In this episode, Aveline Clarke welcomes Monica Pemberton, a pioneering leader with 30 years of experience in technology, who has dedicated her career to advocating for women and underrepresented groups in the tech space. Monica shares her journey from being the only Black woman in tech to mentoring the next generation, the power of mentorship, and overcoming workplace challenges with integrity and resilience. Tune in for inspiring stories, practical lessons on leadership, and Monica’s commitment to empowering young adults and women to thrive in technology and beyond.

Here’s a summary of what they discussed:

04:17 A chance elevator conversation sparked Monica’s tech journey.

10:14 The lack of diversity in professional associations—and how to change it.

15:31 The importance of owning your mistakes while leading others.

25:07 Dealing with adversity and “not nice people” in the workplace.

46:46 Monica’s vision: mentoring youth, writing a book, and inspiring the next generation.

…and much more.

enjoy!

YouTube episode: https://youtu.be/Xekl-lfC26w

Here's some information about our guest, Monica:

Monica Pemberton

VP, Educator, Mentor, Technology Leader

Monica Pemberton’s story is one of resilience, leadership, and purpose. As Vice President and CIO at the American Council on Education, she leverages technology to drive innovation and success. Beyond her career, Monica is a dedicated mentor, advocate for women in tech, and champion of strong leadership.

Looking ahead, Monica is driven by a vision to expand her impact in IT operations and technology. She is committed to writing a book on leadership to inspire and guide young adults and professionals as they navigate their careers. She also aims to promote technology careers as a viable and accessible pathway for economic empowerment, particularly in these ever-changing times.

Monica inspires others to dream big, work hard, and lead with impact and humanity.

Here’s how you can connect with Monica:

LI: https://www.linkedin.com/in/monicapemberton/

W: https://www.acenet.edu

The purpose of the Mission Activated podcast is to inspire people with the stories of those who are activated on their mission and living a life of purpose, passion, and alignment. Being in business is not just about money—it’s about bringing our genius and gifts to the world to impact others.

If you'd like to get in touch, please contact us at contact@6starleaders.com

In this inspiring episode, Aveline sits down with Douglas Pflug—elite coach, mentor, and retired police officer—to explore what it truly means to overcome adversity and live life on purpose. Doug shares powerful stories about conquering childhood illness, bullying, and PTSD, and reveals how finding his “granite” (core values) has enabled him to empower others to reclaim their voice. Tune in as they unpack vulnerability, resilience, leadership, and the life-changing impact of small acts of kindness for individuals and future generations.

Here’s a summary of what they discussed:

05:12 Childhood illness fostered early resilience.

09:58 Traumatic events shaped Doug’s service mindset.

13:06 The power of vulnerability in leadership and growth.

21:06 A single thank-you card reignited Doug’s purpose.

42:58 Advice for supporting youth through bullying and self-doubt.

…and so much more.

Enjoy! ✨

YouTube Episode:

Here's some information about our guest, Doug:

Douglas P. Pflug

Executive Leadership Coach | Author | Speaker | Mentor | Builder

Douglas P. Pflug is a nationally recognised leader, coach, and mentor with a distinguished career spanning over 35 years in leadership, law enforcement, and high-performance coaching. A retired Sergeant with the Guelph Police Service and former Provincial Coordinator at the Ontario Police College, Doug has shaped countless leaders through his unwavering commitment to excellence, resilience, and community service.

Doug is the founder of IRONWILL 360° Leadership, an executive coaching and mentorship platform empowering leaders to rise through the ranks by cultivating elite leadership traits. His expertise is captured in his acclaimed books, Finding Your Granite: My Four Cornerstones of Personal Leadership, Ironwill 360° Leadership: Moving Forward – 12 Emerging Trends for Forward-Thinking Leaders, and his latest release, A Blueprint to Level 5 Unicorn Leadership. Each book reflects Doug’s passion for developing resilient, authentic leaders who balance professional will with personal humility.

As an elite strength and conditioning coach, Doug has mentored athletes across the NHL, AHL, NCAA, OHL, and national and provincial levels. He served as the Guelph Storm Hockey Club’s Strength and Conditioning Coach for 27 years, winning four Ontario Hockey League Championships. His leadership extended to Wrestle Canada, the University of Guelph Gryphon Football Team, and the Guelph Wellington Buns Master Rollers Special Olympics Floor Hockey Team, achieving three consecutive Canadian Championships and three silver medals at the World Special Olympics Winter Games.

Doug’s dedication to service extends beyond the arena. He and his wife Michelle, an internationally recognised forensic expert, established the Gryphon Football Pflug Family Community Service Award, honouring athletes who exemplify leadership and community commitment. He has been a proud supporter of the Ontario Law Enforcement Torch Run and Special Olympics Canada since 1989.

