Today’s Notable Young Entrepreneur is Cindy Charles, who’s the producer and host of a Montreal-based platform that inspires women to live a fulfilled life both professional and socially. We caught up with her to find out why she believes empowering women is so important and what advice she would give to other young professionals…
WORK
1. Describe what you do in less than 140 characters. Go.
I motivate and inspire women to live a fulfilled life by following their passions to build their careers.
2. What was the inspiration for your career route?
After university, I felt a bit lost. I had majored in Sociology with a minor in Psychology and couldn’t find any clear career path that would make me happy. I desperately wanted a mentor to guide me and realized that not only can it be difficult to find a female mentor, but that many of my peers were also in need of inspiration.
3. What is the most memorable milestone in your career so far? The idea of interviewing inspirational women from Montreal started a long time ago, and at the time the interview was just an audio done with my phone. To go from that to a webseries to a television show that airs across Quebec and Ontario – my heart definitely swells up with pride.
4. Where do you see yourself in 5 years, 10 years, 20 years?
Now that we are launching the French version of Couch Talk called Les Divas du Divan on TV1 (Bell Fibe) this April, I expect to collaborate more with French businesses within the next five years and see a different side of Montreal.
The show will continue to grow and I see myself doing more public speaking and inspiring women outside of Montreal as well. This is all within the next five years. In 10 years, I hope to be a mom.
I’m very open to new opportunities, so where I’ll be in my career in 10 years is anyone’s guess.
5. Do you have any advice for other young professionals?
Don’t wait for opportunities – create them! Be annoying, ask questions, knock on doors, cold call and email… if you keep pushing, the door will open.
6. Do you support any charities? If so, which one(s) and why is it (or they) important to you? Definitely! Montreal has great charities that I think people should really get involved with. One of the ones I’m the most involved with these days is Dress For Success Montreal. They offer long-lasting solutions that enable women to break the cycle of poverty. They not only provide clothes and accessories for these women, but they also have programs that furnish them with confidence that they carry forever, as well as give them the knowledge that they can actively define their own lives and what success means to them.
It’s important for me to volunteer some of my time to this organization because they do amazing work in changing the lives of these women. Helping women have financial freedom is not a “women’s issue,” it’s a world issue and has a positive social and economical impact.
Others worth mentioning are the Girls Action Foundation, Ky Cares Foundation and Le Phare Enfants et familles.
7. What is one major challenge that you’ve had to overcome in your career? How did you overcome it?
I’m not sure I’ve overcome this challenge yet but I must say patience. My lack of patience is definitely my biggest challenge. As an entrepreneur, we want to do everything and see results like yesterday. The reality is that success often takes time. Learning to wait and trust that the fruits of my labour will eventually grow is something that I’m still working on.
8. What does the word notable mean to you?
Someone or something that has impact; that causes change.
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PLAY
1. Where is your favourite place to wine/dine in your city and why?
SUWU has a great vibe to it. I love the décor and the music. I tried Harlow for Valentine’s Day and the food was impeccably delicious. That combined with the sultry décor and music, it was definitely romantic. Speaking of romance, it’s hard to beat le Jardins Nelson in the summer!
2. What’s the most visited website on your Internet browser? The most played song on your phone?
Pinterest!! Its so addictive! They have literally everything. I’m a good cook and I owe some of that credit to Pinterest.
I’m a little embarrassed to say but Sorry by Justin Bieber is still the most played song on my phone… mostly because I wish I could dance like the girls in the video.
3. Who’s one person you think everyone should be following on social media? Its hard to pick JUST one…
Internationally I’d say Michelle Obama but locally I’d say Dominique Anglade. These are women actively trying to change the world around them.
4. What’s your favourite country to visit and why? And what’s the next one you plan on travelling to?
Costa Rica, because that’s where I got married. I have great memories of having all my love ones with me.
This year we’re heading to Mexico for the wedding of the bridesmaid (fellow Notable Drea Wheeler), who caught the bouquet at my wedding last year.
5. What gives you the greatest FOMO?
I’m looking forward to having children, but I must say that I’m afraid that I’ll miss out on great career opportunities when that moment comes.
6. What’s your guiltiest pleasure?
Thin crust Domino’s pizza
7. What’s something you wish you didn’t spend so much money on? What’s something you wish you spent more on?
I spend too much money on clothes and I should really spend more money on great books.
8. And finally, what does success look like to you? Work, play, or otherwise…
Success is a balanced lifestyle of work, pleasure and family. It’s feeling fulfilled.
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