Episode 9: My Inspiration

Jacqueline James 

Welcome to another episode of Centennial College Season Eight Leadership Vibes podcast. We are back with our guest Madonna Villena. She is a professional communication and marketing specialist and president of Centennial College Toastmasters Club. Madonna, thank you for taking the time out of your busy schedule to share your experiences and leadership journey. We look forward to hearing more about your leadership journey and some of the challenges you encountered on your journey. Madonna, tell us about yourself and your role at Centennial Toastmasters public speaking club at the college.

Madonna Villena 

Hi, I would like to say thank you for the opportunity to be part of the leadership podcast. So just a brief introduction of myself for everyone. Yes, my name is Madonna Villena, but I'm fondly called Donna by most people. Currently I'm on my second program, which is Marketing Management. I'm about to complete my first semester. And looking forward to the next semester and looking forward to graduate in June. I have a bachelor's degree in Communication Arts from the Philippines. And as you mentioned, I am currently the president of Centennial Toastmasters, which is a great privilege as a student here at Centennial.

Jacqueline James 

Very well. What motivated you to become a student leader? And what are some benefits of becoming a student leader?

Madonna Villena 

Well, honestly, all I wanted was to become a Toastmaster, as this was a dream that I somehow failed to achieve when I was still in the UAE working in a company in the UAE because of work commitments. So as soon as I heard about Centennial Toastmasters, I searched the college website for information, first attended a webinar hosted by the Leadership Academy and got further information about Centennial Toastmasters. So I attended. And I never realized I would come to a point where I would be a student leader. And if you ask me about what motivation, I think the motivation to become a student leader probably became from the fact that I have a fair share of student leadership opportunities in the past. And when this opportunity came to be an offer for Centennial Toastmasters, I decided to take a step forward. And I think it was about that time that I also have just completed the leadership passport, the course. So I thought it was a good time to put all the learnings into action. So for me, being a student leader, or a leader for that matter, is more than just a title attached to one's name. But it's more of a desire or the passion to be a sort of force for good for others. And it works in both ways. I mean, we inspire people and people inspire as well. Benefits wise, I see the student leadership allows me to develop leadership skills, and it could include being able to resolve conflicts and even for professional advancement. Also, being a student leader gives me the opportunity to have that teamwork experience, and to work collaboratively with everyone in the team. There is also the opportunity to learn more about myself. So the opportunities are there available for me and I have the chance to find out what else can I achieve and what else I can aspire to be. And also there's an opportunity to enjoy and have fun. It gives me the opportunity to make bonds and friendships and eventually create meaningful connections.

Mebrat Bekele 

Wow, that's there to hear. You mentioned before joining Centennials Toastmasters, you had other opportunities to be a student leader. Do you mind sharing what those are?

Madonna Villena 

Yeah, I think it's innate in me even when I was younger, many years ago, when I am called by my teachers in my classes to lead for example, to just lead a group for a class activity. At first I would be shy taking on the role because I feel like I have so much responsibility, but then I think I have overcome that shyness. So every time there is an opportunity in class to lead a group or to lead a project, I would not wait till my teacher asks me if I can, I would right away, raise my hand. So those leadership opportunities, even leading the school choir, or even leading small groups, not really Student Association, but like writing for the school paper was like stepping forward and discovering that there's more that you can do anyway. So just need a little tap on the shoulder and a nudge, not pushing you but you stepping forward and embracing that opportunity.

Jacqueline James 

So how do you manage and balance your time as a student and a student leader?

Madonna Villena 

Yeah, honestly, being a student and a student leader at the same time can be really very challenging. For the most part, every week, I have to be prepared for the club meeting, invite students, touch base with members, coordinate with the executive team about all the meeting needs, etc. And at the same time, I have to ensure that I'm able to attend all my classes, work with my classmates for several group assignments, and work on individual assignments as well. I also have to read all the modules to make sure that I can actively participate in class discussions. So just the mere mention of all this can already be overwhelming. But despite this, I just always remind myself that I am exactly where I am intended to be. This is first and foremost a choice that I made. So I should be able to manage all the tasks and responsibilities in parallel with the time that I can spare. One key focus would be mindset. It is a mindset to having the time management and task management skills. And at the end of the day, I make it a point to be thankful for every milestone and achievement, however small or big it may be. And when things can really get over and above the limits, I just decide to have a break. So I'll either grab a KitKat or get some ice cream. So it's like managing your time can be overwhelming. Balancing your time can be overwhelming. But it has to be something that you need to embrace. Because this is a choice that I made in the first place,

Mebrat Bekele 

Wonderful. What would you say is the best piece of advice you ever received? It could be something related specifically to leadership or life in general, was the best advice you ever got?

