Claim OwnershipPower of Why with Naomi Haile
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The Power of Why podcast is here to help you strategically advance your mission in the world. Hosted by talent and business strategist Naomi Haile, each episode delves into the minds of leaders who are building purposeful organizations, creating employment opportunities, and using their gifts for good. Featuring a diverse lineup of guests, from the Chief Human Resources Officer at Netflix to actors and artists, tech founders and business owners, and champions of local movements, the Power of Why is here to help you live according to your purpose.
121 Episodes
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In this clip of The Power of Why, Nickie Shobeiry and I dive into her journey of building a communications business from the ground up. Starting out, Nickie hustled hard—taking on free gigs and creating websites for local cafés and galleries, just to get her work in front of people. She talks about the ups and downs, like moving to London with big dreams only to realize it wasn’t the right place at the time. After finding her way to Canada, she hit the ground running, networking in Ottawa and writing for Apartment 613 to build her reputation. Nickie shares how staying connected with her community and showing up consistently has fueled her growth—and how that grit and perseverance still pay off today.
Connect with Nickie
LinkedIn: Nickie Shobeiry
Website: Nickie Shobeiry
Instagram: Nickie Shobeiry
Substack: Nickie Shobeiry
Connect with Naomi
Website: www.naomihaile.com
LinkedIn: Naomi Haile
Instagram: @naomiahaile
Twitter: @naomiathaile
YouTube: Naomi Haile
In this clip of The Power of Why, Nickie Shobeiry dives into her process of pitching and producing a project for CBC’s Creator Network. After returning from Turkey with fresh ideas, Nickie explains her approach to crafting a compelling pitch: building relationships with producers, understanding their needs, and tailoring her ideas to match. She breaks down her six-month process, including creating a pitch deck with key elements like a logline, visual style, and marketing plan, as well as why having a director’s statement can make or break a project. For aspiring creators, Nickie offers a blueprint for pitching projects and building lasting connections.
Connect with Nickie
LinkedIn: Nickie Shobeiry
Website: Nickie Shobeiry
Instagram: Nickie Shobeiry
Substack: Nickie Shobeiry
Connect with Naomi
Website: www.naomihaile.com
LinkedIn: Naomi Haile
Instagram: @naomiahaile
Twitter: @naomiathaile
YouTube: Naomi Haile
In this clip of The Power of Why, Nickie Shobeiry shares with me her two biggest investments in growing her creative and writing skills. For her communications business, Nickie emphasizes the value of hiring support so she can step back from daily tasks and make space for creative work. She also credits journalism with teaching her to push past ‘white page syndrome’ by tackling tight deadlines—even on boring topics. Nickie explains that consistent practice and overcoming the blank page have been essential to honing her craft and staying focused on storytelling.
Connect with Nickie
LinkedIn: Nickie Shobeiry
Website: Nickie Shobeiry
Instagram: Nickie Shobeiry
Substack: Nickie Shobeiry
Connect with Naomi
Website: www.naomihaile.com
LinkedIn: Naomi Haile
Instagram: @naomiahaile
Twitter: @naomiathaile
YouTube: Naomi Haile
In this clip of The Power of Why, Nickie Shobeiry and I discuss the power of creating ‘door stopper’ moments—projects that open doors and create opportunities. Nickie shares how producing a short film allowed her to connect with agents, public figures, and the Iranian community in a whole new way, leading to speaking gigs on Farsi-language radio, roles at major Iranian festivals, and more. She describes this film as a way of saying, ‘I’m here; this is my voice. Let’s work together.’ It’s a powerful reminder to rally around your community, create your own opportunities, and leverage your work to build lasting connections.
Connect with Nickie
LinkedIn: Nickie Shobeiry
Website: Nickie Shobeiry
Instagram: Nickie Shobeiry
Substack: Nickie Shobeiry
Connect with Naomi
Website: www.naomihaile.com
LinkedIn: Naomi Haile
Instagram: @naomiahaile
Twitter: @naomiathaile
YouTube: Naomi Haile
“A door stopper is like shoving your leg in the door before it can close on you. It's creating an asset and opportunity to capture people's attention and open a door or two.”
In this episode, Nickie Shobeiry and I dive into the art of creating opportunities by boldly putting yourself out there. Imagine using a short film not just as a creative piece but as a powerful door stopper—a way to crack open opportunities before they slip away. Nickie shares how these projects have become calling cards that capture attention and forge connections with industry insiders and media moguls. It’s an unapologetic approach to saying, “This is me. This is my message. Let’s make something great together.”
Nickie Shobeiry uses storytelling excellence for good. A second-generation Iranian raised in the United Kingdom and now living in Canada, she shares stories of the joy and resilience of her culture through film, audio, and journalism.
