Meet Cindy
Your soul hurts when you feel like your voice isn’t being heard.
I know this all too well from two childhood experiences…
At 11 days old, the doctors told my parents that I had a 20% chance of living due to heart failure and damage caused to the left side of my body.
The wonders of modern surgery managed to save my life, however the multiple stays in the hospital as a small child were far from fun or empowering. I often experiences moments like this…
Me: “Doctor, I don’t want the residents to touch me.”
Doctor: “This is how they learn and what we do here.”
I had no choice.
Living with an “invisible’ illness my whole life until recently, I would advocate for my needs and because people couldn’t see the ‘sickness,’ I would often hear…
“You look fine. Don’t be such a drama queen.”
The second experience was growing up as a first generation Canadian with Palestinian/Lebanese parents. I was constantly bullied, being labelled as a second-class citizen and a terrorist. I changed my last name from Khoury to Ashton to hide my identity and moved high schools. The bullying stopped.
Trying to get my voice heard since birth fueled me to liberate my own voice while making sure that your voice is no longer silenced.
Every voice on this planet matters.
I know how much it costs, financially, emotionally and in lost relationships when we are not being heard in a way that allows us to be seen and thrive.
Look at Me NOW
It made me committed to:
🎤Having the courage to self-express no matter what.
🎤Learning the art, science and craft on everything to do with performance and presentation.
🎤Creating and/or performing works that bring joy, heal and/or contribute to positive cultural/societal change.
🎤Uncovering truths and tackling important issues through my work as an award-winning TV host.
🎤Training (for over 25 years!) on how to “Speak from Your Power® to get your voice heard, be influential and have an impact with your business/message.
🎤Founding Brave Leaders Rising™ to build a nation of ethical leaders.
💖THIS is why I am so dang ambitious and fierce about my career, my community and my audiences.
Credentials
25+ years as a singer/actor/entertainer working with Broadway directors, Emmy® winners, and more.
Awards from President Obama and Queen Elizabeth II for my volunteer work.
Author of “Liberate Your Voice: How to Trust Your Power in a World That Shuts You Down.”
Appeared in multiple media, including ABC, NBC, CBS, FOX, Inc. Magazine, and Forbes.
Honors BA in Music and Kinesiology (specialization in relaxation therapy), York University, Toronto, Canada
20+ years of keynote speaking, leading presentation training and developing strategy for companies such as MetLife, Royal LePage, and the University of Toronto.
25+ years of experience in the areas of presentation skills, speaking voice, body language, marketing messaging, storytelling, content delivery, and leadership presence.
Former educational consultant for the Royal Conservatory of Music.
Interviewed countless celebrities on the red carpet at the Oscar, Grammy Parties and more.
Award-winning TV host of “Cindy Uncorked” – won the Telly Award for Social Issues in 2018, alongside CBS News.
Studied with Second City, Royal Conservatory of Music, Randolph Academy for the Performing Arts, and Livent of Canada.
Founder of Brave Leaders Rising. It is both a collective movement as well as a training program to champion ethical leaders in getting their voices heard.
