I am thankful for... Phenomenal Sue!

This letter is intended for you, I know I could have sent this to you by email, however I feel this is more for myself than it is for you. Someday I know you will get to read this and understand why I wanted others to hear my story and share my joy.

You definitely are wondering what it is that I keep thanking you for? You see, I have a lot to thank you for. Since I never got a chance to say this face to face because the systems in place wouldn’t let me come see you, so I am saying it now!

Where do I start? And how do I say it? I do not know. In any case, I am going to give it a shot and start from the very beginning!

You made me believe there are indeed guardian angel and Yes today am a Big time believer!

When I embarked on a search for what will be the next phase of my life, little did I know my not so confident email (hahah) asking for help to make a branding business will go to someone who at that very same moment was looking to give back to her World. Little did I know you would give back without reserve till date.

You took me under your wings in 2014 without thinking about what you could get back. The only thing you wanted in return was my commitment to the learning and training process. We spoke via phone and video, and inspire the horrible phone , internet connections you never gave up and kept coming back.

Did I mention you enrolled me for the Women of Color in Business Conference in Florida all expenses paid. And despite the systems refusal to issue me a visa on time you kept on fighting till the last minute.

That is how much you believed in me and all women of colour. You so heartily advocate through your keynotes all over the world your commitment to your message of gender inclusion and diversity in the workplace.Your leadership development model that incorporates the needs and issues of women and people of color into the mainstream framework, vs. creating a 'separate' framework for these talent pools is what you strongly believe and stand for.

You taught me to believe in my gender, my race and give myself permission to be myself. Now that I know how exquisite that feeling is, I am basking in it and also teaching others to! For that education, I thank you!

As thankful as I am for giving me these life and professional lessons, am most grateful you let me come through in my uniqueness and express all you thought me in my own way.

Susan HODGKINSON , principal of the personal brand company, thank you for looking pass my race, distance, poor connections, no money, ignorance and seeing the beauty, potential,greatness within me.

Now it’s my turn to shine the light towards others as an expression of my gratitude! I pray tomorrow when you behold all I do, you will smile with satisfaction.

Till the next time you surprise me with another dose of goodness,

Accept all my Love,

Leila