A Medal and a Message
When I was honored with the King Charles III Coronation Medal, I felt a mix of pride and humility. To receive recognition from a monarch is no small thing—it comes with weight, with meaning. But while the public sees the glitter of the award, what I feel most is the quiet reminder it brings: leadership is not about the spotlight. It’s about service.
In my experience, being honored by world leaders, dignitaries, and community institutions doesn’t elevate you above others. Instead, it places you in a position of greater responsibility. It’s not about ego—it’s about grace. And grace, in leadership, means showing up again and again for people who need you, especially when no one is watching.
Recognition as Reflection
Awards are often seen as the finish line of a long journey, but I’ve learned they’re actually the starting point for something deeper. When your work is recognized publicly, it’s a reflection of what others believe you stand for. It’s also a signal that they’re trusting you to carry on—with integrity, humility, and purpose.
Whether it’s a community leadership award, a national honor, or a commendation from a global organization, I try to see each one as a reflection of the team around me and the causes I champion. I don’t accept awards as personal trophies. I see them as mirrors that ask, “What are you going to do with this?”
Service First, Always
I’ve spent decades working across sectors—from business to philanthropy to youth development. Along the way, I’ve come to believe that true leadership is never about power—it’s about service.
This is especially true when you’re working with young people, marginalized communities, or international partners. You can’t lead well unless you listen well. You can’t create real change if you’re more focused on titles than outcomes. The most inspiring leaders I’ve worked with aren’t the loudest or the most decorated—they’re the most consistent. The ones who show up when it’s hard. The ones who lead with compassion, not commands.
Grace in Leadership
To lead with grace is to lead with empathy. It’s about showing patience in the face of setbacks, kindness in moments of tension, and courage in times of uncertainty. It also means letting go of the need to be “right” all the time. Grace creates space for learning, for healing, and for collaboration.
One of the lessons I’ve learned over time is that grace is not weakness. Its strength is gentle. And in today’s world—where polarization and ego often dominate leadership spaces—grace is revolutionary.
When you’ve been given a platform, you have a choice. You can use it to elevate yourself, or you can use it to build others up. I choose the latter, every time.
What Recognition Should Inspire
When you’re recognized by figures like King Charles III or global institutions like UNICEF, it’s easy to feel a sense of arrival. But for me, these moments don’t make me feel “done.” They remind me that there’s so much more to do.
Recognition should inspire three things:
- Responsibility – to hold ourselves to higher standards and to serve more intentionally.
- Gratitude – to remember those who helped us along the way, and to never forget where we came from.
- Momentum – to use the platform we’ve earned to lift up others and to keep pushing for change.
It’s not enough to be honored. The real question is, how will you honor the work that still needs to be done?
A Life of Purpose, Not Prestige
My work with the Canadian Youth Financial Association (CYFA), global nonprofits, and multicultural business networks has always been grounded in a sense of mission. I don’t show up because I’m looking for recognition. I show up because people matter, because systems need changing, and because young leaders need mentors who believe in them.
Yes, the medals and honors are meaningful—but only if they help open doors for others. Only if they make you more committed to listening, learning, and giving back.
I often remind myself that legacy is not built in ceremonies. It’s built in classrooms, boardrooms, community centers, and quiet moments of service. That’s where the real work lives.
What the Future Demands
We’re living in a time when leadership is being redefined. Young people are watching closely. Communities are speaking up. Global challenges are pressing in.
What this moment demands isn’t more ego. It’s more empathy. It’s not louder voices we need—it’s wiser hearts. Leadership today calls for emotional intelligence, cultural fluency, and a deep, unwavering commitment to others.
As someone who has been honored with awards, I take that as both a gift and a responsibility. Not to rest—but to rise. Not to claim status—but to stay in service.
Walking Forward with Grace
So what does it mean to lead with grace after receiving global recognition? It means walking forward with humility, guided by the same principles that brought you there: care, courage, and conviction.
If there’s one thing I’ve learned through years of public service and community work, it’s this: true leadership never ends. It evolves. And as long as we’re willing to lead with open hands and generous hearts, we’ll never run out of meaningful work to do.