Belinda Fernandez

Belinda is a versatile professional who has lived and worked in Canada, the UK, US, South Africa and Zimbabwe. Fernandez holds a Masters of Arts in Ministry and Spirituality and undergraduate degrees in Commerce, from the University of Toronto and Witwatersrand. Fernandez has overcome many challenges and helps through mentoring, and speaking to others drawing on John Maxwell's methodology, books and teaching to help empower others. John Maxwell has helped thousands of children, couples, business leaders and changed lives. Using tried and trusted principles.

Born in Zimbabwe, Fernandez lives in Canada and has started over in Canada, the US, South Africa and Zimbabwe. Fernandez fled political persecution, being left stateless in England on a working holiday when political problems broke out in Zimbabwe. She came to Canada based on the skilled worker based program and with money to invest, after being made a refugee as she could not remain in Britain and was given an ultimatum to leave the country or be deported.

Fernandez has educated and retrained in Canada, through setting her own goals and without any financial help from companies or institutions.

Fernandez grew up as a child in the Rhodesian bush war, with a single Mother, and her memories and the love for her country and people shine through in her talks. Working 3 jobs and taking on contracts over the global recession she graduated with a Master's Degree in Ministry and Spirituality and HR Certification from Regis Pontifical College and Rotman Business School. Fernandez chose not to listen to the negative voices telling her to give up her designation, and when no one was wiling to help her due to discriminatory mortgage policies, sold her home to survive. No one was wiling to take her in to help her and rent out her place, and people were willing to see her in subsidised housing or on welfare.

Fernandez knows what it is like to be single, have no one to count on and rely on having moved and packed up her homes on her own on all the continents she has lived in, made decisions around purchasing property alone and decisions to educate herself alone. Her research into adapting to life in Canada started in England where she researched the requirements to work in HR . The discrimination and injustice she has faced in Canada has changed her. Fernandez has used the hurt to help others through volunteering and put her faith in God alone.

She sponsored her Mother to come to Canada on her own, and is passionate about education, poverty alleviation and racial injustice especially as it pertains to women and girls.