W.E Women 2026

WINDSOR.ESSEX. WOMEN A DIVISION OF THE DRIVE MAGAZINE | ISSUE 11

WHERE LEADERSHIP MEETS HUMANITY Dr. Janelle Abela puts people at the centre of change.

LIFESTYLE | MENTAL HEALTH | FOOD | FASHION | TRENDS

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A Note

from our Managing Editor

There is something powerful about women who show up and play a role in shaping our community.

This issue reflects that power. Across Windsor-Essex, women are building, leading, and creating lives that feel true to them, with purpose.

Inside these pages, you will find stories and businesses rooted in growth and real moments, the kind that remind you that meaningful work is happening everywhere.

We invite you to explore, reflect, and celebrate those who continue to move our community forward.

Welcome to W.E Women.

Cheers,

Breanne McGinty Breanne McGinty Managing Editor

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Contributors Contents PAUL ST-PIERRE ............................................................. Publisher BREANNE MCGINTY ................ Managing Editor, Director of Sales MARNIE ROBILLARD ................................................... Art Director SABINE MAIN ..................................................... Creative Director MACKENZIE COJOCAR ................................. Publication Assistant GREG EDWARDS .................................................Graphic Designer MEL MONCZAK ...................................... Senior Account Manager JAYCI WIGLE ............................................. Sales Account Manager CONTRIBUTORS LAYAN BARAKAT ................................................................. Writer DEVAN MIGHTON ................................................................. Writer MELISSA BUZZEO ................................................................ Writer JEN BRIGNALL-STRONG ....................................................... Writer ALCHEMY CREATIVE .................................................Photographer TREVOR BOOTH ........................................................Photographer ANTHONY SHEARDOWN ...........................................Photographer ADRIANA LIPARI .......................................................Photographer ANNA STANLEY .......................................................... Copy Editor

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Inside this issue...

06 LEADING THE LINE

Dr. Janelle Abela on growth, connection, and the power of difference in every space she enters

12 WHAT DRIVES YOU?

Three Local Women Share Their Inspiration

18 TURNING DREAMS INTO REALITY

KD Elite Homes' Abbie Krall discusses turning a male-dominated industry on its head

22 FROM NIGERIA TO CANADA

Finding a Path and Purpose with United Way

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Leading the Line Dr. Janelle Abela On growth, connection, and the power of difference in every space she enters

By Layan Barakat Photos by Alchemy Creative

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“Oh, I think you’re muted,” Dr. Abela said, laughing, as I fumbled with my microphone.

It was the height of COVID, and I had been assigned a story on Dr. Janelle Abela, a woman with a voice, a mission, and the drive to make a difference. We had crossed paths before, but this was our first real conversation, and like most connections at the time, it unfolded through pixels, lag, and microphone errors.

Now, years later, as an attendee of Dr. Abela’s Thought Leader dinners and community initiatives, I have been able to witness that same passion, but on a much larger scale. “I’m so glad you’re writing this!” she exclaimed on a phone call. “I feel like this is a full-circle moment.” I laughed, taking in the weight that this piece carries: layers, experiences, and nuance worthy of a cover story.

“Can I put this in the story?” I replied with the same excitement.

From the front line to the production line to the finish line, Dr. Abela’s work revolves around people, pressure, and the possibility of what could be. As the Founder and CEO of Diverse Solutions, she is a Growth Strategist focused on improving workplaces and transforming how people exist within them.

But ask her what growth means, and she doesn’t default to metrics or milestones. Instead, her perspective is shaped by the experiences she’s gained across industries, translating complex concepts into practical solutions.

In partnership with St. Clair College, Dr. Abela has developed the Advanced Law Enforcement program, built from her research and training with policing organizations across Canada and the United States. The program focuses on leadership, communication, and trust-building within high-pressure environments, bringing theory into real-world, day-to-day application.

In the manufacturing sector, her work continues at a national scale through her partnership with Excellence in Manufacturing Consortium (EMC Canada). There, she develops and faciliW.E. WOMEN MAGAZINE

tates programming focused on inclusive workplaces, women in skilled trades, and learning differences, supporting organizations across Canada in building stronger, more adaptable teams amid labour shortages and shifting workforce demographics. It’s work that reinforces her belief that innovation happens when teams understand and harness differences.

Sometimes the line needs to be blurred, moved, or stepped off entirely."

The phrase “Leading the Line” might evoke structure, discipline, even uniformity, something Dr. Abela is very familiar with in her work. But for her, the concept isn’t about staying within the lines, it’s about recognizing when those lines no longer serve the people within them.

