Inspirational Men & Woman

Sheela Murthy is a successful immigration lawyer and founder of the Murthy Law firm  . Sheela’s story  showcases the ability of philanthropists in the U.S. to live, give and do business in both worlds, India and the U.S. Sheela moved from India in the 80s and graduated from Harvard Law School. She started her own law firm in 1994 in Maryland with a liaison office in Chennai. The Murthy Law Firm was honored in 2008 with the Maryland International Global Award for contributing to international issues. Ernst & Young also honored Sheela as  Entrepreneur of the Year in 2009.  She is listed among the top 100 women in Maryland.

In addition to business success, Sheela was named 2009 Philanthropist of the Year by United Way Central Maryland for her $1 million gift. Sheela and her husband started the  MurthyNayak Foundation  to support projects in India and the U.S. The Foundation focuses their work on children and women’s health and educational issues, programs that assist immigrants, and disaster relief efforts. In India, the Foundation supports adult education and literacy, orphanages and old-age homes, and offers scholarships.

Many people inspires me throughout my life - what about you?  many people touched my life - what about you?  I don’t know if it is an Asian thing but i love showing my appreciation with flowers - but what if you are showing your appreciation to a group of people  ?  like the people I work with from another country?  I used to love sending cookies but chocolate gift ideas seems to work a lot better and less complicated hahah!  no worries about not being fresh - chocolate last a long time.  But my ultimate favorite for the special people in my life - are flowers.  Everyone love flowers even the guys - i know so - because i sent my spouse some when i was in Asia traveling and he was in Canada then for work.   So yes - I always send flowers and chocolates what about you? for the special people in your life.

I was reading on  www.sensareviews.net about my health but instead was distracted when i saw a newspaper article on Margaret Mitchell this morning.  You see I am inspired by Margaret Mitchell - and hoped that all MPs in Canada or anywheres in the world would be more courageous like Margaret.  Margaret Mitchell is a MP for NDP in Canada and in 1982 - when she raised the issue of violence against women she was laughed at in the House of Commons but that did not stopped Margaret Mitchell there.  The outcry from women brought national attention to the issue - and Margaret Mitchell made sure - she was heard.  And heard she was because till today - there are people still going up to her and talking about that incident.

A social worker by professional -and how can i not be inspired by her when she was the only MP who was against the pay raise for MPs and then donated hers to charity and thus went to the Margaret Mitchell Fund for Women.   When I think of Margaret - what I do for my community is not even 10% of what she did. She is not only the voice for immigration, housing, status of the women here, health and welfare and multiculturalism and citizenship.  Yes - she inspires me - and i hope she will more people in the parliament and do the right thing for the people in Canada - we need more people who would do things for the greater good and not for their own good.

Born in 1978 - she begin playing the piano at 3 and violin at 5.  Took the world by storm with her techno classical voilin playing in her mid teens.   She released her first fusion album and I was really taken by her music and her album The Volin Player.  At the age of 25, she was already a superstar in her own rights.

Born in Singapore.. maybe that’s the first reason why i liked her so much.. because I’m from Singapore too.  And of a thai father and a Chinese mother.  After her parents separated and married an Englishman, they moved to England.  Vanessa Mae grew up in London and is a British citizen - is one of the most talented musician I’ve come across - if you haven’t listen to her play now is the time.

We all loved pilots - whether they are female or male - but i think we don’t come across many female pilot but born in 1971 - from Quebec - Maryse Carmichael is not only a pilot but a Captain. She is not a commercial pilot but one with the Canadian Air Force.  Maryse is not an ordinary pilot, she is what we called  a VIP pilot - those that flies the Prime Minister or the Governor General of Canada.  If you want a model for a top rated diet pill , Maryse Carmichael is definitely the candidate - till today - she is still as fit.

In November 2000, she became the first female pilot to fly with the Canadian Forces’ national aerobatic team, the Snowbirds.  In 2001, she was promoted to the rank of Major.  She is married to Major Scott Greenough who is also a pilot with the Canadian Forces.  By 2006, posted to 3 Wing Bagotville, she was name one of the top 100 Most Powerful Women in Canada in the category of Trailblazer by the Women’s Executive Network.  I’m in awe when I hear about the Snowbirds - they were here for two consecutive years.

