Self-Awareness. Connection. Agency. Leading from Within.

Facilitators

Meet the team that brings the program to life.

Stephanie Rodriguez

Stephanie is a facilitator with a deep commitment to fostering empathy, connection, and personal growth. Currently pursuing an Honours B.A in Psychology and majoring in Gender & Women’s Studies, Stephanie brings a unique perspective to her role, drawing on her academic background and passion for mental health advocacy. A 2021 Loran Scholar, Stephanie's dedication to Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging has been at the forefront of her work, shaping her approach to creating safe and inclusive environments. Stephanie is a certified facilitator with Talk Listen Connect, where she designs and leads support group sessions for individuals from all walks of life.

Chynna

Chynna is a former competitive athlete, a youth soccer coach, and a wellness coach with a Master’s degree in Kinesiology and Physical Education from Wilfrid Laurier University. Her graduate research explored female soccer players’ psychological experiences throughout ACL rehabilitation, with a particular focus on how social media can shape athletes’ recovery. Currently pursuing her Certified Mental Performance Consultant (CMPC) certification, Chynna is passionate about supporting young people to develop confidence, resilience, self-awareness, and a strong sense of identity while giving them practical skills they can carry into all areas of their lives.

Sarah Hines

Sarah is the founder of The Lodge Project, where she and a national team of facilitators work with healthcare organizations on creating emotional wellness programs for healthcare professionals. She came to this work by spending numerous years in Home Hospice Support for Children and supporting grieving parents, she also experienced the gaps in care for healthcare employees. This work has led to a deep understanding of the caregiver’s heart and the importance of ensuring they have resources and tools available to improve the lives around them. Sarah prides herself on her ability to meet people where they are, her ability to connect in difficult situations and to help groups find a meaningful connection to self and to others.

Abu Hafejee

Abu is a seasoned GTHL hockey official, on the Board of Directors of Markham and Lawrence Community United, where he coordinates impactful initiatives for seniors, new mothers, and youth leadership, and VP of the Scarborough Muslim Ball Hockey Association, an organization founded by his father in 2004. Having introduced 100s of players to the Scarborough Ice Raiders, he is widely known for his ability to connect diverse groups and cultivate a sense of inclusion and belonging, demonstrating the power of sport to foster mutual understanding through community approaches. Abu is a licensed carpenter and a professor at George Brown College.

Sara Munroe

Sara is a certified teacher in Ontario and has worked in post-secondary education for over 20 years in a variety of roles including teaching, curriculum design, faculty mentorship, and administration. She is also the founder of The EQ Element, a specialized education consultancy focusing on equipping students with the self-awareness skills they need to thrive in all aspects of life. Sara is highly adept at making connections between curriculum and personal opportunities for growth while leveraging innovative technology to maximize educational outcomes. Her greatest satisfaction comes from helping young people recognize and harness their unique skills and abilities. In her spare time she loves to create through collaboration and writing projects.

Jeff Perera

Jeff is the founder of higherunlearning.com, a comprehensive multi-media online space exploring conversations and ideas around healthy masculinity and how limiting ideas of gender impact us all in everyday life. Drawing on over ten years of advocacy, his presentations and workshops inspire accessible and transformative conversations. Jeff is a gifted storyteller and has spoken to tens of thousands of people across North America including delivering two TEDx talks on subjects related to the construction of gender, helpful versus harmful ideas of manhood, race and masculinity, empathy-building, and men helping end gender-based violence. Jeff prides himself in creating brave spaces for real discussion and brings a warm and engaging approach to self-exploration and discovery in young people.

Kristina Beauchesne

Kristina has a B.A. in Psychology from Trent University and a B.Ed. from the University of Ottawa with two decades of experience in the public school system as a teacher, school administrator and facilitator. She is committed to creating engaged, productive, and psychologically safe learning environments and work cultures. Kristina is the founder of Common Ground Consulting operating in the corporate and education space with a focus on creating cultures of connection and caring using the foundational pillars of trust, empathy and play. As a leader in her field, Kristina leverages her natural warmth, compassion, and vulnerability to connect with and motivate student and adult audiences alike. She believes wholeheartedly in the power of collaboration to address critical challenges and create positive transformation from students and educators themselves.

Nicole Emanuel

B.A. Honours

Nicole is a facilitator, writer, advocate, and consultant dedicated to advancing equity and representation in education. She holds an Honours B.A. in Communications and Political Science from York University and brings experience in corporate leadership, education advocacy, and anti-racism. Her writing has appeared in *Chatelaine* and *This Magazine*, and she founded ParentingWhileBlack.com to amplify the experiences of those raising Black children. Nicole also co-founded Braveinschools.org, a non-profit providing leadership programs in schools with limited Black representation. Through student workshops and educator support, she helps young people build confidence, access mentorship, and see themselves as leaders while fostering more inclusive school environments.

Nina Menrai-Gowd

B.Sc., MBA

Nina is a facilitator, coach and meditation teacher whose practice focuses on emotional fitness, stress management and personal development. Nina has been practicing and studying meditation for 45 years with accreditation from the internationally recognized Centre for Mindfulness Studies in Toronto. As a co-founder of Heartache 2 Hope, Nina is a passionate advocate for education on suicide having designed and delivered mindful-based stress reduction and coping strategies programming for those dealing with suicide loss. She also leads Jon Kabat-Zinn's Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction program. But most of all, she is a dedicated mother and community member invested in making a difference in people’s lives.

Ready to Ignite the Captain and Poet Within?

Whether you’re looking to strengthen connection, build capacity, develop confident leaders or create a more positive culture, we’ll work with you to create an experience that meets your students, team, or community discover and activate the Leader Within.

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