Kavita Ahuja, Founder of It's My Time Now!
I live in the town of Oakville, a beautiful place on the shores of Lake Ontario - which is part of the Greater Toronto Area, in Ontario Canada. I am East Indian, and was born in Nairobi, Kenya. My family moved from Kenya in 1968 to Western Canada - Calgary, Alberta, where I grew up until the age of 18, after which we moved to Toronto.
I became involved in serving my community of women, especially those in midlife, since the Spring of 2020.
I am the Founder of It’s My Time Now! , and I founded this company because I am passionate about guiding women through the many transitions they face in their lives - whether that is related to their careers or other aspects of their lives.
As a Certified Career & Life Transitions Coach, I guide women through the challenges and opportunities that their next chapter of life presents to them. We offer one-on-one coaching services, group coaching, and career & life coaching for individuals within organizations as well.
Everything we do is geared towards empowering women to live their next chapter of life according to their truth. I also am a course creator, and am passionate about writing and interviewing and learning from women who have reinvented themselves through our popular podcast, The Midlife Reinvention.
The most exciting part of my life’s work is seeing real transformation in my clients. I help them rediscover who they are from within - what are their strengths, buried passions and values? What do they envision for themselves? What obstacles do they face, and how can they overcome these obstacles with confidence? By guiding my clients through concrete action steps, they experience positive momentum and transformation in their lives, when before, often they were confused, unsure of themselves, or didn’t even know where to begin.
I wish I had this same guidance when I experienced my career transition many years ago, but by creating a transformative process which I now take women through, I can actually witness how lives can be changed for the better. It’s about bringing what’s already inside of us to the world with confidence!
Many words: Passion, Purpose, Fulfillment, Happiness, Confidence, Power, Joy, Play. These are the words our platform was built upon, and these are the words I live by every day. If we don’t live a life with passion and purpose, and are fulfilled with what we do - what’s the point, really?
I believe in the power and potential of women of any age, especially during midlife, and as such, I founded It’s My Time Now - because I believe it IS our time now to rediscover WHO we really are WHAT we really want, and HOW to get there. I have volunteered with organizations whose mission is to empower women also, such as Lean In - where I currently volunteer and run a Lean in Circle called, you guessed it - It’s My Time Now! I have spoken at several women’s conferences whose mission aligns with mine, and I will continue to volunteer my time and energy to promote women’s advancement and power.
Travel, travel, travel! I love to see the world because I believe we can only learn from the diverse and beautiful traditions, beliefs, and environments that surround us.
Women who have the courage to take time for themselves and to become who they’ve always wanted to be. And young people, like my 2 sons, who have little fear, and are ambitious, strong, smart, and believe in themselves, and the causes which are dear to their hearts.
Well, being Indian, I love all things Indian - especially my mom’s famous Chicken Curry. However, I would also say I must have been Italian in my last life because I never say no to a steaming bowl of Bolognese pasta and a glass of Chianti 🙂.
Waking up early, doing yoga and meditating, taking my dog for a long walk, reading and writing, spending quality time with my family and friends. And topping it off by a night on the town with a lovely dinner and dancing!
Passionate about what I do, someone they can rely on for anything, who is bold and gracious, loves great style, good food, and fine wine, someone who is generous, loves to cook and entertain, loves to write, is funny, and sometimes a bit headstrong (I’m not gonna lie!) 🙂
Katherine Majkrzak, Miss Chain of the Lakes Scholarship
I grew up in a farmhouse my grandparents built in the Red River Valley a few miles northwest of Crookston, Minnesota. I’ve been in the Twin Cities for the past 30ish years, so it is truly home to me now.
It’s hard to pin down an exact time: As a child, my parents involved me in church activities, 4-H, community theater, and performing in nursing homes. They demonstrated an attitude of helping out wherever you see the opportunity. In adulthood, my volunteer activities followed my children, forming a babysitting co-op through Early Childhood Family Education, volunteering with Boy Scouts and Minnesota Youth Symphony.
My daughter got me involved in the Miss Minnesota Organization, which is a preliminary competition to Miss America. The organization is branded as apolitical, encouraging young women to take their passions for improving the world into their academic and career goals. What makes this organization unique is that it supports contestants who have strong opinions. It helps them learn to interact with those who may have quite differing views. Those of us who volunteer in the organization recognize that we are not in an echo chamber, which opens our eyes to new ways of seeing things. My local organization, MISS CHAIN OF LAKES SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM, established in 2013, has grown from sending one young woman to the state competition to now sponsoring six contestants. For each of them, I provide scholarships to support their academic pursuits. It is my pleasure to open doors for them whenever I can.