Madonna Villena 

What comes to my mind would be one that says, be a good example, and live life with integrity. This is perhaps an advice that I have received consistently from several people that I worked with, either in the professional field or even from friends from our church back in Abu Dhabi. This is a result of many conversations that I had with several people that I am close to at work and at the church. These were not all planned meetings, but for the most part, were random conversations, whenever we sat together just for a chat, usually over coffee. So I really place a great value in doing good at all times. And in never compromising my authenticity, and integrity just to be accepted by people. In life, really, we need to be consistent and intentional in doing the right thing at all times, even when no one is looking. That for me is a true, true meaning of integrity. We need to also be doers of what we say, like the most familiar walk the talk code. And I really see the value in being a good example and living life with integrity. Because at any point, when I look back at my life, I could say that I may not be and could never be perfect at all times. But what matters is that I really try hard to be so, because the intention to be a good example and to live with integrity is a principle that I live by, and the mindset that directs my every action, every thought and every word.

Jacqueline James 

Madonna, from listening to you, I think you are a big inspiration for a lot of people, not only students but people in general. So who would you say is your biggest inspiration and why?

Madonna Villena 

Okay, this could be a little emotional for me now, my father would be my biggest inspiration, he was rather a simple and low profile person, nothing fancy. He was just an ordinary guy. So I pick inspiration from the fact that he sacrificed time to be with us by working as a contract worker in the Middle East for a good 10 years or so, his way of fulfilling his responsibility as a husband to my mother, and the father to myself and my siblings. I believe that it is a great example of leadership. And of course, he would not have done it best without the support of my mother. But for all it's worth, that served as a big inspiration for me growing up. And in my daily conversations or interactions with people, I try to see the good in them and take inspiration from even the most candid or simplest app or habit that I know can inspire me to be the better person that I can be each day.

Jacqueline James 

You are actively involved in your community. Can you tell us a little about your leadership skills and the strengths you have as a leader?

Madonna Villena 

As a leader, I believe that these top three would be my biggest strengths. And that is being a good listener, being resilient and valuing religion friendships. As a good listener, it is listening with a genuine intent to appreciate other people's inputs and thoughts, knowing that we all deserve to be heard and understood. For me, the mere fact that I intentionally listen to people's thoughts and ideas is a good way to motivate people and to empower them in some way. Because I believe that empowered people empower people. And it all starts with good listening ears. And being resilient is also a key strength, I believe, because being resilient means I'm able to maintain a positive outlook, I'm able to bounce back even in times of challenges or setbacks, I'm able to sustain the energy even under pressure, and see that there is always a chance to leverage every opportunity where I can learn. So being resilient is basically coping with everything that happens, adapting to change, and moving on, pressing forward. And lastly, it's about loving relationships. It's very hard to be in good relationships with all people at all times. But it all starts with having mutual respect among people. So my commitment is to live a legacy that will inspire others to always be mindful of their words, their thoughts and actions, because all of this will have an impact on the people around them. And valuing relationships means giving people the best value for the time that they spend with you. Because they know you're a good person to be with who values you as a person as well.

Jacqueline James 

Very well said. As the President of Toastmasters Club, what are some benefits of joining Toastmasters Club for students who are interested?

Madonna Villena 

Okay, for students who are interested, it all starts with having that community, a safe space, where you can just enjoy being with like minded people who want to improve their public speaking skills, communication skills, and even discover that leadership skill that could be just lying around somewhere that just needs to be tapped. So as a member, they also have the opportunity to explore the education platform, which is called Pathways, I myself, am very overwhelmed and very happy to see that there are opportunities to level up your leadership. And it all starts with education. So the pathways, there are several paths to choose from, and the members will have their first path for free, which they can choose based on what they believe they are more inclined to be. Otherwise there is an assessment option, should members need to understand better what pathway they should take. So to give you an overview of those pathways, it could include a pathway called presentation mastery, or dynamic leadership, there even is a pathway called Engaging Humor e for those who deliver messages with laughter. And there is also one that is called motivational strategies. It has something to do with emotional intelligence and team building. So there are like more than 10 I think pathways. And it's good to start with one that you are more inclined to be as you know, yourself. But I myself could say that I most likely would take more than just one pathway along the way. So membership is not only about the Thursday club meetings, it's not only about public speaking or communication, it's a preparation for everyone to be ready for the corporate world, to be ready for making speeches, because we will never know when the opportunity to speak in front of people will come, and it could be in the classroom setting. Or it could be in the professional setting when everyone would be given the opportunity to lead people as well in the corporate world.

