b'PERSONAL PERSPECTIVEMallory Rose is Indspires new Vice President of Communications, Marketing and Student Success. Here, she shares her insights on the power of defining success through her own personal lensHOW TRADITION INFORMS INNOVATIONI n business, were taught toGROWING UP INWhen I left Curve Lake to study scale bigger, better, faster, butCURVE LAKE business at Wilfrid Laurier back home, success has alwaysMy roots are my foundation. IUniversity, I faced a cultural meant something different. As angrew up in Curve Lake First Nation,whiplash as the highly competitive Anishinaabe from Curve Lake Firstsurrounded by strong womenbusiness program hadnt had an Nation, I was raised to measureand generations of leadership.Indigenous student before. Even strength through well-roundednessMy grandmother, Elsie Knott, wasthough I was proud to be there, and balance. For a long time, I feltCanadas first elected female Chief.I found myself jaw-dropped on like I was living out a script that hadMy other grandmother, Kathleenseveral occasions where course already been written for me. Taylor, founded the Ontariomaterials positioned Indigenous Native Welfare Administratorspeoples as incompetent to justify Earning gigs in high-level corporateAssociation. Their leadershipconcepts taught in business spaces, Ive been lucky enough totaught me that community servicepolicy, law, accounting, and get a seat at the table with C-suiteand progress arent oppositeshuman resources.leaders at some of North Americas theyre intertwined.most prominent brands, and I wasIf it werent for the emotional known for being the IndigenousAs a child, I competed in twosupport I received from the voice in the room. As proud as I wasNorth American Indigenous GamesAboriginal Student Centre, and to be that voice, my role felt limitedas a pitcher and at the Nationalfrequent visits from family, my to Indigenous subject matter. WhyAboriginal Hockey Championships.experience might not have led me couldnt I be the lead strategist,I was Head Dancer at the Curveto persevere for four years.builder or innovator who happensLake Pow Wow for several years to be Indigenous? Thats when I an honour that grounded meENTREPRENEURSHIP & began to reevaluate what I thoughtin cultural pride and discipline.RECONNECTIONwas working: permitting personalThose early experiences shapedAfter graduation, I created Tribal evolution, changing direction, andhow I lead today: with energy,Trade Co., a small retail store selling rebuilding my life blueprint. enthusiasm, and gratitude. Indigenous goods from across 38indspiration2025'