#59 Owning life now!

In this episode, I connected with Gabriela Alvarez Burgardt, a global inclusion leader now Global Senior Director People & Culture at House of Inclusion, whose life was reshaped by moments she never chose, yet chose to meet with intention.

Raised in Brazil and long successful in international corporate roles, Gabriela’s life changed radically during pregnancy when she temporarily lost her sight, followed years later by a near-fatal Covid experience. Those moments forced a reckoning with time, values and agency. 

Instead of retreating, she chose to move forward consciously. Today she lives in the Netherlands, working at the intersection of inclusion, leadership and lived experience, helping people and organisations move from survival to dignity, from comfort to courage. 

Deep dive talking points:

👉🏾 living with urgency: choosing intention over waiting;

👉🏾 disability and dignity: navigating a world not built for everyone;

👉🏾 identity and work: reclaiming agency after life disruption;

👉🏾 inclusion beyond labels: belonging as a human need;

👉🏾 courage in action: showing up fully, even when it hurts;

Nuggets of empowerment:

🙌🏾 life is now, not later;

🙌🏾 discomfort can be a doorway, not a threat;

🙌🏾 owning your story changes how you live;

Gabriela’s empowering quote:

🙌🏾 “I didn’t choose what happened to me, but I chose what I did with it”

Books mentioned:

📚 Courage: seven choices for living a life without regret (referenced as a resonant lens on regret and intentional living)

Closing reflection:

If time were no longer guaranteed, what choice would you stop postponing?

Connect with Gabriela:

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gabriela-alvarez-burgardt/ 

Website: https://www.house-of-inclusion.com  

Learn more about our sponsor:

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