There is nothing more fulfilling than helping someone recognize how remarkable they are. As I learn the journey someone has been on, I see how they have responded to adversity, problem solved to make the way smoother for others, and celebrated accomplishments.
FUTURE. My work with young women reminds me of how much progress has been made in my own lifetime and it inspires me to think that these young women will use their passions to make the world a better place. They give me incredible hope for our future.
Before I retired, my work involved coaching people on problem solving and how they communicated their plans to resolve a problem. I loved seeing people transform as they turned bad problems into opportunities for taking the next leap forward. Prior to my corporate career, I was a freelance musician and composer. My experience with creating performances grounded me in running a local Miss America competition every year and coaching performers to bring their best to the stage.
A farm girl at heart, I am happiest when I’m in my garden listening to a podcast or eBook. In that flow state I can spend hours before I realize it is time to go back in the house. My husband has had to remind me to come in when a thunderstorm rolls in.
Many people inspire me as I learn their stories of overcoming obstacles. Specifically, and personally, I am inspired daily by my children: watching them build their careers and create a beautiful life fills me with great joy.
Life is such a series of enjoyments; I don’t really pick favorites. I make my own yogurt, so that might be a favorite food. A dinner I love making is a curry chicken with rice, yogurt sauce with raisins. It has lots of curry, garlic, and paprika. I’ll whip up a batch of naan, add some homemade wine: so enjoyable!
One that is not over scheduled so I can lose track of time and get lost in creating something.
Here are some words I got back when I queried my group chats: motivated, curious, generous, creative, organized, empathetic, sincere, charismatic, reliable are a few of the words that were used.
Kimberly Brown with Get Up Get Movin'
Born in Houston, Texas, but raised in Minnesota since the age of 2.
It actually began in the spring (May) of 2011, but I eventually placed it on the back burner, and then in recent years revived it.
I am the Creator, the Founder of what I hope will be a motivational movement for people everywhere. This charge to Get Up and Get Movin' with put people on a journey to better health, and even beyond that inspire them in other areas of their lives.
That's easy, whether it's through singing or speaking bringing joy, hope and encouragement to people, and knowing that something I did brought a little sunshine into their life!
MOTIVATION. I think of motivation because that is a large part of my purpose, and the mission of Get Up Get Movin'. The organization's goal is to motivate people living sedentary lives to become physically active and improve their health. It also extends beyond physical activity, into complete wellness. Ultimately, our goal is to motivate people towards complete wellness: physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. Life is hard, and sometimes difficult to navigate, and just a bit of motivation can make all the difference in the world. If I can bring a little peace, or a little to someone's life, then it simply makes my day. I am also a proud ambassador for Jesus Christ, and part of my purpose is to be a blessing to others.
Spending time with my family is number 1, but also singing, traveling, eating and sleeping (lol) I love them all!
Another easy one, my parents! The lessons they taught me, the instructions and love they've given me, and the life that they've lived before me has all formed me into who I am.
If you think it's CHICKEN, then BINGO!
Sleeping in, late brunch, and hanging out with my family/friends. I love the care-free feeling of a day off.
Fun-loving and always positive, busy, but excited about it, caring, giving, and loving--at least that is what I'd hope they would say.
Ann Sheldon at University of Minnesota
Park Falls, Wisconsin
August, 2017
I’m chair elect for the Board, preparing to become the Alumni Board Chair in April, 2022.
Helping people find their passion and watching them take action to achieve it.
Dedication. Because everyone I’ve met through the UMAA (employees and volunteers) are dedicated to their work and the U.
Yes, in both places, I am serving people. At the U, it’s students and alumni. At Medtronic, it’s patients and employees.
Cooking and baking
Brené Brown. She’s not afraid to talk about any topic, ask hard questions and become a better person. I love her quote “I’m not here to be right, I’m here to get it right.”
Pizza with fresh toppings - a spinach side salad. :-)
Being outside, active and in nature - in any season.
I see the good in the world, I want to make a difference and I like to celebrate the simple things in life with others.
Cheffing Good - Dine Good - Do Good
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