Colleen McMurtry is a wife to a rock-star-in-waiting, a mom to two amazing identical twin girls, a Lifestyle Advisor with Global Wealth Trade and is our Featured DivaGirl for December!!
Colleen is a full-time entrepreneur who is committed to helping as many people as possible achieve their financial goals while enjoying luxury designer fashions from Canada’s largest fashion house.
Fashion is her passion and she agrees with Coco Chanel that “a girl should be two things: classy and fabulous.”
What is your definition of a leader?
I believe Peter F. Drucker said it best: “Leadership is lifting a person’s vision to higher sights, the raising of a person’s performance to a higher standard, the building of a personality beyond its normal limitations.” However, the one thing I would add is that a true leader does those things with honesty and authenticity. Otherwise, you cannot be a successful leader because people don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care.
Please provide an example of when you had to lead a group.
In my business, I lead my team every day and encourage them to step outside of their comfort zone to develop as a person as well as a business owner. I am responsible for guiding my team by helping them develop and attain their business goals by sharing relevant training and business information with them. I’ve also established accountability calls with my team once a week to keep us all on track to achieving our goals and to assist where ever, however we can.
What are the (3) things you can’t live without?
The three “things” I can’t live without are my faith, my family and my phone!
What do you do to get fit, have fun and feel sexy?
I’ve recently rediscovered the joy jumping rope that I enjoyed as a child. Who knew that skipping would become my workout of choice as an adult! Crossrope Fitness is quick, simple, and effective cardio training that I can do anywhere. I love it!
What are (3) staple outfits in your closet.
The three staple outfits in my closet are the LBD (can take you from the office to dinner with no problems!), my black turtle neck with black dress pants (so comfortable and is a great canvass for the jewelry and other accessories that I sell) and my favorite pair of blue jeans and a white button-down shirt (a classic look that you can dress up or down depending on the situation).
What is your definition of a Divagirl?
ADivaGirl to me is a woman who understands the importance of personal development in order to achieve success—however they define success. That can come in the form of educating herself in all matters dealing with finances, business, health or relationships. She also understands that there is strength in numbers and a wisdom found in like-minded individuals.
How does being a DivaGirl make you feel empowered and inspired?
Being a DivaGirl makes me feel empowered because I am a part of a very positive group of like-minded, entrepreneurial women who are creating their futures by their own means. There is a phenomenal power in knowing that you can draw on the collective pool of knowledge within this group and the personal growth is astounding if you tap into the various programs and events that exist in the DivaGirl community.
What are your three major accomplishments and why?
My three major accomplishments are being married and in love with the same man for twelve years, being a mother to two amazing six-year-old girls, and being an entrepreneur who is inspired to share fashion and finance with others.
Aside from your family and close friends, who are your other outside influencers and how have they changed you?
My outside influencers are my business mentors Ms. Sanaz Hooman, and Mr. Ramin Mesgarlou, who constantly push me to exist outside of my comfort zone. You can only truly grow once you step outside of your comfort zone. Ms. Hooman was written about in Oprah’s “WOW” – Women of Wealth magazine – as a “power figure to women around the world”, and now she is imparting her wisdom onto me. Mr. Mesgarlou was the first Canadian business man to be featured on the cover of American Business Journal. I figured I could learn a thing or two from each of them and lucky for me, they both agreed to my request!
Favorite Quote/Motto that you live by?
I actually have three: “Do or do not. There is no try.” The next one is “If you’re not getting better, you’re getting worse.” The final one is: “I still have my feet on the ground, I just wear better shoes.” You can thank Yoda for the first quote. The second quote is from my business mentor Mr. Ramin Mesgarlou. The final quote is by Oprah Winfrey, and it absolutely resonates with me, because while I still get excited about finding a great deal at the dollar store, I just go shopping at the dollar store with better FERI shoes!
If you can have dinner with someone from past, present, or future who would it be and why?
I would love to sit down to dinner with Nelson Mandella and pick his brain on his miraculous ability to forgive the very people who wronged him during the prime of his life. He made the act of forgiveness seem so easy.
What is the last book you read?
I’ve just re-read the Last Lecture by Randy Pausch. A great book that I tend to read at least once a year. It motivates me to keep on reaching for my dreams because after all everyone encounters brick walls along the way. But Randy advises: “The brick walls are there for a reason. The brick walls are not there to keep us out. The brick walls are there to give us a chance to show how badly we want something.”
What has been challenging for you as an entrepreneur?
My biggest challenge as an entrepreneur is achieving work-life balance. I’ve acknowledged that my business is so very important to me, but far and away the most important thing in my life is my family.
How did you overcome it?
When a former classmate of mine passed away suddenly, I was shocked into the reality that I will always have pressing issues with my business that I need to address, but my most important roles in my life are that of mom and wife. So, I’ve carved out clear blocks of time for business and for family so that my team members know when I am available to them and my family knows when I’m available for them.
What is the ONE word that best describes you?
Determined
What is your go to cheat food or comfort food of choice?
My comfort food of choice is sushi pizza at this great authentic Japanese restaurant in Markham. But my cheat food is now and always will be ketchup flavored potato chips!
Amazing, Authentic and a True Fashionista! Follow this beauty on
Instagram @luxe_collection, Twitter @luxurybossbabe, and Facebook @LuxuryDivaGirlVirtualDesignerMall
