Emily Mills is the founder of How She Hustles – a dynamic network of diverse women that continues to grow by word of mouth, social media and sold-out events. As a trained communications professional, Emily works relentlessly to ensure the stories of racialized communities and diverse women are always at the forefront. She is a fierce connector, who is always plugging new voices and people into key conversations and spaces.
In 2018 Emily was named one of Canada’s 100 Most Powerful Women, and was profiled in the book 100 Accomplished Black Canadian Women. As a wife and mother of two little boys, the issues of childcare, and quality education are also top of mind for Emily. When this boss lady needs a break from the hustle, she sips tea and listens to Canadian hip hop and R&B classics.
To learn more about Emily, read her spotlight below. You can also connect with her on Twitter and Instagram.
My full name is…
Emily Mills
I was born in …
Toronto
I currently live in …
The central west end of the city. I love the diversity of my neighbourhood, the green space and that it’s easily accessible by public transit and car.
Diverse leadership is important because…
We all have unique perspectives that are needed to shape the city – to make it a thriving, inclusive, innovative place for people to live, work and enjoy.
Civic engagement is important because ….
Change happens when people demonstrate a commitment to making things better. When they take action. When they speak up. When they inspire others.
The issues in our region that keep me up at night are…
Education, child care and employment – all through an inclusive lens. As a wife and mom, I want to ensure our two young sons see themselves reflected accurately and positively in the classroom. As a professional, I know how much it matters to work in spaces where people feel they are reflected and included while they build, innovate and grow.
My greatest city-building accomplishment to date is …
HERstory in Black, a digital photo series of 150 inspiring black women in the GTA. I launched the project a year ago as a grassroots, crowd-funded initiative by – and for – black women in the city through How She Hustles. It was a way to shine the light on a variety of women who are achieving success on their own terms. I then pitched the idea to CBC, where HERstory in Black created big impact and a lasting legacy through TV, Radio and digital media coverage, a 1-hour documentary, an unprecedented event at CBC, and the follow-up national project called Up Close. HERstory in Black earned an award from the president of CBC but more importantly, it was a game changer for amplifying voices we don’t often hear. It was also the catalyst for an incredible team that collaborated in new ways.
One thing I do to ensure I continue to grow and develop as a leader is…
Surround myself with people from all walks of life. Wisdom never has one origin.
One characteristic every leader should possess (and why) is …
Humility. It’s important to take ownership for your work but understand it’s almost never done alone.
If you want to get more engaged in your city or community you should ….
Explore it more, then figure out where your skills are needed and wanted.
To me, an inclusive city/region/GTHA looks like…
More boardrooms that look, sound and experience life like the diverse people who live here. We need different people at the table, if we want to do things differently.
One of my favourite places in the GTHA to visit/go is ….
Parks. Any park really. I love the outdoors to explore – and think.
A hobby/talent of mine that people may not know about …
I used to walk a lot – 10K home before work got super hectic. Time to reset. And time to find more hobbies.
If I could have dinner with anyone, living or deceased, I would choose X because ….
I would choose to have dinner with some of the inspiring black Canadian women who have passed on as they tried to make change. Like Rosemary Brown or Kay Livingston. I’d like to thank them for their selfless work – and to let them know their journey and sacrifice wasn’t in vain.
Filed Under: Faces of ELN