This year, Nickie produced Good Nose, her first short film about cosmetic surgery trends in Iran, with the Canadian broadcaster CBC.
We explore her story from a quiet, artsy child in a rural town to a successful creative entrepreneur. We discuss the importance of storytelling, the evolution of Nickie's career in journalism, and the challenges and triumphs of building a communications business. Nickie shares insights and the detailed process behind bringing her documentary 'Good Nose' to life with a team. Nickie shares how she leverages projects as opportunities for growth.
This episode is for you if:
You want to learn how to leverage storytelling to build a meaningful career in filmmaking, journalism, or communications.
You’re interested in strategies for building a strong personal and professional network, especially as a newcomer to a country.
You’re exploring how to transition from freelancing to running a successful business.
You want insights on using creative projects, like short films, to open doors and build lasting connections in the industry.
Connect with Nickie
LinkedIn: Nickie Shobeiry
Website: Nickie Shobeiry
Instagram: Nickie Shobeiry
Substack: Nickie Shobeiry
Connect with Naomi
Website: www.naomihaile.com
LinkedIn: Naomi Haile
Instagram: @naomiahaile
Twitter: @naomiathaile
YouTube: Naomi Haile
Todd Corley's childhood joy revolved around his family and community. Growing up in a close-knit family in Queen’s New York, surrounded by love and the values of giving back, Todd learned early that the strength of the community was far greater than individual success.
These values have shaped his career and life's work. From being the first Chief Diversity Officer at Abercrombie & Fitch to his current role as Senior Vice President of Inclusion, Sustainability, and Community at Carhartt, Todd's leadership has always been about more than checking boxes — it's about creating spaces where people feel seen, heard, and empowered to succeed.
Whether he was working in retail at Abercrombie, with Black farmers through his work with the USDA, or in hospitality at a multinational hotel brand building brands "betting right" for Todd meant understanding that the work was bigger than him—it was about the societal connectedness that he wanted to be part of.
In many spaces that Todd was in, he was comfortable being alone and in uncharted territory. "Maybe that came from the community feeling in my family — I always knew someone had my back."
Todd's vision? A world where leadership is not about authority but about courage — the courage to create meaningful change through people.
This episode is for you if:
You’re a leader who wants to make a meaningful impact
You want to learn how to get comfortable being somewhere that hasn’t yet been discovered.
You want to learn the keys to building meaningful relationships
Connect with Todd
LinkedIn: Todd Corley
Buy Todd’s Book: Fitch Path: A Cautionary Tale About A Moose, Millennials, Leadership & Transparency
Connect with Naomi
Website: naomihaile.com
LinkedIn: Naomi Haile
Instagram: @naomiahaile
Twitter: @naomiathaile
In this clip of The Power of Why, Thomas Cumberbatch (guest) and Naomi Haile (POW host) discuss how asking questions and UNDERSTANDING led to unearthing Thomas' real business. When someone hired him to create, shoot a campaign, or shoot a brand film, he always said, "I needed ingredients to develop a concept!!" So, he would ask his clients questions. And he would often hear: "Those questions were better than the questions our agency asked us," "Thomas, do you know that the questions you just asked solved some of our corporate issues right there in that meeting?", "Did you know, Thomas, those questions you asked unearthed stories from my business partner that I've known for 20 years that I never knew?"
Connect with Thomas
LinkedIn: Thomas Cumberbatch
Godzspeed Communications Website: godzspeed.com/
Instagram: @godzspeedcommunications
Studio 20/20 Website: Studio 20/20
Instagram: @stu.dio2020
Connect with Naomi
Website: naomihaile.com
LinkedIn: Naomi Haile
Instagram: @naomiahaile
Twitter: @naomiathaile
In this clip of The Power of Why, Thomas Cumberbatch (guest) and Naomi Haile (POW host) discuss how creating real bonds with people starts with how we connect to ourselves. When we can get to the soul of who we are, this translates to how we show up in any conversation, interaction, or situation, enabling us to build real bonds.
Connect with Thomas
LinkedIn: Thomas Cumberbatch
Godzspeed Communications Website: godzspeed.com/
Instagram: @godzspeedcommunications
Studio 20/20 Website: Studio 20/20
Instagram: @stu.dio2020
Connect with Naomi
Website: naomihaile.com
LinkedIn: Naomi Haile
Instagram: @naomiahaile
Twitter: @naomiathaile
“What I believe should define every human being is their SOUL."
