Cynthia FortlageCEO, The FORTLAGE Collective · I help senior leadership teams turn difference, disagreement and complexity into stronger leadership & measurable business performance | Founder, 4P Leadership Accelerator | Author & Board Advisor

Understanding 'Squiggly Journeys' for Trans+ Awareness Week, Pt 4 of 7

16 Nov 2024 · 1 min

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This content was created by Cynthia Fortlage. This content was uploaded by Cynthia Fortlage. This is a YouTube video titled "Understanding 'Squiggly Journeys' for Trans+ Awareness Week, Pt 4 of 7" (created 2024-11-16T09:00:03Z). The excerpt is a first-person spoken reflection by a single speaker (labeled SPEAKER A) describing their gender transition and how that shaped a shift from industry/technology work into activism and leadership in women's rights, feminism, and LGBTQ+ advocacy. The speaker recounts joining Women’s March Canada (later serving as national board chair), the Rainbow Resource Center, and OutRight International, and reflects on identity, belonging, and leading from an authentic self. The clip appears to be part of a Trans+ Awareness Week series; thumbnail available at the provided URL.

Chapters

My third major transition was my gender journey, a deeply personal path that required resilience and courage. This journey was about discovering who I truly am beyond others' expectations. Embracing my authentic self opened my eyes to the complexities of identity, and it was at this point that my path became even more squiggly. No longer confined to industry boards and trade and technology, I found myself increasingly drawn to broader causes: women's rights, feminism, and LGBTQ+ advocacy. In 2017, I joined Women's March Canada and later became its national board chair, expanding my work to champion the rights of all women across the country. Soon after, I joined the board of Rainbow Resource Center, a regional LGBTQ+ center, and later joining OutRight International, working on LGBTQ+ issues on a global scale. Now, my journey into these realms of leadership, grounded in my authentic self, continues to shape my understanding of what it means to belong. Both to myself and to the wider world.