Let's Talk Growth: Recent Episodes
Michael Assiamah
Hosted by Mike Assiamah
A series of online discussions every Monday @ 7pm taking place through @supportandgrowth
About Marc Davis
Marc Davis is the clinical director of LifeSpan Integrated Health Care, Co-founder of KinCentric Exercise Rehabilitation Clinic and clinical lead for Cardiovascular Rehabilitation at William Osler Health Systems. Marc holds a degree in Homeopathic Natural Medicine, Clinical Kinesiology, and Cardiovascular Exercise physiology.
He has 20 years’ experience specializing in natural and rehabilitative medicine. He is a Lecturer, motivational speaker and author of the lecture series “Wisdom of the Human Body”. As a homeopath and kinesiologist, Marc believes it is important to treat the whole person by identifying the underlying cause(s) of a patient’s health concerns in order to restore, empower and enhance a person’s journey towards health and wellbeing.
About Jaclyn Genovese @jaclyngenovese
Jaclyn Genovese opened her fashion boutique, ‘jacflash’, in the trendy area of Queen Street West, in 2007. Her shop became a landmark in the community and was featured in major publications including The Toronto Star, Elle Magazine, Fashion Magazine and The Globe and Mail. Jaclyn also played the starring role on the Slice TV show 'jaclife'. Her event planning business thrived with weekly events at Nyood, the Thompson Hotel's 1812 bar and finally Lost and Found. Jaclyn has hosted guests such as Justin Bieber, Hugh Grant, Uma Thurman, The Weeknd, Drake, Deadmau5, Bryson Tiller, Dave Chapelle, Mark Cuban, Lewis Hamilton, Party Next Door, as well as endless sports celebrities from the NBA, NHL and MLB. Jaclyn's weekly Monday night event at Lost and Found earned a shout out in one of the Weeknd's singles, "Drinks On Us".
In 2014, Jaclyn closed the retail store and expanded ‘jacflash’ into a lifestyle brand embracing interior design, event planning and fitness. 'Spaces by Jacflash' does both residential and commercial design and has been featured in The Globe and Mail, Toronto Life and City Life Mag. Jaclyn has most recently been nominated as Interior Designer of the Year for the 2020 Notable Awards. Spaces by Jacflash has worked with many celebrity clients such as Youtube stars Jus Reign and Ask Kimberly, NBA’s Patrick Patterson and 93.5 host Blake Carter.
In early 2018, having retired from nightlife events, Jaclyn pursued her passion for fitness and wellness and started #fitnessbyjacflash, a fitness and nutrition company that throws monthly ‘women-only’ fitness events. Her goal is to support, encourage and influence women of all ages to be STRONG both physically and mentally. Since its inception, every workshop has sold out well in advance and she has even held a 150 person event on the BMO Field with the Toronto Argos.
About Azalea Hart @azaleazoe
Azalea Hart is a digital host and YouTuber with a passion for lifestyle, entertainment and her Trinidadian roots.
She is a self-proclaimed foodie who is dedicated to creating compelling and entertaining content in all realms for digital digestion. Hart takes pride in her storytelling abilities and captivating her audiences with humour, positivity and creativity. A proud Canadian of Trinidadian heritage, Hart’s passion for carnival and Caribbean culture is the reason she is on a mission to share Caribbean culture with the masses while steadily building her entertainment empire.
Hart’s YouTube channel focuses on pop culture and trending topics which has amassed over 200,000 subscribers and 40 million views. A graduate from Seneca College’s Broadcast Journalism program, Hart began her broadcasting career as an intern at Bell Media for the Specialty Channels including E!, MUCH and M3 in 2015. Currently living in Toronto, Hart is one of the digital hosts for the popular media publication, blogTO as well as a co-host for a celebrity news YouTube channel, Before They Were Famous.
About Samuel Tita @blkmenstyle
Samuel Tita is the founder of Black Men’s Style. A social media page that is gaining recognition for showcasing black men. Black Men’s Style is a movement. A not for profit that advocates to dismantle stereotypes that have been imposed upon Black Men through distorted media of all types. Black Men’s Style allows us to redefine our portrayal and tell our own story while displaying our Black Excellence.
