Kanada Gorla

Kanada Gorla is the founder of Shine where she works as  a process consultant, group facilitator, 1:1 coach and leadership & change catalyser. She is vastly experienced in helping individuals to inspire themselves and allowing them to foster a higher level of performance and resilience. Kanada facilitates the annual On Purpose  Embercombe retreat, one of the highlights of the On Purpose programme.

Why do you do the job you do?

Because I can. What I mean by that is I think I’ve been fortunate enough to find work that really requires me to use all of my gifts, skills and experiences in a way that challenges me. It keeps me at the edge of my learning and growth and at the intersection of my eclectic constellation; I feel very lucky to have found work that allows me to bring what I can bring.

What are you most proud of?

It’s funny that you ask me that as it’s something I ask other people often but don’t think about much myself!

What keeps you awake at night?

Not much, I sleep like a baby!

What were you doing 5 years ago?

I was living on Vancouver Island and was leading a rather crazy life commuting to Milan leading a change programme for Unilever Italia (but then moved back to the UK the following year).

What do you expect to be doing in 5 years’ time?

Launching my son into the world. He’ll be eighteen; I’ll be getting back to my roots and exhibiting as a visual artist; I’ll also be growing lots of food at home and continuing to grow people at Embercombe.

If you were Prime Minister for the day, what would you do?

Start over man…dissolve the current system… implement sacred economics.

I’d cancel all debt. I’d make ecocide the 5^th crime against peace.

Why are you involved with On Purpose?

Because we share a common goal to inspire and direct the flow of passion, talent and skills of the people we work with into endeavours that will co create the world that works for all of its inhabitants.

The concept of happiness and well-being is now being embraced at the very highest level and it is no surprise that it is also being integrated in the world of enterprise.  VIVOBAREFOOT is an example of a sustainable business that embraces an all emcompassing  lifestyle approach. At its heart, it boasts a  philosophy of healthy movement with a particular focus on running.

Recently, a small group of On Purpose Associates got to experience this philosophy when we took part in aVIVOBAREFOOT Training Clinic with Charles Darwin himself present……well ok, a stoic-looking cardboard cut-out, overlooking the proceedings. The experience was very different to the usual treadmill examination that you might expect elsewhere. On Purpose Fellows Dominic Jones and Ann Walker, International Sales Director and Operations & Strategy Director respectively at VIVOBAREFOOT, put us through a full suite of exercises to help us to develop a more natural and less injury prone running style.

An On Purpose Associate being put through the paces

Most interestingly for me, they brought to our attention recent Harvard Studies which support the hypothesis that runners using “minimal” footwear and striking on the forefoot (as those who run “barefoot” or in ultra-minimal footwear do) are injured half as often as conventional “heel strikers”. The principle of “Proprioception”, where the sensitive foot sends messages to the brain, really seemed to hit home with our little gathering as the benefits of upright posture, correct rhythm and relaxation were demonstrated to us.

The session impressed on me the clever way in which VIVOBAREFOOT has positioned its shoes as being essential to a more sustainable and healthy approach to running. This approach has wide relevance for the well-being movement, for people of all ages form children to the elderly.   VIVOBAREFOOT’s holistic insight taps into customers’ increasing desire to be socially and ethically connected with a company’s products and services. The discerning clientele are those that seek out the positive mental, physical and environmental benefits that purchases offer. Hopefully, this could serve as an inspiration to other organisations that are serious about truly serving the population.