Rona Maynard

Former editor of Chatelaine Magazine

Rona Maynard was Editor of Chatelaine through a decade of growth and innovation in which she proved to a new generation of readers that "my mother's magazine" was now their magazine too. In the face of relentless competition from American niche magazines, she met every bottom-line benchmark as she made Chatelaine the meeting place where women could inspire one another, whether they were just starting out in their careers or embarking on mid-life reinventions.

A relationship-builder of unswerving commitment, Maynard became renowned for the honesty and intimacy of her editorials, in which readers felt she was speaking directly to them--even though Chatelaine was an icon with 3 million readers. She personally answered thousands of letters to the Editor, paying special attention to complaints because they sharpened her focus on the audience she served. She created a proudly consumer-focused team on which even headstrong Gen Yers understood that there was no such thing as "Not my job." Under her leadership, Chatelaine won prestigious awards for reporting, art direction, overall excellence and newsstand sales.

When Rona fulfilled her mission for Chatelaine at the end of 2004, she stepped down to write the book her readers had been asking for: My Mother's Daughter, a memoir Alice Munro has called "wonderfully honest and enthralling." Rona's gift for relationship-building is front and centre at the podium, where she mines her own story for life-tested wisdom that strikes a universal chord.

Rona's personal honours include a Woman of Distinction Award from the YWCA of Metropolitan Toronto, a Woman of Action Award from the Israel Cancer Research Fund, a Media Award from the Canadian Nurses Association and a National Champion of Mental Health Award from the Canadian Alliance on Mental Illness and Mental Health.

Topics:

Following Your Inner Leader
Rona Maynard used to think she didn't fit the profile of an inspirational leader. She had struggled with shyness and chronic depression while she built a demanding journalism career. She had faced uncertainty, admitted to failure and answered burning questions with "I don't know." Then she looked around and noticed something that changed her life: people were following Rona Maynard. This is the hallmark of every authentic leader. You don't have to be all-knowing to lead. Instead you have to know and channel the best in yourself--your inner leader. It's what brings out the best in others and what keeps you grounded no matter how crazy or uncertain things get. Drawing on her own journey from underachieving sad sack to dynamic motivator and role model for millions of Chatelaine readers, Rona shows how to listen to the wise voice within, which cuts through de-motivating workaday static, so that others will listen to you. Rona's stories will connect you with the passion, commitment and distinctive gifts that make up your personal leadership toolbox.
Life-Changing Lessons From Difficult People
Crazy-making people have a knack for sucking up all your energy and power - because you let them do it. Rona Maynard has been there. She has contended with a boss from hell, irate Chatelaine readers, cranky colleagues and rebellious junior staffers. On the personal side, she came to terms with an alcoholic parent, a fiercely competitive younger sister and a strong-minded husband who has been her best friend for more than 38 years. The difficult people in her life became her best teachers, challenging Rona to acquire new skills and confront her own difficult side. After a lifetime of striving to prove she was always right, she learned it was more important to be able to fix what she does wrong. Join her for a no-holds-barred conversation about what it really takes to deal constructively with ego-bashers, nay-sayers and your own inner troublemaker. With Rona's life-tested wisdom, you'll turn conflicts into wellsprings of mastery and inspiration - both professionally and personally.
From Wanting to Die to Loving My Life: How I Beat Depression
Rona Maynard didn't take her own life because she knew her family would miss her - tears, rages and all. But she still had to make a life worth living. The first step was admitting that she couldn't beat chronic depression on her own. When she finally picked up the phone to call a mental health clinic, all she wanted was an end to the anguish that had dogged her since childhood. She never dreamed that getting well would teach her the art of happiness - and unlock the power of her own greatest gifts. The journey Rona began that day would eventually lead her to the Editor's office at Chatelaine, where she opened hearts and minds across the country by sharing her story - and moved thousands of people to share their own stories with her. Passionate, candid and disarmingly funny, this presentation shows why Rona is one of Canada's most powerful advocates for the mentally ill. Learn why she's not ashamed to have a history of mental illness and what you can do to ensure that diseases of the mind get the same respect as diseases of the body.
Renewal: the Key to Success
When everyone wants a piece of you, a deadline looms and you've been cracking your brain on an onslaught of big decisions, it can be dangerously tempting to treat your own powers like a beast of burden. Rona Maynard knows the feeling. As the creative force behind the relaunch that transformed Canada's best-read magazine for women, she learned the hard way that she couldn't revitalize the brand if she didn't take care of her own vitality and set a good example for her strung-out staff. Rona's story proves that personal renewal can be as close as your bulletin board - and that wellsprings of inspiration can turn up in the most unlikely places (would you believe a supermarket checkout line?). Learn how she built a personal think tank to troubleshoot new problems; kept her team focused on the big picture, not the distracting details; and recharged in as little as three minutes. For Rona, success means loving the problems that are part of every mission with her whole heart and mind. When you fall out of love with the problems, it's time to move on. How do you know when that moment arrives? And how do find your next mission? With the honesty, insight and humour that won her readers' loyalty, Rona delivers the goods.

References:

"She was inspirational, touched everyone in the room. She was articulate, charming, warm, inviting, and totally wonderful. The feedback was terrific - we could not have done better!!!! Rona has a particular style that suits a large group of women and her message - Success on your own terms- was just the right one." Big Brothers/Big Sisters of Peel

"...inspired the audience with your openness and honesty. With such ease and grace, you captivated their hearts and minds... You are a reflection of the strong and inspirational woman many of us strive to become." The Powerpoint Group (Women of Influence Speaker Series)

"The audience was completely captivated and deeply touched by your speech. One of my favourite parts was when you said, 'Every night before falling asleep, I would give thanks for the best moment of my day." B.C. Women's Hospital Foundation

"Restored my belief in the fact that I am living for myself and no one else and my belief in my own decisions." "A real role model." "I loved her honesty!" "She was one of the reasons why I wanted to attend this conference. Exciting..." "Wonderfully connective! Oh, to have that strength and fire!" University of Saskatchewan Extension Division

"Inspiring and often hilariously self-deprecating. No one moved, no one whispered - we didn't want to miss a single word" Editor-in-Chief, Flare

"I will carry your talk with me always. When I arrived home after that busy day, my first sight was a pair of my husband's dirty socks in the middle of the floor. My initial frustration was quickly replaced by a positive as a result of your talk. I'm lucky to have a good husband." Canadian Mental Health Association

"She's a wonderful public speaker because she is totally uninhibited. She holds nothing back... She really hits nerves." National Executive Director, The Mood Disorders Society of Canada

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Rona Maynard

Former editor of Chatelaine Magazine

Rona Maynard speaker video