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Zolaykha Sherzad is the founder and creative director at Zarif Design. Zolay has been featured in Vogue Italia and The New York Times, and her work exhibited at the MoMu fashion museum in Antwerp, Belgium. Her company, Zarif Design, is an Afghan fashion brand based in New York, Paris and Kabul whose mission is to economically and socially empower Afghan artisans, revive tradition, and shape the future. Zarif builds bridges locally and internationally and builds peace through connection and creativity.When Zolay was 11, her family fled Afghanistan, eventually moving to Switzerland after they were also forced to leave Iran. Zolay took refuge in her studies, graduating from the School of Architecture at Lausanne, practicing in Switzerland, Japan, and New York City. But her thoughts, her heart, always returned to Afghanistan. Zolay transitioned to fashion, determined to build bridges between the East and West and open people’s eyes up to the beauty of Afghanistan and its people, which has been overshadowed by media stories of an embattled, war-torn country.Chelsea talks with Zolay about her journey to Zarif, how hope lifted her up, and how ‘hardship becomes the very thing that empowers us, and fear the enemy that keeps us behind’.Learn more about Zarif Design or purchase a handmade piece from the Zarif collection at @zarifdesign, Zarifdesign.com.More than a podcast, join our community, @Themilliecommunity, Millie.ca.

After the events of this past year, we collectively understand the importance of resilience, determination and focusing on what matters. Ready to rebuild and rebound, embracing a spirit of hope and optimism for the new year? Then join us as we kick off the very first episode of 2021 with Dubai-based Aya Sadder, founder and CEO of Bolt, an event management company that supports startups. Aya is breaking down barriers for women in tech and creating solutions for future visionaries, all while leading with kindness and eternal curiosity. Aya’s passion and excitement for the future, and her insight into visionary leadership, innovation, and progressive thinking is exactly what we need to propel us forward and motivate us in 2021.In this episode, Chelsea and Aya talk about the key characteristics of visionary leaders, how entrepreneurship can positively impact the world, the importance of female leaders in tech and beyond, how Aya became involved in STEM, the startup community in Dubai, and so much more. Believing in the power of startups and entrepreneurs to change the world for the better, Aya has helped bring companies to life. An active member of the startup community in the UAE and a certified public speaker, Aya has delivered TEDx talks in Rome and Dubai, covering topics like Society 5.0 and the role of startups in the experience economy.Follow along Aya's journey at @ayasadder. Join one of Bolt's upcoming experiential hackathons, workshops or programmes @whybolt, whybolt.com.More than a podcast, join our community! @themilliecommunity, Millie.ca.

Bianca Osbourne is a chef, cooking expert, cooking show presenter on CTV and host of the On My Plate podcast. Born and raised in Edmonton, Bianca is on a quest to help Canadians rise to their healthiest and highest selves. Bianca has appeared on CBC Radio, Breakfast Television, GUSTO Worldwide Media and is a regularly featured expert chef on The Marilyn Denis Show. Bianca also teaches Food Media Studies and Food Business at Centennial College in Toronto.  Just in time for the New Year, Bianca joins host Chelsea Brown on The Millie Podcast, giving listeners a taste of her unconventional, action-based approach to manifestation. Chelsea and Bianca discuss how profound personal transformation can consist of small, incremental moves; Bianca’s personal mission to mentor women; her experience as a Black woman in media; how opening up and being vulnerable is a messy, but crucial, journey and so much more.Follow along Bianca's journey @Bianca.osbourne, biancaosbourne.com.More than a podcast, join our community! @themilliecommunity, Millie.ca. 

Host Chelsea Brown was raised by a mother who instilled within her a passion to see the world, meet new people and be part of something bigger than herself. This episode, we get to meet her. Debi Brown is a dynamic leader who inspires excellence: Empathetic, focused on integrity, and self-described “bossy with a hug”, Debi advocates for a corporate environment with fewer bullies and more heroes.Debi has achieved major success in banking technology and operations, and is the CEO of Clarity Management Group, a company that delivers high stakes project management in the banking sector, with an average project cost of upwards of $1 billion. She is also the author of the New York Times noted book, It’s all in the Delivery: How to Move Mountains without Crushing the Villagers.Throughout her career, Debi has worked with large multinational organizations such as Santander Bank US, TD Bank, and CIBC; managing transitional change, organizational restructuring, mergers and acquisitions and more. Along the way, she’s learned a lot about leadership and navigating the corporate world as a woman. She shares what she's learned with The Millie Podcast listeners.Follow along Debi's journey @thedebibrown, claritymanagementgroup.com.More than a podcast, join our community! @themilliecommunity, Millie.ca.