“I work on the line,” she says, “because sometimes the line needs to be blurred, moved, or stepped off entirely.”

It’s a perspective shaped by years of navigating spaces where conformity is expected and challenging it can feel uncomfortable, even risky. “Consistency and conformity are comfortable but for who, and at what cost?” she asks.

In a time where voices are growing louder and more diverse, she believes the traditional “line” can no longer be the standard. People aren’t uniform, and our systems shouldn’t expect them to be.

Much of her work lives in conversations people don’t always want to have about difference, power, communication, and culture. What sets her apart is how she brings people into those conversations. Dr. Abela has adopted what she calls the “why care” methodology, a concept that first gained traction during a pivotal 2019 conference, where she challenged educators to rethink how they engage students.

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“I recall saying something along the lines of, ‘we care about how much money we have in our bank account, our pets, or if our fast-food order was made correctly… why? Because we are invested in the outcome.’ I wanted teachers to see that if we want students to digest information— not just move through a class—we need to show them the value and get their buyin,” she says. “So instead of telling people they should care, I show them why it matters to them.”

That might mean walking through real-life scenarios – a product defect on a manufacturing line, an error in a healthcare process, or a split-second decision under pressure – and unpacking how hu-

man behaviour shapes operational outcomes and risks. “There are three parts to it: relatability, buy-in, and low-risk conversations,” she explains. “If people feel safe, they’ll engage. If they engage, they’ll understand.”

In one of her sessions, Dr. Abela recalls asking participants to share experiences from concerts or sporting events.

One man casually described how he would buy cheap seats at a hockey game, then slowly move closer to better seats as the night went on. Mid-story, something shifted.

“He stopped and realized what he was saying,” she recalls. “He started connecting it to how he moves through the

world, what he can get away with, what isn’t questioned.” That moment became a gateway into a deeper conversation about privilege, perception, and access.

“That’s the goal,” she says. “Not to force people into understanding, but to let them arrive there themselves.”

Even in the most unexpected settings, the results can be powerful. She remembers facilitating a session with a group of senior police officers using one of her deceptively simple signature tools, her Agree to Disagree card decks.

“It got heated,” she laughs. “People were slapping the table, laughing, completely invested,” but beneath the humour, there was a shift in perspective. “They were able to take that energy and immediately connect it to real-life situations and how different viewpoints show up in their work.”

Built from her background in education and workplace facilitation, the cards are designed to spark low-risk, high-engagement conversations that build critical thinking and communication skills. The concept of difference (not as a problem, but as a resource) is the core of Dr. Abela’s evolving platform: The Divide Guide.

Growing up, she moved frequently, never quite rooted in one place.

“I never really had a constant social group in my life,” she explains.

“I moved quite a bit growing up, with only a few years in each school. Being mixed race, living in different countries, with parents from different countries I was always in the divide, navigating how to present myself, how to act, how to fit in, how to belong.”

For most of her life, those differences felt like the problem. Over time, that perspective shifted.

“The more I came to understand my own experience, the more I came to value those differences and how they gave me a unique perspective on the line itself.” Now, she’s helping others do the same. “Difference is where innovation comes from,” she says. “If we all think the same way, we get the same outcomes.

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grounding them in the familiar patterns of everyday life.

It’s from that foundation that her understanding of growth begins. “Growth comes from psychological safety and openness,” she explains. “A willingness to change. When you’re open to new ideas, you open yourself up to new opportunities, new connections, new solutions, and new ways of understanding yourself and others – compounded when you’re in a psychologically safe space to do so.”

Outside of work, she describes herself as curious and endlessly interested in people. She laughs easily, asks questions freely, and resists the idea that professionalism has to mean seriousness. “I like to learn with people,” she says. “Not teach at them.”

But different perspectives? That’s where new solutions live.”

Across all the industries she works in, one theme consistently emerges: psychological safety. “If people don’t feel seen, heard, or valued, everything suffers,” she explains. “They disengage, they make mistakes, they stop sharing ideas.”

Those impacts show up operationally, too. “Small problems become big problems. Innovation slows down, and the cost becomes exponential.”

In Dr. Abela’s view, many workplace challenges can be traced back to this one issue. “The way we treat each other is either building safety or breaking it,” she says. “And the solution? It’s often simpler than we think. It’s care.”

In 2020, at the height of global uncertainty, she made a decision that changed the trajectory of her life, she left the classroom to build her business full-time. “It was stressful,” she admits. “That uncertainty doesn’t go away, it just changes.”