We’re looking at a beautiful set: a light curtain backdrop with a microphone peering through– the one you may have noticed on the esteemed NPR Tiny desk music sessions– two comfy cream chairs, a white plush carpet, and three cameras ready for their mark.
Meet Thomas Cumberbatch. The brilliant CEO of GodzSpeed Communications and the chairperson and founder of Studio 20/20. In 10+ years of business, his team is laser-focused on uncovering a brand’s soul through its Soul Guide Process.
This episode is for you if:
You want to unearth and illuminate your soul.
You’re a creative professional who wants to use meaningful questions to drive results.
You desire personal growth and authenticity but struggle to connect deeply with others.
You’re going from a solo founder to building a team to achieve your big dreams.
Are you curious about how the soul impacts creation? Or how do you get to know your clients deeply so that design and strategy implementation are inevitable outcomes?
🎬 The interview was shot and produced by Tani Olorunyomi and Jodianne Beckford from Godzspeed Communications.
📍 The beautiful space that we are in is Studio 20/20
Connect with Thomas
LinkedIn: Thomas Cumberbatch
Godzspeed Communications Website: godzspeed.com/
Instagram: @godzspeedcommunications
Studio 20/20 Website: Studio 20/20
Instagram: @stu.dio2020
Connect with Naomi
Website: naomihaile.com
LinkedIn: Naomi Haile
Instagram: @naomiahaile
Twitter: @naomiathaile
In this clip of The Power of Why, Anne-Marie Mulumba (guest) and POW host Naomi Haile discuss possibilities that exist for our work, monetize our skills, and maximize our time using AI in our work. Anne-Marie acknowledges that it may be scary thinking about the gravity of technology and the changes coming, but emphasizes how critical seeking information and knowledge are for preparing yourself for the future.
Connect with Anne-Marie
LinkedIn: Anne-Marie Mulumba
Website: Wabala Studios
Instagram: Wabala Studio
Twitter: Anne-Marie Mulumba
Connect with Naomi
Website: naomihaile.com
Instagram: @naomiahaile
Twitter: @naomiathaile
LinkedIn: Naomi Haile
1In this clip of The Power of Why, Anne-Marie Mulumba (guest) and POW host Naomi Haile discuss how what it can look like to build a business that aligns with your lifestyle, values, and priorities? Anne-Marie talks about what retirement means to her and how she plans to work backwards to get there.
Connect with Anne-Marie
LinkedIn: Anne-Marie Mulumba
Website: Wabala Studios
Instagram: Wabala Studio
Twitter: Anne-Marie Mulumba
Connect with Naomi
Website: naomihaile.com
Instagram: @naomiahaile
Twitter: @naomiathaile
LinkedIn: Naomi Haile
In this clip of The Power of Why, Anne-Marie Mulumba (guest) and POW host Naomi Haile discuss how Anne-Marie created a business that leveraged her unique-ness as someone who is East African, has a design background, has worked in research and service design, and is really interested in culture. Anne-Marie asked how she can create a business that benefits others using the different perspectives that live within her.
Anne-Marie also shares why she develops frameworks and finds ways to share information in a digestible way that help people think better.
Connect with Anne-Marie
LinkedIn: Anne-Marie Mulumba
Website: Wabala Studios
Instagram: Wabala Studio
Twitter: Anne-Marie Mulumba
Connect with Naomi
Website: naomihaile.com
Instagram: @naomiahaile
Twitter: @naomiathaile
LinkedIn: Naomi Haile
Anne-Marie Mulumba created a business that leveraged her uniqueness as an East African with a design background, experience in research and service design, and passion for cultures.
She is consistently asking:
How can we design technology that brings value to people’s lives and makes them better?
Will this thing we’re building save people time or money so they can focus on more important matters?
Does it help people think differently and upgrade their thinking patterns, habits, and discipline?
Today, Anne-Marie is a creative entrepreneur, the founder, and CEO of Wabala Studio. This product-led service company aids technology startups in enhancing their customer service through design. Their approach? By boosting user engagement and achieving product market fit.
She is focused on equipping the next generation of changemakers with the tools they need to empower themselves. She leads workshops on interactive design thinking across Canadian universities and innovation hubs and serves as a board director at Computers for Success Canada.
Listen to this conversation to hear Anne-Marie’s projections about the future of work, the gig economy, and how you can future-proof your skills.
This episode is for you if:
You’re curious about how the gig economy and the future of work will evolve with AI.
You want to hear new ways to productize your services.
You want to think beyond constraints and test new ideas in your business.