A Cornell-certified executive leader and McMaster-educated HR professional, Doug combines academic excellence with frontline experience. His accolades include being named one of Canada’s 123 Remarkable Canadians, the Sovereign Medal for Volunteers, the Queen's Diamond Jubilee Medal, the Governor General’s Police Exemplary Medal, and the City of Guelph Mayor’s Award for outstanding contributions.

Today, Doug continues to inspire through keynote speaking, leadership development seminars, and his Mental Wisdom Podcast, where he explores resilience, mindfulness, and the intersection of technology and leadership. He splits his time between Boblo Island and Guelph with his wife Michelle and service dog Arizona “Zoe,” enjoying boating, exercise, and charitable work.

Doug’s leadership...

In this episode, Aveline sits down with Francois Lupien, coach, speaker, and former Tony Robbins and Stephen Covey facilitator, whose life and energy radiate purpose. With a background spanning martial arts, real estate, and high-performance coaching, Francois shares his remarkable journey from humble beginnings in Canada to becoming the Executive Whisperer — a trusted guide to CEOs and leaders who carry the silent weight of responsibility.

His story is one of resilience, mentorship, and faith. From learning determination through his mother’s love, to winning a national gold medal in Taekwondo, to helping top executives find clarity and meaning, Francois’s life is a testament to what’s possible when you commit to growth and lead from the heart.

Dive in as Aveline and Francois explore courage, energy, and the true meaning of living on purpose — and why you should stop tiptoeing through life and fully own your potential.

Here’s a summary of what they discussed:

(03:37) Francois’s mission: sharing things that matter with people who care

(05:12) A mother’s lesson in belief — “you can do anything you want in life”

(10:08) Becoming a Canadian gold medalist in Taekwondo through discipline and coaching

(16:27) Landing a job with Tony Robbins by refusing to take no for an answer

(19:35) Choosing family over fame and finding alignment in values

(21:46) How Bob Proctor and Stephen Covey shaped his coaching philosophy

(25:06) The birth of “The Executive Whisperer” — helping CEOs overcome isolation at the top

(38:25) The power of energy, belief, and keeping promises made before we were born

…and much more.

Enjoy! ✨

YouTube Episode:

https://youtu.be/eeehRDXKj_s

Here’s some information about our guest, Francois:

Executive Coach & Mentor

Francois Lupien is a dynamic mentor, executive coach, speaker, and presenter whose experience includes working with Tony Robbins, Stephen Covey (7 Habits of Highly Effective People), and as a consultant with Bob Proctor (The Secret).

Achieving excellence in everything he puts his mind to, Francois has been a Tae Kwon Do Gold Medal Canadian Champion, a Top Real Estate Agent for 11 years with RE/MAX, and a serial entrepreneur with multiple successful six-figure businesses.

Happily married and father to six amazing children, Francois loves spending time at the beach with his family and drinking his beloved Vitamix juice every morning for energy!

Passionate, dedicated, and enthusiastic, Francois shows others how to achieve real results that stick—because for him, mediocrity is never an option.

Here’s how you can connect with Francois:

Website – https://howtobecomemore.com

LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/francoislupien/

The purpose of the Mission Activated podcast is to inspire people with the stories of those who are activated on their mission and living a life of purpose, passion, and alignment. Being in business is not just about money—it’s about bringing our genius and gifts to the world to impact others.

If you'd like to get in touch, please contact us at contact@6starleaders.com

In this episode, Aveline sits down with Nina Maglic, intuitive marketing architect, energy healer, and international speaker based in Vienna, Austria. As the founder of Healing Millions, Nina is on a mission to empower healers to build thriving, scalable businesses so that together, they can bring peace and healing to the world.

Nina’s journey is one of courage, faith, and deep transformation—from corporate marketing executive to intuitive entrepreneur. After years of debilitating illness that Western medicine couldn’t explain, a single decision to trust her intuition led to a life-changing healing experience. Now, she combines her 18 years in marketing with her intuitive gifts to help others step into their purpose and heal humanity, one ripple at a time.

Dive in as Aveline and Nina explore the power of energy healing, the importance of alignment, and how letting go can open the door to miracles.

Here’s a summary of what they discussed:

(03:18) Nina’s mission: helping healers create profitable, predictable, and scalable healing businesses

(04:17) From marketing executive to illness and awakening

(05:37) The turning point: finding healing after 18 months of pain

(08:52) Why helping other healers became her life’s purpose

(13:46) The decision to let go—and how that changed everything

(17:41) Healing her husband after a motorcycle accident

(20:15) Realising she is the creator of her own life

(23:12) The ripple effect of healing and giving hope back to humanity

…and much more.