During that time, she worked with the team at WEtech Alliance, where she was introduced to Director of Venture Services and Partnerships, Adam Castle, whom she describes as a “friend and mentor,” and has since shown immense support in her work and vision.

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Her work, after all, is tied to people and people are influenced by politics, culture, and shifting social narratives.

But the risk gave her something she couldn’t find in the public sector. “Freedom, control, and the ability to build something without the red tape,” she explains. “I’ve always been someone who thinks, ‘what’s the worst that can happen?’ So why not try?”

For someone who spends so much time holding space for others, Dr. Abela is quick to acknowledge that she doesn’t do it alone. Her husband, Joshua Abela, a Controls Engineer with The NARMCO Group, has been a constant source of support, doubling as her unofficial translator for industry jargon.

“My husband has always been a person who holds my value steady and reiterates it in the darkest times,” she explains. “When I’m being hard on myself, he reaffirms my worth, centres me, and hears me. Even though our experiences in life have been quite different, somewhere along the way we became one. He feels what I feel and has not just become a sounding board, but an ally and advocate for me.”

And in the quieter moments, it’s their puppy, Zoey, who offers balance, pulling her outside for fresh air and

That momentum continues to grow through her work with Disrupt HR, where she brings her message to stages beyond traditional workplaces. From local collaborations with Meighen Nehme and The Job Shoppe for Disrupt YQG, Dr. Abela continues to push conversations forward, challenging audiences to think differently about leadership, culture, and connection.

Most recently, she was recognized as a top 50 voice for manufacturing and the Young Business Professional of the Year in LaSalle, a reflection of the growing impact of her work across industries and communities.

As Dr. Janelle Abela continues to grow as The Divide Guide, her vision is clear. She doesn’t just want people to tolerate difference; she wants them to value it. “It’s not enough to be open,” she says.

“We need the skills to actually navigate differences, to work within it, to grow from it.”

Because at the end of the day, her work isn’t just about how organizations function, it’s about the people within them, and what becomes possible when we finally learn how to meet each other, wherever we stand on the line. Follow @drjanelleabela on socials to learn more of her work. W.E.

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What Drives You? Three local women share their inspiration

Don’t take closed doors as a signal to shrink.”

Kylie Ellis

By Jen Brignall-Strong Photos by Adriana Lipari

On March 5th, the Windsor-Essex Chamber of Commerce hosted its inaugural She Means Business Brunch in celebration of International Women’s Day. The event was dedicated to recognizing and uplifting female entrepreneurs and leaders across the region.

Bringing together women from diverse industries and backgrounds, the morning was filled with powerful stories of perseverance, ambition, and growth.

The DRIVE Magazine was proud to be in attendance, supporting the women who continue to shape our community and eager to learn their “why.”

What fuels their ambition? What keeps them moving forward in the face of challenge? So we posed a simple yet meaningful question: what drives you?

The responses were as unique as the women themselves; thoughtful, inspiring, and deeply personal. Yet woven throughout each story was a shared sense of resilience; a quiet strength that continues to move them forward.

We’re proud to spotlight three of these remarkable professionals. Women whose stories reflect not only where they’ve been, but the purpose that continues to guide them. Meet our Women with DRIVE…

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You don’t need to have everything figured out to move forward."

Melissa-Jo Meyer

Get comfortable being uncomfortable— growth lives there."

Dakota Sparks

Kylie Ellis Account Manager Staples Professional

Kylie is a woman defined by not just professional purpose, but personal resilience, channeling early challenges into a life defined by strength, compassion, and a commitment to making a meaningful impact.

In her role, she specializes in public sector procurement for education, municipal and healthcare organizations, supporting large and enterprise clients across Windsor and London.

Her work centres on navigating complex purchasing systems, building trusted relationships, and delivering long-term value through strategic solutions.

Beyond her career, Kylie is deeply committed to her community, coaching competitive girls’ soccer and advocating for foster youth and mental health initiatives.

As a foster parent who grew up in foster care herself, she brings lived experience to her advocacy, grounding her leadership in empathy and action.

If you could give one piece of advice to a young woman just starting out in her career, what would it be?

“Donʼt take closed doors or rejection as a signal to shrink or second guess yourself. Theyʼre often redirections toward something bigger and better than what you originally imagined. Every door that closes builds resilience, clarity, and strength, and those moments are often what place you in rooms you never would have accessed otherwise. Trust yourself, stay bold in who you are, and keep moving forward. The right opportunities will meet you where youʼre meant to be.”