Connect with Anne-Marie
LinkedIn: Anne-Marie Mulumba
Website: Wabala Studios
Instagram: Wabala Studio
Twitter: Anne-Marie Mulumba
Connect with Naomi
Website: naomihaile.com
Instagram: @naomiahaile
Twitter: @naomiathaile
LinkedIn: Naomi Haile
In this clip of Power of Why, Stephanie Harrison (guest) and POW host Naomi Haile, discuss the epidemic of depression, anxiety and loneliness. Research conducted by OnePoll on behalf of BetterHelp show that 1 in 4 Americans say they don't have somebody to confide in. Stephanie talks about the impacts of individualism being a core part of Western culture and the opportunity lies in asking: Can I use who I am to contribute to the world?
Remember to subscribe to The Power of Why for more in-depth conversations uncovering how hundreds of leaders worldwide live abundant lives, build businesses that create economic opportunities, and serve the world using their God-given gifts.
Connect with Stephanie
Pre-order Book: The New Happy
Website: The New Happy
Instagram: The New Happy
LinkedIn: Stephanie Harrison
Connect with Naomi
Website: naomihaile.com
Instagram: @naomiahaile
Twitter: @naomiathaile
LinkedIn: Naomi Haile
In this clip of Power of Why, Stephanie Harrison (guest) and POW host Naomi Haile discuss the journey of The New Happy. Initially, it was a newsletter with just 17 subscribers, which grew into a thriving community of over 1 million humans worldwide. Stephanie talks about the importance of consistently showing up, even when it’s messy and imperfect.
Remember to subscribe to The Power of Why for more in-depth conversations uncovering how hundreds of leaders worldwide live abundant lives, build businesses that create economic opportunities, and serve the world using their God-given gifts.
Connect with Stephanie
Pre-order Book: The New Happy
Website: The New Happy
Instagram: The New Happy
LinkedIn: Stephanie Harrison
Connect with Naomi
Website: naomihaile.com
Instagram: @naomiahaile
Twitter: @naomiathaile
LinkedIn: Naomi Haile
In this clip of The Power of Why, Stephanie Harrison (guest) and POW host Naomi Haile discuss how we can tap back into our creativity. Stephanie squashes the myth that you must walk this journey alone and can't ask for help. Stephanie talks about how she embraced the messiness of the process as an antidote to brittle perfectionism.
Remember to subscribe to The Power of Why for more in-depth conversations uncovering how hundreds of leaders worldwide live abundant lives, build businesses that create economic opportunities, and serve the world using their God-given gifts.
Connect with Stephanie
Pre-order Book: The New Happy
Website: The New Happy
Instagram: The New Happy
LinkedIn: Stephanie Harrison
Connect with Naomi
Website: naomihaile.com
Instagram: @naomiahaile
Twitter: @naomiathaile
LinkedIn: Naomi Haile
"We've been told that achieving our own success will make us happy. But happiness comes from helping other people to live happier lives."
Stephanie's childhood joy revolved around self-expression —corralling her siblings and neighbors to put on musicals, performing with a voice-altering karaoke machine, reading, and making things.
It's what shaped a lot of her early years.
For many years, she "lost" that self-expression and only started to re-discover it again in her late 20s.
What she learned is that acceptance of the creative process is a rejection of everything that she had been conditioned to believe:
"You have to be perfect."
"You can never make mistakes."
"You have to follow this set path."
"You have to know exactly where you're going."
These are lies.
Creativity has none of that. You must let go of those ideas to do things according to your creativity.
Today, Stephanie Harrison is an expert in the science of happiness and the creator of The New Happy philosophy and company. Founded in 2018, The New Happy has revolutionized how people understand and pursue happiness.
The New Happy reaches millions of people worldwide every month through resources and tools. On May 14, 2024, she will be coming out with a new resource – A book called "The New Happy: Getting Happiness Right In A World That's Got It Wrong." It's described as "the definitive guide to happiness."
Connect with Stephanie
Pre-order Book: The New Happy
Website: The New Happy
Instagram: The New Happy
LinkedIn: Stephanie Harrison
Connect with Naomi
Website: naomihaile.com
Instagram: @naomiahaile
Twitter: @naomiathaile
LinkedIn: Naomi Haile
I'm curious: do your passions and hobbies — seemingly unconnected to your career — give you an unexpected professional edge?
Growing up, Mona loved nothing more than donning her dad's old headphones and immersing herself in his record collection for hours. She had a deep affection for the arts, theatre, and the craft of writing.
Nevertheless, she decided to pursue a career as a Certified Public Accountant (CPA).
Fortunately, for the business world, she infuses her creative gifts in every room she enters, whether it be…
Negotiating multi-million dollar merger and acquisition deals.
Serving as CFO and COO for Knix Wear — an incredible Canadian success story.