About Samantha Williams @bodyfreetherapy
Samantha Williams, a registered massage therapist in Scarborough, graduated from the Canadian College of Massage and Hydrotherapy in 2017. Since then she has worked in various environments such as a motor vehicle accident clinic, gyms and multidisciplinary clinics that have allowed her to gain a wide knowledge base and provide her clients with quality treatments. Branching out on her own with Body Free Therapy, she hopes to reach and help as many as she can through manual therapy.
About Sarah Juma @jumamgmt
Sarah is a serial entrepreneur and champion for diversity and inclusion. While developing StyleID, a mobile app that identifies items worn and seen on screen, she discovered a severe lack of programs, mentors and supports that took into account her unique perspective as a woman of colour.
In true entrepreneurial fashion, Sarah launched the not-for-profit Innovate Inclusion to advocate for the economic success of tech talent and entrepreneurs from underrepresented communities.
Sarah was recently honoured to be awarded as one of Canada’s top 25 Women of Influence.
About Michelle Tran @trantast1c
Michelle is a Registered Holistic Nutritionist and Writer. She has been working in the health and fitness industry for 4 years after graduating from the Canadian School of Natural Nutrition. She has help women experiencing digestive issues who are stressed and overwhelmed rebalance their bodies through diet and lifestyle adjustments. She teaches clients how to incorporate healthy habits into their busy lives so they can look and feel their best.
About Dushane Farrier @poweredbydush
Dushane has been actively involved in the fitness industry in Toronto since 2014. He holds a Bachelor’s of Science in Health and Nutrition from the University of Alabama, where he competed as a D1 NCAA student athlete. His accomplishments include the All American Honours in NCAA men’s track and field, and he is an All NJCAA indoor medalist in the men’s 60m and 200m, and outdoor 100m and 200m.
As an ISSA certified personal trainer, Dushane strongly believes in the necessity for an active lifestyle for all. He draws upon his athletic knowledge and enthusiasm to create fitness programs and bootcamps that encompass all aspects of fitness with the highest standard of service, safety and professionalism.
Dushane has a reputation for creating a training environment that is fun and collegial with a supportive team dynamic.
About Coach Chandall @monkeymovers
Owning her own Gymnastics and Dance Center has always been a dream for Coach Chandall. After completing her post-secondary studies in Fitness and Health, Coach Chandall wanted to continue her love of teaching dance, gymnastics and fitness to children everywhere.
Coach Chandall loved teaching at various community centers and private clubs in Toronto, Mississauga, Brampton and Milton as she was able to positively impact an endless amount of children in different communities. She realized she could only reach a limited amount of children with a permanent facility; hence, Monkey Movers was created.
Coach Chandall has over 15 years of experience coaching recreational/competitive gymnastics and dance and 12 years of experience as a Certified Fitness Professional. She is a graduate of the Fitness and Health Promotion Program at Humber College Institute, Certified Level 2 Gymnastics Coach, Dance Instructor, Corrective Holistic Exercise Coach, Holistic Lifestyle Coach, Certified Personal Trainer, Fitness Instructor, Pilates, Yoga, Zumba Instructor and Certified in High Five, First Aid and CPR.
Coach Chandall embodies the perfect mixture of a Fit and Healthy Lifestyle. She is passionate, innovative, and dedicated to bringing fun and excitement to children everywhere!
About Natalie Nimako @this.is.pow:
A self-proclaimed serial entrepreneur who wears many business hats and continues to pivot whenever a new idea pops into her head. With a creative drive, passion for simplicity and the Covid-19 Pandemic, Natalie's latest venture The Pow Project was created - The project is an educational package developed to help keep pre-school children entertained and learning until they’re back in the classroom. Natalie also wears the hat of a marketer, event planner, brow specialist, DIY floral designer, mother and wife. Natalie is motivated and driven by creating experiences and tools that build lifetime memories and last forever.