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Melissa-Jo Meyer

Manager, Workforce and Quality Assurance Alzheimer Society of Windsor and Essex County

Melissa-Jo “MJ” is a Human Resources leader with over two decades of experience working across both provincially and federally regulated environments. Her career has spanned multiple sectors, giving her the opportunity to build a broad, people-centred perspective rooted in empathy, fairness, and inclusion.

MJ is guided by the unwavering belief that where you begin does not define where you can go. Growing up in a challenging environment and navigating a physical disability that required multiple surgeries throughout her life taught her the importance of education and self-belief. Motherhood was a defining moment for her, with the birth of her son igniting a renewed sense of purpose and determination.

MJ’s lived experiences inform how she supports her colleagues, championing workplaces where individuals feel respected, heard, and valued. Deeply committed to her community, Meyer contributes to initiatives focused on accessibility, education, and advocacy, while also mentoring and uplifting other women.

If you could give one piece of advice to a young woman just starting out in her career, what would it be?

“Trust yourself and donʼt be afraid to take up space. You donʼt need to have everything figured out to move forward. Do not be afraid to fail. Failure is where some of lifeʼs most important and meaningful lessons come from. There is no straight path. Stay true to yourself, keep going, and do not let fear make your decisions for you.”

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Dakota Sparks Advisor - Corporate Channel at IG Wealth Management

Dakota has built a career defined by determination, adaptability, and continuous growth.

Beginning her journey as a single mother at 19, Sparks initially pursued a path in healthcare as a personal support worker, where she found purpose in helping others. However, recognizing the emotional toll of the field, she made a pivotal shift into finance after seeking guidance from her own advisor.

Embracing the opportunity, she immersed herself in learning, gaining mentorship from seasoned professionals and developing a strong foundation in wealth management. Her career evolution included building and eventually selling her own book of business before advancing within a bank’s wealth division, where further mentorship helped shape her trajectory.

Today, having returned to IG Wealth Management, Sparks focuses on growing her practice, fostering trusted client relationships, and continuing her personal and professional development. She is passionate about mentoring other women, hoping to provide the same support that helped guide her journey.

If you could give one piece of advice to a young woman just starting out in her career, what would it be?

“Get comfortable being uncomfortable. Growth lives there. Seek out people you admire and learn from them relentlessly. Be a sponge when theyʼre willing to teach you: observe how they think, how they structure their days, how they communicate, and how they treat others. Take the best qualities you see and consciously apply them to your own life and career. Perseverance and tenacity, especially when things feel hard or uncertain, will change the trajectory of your life.”

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Turning Dreams Into Reality KD Elite Homes’ Abbie Krall discusses turning a male-dominated industry on its head

By Devan Mighton Photos by Willowmore Creative Co.

Trades shouldn’t be gendered. They are skills; they are crafts.”

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Abbie Krall, owner and general contractor of KD Elite Homes, doesn’t just deal in dreams— she makes them a reality. However, she’s in rare air. There are still relatively few female contractors in the trades, but instead of that being the defining theme of KD Elite Homes, Abbie is more interested in being known by her results.

“I didn’t enter this industry to stand out,” she explains. “I entered it because I belong here. My story as a contractor isn’t about being a woman in the trades. It’s about falling in love with the craft.”

KD Elite Homes, the team-up of Abbie and her director of operations, Paige Krause, is a one-stop shop for your construction and renovation needs. Servicing the Windsor-Essex region, Abbie expertly guides clients from the early planning stages right through to the finished space, creating homes that are both functional and personalized to the needs of each family.

“A home isn’t just wood, pipe, and wire,” Abbie states. “It’s where life happens.” Abbie emphasizes strong communication with her clients throughout the renovation process. With the goal of turning their hopes and dreams into reality, she works closely with her customers to understand their needs and their goals, explain their options, while also helping them make informed decisions about materials, layout, and features. “We aren’t just completing a job, we’re building trust,” she adds. “We take their dreams and help make them a reality—but also help it make sense.”

KD Elite Homes can manage most aspects of a renovation or build. These services include the demolition of existing spaces, framing new layouts or removing walls, drywall installation and finishing, tiling, trim and mouldings, coordinating plumbing, electrical, and HVAC through trusted subcontractors like Chris Wismer Plumbing, Classic Electric, and Marques Design Co, and, ultimately, help homeowners make the right design choices that balance both style and budget, with a focus on creating spaces that feel personal and meaningful.

“No two homes are the same; no cookie-cutter thinking,” says Abbie.

“When homeowners go from disliking their home to feeling like it’s a breath of fresh air—that’s the biggest satisfaction.”