Newly minted Hollywood star Edmund Chen hails from home - Singapore - has a local wife - also a popular artiste back home and 2 children.  Older than I - Edmund Chen is definitely a model for diets that work .  I’ve watched Edmund’s first tv sitcom from home some 20 yrs ago - and am very proud that he is one of the few from home that made it to Hollywood.  Starred in a filmed from Warner Brothers Turn Left, Turn Left and more recently since i’ve seen a preview of Street Fighter : The Legend of Chun-Li also by Fox -  I think what I’m most inspired by Edmund is that he is not only steadfast in his job but in his relationship with his wife - Xiang Yun and children.

Look at how old his son is already- in the last few years - in the Asian Entertainment arena - we’ve seen so many marriages broken but both artistes - although rumored to have their own set of problems some 15 years ago - managed to work everything out and even have a 2nd child.  The spouse had said that this picture of a healthy family is what he hope to achieve to.   A beautiful family if you asked me - healthy looking and definitely fit.

Harmony Rice is close to home exactly like the  smoke shop for the outlaws- because i read the Spirit Magazine all the time - born in 1979 - she is the publisher and writer for Spirit Magazine.  She is a Pottawatomi/Cayuga writer, performer and a multimedia artist from Wasauksing First Nation in Ontario.  Raised as a jingle dress dancer, hand drum singer and ceremony girl in Wasauksing.

Harmony Rice was published in a motherhood anthology called Between Interruptions and is the host of a television show called When the Music Speaks on Sun TV.  She also received the 2008 Youth Entrepreneur Award from the Waubetek Buisness Development Corporation.  She is developing a SPIRIT Magazine television show and is producing the 4th annual SPIRIT Music Issue CD compilation.

Rice is on the Board of Directors for the Harmony Movement, a national non profit race relations organization and she is on the Youth Engagement Program Advisory for the Laidlaw Foundation.  She is also the co-treasurer for the Association for Native Development in the Performing and Visual Arts. A woman with many hats and full of achievement.

Nora Bernard is not into  treatment for blackheads but she is definitely into doing good for the people - her people.   Born in Millbrook, Nova Scotia - Nora was a Canadian Mi’kmaq activist.  She successful filed a landmark lawsuit against the federal government on behalf of the Aboriginal residential school survivors.

In 1945, Nora’s mother was forced to sign the consent forms to send her children to a residential school run by the Roman Catholic Church in Shubenacadie, NS.  Nora spent 5 yrs in the school where she saw physical and sexual abuse, child labour, the withholding of food, clothings and proper education, and the loss of language and culture.

She was directly responsible for the largest class action lawsuit in Canadian history, representing an estimated 79, 000 survivors.  The Canadian government settled the lawsuit in 2005 for upwards of 5 billion dollars.  At 72 years if age in Truro, NS she was beaten and stabbed to death on December 27th 2007.  Her 24 yrs old grandson was sentence to 15 yrs for his crime.  How sad is that..??

Barbara ATkin is a fashion director and also an Innovator - born in Toronto, Ontario and has been traveling around the globe for Holt and Renfrew since 1987.  While reading about hair loss treatment for men i came across her picture and the girlfriend said -she is Barbara Atkin - surely you know who she is.  Apparently, she was a Fashion Director for 17 yrs and has out stayed five presidents.  She is respected by the industry’s best minds for her talent, and her contribution to the fashion industry.

Barbara Atkin is also the creator of the Vintage Couture concept and the award winning Holt Renfrew World Design Lab, an incubator for emerging designers and a lab for experimental ideas and new merchandising techniques.  As VP of Fashion Direction for Holt and Renfrew, Barbara Atkin was named by Elle Canada as one of Canada’s Top Power Women.  She also devotes her time as the director of Tourism Toronto and is a member of the advisory committee for the Fashion Design Counsel of Canada.

Belinda Stronach was not only a Politician but a Businesswoman too - born in Newmarket, Ontario - she is only a year younger than I but definitely a lot better looking than myself - she must know where to get the best wrinkle cream.  She is a member of the board of directors of Magna from 1988 to 2004 before being appointed president and CEO in 2001. During this time, she added 3000 jobs and profits each year.

In 2001, the National Post named Belinda Stronach the most powerful businesswoman in Canada, and the World Economic Forum named her a Global Leader of Tomorrow.  Fortune Magazine ranked her #2 in its list of the world’s most powerful women in business in 2002.  She was also named one of Canada’s Top 40 Under 40.  In 2004, Time Magazine ranked her as one of the world’s 100 most influential people.

Highly profiled in the media during her political years, she was the Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development and the Minister responsible for democratic renewal. In 2007, she decided not to return to politics because she wanted to help end poverty in Africa.  She was diagnosed with breast cancer and is now a breast cancer survivor.