About Sheraine Robinson: @___raiiney @byslr
Sheraine Robinson is a Toronto based Personal Stylist, Personal Shopper, Mental Health advocate and Fashion Enthusiast. Specializing in, but not limited to men's fashion; Sheraine has mastered the art of making everyone feel like the best versions of themselves by providing both in-person and online styling, as well as personal shopping. Sheraine leaves no stone unturned, allowing everyone access to the BySLR experience.
About Tiyahna Ridley-Padmore @tiyahna_:
Tiyahna is a lifelong bookworm and the author and researcher of Trailblazers: The Black Pioneers Who Have Shaped Canada. As a dedicated social advocate, Tiyahna believes in the transformative power of inclusive representation and intersectional story-telling. Tiyahna has a Master's degree in Public Policy and is a member of the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators. Join her journey on Instagram @tiyahna_
About Sandra Francisco @sandra.i.francisco:
Sandra is a business coach, she has been coaching entrepreneurs and business owners for 10 years and she has over 20 years of experience launching products, services and businesses.
She spent over 15 years working for two Fortune 10 companies developing products with 50M to 100M budgets.
She has worked with clients across diverse industries such as retail, wellness and health, real estate, construction, beauty, and technology.
Her focus with her coaching clients is supporting them to drive for profit in what they do, while balancing their personal growth in the pursuit of making an impact.
About Nailah Gordon-Decicieo @nailah.gd:
Toronto-born Lawyer, Nailah Gordon-Decicieo, is recognized as an important voice in the new generation of advocates. She is one of the first Canadian Lawyers to receive the ‘Nation’s Best Advocates: Top 40 Under 40’ Award and presently represents Canada as an elected member of the Global Jamaica Diaspora Council.
Nailah’s commitment to advancing the voice of Jamaican - Canadians are influenced by her family’s humble beginnings in St. Elizabeth and Kingston. Her cultural connection was bolstered by representing Canada in the 2008 GraceKennedy Birthright Programme. Guided by Jamaica’s ethos of hard work, she earned an Honours Bachelor of Commerce and a Minor in Economics from McMaster University (2008), graduated with a Juris Doctor from the University of Windsor (2012) in Canada and holds a Legal Education Certificate from the Norman Manley Law School (2018) in Jamaica.
Nailah currently chairs the Deciding Committee of the Jamaican-Canadian Community Emergency Response Fund (COVID-19), designed to temporarily relieve the basic needs of vulnerable Jamaican-Canadians during this time. Advocating for change during a pandemic, expands Nailah’s knowledge of the current challenges and opportunities facing the Diaspora in Canada. This equips her with the ability to simplify and explain to others the complex issues facing Jamaican-Canadians and to strategize culturally-conscious solutions. Join her journey on Instagram @nailah.gd.
About Julia @glowsleepservices
Julia is a Registered Social Worker, a Certified Sleep Consultant and a Cognitive Behavioural Therapy for Insomnia (CBT-I) clinician. She is passionate about working with individuals and families experiencing sleep challenges. Her focus is on building a strong foundation for healthy sleep to promote optimal sleep and long-lasting sleep improvements. Julia uses an integrative approach to uncover the many factors that affect sleep quality. This includes paying close attention to emotional well-being, diet, physical activity, sleep hygiene, stress and overall mental health. As the relationship between mental health and sleep is significant, Julia’s strategies incorporate mindfulness and relaxation techniques to help quiet the mind. In order to make meaningful change, Julia believes in the importance of collaborating with her clients to create a sleep plan that feels realistic and attainable.