Jacqueline James 

So you meet on Thursdays, and what time do you usually meet?

Madonna Villena 

Yeah, we meet on Thursdays. So that's from 7pm to 8:30pm. We don't normally go overboard, except only when there's just too much joy conversing with each other, especially after doing the table topics. So we do that every Thursday, seven to 8:30pm. We still do it virtually using MS teams. But we have that dream that we hope will come true soon to meet in person at least once every month, because it's always good to be around people to put faces to the names and just see people from head to toe, not just the upper part. Hopefully we can do that soon. And, of course, a key consideration would be the safety and health of everyone. So as long as there's a good chance to do that. We will definitely invite people to come over and see us in person.

Jacqueline James 

So how does membership work? Is there a membership fee or?

Madonna Villena 

Yeah, the good thing is yes, there's a membership fee. But members or students who attend for four times, it doesn't have to be four consecutive meetings. But as long as they meet the four times of attending the lab meeting, our VP for membership would contact them and work with them in completing the application form. So that would seal the deal for them towards becoming an official Centennial Toastmasters member. And that would be the take off point for them to pursue greater heights in becoming a good public speaker, a good communicator, and an excellent leader while being a Toastmaster member.

Mebrat Bekele 

And are they only, they can only stay in Toastmasters while they're in Centennial? Or they can continue being a member after graduation?

Madonna Villena 

Even after graduation, they can still continue to be a member. I believe for the most part, there are a lot of alumni from Centennial College, we have a chat group for everyone who's been a member of Centennial Toastmasters. And for the most part, majority of them continue to be a member as an alumni. Definitely while you're the student, the school will cover the fees, basically, the Centennial Leadership Academy will work towards to ensure that the fees are paid. But being a Toastmaster can be a choice that you can do for the rest of your life for as long as you would want to.

Mebrat Bekele 

That's wonderful to hear. I definitely would love to join. How can a student join the club?

Madonna Villena 

Yeah, so we encourage everyone, for every student that attends for the first time, we encourage them to keep attending. I mean, they don't necessarily just have to hit the mark of four times attending the club meeting, but even go beyond, because after becoming a member, we try and reach out to them to make sure that they continue attending. They continue maximizing and leveraging on the membership. And if it's and, really very easy to become a member really, you just have to spend that Thursday night with us one and a half hours, four times and then you're good to become a member.

Mebrat Bekele 

Yes, definitely. It's a very, public speaking is like a very essential skill when you want to be part of like their leadership role. So we encourage our listeners to go and join Toastmasters as well. We hope for this podcast to be released in the early seasons of like 2023. With that in mind, what are your new goals? How do you plan and set your goals?

Madonna Villena 

Okay, foremost is my program. I graduate in June. So one more semester, and I should be good to go to press on and move forward to pursue a career here in Canada. But as for Centennial Toastmasters, the goal really is to grow in number. Over the next month, we inspire that every student will be able to pursue membership and that every member will not just consistently attend the weekly meetings, but to maximize their membership by doing the pathways and also see the opportunity for every member to step up and become a leader themselves. I mean, we have a new set of executive team who will lead the club. And during the weekly meetings, we see people with the drive and the passion to become leaders when they take on the roles. And the goal really is to continue to inspire them and motivate them. So we are keen on reaching out to other campuses, probably having an advocate of sorts who can champion the club's membership drive at every campus. And of course, to be able to hold the in person meetings, as I have mentioned earlier at least once a month. And I could only imagine how fun it would be to have the Table Topics Discussions and the speeches live and to see people in the flesh. So that's really a main goal for towards the end of the year and to continue on even to next year's.

Jacqueline James 

Madonna, your story is inspiring.

Madonna Villena 

Thank you.

Jacqueline James 

Thank you for taking time from your busy schedule to share your leadership journey with us. We truly enjoyed having you here.

Madonna Villena 

Thank you so much. It's a privilege also and I hope I can inspire many other fellow students to not join Toastmasters, but be actively involved in whatever the college is presenting them as an opportunity to become more than just a student, but become a leader in the making.

Jacqueline James 

Very well said, thank you.

Madonna Villena 

Thank you and have a great day.

Jacqueline James 

You too! Thank you for joining us for Episode Nine of the Leadership Vibes podcast. In the next episode. We are coming back with our guest chef Demi Meneses to hear about her leadership and entrepreneurship journey. Make sure to subscribe to the Centennial College Podcast on SoundCloud, Apple Podcast, Google Podcast and Spotify.