Enjoy!

YouTube episode:

https://youtu.be/g583ryN5y2c

Here’s some information about our guest, Nina:

Marketing Coach

Nina Maglic is an intuitive marketing architect, energy healer, and international speaker on a mission to empower healers to elevate their marketing strategies, attract their ideal clients, and achieve financial success with ease and confidence. With over 18 years of experience, Nina has designed impactful marketing campaigns for Fortune 500 companies and small businesses across the USA and Europe, delivering exceptional results.

Her signature "Illuminated™ Experience" blends strategic marketing expertise, business acumen, and a profound understanding of energy healing and mindset work. This unique approach helps healers unlock their full potential, achieve lasting success, and create businesses that align with their soul's purpose.

Through her content, programs, and global community, Nina inspires and guides healers to transform their passion into thriving, sustainable businesses that contribute to global healing, peace, and light.

Here’s how you can connect with Nina:

Website – https://ninamaglic.com https://healingmillions.com

LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/ninamaglic/

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/iamninamaglic

YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@ninamaglic

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/transformyourlifewithenergy/

TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@iamninamaglic

The...

In this episode, Aveline sits down with Dr. Kimberly Harden, CEO of Harden Consulting Group, to explore what it means to build WE-centric workplaces rooted in trust, cultural intelligence, and courage. Kimberly shares her powerful journey from healthcare to academia to entrepreneurship—and how divine callings, family legacy, and life pivots shaped her mission to dismantle bias and advance racial equity in the workplace. Dive in as they discuss cultural intelligence, the reality of social media illusions, and the deep importance of alignment in both leadership and life.

Here’s a summary of what they discussed:

(02:52) Kimberly’s mission: empowering leaders to build WE-centric workplaces

(03:59) From healthcare to professor: teaching teamwork and cultural intelligence

(08:03) Divine intervention and starting her business after her mother’s passing

(17:11) Why she returned to education and pursued communication and leadership studies

(22:24) The LEAD philosophy: Love, Enthusiasm, Awareness, Development

(33:44) Why WE-centric workplaces are essential for the future of leadership

(40:25) Self-care, grief, and setting boundaries as an entrepreneur

(47:49) Kimberly’s superpower—and why she’s like a silicone spatula

…and much more.

Enjoy!

YouTube episode:

https://youtu.be/JKdkdcxw198

Here’s some information about our guest, Kimberly:

CEO of Harden Consulting Group

Dr. Kimberly Harden is a Leadership and Culture Consultant specialising in Cultural Intelligence (CQ) and WE-Centric workforce solutions. She is an award-winning educator with over a decade of experience as a professor of Communication Studies and a 2x Amazon best-selling author. Kimberly is also an advocate for racial equity and eliminating racism in the workplace. Beyond her professional life, she’s a weightlifter, loves Tim McGraw, and even eats salad for breakfast!

Here’s how you can connect with Kimberly:

Website – www.hardenconsultinggroup.com

LinkedIn – www.linkedin.com/in/kimberlylharden

The purpose of the Mission Activated podcast is to inspire people with the stories of people who are activated on their mission, and are living a life of purpose, passion and alignment. Being in business is not just about money: it's about bringing our genius and our gifts to the world to impact others.

If you'd like to get in touch please contact us at contact@6starleaders.com

In this episode, Aveline sits down with Mike Liu, CEO of Freefuse and a visionary connector, to explore how business partnerships and technological ecosystems are changing the way we build community and drive impact. Mike shares how his background in engineering and deep belief in win-win relationships shape Freefuse’s evolution—from education tech to empowering people as community hubs. Dive in as they discuss the power of collaborative ecosystems, the value of authenticity, and tips for purposeful innovation in business and life.

Here’s a summary of what they discussed:

02:51 Finding community in crisis during the LA fires

06:29 Building win-win-win partnerships in business

12:38 Mike’s entrepreneurial journey from childhood to Freefuse

26:18 The pivot: embracing ecosystems to accelerate growth

44:07 Overcoming trust hurdles in partnership and collaboration

…and much more.

Enjoy!

YouTube episode:

https://youtu.be/sfg4PVr8g9A

Here's some information about our guest, Mike:

CEO of FreeFuse

Mike Liu is someone who rose to the occasion when his city faced recent wildfires and evacuation scares. After experiencing the confusion caused by real and false evacuation notices, Mike used his curiosity to learn about new technologies for tracking natural disasters. Eager to help, he opened his doors to others in need, discovering firsthand the power of community support in tough times. Mike’s story shows his resilience, quick learning, and strong belief in people coming together to help one another.

