Aina-Nia Ayo’dele is “A transformative leader and change maker.”
She is CEO & Principal of Aina-Nia Learning Journey Inc., and is unapologetically on a mission to influence institutions and individuals to create bold and meaningful change through a decolonized approach to leadership, as a means to equity, inclusion, reparation, and reconciliation and most importantly, SELF love.
Aina-Nia is a leadership coach, author and ancient wisdom teacher who considers herself a Spiritual Liberation Activist. She believes and knows firsthand that a decolonized and re-indigenized approach brings measurable impacts –social, political, and economic.
In 2018, Aina-Nia established North America’s first government sanctioned strategy and permanent office to address anti-Black racism and was the lead consultant on the creation of the Toronto Action Plan to Confront Anti-Black Racism. She led in the development of the COVID Equity Plan on Community Engagement & Mobilization for Vaccine Equity, including the establishment of the Black Scientists’ Taskforce for Vaccine Equity, Toronto Youth Vaccination Advisory, and the Accessibility Taskforce. The City of Toronto acknowledges Aina-Nia’s 4 years of ground-breaking as: “Through you a city is transformed.”
Since her retirement from public service at the City of Toronto to continue her public works, Aina-Nia has returned to her love of leadership development. She has been supporting leaders to play their role in advancing social justice as they live the highest version of their vision. Her clients and students span across sectors including social services, healthcare, education, arts & culture, government, and private corporations.
Over a decade ago she founded Sacred Women International and the life transformational
process, Sacred Leaders Training™ which has been transforming individuals, families, and communities. Aina-Nia is known for masterfully integrating her spiritual and corporate expertise throughout all her offerings to create generational impacts. She is multifaceted – a Yoruba priest initiated in various other ancient wisdom traditions as well as an Ontario licensed clergy in Metaphysical & New Thought Ancient Wisdom.
She is a well sought-after public speaker who has presented to academic, corporate, Faith and civil society audiences across North America, Caribbean, and West Africa. Aina-Nia is known for inspiring action through her masterful delivery, transforming you almost immediately. Aina-Nia is often called on to consult on issues of institutional culture change, gender and racial equity, and African Indigenous practices. She has also been featured in various documentaries and learning podcasts on these issues. She sat on the Parliament of World Religions 2018 historic working group for the development of Indigenous Peoples Program and led the Women’s Water Ceremony at its global gathering in Toronto. She was a featured PoWR 2023 luminary at the Parliament of World in Chicago, USA.
For her trailblazing work and the sterling contributions, Aina-Nia was honoured with a Lifetime Advocacy Award in February 2022. In 2018, she was named one of the 100 Most Accomplished Black Canadian Women prior to which she was nominated as 100 Women to Watch in 2017. The Ontario government recognized her for contributions to the community and in 2008, she was nominated as one of Toronto’s Most Inspiring Women. Aina-Nia was also recognized as one of Jamaica’s 58 Best, honouring the country’s 58th Independence. She was recently featured at the Toronto Archives as an Influential Black Leader who has overcome obstacles to make valuable contributions to society and the world.
Her book SELF: An Inner Journey to Re-Membering Your Power was released in 2021 and is on its third print. Aina-Nia’s work is featured in the film Remembering Her Power. The film premiered at the 2018 Parliament of World Religions in Toronto and has been a featured documentary on Global Africa Television Network as well as the LA’s PTA film festival 2020.
http://www.aina-nia.com
Experience the Remembering Her Power Documentary
Aina-Nia Ayo’dele Grant – A Transformative Leader And Changemaker