And today, as a Partner with the Thrive Venture Fund at BDC, she plays a vital role in the $300M Fund, which invests in women-led technology companies tackling some of the world's most pressing issues.
Learn how your creative edge and unique skills can help you approach problems differently and offer new perspectives.
This episode is for you if:
You’re bringing business ideas to fruition with limited time and capital.
You want to leverage your creative skills to diversify your income streams.
You’re eager to learn fresh and abundance-focused negotiation approaches that result in win-win.
Connect with Mona
LinkedIn – Mona Minhas
Connect with BDC
LinkedIn – BDC Capital (Canada)
Twitter – @bdc_capital
This episode is brought to you in collaboration with Invest Ottawa, Ottawa’s lead economic development agency for knowledge-based industries, and with the critical support of BDC Capital’s Thrive Venture Fund, the title sponsor of International Women’s Month. We teamed up to produce this special series to celebrate women leading in Ottawa for International Women’s Month.
In support of its Women Founders and Owners strategy, Invest Ottawa offers programs and services that enable and accelerate the growth and success of women entrepreneurs from every walk of life. Visit www.investottawa.ca/women to learn more!
When you plant a seed, you wait to reap the benefits.
In some cases, you don't see it for years. But does that mean you shouldn't plant that seed? Jennifer disagrees.
From her teenage years juggling multiple part-time jobs to studying accounting— though not her passion—it provided the exposure and access to creativity she lived for. At 18, she worked at the Biological Sciences Institute, immersing herself in labs with passionate scientists and researchers. Her curiosity drove her to continue learning despite understanding only a tiny fraction of their work.
Today, Jennifer, CEO, and Co-founder Geoff MacKay are building The Aggressive Good, a technology solution that revolutionizes how people stock their pantries. Their goal? Eliminate single-use plastic packaging.
Jennifer is ideating and building for the long term, focused on advancing humanity and caring for our planet.
Here's how she keeps her 'why' at the center.
This episode is for you if:
You want to leverage your diverse portfolio of experiences to drive personal and professional growth.
You love the intersection of technology, business and environmental conservation.
You want to build meaningful partnerships and ventures with like-minded individuals.
Connect with Jennifer
LinkedIn: Jennifer Look-Hong
Website: The Aggressive Good (TAG)
Connect with BDC
LinkedIn – BDC Capital (Canada)
Twitter – @bdc_capital
Connect with Naomi
Website – naomihaile.com
Instagram – @naomiahaile
Twitter – @naomiathaile
LinkedIn – Naomi Haile
This episode is brought to you in collaboration with Invest Ottawa, Ottawa’s lead economic development agency for knowledge-based industries, and with the critical support of BDC Capital’s Thrive Venture Fund, the title sponsor of International Women’s Month.
We teamed up to produce this special series to celebrate women leading in Ottawa for International Women’s Month. In support of its Women Founders and Owners strategy, Invest Ottawa offers programs and services that enable and accelerate the growth and success of women entrepreneurs from every walk of life. Visit www.investottawa.ca/women to learn more!
“Never give up on yourself” – These were the words Angela Ashawasegai repeated to herself for years. They became her mantra, helping her find and build her inner strength.
Angela was removed from her mother at birth and was placed into the child welfare system. Throughout her tumultuous childhood, she had no safe place to call home. From surviving abuse and homelessness, Angela emerged as her hero, crediting her survival to education, spirituality, and art.
Today, Angela leverages her decades of training and expertise to help others empower themselves. She consults with organizations on workplace wellness, puts pen to paper on her forthcoming book, and coaches individuals on overcoming their trauma.
Here is how she identified her inner strength and resilience in adversity. This episode is for you if: You want to reclaim your identity in the face of adversity. You’re looking for practical insights to navigate your own healing journey and empower others in their journey. You want to explore how creativity can be a tool for resilience.
Connect with Angela
LinkedIn – Angela Ashawasegai
Website – coming soon.
Connect with BDC
LinkedIn – BDC Capital (Canada)
Twitter – @bdc_capital
Connect with Naomi
Website: naomihaile.com
Instagram: @naomiahaile
Twitter: @naomiathaile
LinkedIn: Naomi Haile
This episode is brought to you in collaboration with Invest Ottawa, Ottawa’s lead economic development agency for knowledge-based industries, and with the critical support of BDC Capital’s Thrive Venture Fund, the title sponsor of International Women’s Month. We teamed up to produce this special series to celebrate women leading in Ottawa for International Women’s Month.
In support of its Women Founders and Owners strategy, Invest Ottawa offers programs and services that enable and accelerate the growth and success of women entrepreneurs from every walk of life. Visit www.investottawa.ca/women to learn more!
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