Here's how you can connect with Mike:

Website - https://freefuse.com

LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/mike-liu-4wd/

The purpose of the Mission Activated podcast is to inspire people with the stories of people who are activated on their mission, and are living a life of purpose, passion and alignment. Being in business is not just about money: it's about bringing our genius and our gifts to the world to impact others.

If you'd like to get in touch please contact us at contact@6starleaders.com

In this powerful episode of Mission Activated, Aveline Clarke sits down with Jas Rawlinson: an award-winning speaker, best-selling author, and leading advocate for emotional abuse and domestic violence awareness.

Jas shares her deeply personal journey from surviving a childhood marked by coercive control, to transforming her trauma into purposeful action that empowers others. Together, they explore the importance of boundary setting, recognising red flags, and using personal stories for healing and societal change. Jas’s honesty and expertise offer hope and practical steps for anyone seeking freedom from toxic cycles.

Here’s a summary of what they discussed:

03:29 Jas describes her mission to educate on emotional abuse red flags.

09:06 Coercive control and its lasting impact on survivors.

18:59 The catalyst to Jas’s healing and advocacy journey.

33:11 Jas’s superpower and the role of storytelling in change.

52:06 Every teen (and adult) needs to learn boundary-setting and red flag detection.

…and so much more.

Enjoy!

YouTube Episode:

https://youtu.be/0fGFFqcVaDk

Here's some information about our guest, Jas:

Jas Rawlinson, Speaker, Author, Coach

Jas Rawlinson is an award-winning speaker, best-selling author, and advocacy coach who specializes in emotional abuse and domestic violence awareness. Combining her lived experience as a domestic/sexual violence survivor, with a bachelors degree in creative writing and psychology, Jas is highly renowned for her natural ability to break through stigmatized social issues, and has impacted hundreds of thousands of lives worldwide. She's the author of four books, the co-founder of Brisbane’s first permanent Domestic Violence Memorial, and also the creator of 'Red Flags 101' - a nationally recognised program that empowers workplaces and communities to detect the red flags of domestic violence before they become physical. Alongside her work, Jas is also a passionate anti-human trafficking ambassador who - in her fight against social injustice - has investigated illegal brothels and spent time with survivors and investigators in SE Asia. In 2022, she even swam with sharks on reality TV (to an audience of 100 million+) to raise funds for exploited children! Endorsed by names including Lifeline, Act for Kids, and the National Centre on Sexual Exploitation, Jas is an unwavering advocate for transforming shame into strength through the power of real and raw storytelling.

What's something Interesting About You, Jas?

Jas once swam with sharks to raise funds to end child sexual exploitation

Here's how you can connect with Jas:

• Red Flags 101: jasrawlinson.com/redflags
• Free Story Masterclass: jasrawlinson.com/superpowerreplay
• Website: jasrawlinson.com
• Facebook: facebook.com/jasrawlinsonofficial
• Instagram: instagram.com/jas_rawlinson

The purpose of the Mission Activated podcast is to inspire people with the stories of people who are activated on their mission, and are living a life of purpose, passion and alignment. Being in business is not just about money: it's about bringing our genius and our gifts to the world to...

What if the most important skill in leadership today isn’t decisiveness — but curiosity?

In this episode, I sit down with Scott Ko — strategist, speaker, and creator of The Curiosity Mindset — to explore how curiosity helps us lead, relate, and reflect with more clarity. We talk parenting, decision-making, purpose, and how to stay open when things get uncertain or complex.

This conversation is filled with practical wisdom for anyone navigating change — in work, life, or within yourself.

Here's a summary of what we discussed:

[00:03] – Scott’s mission: why curiosity matters now more than ever

[00:10] – Systems, people, and how we think

[00:15] – The anime that shifted his worldview

[00:18] – Curiosity in parenting + education

[00:25] – Teens, TikTok, and critical thinking

[00:31] – The Curiosity Mindset explained

[00:42] – EQ vs curiosity

[00:50] – Purpose isn’t a straight line — and that’s okay

[00:54] – “Be the river”: holding life lightly

Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/sfg4PVr8g9A

Listen on all players: https://pod.link/1560595600

Here's some information about our guest:

Scott Ko is a strategist, speaker, and social entrepreneur specialising in leadership, business strategy, and integration. He’s the creator of The Curiosity Mindset — a practical framework to help people embrace uncertainty with openness and purpose.

Fun fact? Scott’s a proud Felinist (aka crazy cat man 🐱), bringing softness, wisdom, and warmth into everything he does.

Contact Scott:

W: www.scottko.com

LI: @thescottko

The purpose of the Mission Activated podcast is to inspire people with the stories of people who are activated on their mission, and are living a life of purpose, passion and alignment. Being in business is not just about money: it's about bringing our genius and our gifts to the world to impact others.

If you'd like to get in touch please contact us at contact@6starleaders.com