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Abbie has always been drawn to working with her hands and enjoys the process of building and transforming spaces. Her career began about 12 years ago, starting with framing. Over the years, she developed an interest in seeing projects through from start to finish, not just building the structure, but completing the full renovation process. “I entered this industry because I knew I was meant to work with my hands,” she recalls. “I went from starting at framing to jumping into the renovation side of things. I wanted to see the whole transition of what the home will turn into.”

Building felt natural to me— creating something that protects a family felt meaningful.”

Getting into the trades, “you have to put in the effort to find someone who’s going to teach you,” explains Abbie. “Find a good teacher and ask questions. Even if they seem like stupid

questions, ask the question, because it’s the only way you’re going to learn.”

Abbie is cognizant that, as a woman contractor, she is in rare air in a male-dominated industry. However, she isn’t interested in letting it define her. “I want to be known for the work I do, not just because I’m a female in the trade. Trades shouldn’t be gendered. They are skills; they are crafts.

We’re stepping into a new generation where a job is a job—it doesn’t matter the gender.”

“I just wanted to make my own company to prove that I can do it on my own,” she explains. “I thought I was good enough, so I gave myself the opportunity.” That is what she did. She engaged herself, she learned, she implemented, and she evolved. “I didn’t walk into it thinking I was doing something uncommon for women, I walked into it because building felt natural to me—creating something that protects a family from winter, rain, and heat felt meaningful.”

Abbie’s hard work, learning her craft, creating her own start-up, and succeeding in a male-dominated field is a testament to her dedication and passion, showing that old stereotypes don’t have to shape our outcomes. W.E.

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From Nigeria to Canada Finding a path and purpose with United Way Written by Melissa Buzzeo Photos by Adriana Lipari

Olatunbosun Obiwale’s story is one of resilience and determination. At just 15 years old, she moved from Nigeria to Canada with her family, stepping into an entirely new environment. Not only did she have to adjust to a new country, but she also faced the challenge of starting at a new school and building connections with unfamiliar peers.

Bosun recalls feeling out of place and struggling to adapt, saying, “During this time, I was having a hard time integrating myself in this new school.” As she navigated the differences between the Nigerian and Canadian school systems, she sought support to help guide her. It was at this time that she became involved with United Way. She joined their “On Track to Success Program”- an experience she believes played a crucial role in her journey, and one she can’t imagine being without.

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United Way was the foundation for understanding what I really want to do—and who I am."

Bosun reflects on the positive impact this organization had not only on her life, but also on her sister’s, who joined shortly after. She shares, “I found a really good communitypeople my age, from my culture, and others who understood exactly what I was going through.” Beyond that, the organization offered a wide range of supports for both her and her sister.

They helped Bosun get her driver’s license. Through extra lessons, after school study sessions, and community events, the sisters became more engaged in school. The family also received support with basic needs, including grocery assistance. As a result of their involvement, Bosun and her

sister developed a closer bond. When it came time to make post-secondary decisions, her after school coach provided valuable guidance, helping Bosun choose courses aligned with her goals and supporting her through the application process. She explains, “they made it easier for me to understand what I want to do, and who I am, and they helped me with my university application too. They also helped me receive bursaries. I still have friends from United Way that helped me along the way.”

Last summer, Bosun participated in the EMP program (Executive Mentorship Program) through United Way. This program gives students

real-world experience, helping them better understand the career paths they may want to pursue. After a successful interview, Bosun was excited for the opportunity, believing it would bring her clarity towards her future goals. She knew she wanted a career that would help people, but she wasn’t sure what that would look like.

Through the EMP program, Bosun joined the ELP (Elder Life Program) at Hotel-Dieu Grace Hospital. There, she was paired with a mentor named Sam, who guided her as she explored her career options. In her role, Bosun supported elderly patients by talking to them, taking them for walks, and offering companionship. She also learned about their individual needs and shared that information with their medical team to help improve their care. Through this experience, she realized that every patient requires a different approach-what works for one person might not work for another.

Bosun found this experience incredibly meaningful, and it confirmed her desire to pursue a career focused on helping others. Even after completing the program, she says that she has continued her mentorship with Sam and now feels confident about the direction of her studies.

Bosun shares, “the United Way has helped me so much-it was the foundation for understanding what I really want to do.” Her confidence has grown, knowing she has ongoing support from this organization.

She is preparing to graduate from University of Windsor this fall with a double major and is currently deciding between two career paths: becoming a paralegal or a teacher.

Although her journey has not been easy, Bosun remained determined, even when she didn’t have all the answers. Joining United Way gave her the support she needed to stay focused and work toward achieving her dreams. W.E.

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