Rona Maynard - Author, mental health advocate, former Editor of Chatelaine
Rona Maynard credits her success as a boundary-stretching leader to a lifetime's tough lessons from difficult people. The strengths Rona honed in a family of clashing egos served her well at the helm of Chatelaine, where she became renowned for the honesty, intimacy and humour of her editorials. Rona's gift for relationship-building is front and centre at the podium, where she mines her own story for life-tested wisdom that strikes a universal chord—and delivers plenty of laughs.
From a controlling mother, Rona learned to say "no" without guilt. From a headstrong teenage son, she learned to stop fighting needless battles. From Chatelaine's angriest readers, she learned to find common ground under fire. She personally answered complaints herself because they sharpened her focus on the audience she served. Meanwhile she was steering Chatelaine through a decade of growth and innovation in which she proved to a new generation of readers that "my mother's magazine" was now their magazine too.
Audiences relate to Rona's journey from prickly, chronically depressed young woman to confident leader and mentor. Rona's story proves that depression can be beaten, that crazy-making people can be surprisingly powerful mentors and that big mistakes can lead to even bigger breakthroughs—both personally and professionally.
For Rona part of success is knowing when to move on. After fulfilling her mission for Chatelaine, she stepped down to write the book her readers had been asking for: My Mother's Daughter, a memoir Alice Munro has called "wonderfully honest and enthralling". She also created an award-winning website and a popular memoir workshop that guides beginning writers to the heart of their own story.
Rona volunteers for the Canadian Women's Foundation and was a founding member of the advisory board for Our Sister's Place, which assists women suffering from postpartum depression and other emotional disorders. Her personal honours include a Woman of Distinction Award from the YWCA of Metropolitan Toronto, a Woman of Action Award from the Israel Cancer Research Fund, a National Magazine Award and a Media Award from the Canadian Nurses Association. One of the first prominent Canadians to go public with a history of depression, she also holds a National Champion of Mental Health Award from the Canadian Alliance on Mental Illness and Mental Health.
What people are saying...
"Wonderfully connective! Oh, to have that strength and fire!"
–University of Saskatchewan
"Rona Maynard was the opening keynote speaker at our May 2011 conference and we couldn’t be happier with the feedback we received about the event. Of the evaluations we received 88% rated her presentation as Excellent. Some comments people noted that inspired them about her speech: 'Follow your beliefs and dreams do come true, 'Keep up the hard work, it’s not the time to quit,' 'Having such a high profile speaker as Rona Maynard was excellent. Her keynote was the perfect way to start our day."
–Women's Business Network of Peterborough
"Rona exceeded our hopes as a keynote speaker for Business Takes Action's 4th Annual Conference: The True Cost of Workplace Mental Health. She spoke candidly about overcoming 30 years of depression through the power of work and how work continued to offer her a sense of purpose. Rona is witty, compelling, empowering, honest, inspiring, and insightful. You captivated our guests and in return received outstanding reviews! Thank you!"
–Business Takes Action (Canadian Manufacturers and Exporters)
"Rona's life is full of lessons and she tells them in a way that benefits everyone in the audience. She was truly enjoyable to listen to.... If we can gain half the confidence and leadership skills that Rona has, we will be better for it."
–Statistics Canada
"People laughed and cried throughout Rona's presentation and she received a standing ovation. We have used Rona as the benchmark for future speakers."
–Canadian Psychiatric Research Foundation
Programs
The Healing Power of Work
Rona Maynard survived close to 30 years of depression and found that working was a tonic. At the helm of Chatelaine, she thrived despite constant demands from all sides. When she shared her story of recovery with her readers—a bold move for 1997—letters poured in from across the country. Rona thought she understood mental illness. Then she faced a protégée's disabling depression. And she discovered how little she knew. This fearless, eye-opening speech will challenge, move and inspire anyone who deals with mental illness in the workplace. You'll also learn the three things Rona would do differently if she could revisit her experience with mental illness on her staff. You'll leave with a fresh perspective on one of the most urgent issues in human resources today.
Life-changing Lessons from Difficult People
Crazy-making people have a knack for sucking up all your energy and power – because you let them do it. Rona Maynard has been there. She has contended with a boss from hell, irate Chatelaine readers, cranky colleagues and rebellious junior staffers. Difficult people in her life became her best teachers, challenging Rona to acquire new skills and confront her own difficult side. After a lifetime of striving to prove she was always right, she learned it was more important to be able to fix what she does wrong. Join Rona for a no-holds-barred conversation about what it really takes to deal constructively with ego-bashers, nay-sayers and your own inner troublemaker. Learn the secret of turning conflicts into wellsprings of mastery and inspiration – both professionally and personally.
Following Your Inner Leader
Rona Maynard rose from underachieving sad sack to dynamic motivator and role model by listening to the wise voice within that cut through de-motivating workaday static, so that others will listen to her. Rona's story will connect you with the passion, commitment and distinctive gifts that make up your personal leadership toolbox. Learn how to stay centered during turmoil, how to turn opponents into your best allies and how to stay energized when everyone wants a piece of you. Develop the hallmark of every authentic leader people feel moved to follow.
From Wanting to Die to Loving My Life: How I Beat Depression
Rona Maynard didn't take her own life because she knew her family would miss her – tears, rages and all. But she still had to make a life worth living. The first step was admitting that she couldn't beat chronic depression on her own. When she finally picked up the phone to call a mental health clinic, all she wanted was an end to the anguish that had dogged her since childhood. She never dreamed that getting well would teach her the art of happiness – and unlock the power of her greatest gifts.
