Testimonials
About our Trainings and Instructors:
“Developing leadership that supports and encourages rather than dominates is one of the most important tasks of our time. Anima employs methods that can teach us to be the leaders we want to have. Annahid and Shakil are two of the most creative and effective educators I know.”
Judy Rebick, Author of Imagine Democracy and Political Analyst
“An excellent grounding in the qualities and practices of leadership that can build powerful relationships among caregivers, indeed among any group of people valuing collective development or our capacities.”
Jackie Larkin, Healthcare Consultant, Participant in ALIVE Program for Healthcare Leaders, 2007
“Anima Leadership programs offer staff authentic wisdom to nurture change in an organization.”
Ana Rahmat, Director, BC Federation of Labour Health and Safety, 2007
“A great chance for people to take their leadership to a new level. Anima creates a space for breakthroughs!"
Shannon Thompson, Executive Director, Greenest City, 2008
“It is said that, “A great leader is someone people choose to follow to places that they wouldn’t go themselves.” Shakil Choudhury is such a leader. He creates an environment where people feel comfortable critically analyzing their attitudes and behaviours. He encourages people to question the status quo, but also leaves them feeling empowered to make a difference.”
Nazneen Dindar, Vice Principal, Durham District School Board and former Equity, Diversity and Race Relations Facilitator for the DDSB
“Annahid Dashtgard represents a new kind of leadership that the world desperately needs. She is intelligent, both intellectually and emotionally: thoughtful, thorough, political and spiritual. It is wonderful to witness her work holistically and without ego. I have changed greatly from her guidance and insights.”
Judith Dunstan, Registered Social Worker and Psychotherapist
“In our programs, so much depends on the strength and quality of the lead facilitators: authenticity, heartfulness, clarity, artistic and improvisational ability. Our work also calls for a keen understanding of how to lead multi-cultural, cross-generational learning events: cultural sensitivity, masterful communication skills, transparency, flexibility and decisiveness. David has all this and more; I am so glad he is a member of our lead-facilitator team.”
Charlie Murphy, Ashoka Fellow Co-Founder and Creative Director of Power of Hope
“Developing gender sensitive leadership models is one of our collective challenges in building a fairer world where women’s rights are respected. The ALIVE program is an excellent example of the kind of space we need to open up to share our power and potential and the training truly empowers women to be more inspired and intentional leaders in their relationships, organizations and communities.”
Jennifer Brammer, Program Coordinator, Oxfam Canada
“I used to think leadership was all about decision-making and having power. Being here took my thinking outside of the box and helped me discover new skills and a deeper understanding of right decision-making and what it takes to be a good leader.”
Program participant 2005
“I’m more open to sharing and taking risks… I realize that I can be myself and share and it’s still going to be okay. I have more self-acceptance and less negative self-talk.”
ALIVE participant, 2006
“Thank you for everything you've done for me, and for giving me a perfect example of what people can achieve… by being who they are and nothing more.”
Programme participant, 2006
“Annahid Dashtgard is a Leader. She has an ability to show both her vulnerability and strengths openly. She stays in the moment, shares power and lives the values she teaches through honest, aware and responsive self-reflective action. She generously encourages her brothers and sisters to rise to their own power within…”
Lorrie Simunovic, Diversity Consultant, The Centre for Addiction and Mental Health
“Shakil Choudhury, of Anima Leadership, is once again on the cutting edge of educational work that challenges the borders that separate us… He is a wonderful teacher of teachers because he is so forthright, honest, and approachable; he shares the struggles and contradictions of his work as well as the successes, so that people can identify with him and imagine themselves taking on their dreams and undertaking ambitious and heart-felt projects…”
Deborah Barndt, Associate Dean, Faculty of Environmental Studies, York University
“I understand how people work in a more practical manner. I can read people to an extent far beyond my experience before these seminars.”
Program participant, 2005
