew nothing about being a race car driver, and had no real desire to be one, but followed a 30 year urge  and now owns her own team - Valkyrie Racing.  In this episode Renee talks about racing around the world, and Project 356 which aims to raise awareness and funds to combat child trafficking. 

Renee’s 1956 Porsche 356A - hence the name of Project 356 - has been to all but one continent.  The trip to Antarctica is scheduled for December 2021 after being delayed by Covid.

It’s all in the numbers:

• HUMAN TRAFFICKING IS THE 2ND LARGEST ILLEGAL BUSINESS IN THE WORLD (BEHIND DRUG TRAFFICKING)
• $150 billion annually in illicit profits
• 25-40 million victims globally
• 25% are children and growing

 Racer/philanthropist Renee Brinkerhoff, 64-year-old founder of Valkyrie Racing/Valkyrie Gives is not only using her extreme racing on all seven continents as a visual for her own voice to tell the story of human trafficking for those that cannot speak it – but she’s putting ‘boots on the ground’ and providing site visits, supplies, educational needs and funding to grassroots and NGO’s in Amsterdam, Australia, Cambodia, China, Katzkhstan, Kenya, Mexico, Peru, Russia and the US – AND, she was selected to participate in undercover investigative work with partner organizations and local law enforcement to enable rescue of victims and prosecution of traffickers.  She has already served earlier this year in Thailand – and has missions slated in Latin America and Southeast Asia.

For more information visit: https://www.valkyrieracing.com/
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Ainka Jess is one of the top 100 most powerful women in Canada according to Women’s Executive Network.   WXN, a powerful network of professional women in Canada, awarded Ainka the prestigious title in their Arts, Sports, and Entertainment category.

Ainka, who was a season #1 guest here on Run It Like a Girl, formed an organization called She’s4Sports after hearing about the negative experiences of some female sports fans, and seeing a lack of diversity in sport media coverage.  She’s4Sports works to address gender equity and inclusion in sport, and in society in general.

On this episode of Run It Like a Girl, Ainka talks about the business side of She’s4Sports entrepreneurship, time management, and forming authentic partnerships, and she has tons of advice for those starting out.

Learn more about Ainka and She's4Sports
Website: https://www.shes4sports.com/
Twitter: @Shes4Sports
Instagram: @Shes4Sports
Facebook: facebook.com/shes4sports

Also, check out this awesome looking upcoming event: Register here
Join She’s4Sports and Canadian Women and Sport on March 10, in celebration of International Women’s day. Our panelists will share their journeys in sport with moderator Ainka Jess, Founder of She's4Sports. The discussion will focus on how leaders in sport are using their platform to drive change and challenge barriers that prevent women, girls and people from marginalized spaces from participating in sport. 

Jill Andrew is the Member of Provincial Parliament for Toronto St. Paul's, a riding she has held for the NDP since 2018.  She's the first woman, and the first non Liberal to represent the riding since its creation in 1999. 

When asked to run for the riding Jill had doubts about whether she would be able to do it, but in the end it was her interest in issues such as education and healthcare, as well as the support from friends, family and other elected officials that lead her to say yes. 

Jill who is a strong advocate for women and the BIPOC and LGBQ2 communities has some tips on how to get involved and making your community better for everyone. 

Angela Lilly is an amateur elite triathlete - competing in a grueling sport that involves swimming, running and cycling. She’s also competed in 7 Ironman events over the course of a decade, achieving 7th in her age group and a ranking of the 12th overall amateur woman at the Ironman World Championships in 2007.

Angela says she’s had her share of setback, something that is part of the journey for every athlete.  

Angela, who is a high school teacher by day, has a husband and two children, known collectively as Team Lilly. On this episode of Run It Like a Girl, Angela tells us how she manages to be included in family events, while maintaining her training schedule, and the unique ways she makes sure that she's there for the moments that matter. 

Angela is currently an ambassador for the MultiSport Canada Triathlon Series, and F2C, a Canadian nutrition company

Stephanie Mitton and Myrrhanda Novak run a podcast called Women Don’t Do That.  They have conversations with ‘women change-makers and risk-takers.'

The podcast was formed, on-the-spot, when Stephanie, who lives in Ottawa, flew to Winnipeg to visit her long-time friend, after an unsuccessful attempt at entering federal politics.

