We recently connected with Leanna Carriere and have shared our conversation below.
Leanna, thanks so much for taking the time to share your insights and lessons with us today. We’re particularly interested in hearing about how you became such a resilient person. Where do you get your resilience from?
Resilience- the capacity to withstand or to recover quickly from difficulties; toughness. When I think of this word I can’t help but smile a little. The ability to adapt to challenging obstacles and still push forward is something I have been doing since I was young. I am not sure exactly if resilience is soul or science based. The studies are currently not clear as well. Funny enough for our upcoming expedition Wings of Survival we are partnered with the UofA focusing on a study around this very topic.
My life has not been a walk in the park. I have always had big goals and the path to get there challenging. When i was in school I struggled with undiagnosed ADHD which was frustrating to go through and as a 18year old I left home so I could pursue and Olympic dream with every little support or belief backing me. I left with 20$ in the bank and three bags and I was determined to make my dream come true. Throughout my track and field career I supported myself as a personal trainer. I battled with mental health, abusive people in my life, injuries and the struggle of training and working to afford to train and eat. My athletic career had many obstacles but I was always driven to push myself more and more (this still has not changes) I walked away from the track in 2016 missing the Olympics (I was 4th) after striving for that goal for 10 plus years. I had highlights along the way top pole vaulter in Canada, international medalist, Women of Vision award and Canada 1st female decathlete.
After having my daughter in 2017 I didn’t want to be done my athletic career however the struggles with family life and athletics where there and I decided to turn to endurance sport and haven’t really looked back.
My resilience is a deep belief that all humans are capable of so much more then what we show. I love to push my body and mind to the unknown. It isnt fear its powerful and to take that and teach others how to do the same is really amazing to see as a trainer. regardless of your pursuit with powerful will and drive to go after what you want you become resilient in your efforts to achieve what you honestly believe you can.
Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?
#1 Currently working on a initiative called Wings of Survival which is a series of expeditions emulating the epic journeys of migratory birds, the world’s greatest athletes and a barometer for the health of our planet. Through sport we hope to rewild minds and empower others to take action now towards nature positive outcomes.
Our first expedition, June 2025, will see us cycle 30 000km along the spine of the Americas from Alaska to Patagonia. WIth the goal(s) of creating impact through a professional documentary, providing grants, workshops, and school programs along the way, advocating for key biodiverse areas, and a university study on resilience.
We will portray the wonder of bird migration through the human lens, blending sports, nature & community, in pursuit of the UN 30×30 Biodiversity Targets. (https://www.cbd.int/gbf/targets)
#2 I am currently working as a personal trainer online and in personal . I certifying myself towards womens training for perimenopause and menopause specific training launching Jan 2025. Very excited about this.
#3 Co-founder of 7 Summits Snacks with my sister we are looking to expand into the USA market 2025, we created this company 4 years ago.
#4 I am a mom to a wonderful 7 year-old little girl. It is challenging at times but I am learning so much. I am a single mom, so definitely a bit of a juggling act with everything I am doing.
There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?
1. Learning to continue a path forward even if it changes, trust the process but still keep moving forward 2.If you want change you need to make change. There is no sense in complaining and going in circles the ability to step back reassess and plan map forward is very important.
3. Listen to what others are saying and ask for honest input. The people that love and support you most will always provide you honest insight.
Advice if you are just starting out… there will be many ups and downs, long hours, and sacrifices. The journey will constantly test and push you. You will second guess yourself so have something that reminds you why you are doing what you are doing. Acknowledge and move forward
If you knew you only had a decade of life left, how would you spend that decade?
The hardest thing I consistently am being faced with in financial support. When you are developing something or going after a goal normally the support is fairly low until you start to create momentum. Currently with Wings of Survival , 7 SS and personal training I feel I am on the brink of getting things moving faster however the energy in feels more then what I currently get out. We all have lives we need to support along our journeys. I feel the financial side can be very heavy at times. If we just picked a steady career perhaps there would be less stress but then you wouldn’t be achieving your potential.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.wingsofsurvival.com www.leannacarriere.com
- Instagram: @leannacarriere @wingsofsurvival
- Facebook: Leanna Carriere
- Linkedin: Leanna Carriere
- Youtube: Wings of Survival
Image Credits
Bill Adult Timm Döbert Justin Brunelle
