Alumni Spotlight
Celebrating the people and stories that make our alumni community thrive
The WMI & Order Alumni Spotlight series highlights leaders from across our alumni community. Each feature shares a member’s story, experiences, and advice - offering practical takeaways, inspiration, and a deeper sense of connection.
We’re starting with leadership and board members to set the tone for the series, and then we’ll expand to alumni from every cohort, industry, and region. Together, these spotlights will build a catalogue of insights and stories that reflect the strength and diversity of our alumni network.
What’s something you’re working on right now that excites you?
Right now, I am in the middle of an exciting and personally meaningful pivots in my entrepreneurial journey. I recently made the decision to transition my business, TheOneConnection, a personalized matchmaking service to The One Connection Travel, a boutique travel advisory specializing in solo travel, luxury escapes, world-class cruising, or whatever the most adventurous dream trip looks like for you.
It wasn't an easy decision to change direction, but sometimes the path forward reveals itself in the most unexpected ways. Through my work with matchmaking clients, I kept hearing the same thing, a deep love of travel, a curiosity about solo adventures, and a longing for experiences that felt truly memorable. That insight was impossible to ignore, because travel and tourism has always been my passion so honestly it felt so right.
I followed it and got my travel agent certifications and here I am!
As a Travel Advisor, I now get to channel the same care, discretion, and deeply personal attention I brought to matchmaking into crafting journeys that my clients will cherish forever. Whether that means curating a luxury solo escape, planning an unforgettable cruise, or helping someone experience an adventure of a lifetime.
I know with every part of me that this is where I am supposed to be. The One Connection Travel is built on one simple promise: Crafting Unforgettable Journeys & Cherished Memories. I am excited about the road ahead.
What’s been one of the biggest lessons from your professional journey?
That working for yourself is simultaneously the most challenging and most rewarding adventure I have ever taken.
You wear every hat, carry every worry, and celebrate every win. There are moments of doubt that can shake you to your core, and there are seasons where you question everything you thought you knew about yourself and your abilities
But Entrepreneurship also leaves behind something far more valuable: clarity, resilience, and an unshakeable belief in your own instincts. Every setback I have experienced has taught me something I could not have learned any other way. Every pivot, including the one I am in the middle of right now, has brought me closer to the work I was always meant to be doing.
Trust the journey. Trust yourself. And never be afraid to change direction when life is clearly pointing you somewhere new - because sometimes the detour is actually the destination.
What does being part of WMI Alumni mean to you?
Both the WMI and The Order to me is the networking with people, information and support I can trust. Like minded people who get me and give me their time to really talk through the good, the bad and everything in between.
Any advice you’d give to fellow members navigating growth or change?
Yes - and it comes straight from the heart.
First, be patient. Growth rarely happens on the timeline we plan for and change almost never looks the way we imagined it would. There will be moments where progress feels invisible, where you are putting in everything you have and wondering if it is working. It is. Trust the process, even when you cannot yet see the results.
Second, be strong - but know that strength doesn't always mean pushing harder. Sometimes the strongest thing you can do is pause, reassess, and give yourself permission to take a different path. Flexibility is not a weakness. It is one of the most powerful tools in any entrepreneur's toolkit. The ability to adapt, pivot and reimagine your direction is what separates those who endure from those who thrive.
And perhaps most importantly, take care of yourself. This one is non-negotiable. No business win, no revenue milestone, no professional achievement will ever mean more than your health and your family. Those are your foundation. Everything else is built on top of them. If that foundation cracks, nothing else stands.
In the busyness of building something, it is so easy to put yourself last. Please don't. Schedule the rest. Take the trip. Show up for the people who matter most. Your business will be better for it - and so will you.
Just for fun: What’s one thing people might be surprised to learn about you?
I am the 6th in a family of 6 daughters and after my father passed when I was 11, my mother immigrated from Bahrain to Canada so her daughters could have the opportunity to be anything they choose without limits, in a free and liberal country.
I’d love to connect with other members about…
Booking your future travel with me J whether business or leisure, I will take care of every detail for a stress-free trip!!
Past Spotlights
Explore the journeys of fellow alumni. Click any profile to read their full story.
We’re in a constant state of change right now. Markets look at leaders to “move fast,” “pivot quickly,” “decide now.” My fellow Eagles, I love a quick turn around. But the truth is, there’s wisdom in the pause too.
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Always strive to be the best version of yourself. Ask for help. When in doubt go back to your company values for guidance on difficult decisions.
I believe WMI can and should be at the centre of business leadership and entrepreneurial development in Atlantic Canada.ominate yourself or another alumnist here.