The goal of ‘Women Don’t Do That’ is to have continued meaningful and authentic conversations.

Myrrhanda, who has experienced the loss of a young child, talks about resilience, saying we have to believe in our ability to go through serious life challenges, and to get back up and keep going.

Be sure to check out their podcast at www.womendontdothat.com
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When she was in high school, Rachel Weeks enjoyed English literature, particularly writing.  But she also liked math and science. It was her English teacher who suggested a career like engineering, where she could do both.

With a degree in Aerospace Engineering and part way through a masters, Rachel now works as a systems test engineer with United Launch Alliance and she uses a lot of math and science, and she writes a lot  of procedures and steps.

Rachel, who grew up in Orlando, remembers watching as rockets would launch from Cape Canaveral, and now she is working on the Mars 2020 project, which involves landing Perseverance Rover on the Martian surface.  

On this episode of Run it Like a Girl, Rachel also talks about her role as marketing director at Reinvented Magazine, a non-profit printed publication aimed at women in STEM by women in STEM.

Check out these links for more information
Reinvented Magazine: https://www.reinventedmagazine.com/
United Launch Alliance https://www.ulalaunch.com/

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Welcome to season 3! On this episode Bonnie talks with Samantha Bailey, #1 bestselling  author of WOMAN ON THE EDGE. 

Samantha's  literary success did not come overnight and the journey was not without its share of rejection and disappointment. In this episode we talk about what it takes to be an author, the importance of being resilient and finding like minded people to help inspire you along the way.

On this episode Samantha explains her inspiration for WOMAN ON THE EDGE and the moment the idea hit her….while she stood on a TTC Platform waiting for her train.

Samantha M. Bailey

#1 bestselling author of WOMAN ON THE EDGE, a psychological thriller out now in ebook, audio, and paperback in Canada and the US with Simon & Schuster Canada; out now in ebook, audio, and paperback in the UK with Headline, and to be translated into seven languages.

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Visit Samantha's website

There’s no two doubts about it; Miriam Micael has a cool job. She’s a project management engineer with the Canadian Space Agency.

Miriam has worked on several projects since joining the CSA three years ago, including working as a risk coordinator with Canada’s 1.2-billion dollar RADARSAT Constellation Mission, which launched last June.

On this episode of Run It Like a Girl, Miriam talks about a new initiative at the Space Agency, the Junior Astronaut initiative where activities revolve around three themes: fitness and nutrition, science and tech, and teamwork and communications.

Check out Miriam's bio

Please Note:
In light of the COVID-19 Pandemic, the Canadian Space Agency has decided to postpone the Junior Astronaut Camp to summer 2021. Registration will remain open until February 28, 2021. Kids are encouraged to do Junior Astronauts activities at home during the physical distancing period. 

For more information on the Junior Astronaut Initiative check it out here
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Following some deep soul searching, and the breakdown of a relationship, Heather Guluk made an impulsive decision to climb a mountain in the Himalayas, despite knowing very little about mountain climbing.

Heather says she was challenged both physically and mentally, but, after three gruelling weeks, arrived at the summit.  And that’s where a 10-year career of climbing some of the highest peaks in the world, including Mount Everest.

There have been some unexpected set-backs over her climbing career. Heather recalls a planned expedition to Mount Makalu (mack-a-loo), the 5th tallest mountain in the world.  After waiting for two months on the mountain, the weather finally forced the cancellation of the expedition to the summit. 

Another of Heather’s climbs also didn’t work out the way it was planned. Back in April of 2015, Heather was on her way up a mountain in Nepal with her guide, when a massive earthquake violently rolled the ground beneath them. Uninjured, it took a couple of days for the pair to get phone coverage - and that’s when they realized the seriousness of the situation. The Earthquake ended up killing nearly 9000 people, and injuring 25,000.

Heather says she may not have met her mountain climbing goals on that expedition, but her time helping locals offered her some of the best lessons of her life.

Heather tells us she recently moved to British Columbia to be closer to the mountains and the great outdoors, after convincing her boss in Toronto that she could work just as effectively from home. Because of Covid-19, however, Heather has had little time to explore her new community but has lots of plans once the threat passes.

Follow Heather's adventures on Instagram at @heathergeluk