Meet Our Panelists: Salena Starling from Community of Big Hearts
Speaker, Activist, Keynote, Facilitator, Entrepreneur - just a few of the amazing things about Salena.
Salena Starling, a dedicated member of the Nisichawayasihk Cree Nation, currently holds the esteemed position of President and CEO at the Community of Big Hearts. Remarkably, she stepped into the role of CEO at the tender age of 18, building on a foundation laid at the age of 11 when she commenced her journey as a public speaker, bravely sharing her personal experiences within the child welfare system.
We are so excited to have Salena a part of our Panel for Camp Rover Conference 2024.
Here’s a bit more on Salena through a little interview to get to know her.
What is the hardest part about what you do?
I believe the hardest thing I do is being able to share my story, I speak about my journey being in foster care and the horrors I’ve faced. I share it to try and create a sense of understanding, it’s also a very unique perspective coming from foster care and becoming a CEO at 18.
What is the all-time dream part of your job? The thing you still pinch yourself that you get to do? And, tell the people how often you actually get to do it.
It’s been my dream to be a public speaker, every time I hear someone say they’re inspired or that I’ve motivated them in some way I want to just cry happy tears!
If you could tell your Day 1, starting a biz self one thing what would it be?
I would tell myself that I’ve got this, I have so many people supporting me and cheering me on.
Someone wants to get into activism & public speaking. What advice - from an expert - would have saved you a lot of time, sweat, and tears?
I wish someone would have told me that imposter syndrome is real, I wish that I knew that being a young indigenous, queer, woman was a superpower.
Fun fact about you?
That I met Barack Obama when I was 14 or that I first public spoke when I was 11.
Fav book? Fav show? Your All-time go-to movie while working?
Brooklynn 99, and my fav movie is the Labyrinth.
Any closing thoughts for the Camp Rover Community?
We are just a community of the coolest people around!