About Jebril @jbrjalloh
There’s no such thing as an overnight success. It takes all-nighters, failed attempts and the art of hustling to get to where you want to be. For Toronto’s Jebril “Fresh” Jalloh, his proudest wins have only come after he finally made it through his toughest obstacles. The Entrepreneur and Founder of Get Fresh Company, had every reason not to pursue his dream of owning a business – single parent household, rough upbringing, high school dropout – but to achieve the impossible, you have to see it first. Jebril’s vision came to him at the age of 16 while he was hanging out with friends. He proclaimed: I want to own a store called Get Fresh and it will be the freshest store in Toronto. They laughed then, but nothing was funny when in August 2013, he opened the doors of Get Fresh Company (GFC) in a location that Vogue named the second-hippest district in the world - Toronto’s "West Queen West" area.
Philip Osei (@osei_400m) is a Canadian sprinter specializing in the 400 metres. He is a University of Guelph student-athlete studying studio arts and videography.
Philip is a New Balance athlete, 4x Canadian 400m champion, 2019 World semi-finalist, World Relay silver medalist, mixed relay 4x400 Canadian record holder, 2020 USports 300m Champion and 2012 NACAC 400M silver medalist.
Not only an elite athlete, but Philip is also a mental health and wellness advocate and a Support & Growth Ambassador who is using his passion to change the world.
Sandra Francisco (@sandra.i.francisco) is a business coach, she has been coaching entrepreneurs and business owners for 10 years and she has over 20 years of experience launching products, services and businesses.
She spent over 15 years working for two Fortune 10 companies developing products with 50M to 100M budgets.
She has worked with clients across diverse industries such as retail, wellness and health, real estate, construction, beauty, and technology.
Her focus with her coaching clients is supporting them to drive for profit in what they do while balancing their personal growth in the pursuit of making an impact.
To celebrate this special day and to honour George Floyd, Kobe Bryant and all the fathers who have passed on, we’ve invited three black father’s Jevohn Shepherd @est86shep, Phillip McPherson @phillyope and Yusuf Wong @poweredbywong to join us live to share their amazing experiences and challenges.
Phil McPherson is an entrepreneur and CEO of On Point Entertainment
To celebrate this special day and to honour George Floyd, Kobe Bryant and all the fathers who have passed on, we’ve invited three black father’s Jevohn Shepherd @est86shep, Phillip McPherson @phillyope and Yusuf Wong @poweredbywong to join us live to share their amazing experiences and challenges.
Yusuf Wong is a personal trainer and owner of Powered by Fitness
To celebrate this special day and to honour George Floyd, Kobe Bryant and all the fathers who have passed on, we’ve invited three black father’s Jevohn Shepherd @est86shep, Phillip McPherson @phillyope and Yusuf Wong @poweredbywong to join us live to share their amazing experiences and challenges.
Jevohn Shepherd is a real estate agent and former professional basketball player
Solange Davis (@solange.law) is a criminal defence lawyer and a partner at Canada’s largest criminal defence firm, Rusonik, O’Connor, Robbins, Ross, and Angelini LLP.
She defends people accused of criminal, driving, and regulatory offences throughout the Greater Toronto Area. She represents clients at the bail, preliminary inquiry, and trial level. Solange has always been interested in the challenges people in Canada face when dealing with our criminal justice system. She attended the University of Toronto, Faculty of Law, and began volunteering as a Criminal Division Leader in the school’s student legal clinic, Downtown Legal Services. She started doing trials and representing clients at the Ontario Court of Justice in her first year of law school and hasn’t looked back since. Solange has successfully represented clients charged with crimes at both the Ontario Court of Justice and the Superior Court of Justice.
She has dealt with a wide range of offences including aggravated assault, assault, firearms use, robbery, fraud, theft, forcible confinement, failure to provide the necessaries of life, and many more. Her trial experience includes successfully defending people charged under the Criminal Code, the Controlled Drug and Substances Act, and the Highway and Traffic Act. Solange understands that every client deserves a complete and focused representation in order to address the unique needs of each case. Solange is truly dedicated to securing a favourable outcome for each and every one of her clients.
Nicole Franklin (@livefreecs) is a Social Worker and Therapist with over ten years of experience supporting diverse individuals, children, youth and families. Nicole is the Founder and Clinical Director of Live Free Counselling Services, providing Professional Therapy, Wellness Workshops and Clinical Supervision.