About Me

Like the rythme of the tides, Monia’s life journey has been one that followed the ebbs and flows of the majestic St. Lawrence River and Great Lakes of Canada. Upper Canada and Lower Canada, and back again - like the pioneers and voyageurs of years past. Change has been a constant in her life. It has fostered her adaptability and resiliency when facing new challenges and opportunities, both personally and professionally. As a child, her family moved often between the provinces of Ontario, Québec and New Brunswick as her father worked in forestry sector. New towns, new schools, new friends - move, repeat! As a result, she became an independent and strong woman that has never shied away from inserting herself into new situations, new environments, new adversity. Monia has cycled the Saint-Jacques-de-Compostelle pilgrimage route, climbed Mount Kilimanjaro and regularly attends the Olympics. During her years completing her first degree, a Bachelor of Commerce, she lead and managed a Student Works painting business, giving her a taste for entrepreneurialism, project management and sales. This led to an inside sales role with Labatt Breweries, and yet another move from Rimouski to Trois-Rivières. During this time, she followed her personal interest in the arts and earned a second degree, a Bachelor of Fine Arts. Then came an unexpected opportunity to pivot to the biopharmaceutical sector as a healthcare sales representative, where she quickly earned the trust and respect of the primary care and specialty healthcare professionals in the Mauricie region. In 2005, Monia took the boldest decision of her life - she moved back to Ontario to work at her company’s Head Office in Mississauga, and become a national sales training manager. She did not speak English. When she reflects back on that time, she remembers having a headache every day for the first six months. But, her new career as a learning & development professional had started, and over the next 15+ years she mastered this role. She grew and become the woman she is today. During her time in the biopharma industry, she was thrust into many different therapeutic areas. One insight from experiences was how for many people in our society, their mental health & wellness can be adversely impacted due to an unhealthy relationship with alcohol and/or drugs. She witnessed some colleagues have their careers negatively affected due to their behaviours related to the over-consumption of alcohol, both at work and at home. Recently, this issue is top-of-mind and debated in Canada, as recent epidemiological research demonstrates that daily consumption of alcohol has significant consequences to health outcomes. With everything in life, moderation is key. Monia has not been known to consume a lot of alcohol, but she appreciates and enjoys a fine wine on occasion, especially a Cabernet Franc Icewine from Niagara. Monia is married and has two young children and is currently leading her family on an adventure of leisure and travel. Costa Rica, Galapagos Islands, Portugal & Spain are on her itinerary for the next months before retreating to her luxury vacation property in Charlevoix.