Lina Khalifeh is the founder of SheFighter, the first self-defense studio for women in the Middle East. SheFighter, which is now in more than 35 countries, helps to empower women physically, mentally, and emotionally through self-defense training.A multiple medalist, Lina represented Jordan in competitions and championships nationally and internationally. After sustaining a career ending injury, she was forced to reexamine the direction of her life. She went to university and met a fellow student who was the survivor of a sexual assault. This clarified her purpose and she started teaching women self-defense techniques in the basement of her family home.She has personally trained hundreds of women, including actress Emma Watson, earned accolades from President Barack Obama 2019, and has received numerous awards, including the ESPN Humanitarian Award, presented by the UFC and ESPN; and in 2018, she was awarded the Economic Empowerment Award by Hillary Clinton. Lina is also the author of the book SheFighter – From Trouble Maker to Global Change Maker.Follow along Lina's journey @linakhalifeh, @shefighter.Register to become a SheFighter at SheFighter.com.More than a podcast, join our community! @themilliecommunity, Millie.ca.

Sitti co-founders Noora Sharrab and Jacqueline Sofia talk to Chelsea about building a ‘partner-preneurship’ to shape social change. Sitti, which means 'my grandmother' in Arabic and operates out of Jordan's Jerash Refugee Camp, brings fair wage employment to refugees through the production of traditional olive oil soap. These two extraordinary women met while living at the camp, an experience that changed the course of both their lives.Noora, whose ancestral family is from Gaza, is also the co-founder /regional director of Hopes for Women in Education and has worked in humanitarian development with the UN. Jackie, who is also an educator and producer of US/Middle East documentary media, works with UNRWA and other partner organizations to build and implement community-based educational opportunities for the women in the camp.Jackie and Noora share openly about the passion behind the ‘why’ of Sitti, hands-on learning, earning the trust of the people of the camp, collaboration over compensation and so much more.The Sitti x Millie Gift Box is raising awareness of the importance of education for women and girls and has a goal of funding three university-level scholarships (4-year degree program) with Sitti beneficiary NGO Hopes for Women in Education. Follow along Noora and Jackie's journey @noora888, @jackiesofia.Learn more about Sitti  @sittisoap.com, @sittisoap.More than a podcast, join our community! @themilliecommunity, Millie.ca.

Just two days before the US election we speak to Elena Christopoulos. Elena stands out for so many reasons. Elena Christopoulos is a scientist and sustainability expert with over 20 years of expertise as an energy and political consultant who “walks the talk of sustainability.” She is a Canadian who advises well-known US politicians, most recently, presidential candidate Joe Biden.She challenges the status quo across a number of male-dominated fields. Elena is also the Principal of ECMC and is on the Buzz advisory board. She implemented the first urban wind turbine in North America and is responsible for the creation of more than 500,000 green jobs. Elena was named Toronto’s Woman of the Year for her work designing and implementing wind turbines and solar arrays in Canada, Greece, Germany, England, and the US. She has managed over 40 successful political campaigns throughout the world and it is her goal to get more women into politics. Elena is a strong advocate for women as a mentor, peer, colleague and friend. She is a Board Member of the YMCA in Santa Monica, Commissioner on the Status of Women with the City of Santa Monica and the Founder and President of the Santa Monica Downtown Neighborhood Association (DNA).In this episode, Elena shares stories from the environmental and political frontlines and talks about being your own superhero, childhood lessons, her unique global perspective as a Greek girl who emigrated to Canada and now lives in the USA and consults worldwide, her personal experience with the #MeToo movement and so much more. She gives women the courage to blaze their own path, take risks and go after extraordinary achievements.Follow along Elena's journey @beingelenala, Elenachristopoulos.com.More than a podcast, join our community! @themilliecommunity, Millie.ca.

Natasha Slater knows how to get people talking: sometimes about her, and her irreverent approach to business and life; other times, in her interviews – some famously conducted from the comfort of bed; and most recently, through The Dinner Conversations, Natasha Slater Studios, and her dispatches from Instagram.Natasha is all about women celebrating women, and she is changing the way we communicate with each other. Refreshingly frank and honest, Natasha uses her platform to share authentically: from her battle with anxiety and bulimia to her career transitions and motherhood. A visionary and entrepreneur, devoted mother, trailblazer and lover of the arts, Natasha walks her talk, most recently by helping women empower themselves through her #GoodbyeExcuses Girls Boxe, Surf and Mentorship retreats, and fundraising for women and families suffering from domestic violence during COVID-19 lockdown.Make a donation to end violence against women at dinnerconversations.co.Follow along Natasha's journey @natashaslater__, natashaslater.com. Learn more about Dinner Conversations + Dinner Conversations Retreats  and purchase Wonder Pearl @thedinnerconversations, dinnerconversations.co.More than a podcast, join our community! @themilliecommunity, Millie.ca.

The Millie Podcast debuts on October 20th. Now, more than ever, there is a thirst for meaning and substance. People want to go beyond scrolling, scripted reality and filters and get to the heart of the story. The Millie Podcast is for women who want to rip up the script and explore new ideas, places, and possibilities. Each episode, Millie Travels creator & Millie podcast host, Chelsea Brown will introduce us to an extraordinary woman who inspires a new way of thinking and invites us to see the world in a different way. Think about it: Isn't it when we open up, get vulnerable and share our stories that we really connect, laugh, cry, and ultimately grow and expand our perspective? Together, let's uplift the conversation – and each other.Join in and learn about Millie on at @themilliecommunity, Millie.ca.Learn more about Millie founder and host of The Millie Podcast Chelsea at @chelseaatmillie.