Lesley Ann- Forbes: My Journey To Wholeness Healed Me
Childhood Influence Y
MLESLEY Ann- Forbes has been a corporate training professional in the telecom industry for over 10 years; teaching and helping develop others is her passion. During her professional career journey, she has facilitated hundreds of training programmes and initiatives for some of the major telecom companies in Canada including Sprint Canada, Rogers and Fibernetics. Many have received her voice and her authenticity to see others shine has created many professional partnerships. Her platform, Forbes Voiceover, was born from the energy of that community. Many have commented on Lesley’s profound depth, warmth and articulation in her voice. This has rippled into many requests for her voiceprint to be the voice of their company’s brands. Lesley’s mission is to evolve into other areas of the voiceover industry including radio, audio books and animation.
In this interview with ESTHER IJEWERE, Lesley shares her journey and the inspiration behind her new book, Never Perfect Always Blessed.
childhood into my teen years created the fabric of my life and the passion I have to do the work I do. My parents are immigrants from Trinidad; I am their third child and the only one born in Canada. Although I was afforded the blessing of a loving family, my journey had many difficult aspects. My parents had a tumultuous marriage and my mother didn’t live in Canada during my formative years. Her absence and the absence of the example of how to demonstrate and curate self- love, self- trust and confidence in my abilities, created many wounds. I was always looking for external validation, acceptance and love in all the wrong places with all the wrong people.
When I became pregnant at the age of 18, I was a very wounded child who now had to raise a baby boy into a man. At the time, I felt completely alone, unworthy of love and not enough. Being abandoned by my son’s father and the absence of my mother were the seeds of my self- suffering.
Gratefully, as I grew into a mature, independent woman, I realised the journey of raising my son was my grandest and most grounding root to every aspect of my life. Much has come full circle gifting me with wisdom, strength, grace, faith, abundant blessings and most importantly, purpose.
Being a leader of LIGHT & mentor for young girls and women especially single mothers is my purpose. To inspire a change in the narrative of their thinking to honor their journey, their children and their power, is my heart’s greatest desire. To cultivate a connection with their divine source, trusting it and using it in every aspect of their lives. To inspire and demonstrate self- loving habits, including teaching our children how to love and accept themselves.
Inspiration Behind Never Perfect Always Blessed
My writing was inspired when my mother was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s. Due to the progression of her disease, I was unable to have depth filled conversations with the woman I adored and loved so deeply.
Writing was cathartic for me. It helped me to navigate through certain aspects of my life and also reflect on the enlightened moments and lessons.
When my mother died, I read the chapter I wrote about her to the congregation. I explained that I intended to turn my writing into a book to honour her legacy and all that she poured into me, especially my spirituality. I hoped sharing my stories would help others to know the difficult moments in our journeys are not punishments from GOD they are simply teachers of growth, resilience, wisdom and perspective – you cannot know LIGHT without knowing DARK
NESS. GOD will not bring you to it without bringing you out of it – anointed, loved, accepted and forgiven
ALWAYS
Motivation
Behind
Forbes
Voiceover
Platform
Being a professional voiceover artist
was universe gifted. I never had an aspiration to be a voice artist; to be completely honest, I didn’t really like my voice. I always thought it was too deep for a woman’s voice. My career as a corporate trainer afforded me many opportunities to speak and teach in front of many groups and classrooms.
My voice was always complemented for its depth and diction.
Being in telecommunications, I was asked by clients to use my voice for their automated systems. My voiceprint was used by various businesses and extended across the tri cities of Cambridge, Kitchener- Waterloo and surrounding areas. I was never compensated for my talent, but my voice was everywhere so to speak. When my employment ended with my last corporate company, I decided to launch Forbes Voiceover.
My client base was already established and has since doubled. I now have three professional artists that have joined my team. Our team’s portfolio of talent includes French Bilingual business automation, voiceover highlighted in the first emancipation film made in Canada, audio book narration and informational videos.
We are aspiring for more opportunities in animation, radio and commercials.
Ripple Effect Of Training People To Find Their Voice And Career Path
My training and facilitation career afforded me the privilege to mentor and professionally develop many souls. I’ve since seen many of my students excel and expand tremendously in their careers. I want to believe my contribution made a difference to their belief in themselves to learn and grow. Being an adult facilitator requires the skill of motivation, empathy and zero arrogance.
Adults don’t learn because you told them to – they learn because they see the benefit of skill growth impacting their lives and personal development. You won’t gain respect just because you’re standing in front of a room lecturing your knowl
edge.
The ripple I believe I have created is a human authentic connection rooted in another’s soul’s climb to success. Souls are sent to each other for a reason. I certainly don’t remember the names of my students from over the years, but they are definitely an integral part of my life’s fabric. Their connection mattered just as much to me, maybe even more.
I love what I do and I know my corporate path served its purpose in various ways, including becoming a successful entrepreneur, speaker and spiritual coach.
The Journey So Far
The journey has definitely strengthened my faith, self- discipline, a “Just Start” mentality, even if I don’t know my next move and the greatest fulfillment of self- rewarding and inspiring energy. Being the CEO & creator of your own brand takes courage; getting up every day and putting forth that mustard seed of faith and dedication to move forward.
Even if it’s just posting a small WIN or initiating a willingness to learn a new skill or approach to doing business – consistent effort of planting those seeds will bear fruit. Each member of my Voice Over artist team was universe attracted not intentional; whatever I’ve needed with intention, I knew GOD had not brought me that far in order to drop me. Once I trusted its manifestation and once I surrendered the control and the how, it manifested and continues to do so.
Most importantly, I have also cultivated much self- trust and “I am enough” mentality. I created it so I have the power to cultivate its success. I am extremely proud of Forbes Voiceover and Never Perfect Always Blessed. They are my manifestations of God’s divine will and my purpose.
Challenges
The challenges I’ve encountered the most have been truly refining and defining my brand and whom I want to serve. I launched Forbes Voiceover, then launched/ published my book Never Perfect Always Blessed under my company’s name, as it was my written voice. But I wanted to also serve young women, teens and single mothers in their self- love and spiritual journey.