Maria Malik

🎉🎂🎈 It's my Birthday! 🎈🎂🎉

Today, as I celebrate another year of growth and wisdom, I wanted to share a special wish that I hold close to my heart. 🌟

My birthday wish this year is for a more connected and compassionate world. 🌍💙

In a fast-paced digital age, it's easy to get caught up in our own lives and forget the power of human connection.

So, on this day, I invite all of you to join me in spreading kindness, empathy, and support to one another.

Here’s how you can start:

1️⃣ Reach out: Take a moment to connect with someone you haven't spoken to in a while. A simple message or phone call can brighten their day and strengthen your bond.

2️⃣ Listen attentively: Truly listen to those around you. Show genuine interest in their stories, challenges, and triumphs. Let them know they are heard and valued.

3️⃣ Extend a helping hand: Offer your skills, expertise, or time to support someone in need. Whether it's mentoring, volunteering, or lending a hand in their projects, your contribution can make a significant impact.

4️⃣ Practice gratitude: Reflect on the blessings in your life and express gratitude for the people and experiences that have shaped you. Share your appreciation openly and encourage others to do the same.

5️⃣ Foster inclusivity: Embrace diversity and create inclusive spaces where everyone feels welcome and respected. Celebrate our differences and recognize the strength that comes from our collective voices.

Let's make this world a brighter place by embodying the values of compassion, empathy, and unity. 🌟💙

Thank you all for being a part of my journey and for your warm wishes on this special day.

Your support means the world to me! 🙏

Here's to a year filled with growth, meaningful connections, and endless possibilities.

Cheers to making a positive impact in the lives of others!

#BirthdayWish #Growth #MakingADifference #Gratitude

I’m starting 2025 at my healthiest.

And I couldn’t be more proud 😊

If you’ve been here for a while, you might remember I shared last year how much I was struggling with my weight since the pandemic.

It was affecting so many areas of my life…especially how I showed up on Linkedin.

I found myself holding back from:

➡️ Posting picture content
➡️ Creating videos for you
➡️ Going Live consistently

And honestly, so much more.

But in 2024, I made a decision: to take control and put my health first.

I lost 25 pounds in the healthiest way possible—diet, exercise, and a whole lot of determination. 💪🏼

And let me tell you, for someone who LOVES food 🍔 as much as I do, this wasn’t easy.

But it was worth it. Every hard day, every small choice added up.

Here’s the lesson I want to share with you:

✨ Success doesn’t happen overnight, but it does happen when you stay consistent—even when you can’t see the results right away. ✨

Small, intentional steps compound over time. The key is to keep going, even when it feels tough.

If you’re struggling to reach a goal, remember this: You’re not failing; you’re building.

Now it’s your turn: 👉 What’s one goal you’re committing to in 2025?

Drop it in the comments—I’d love to cheer you on! 💬

#2025 #goals #personaldevelopment

Confidence is the best accessory you can wear…

You can be as prepared as possible.

You can have the best presentation in the world.

You can be the most well-dressed in the room.

But…

If you are not wearing your confidence.

You will still fall flat.

How does one feel confident?

Million dollar question…

The simple answer is:

Be more self-aware.

Know what you are good at…

Know what you may not be so good at…

Play on your strengths

And..

Work on your weaknesses.

A confident person is not someone who is great at everything.

Instead, they are someone who accepts themselves…

And

Is unapologetic about it!

What does confidence look like to you?

Comment below ⬇️

#confidence #confident #personaldevelopment #personalgrowth

Speaking up can be downright terrifying 😰

The fear of judgment, rejection, or not being heard was something that always held me back.

But if there is one thing I have learned in life.. it is this…

✨Finding your voice is unbelievably liberating ✨

It's like breaking free from invisible chains that have bound you for far too long.

When you gather the courage to speak your truth, you realize the power you possess.

Your words can inspire, educate, and ignite change not only in yourself but also in others.

If you are someone that is afraid of speaking up, don't let fear silence you.

Embrace the challenge, find your voice, and watch yourself soar.
____________________________________________________________

What is something you are fearful of that you want to overcome?

Comment below ⬇️

#speaking #fear #publicspeaking

I decided to go all in on LinkedIn on January 1, 2022
 
I quit all other social media platforms.
 
I quit:
 
Youtube
Instagram
Tiktok
 
Each was draining me in different ways…
 
But LinkedIn has always been different for me.
 
June 9, 2022 I told you my story.
 
It reached over 20 million people.
 
Yes…
 
20 MILLION!
 
I didn’t even know this was possible here on LinkedIn.
 
I received over 100 messages from women AND men who had gone through something similar.
 
I had NO idea there are this many of us…
 
I connected with over 100,000 of you.
 
I got opportunities presented to me that I had only dreamed of.
 
LinkedIn and everyone on this platform has changed my life.
 
Truly…
 
All I want to say is Thank you. 
 
Thank you from the bottom of my heart for all the love & support you give me every day ❤️
 
You make me strong
You give me courage
You make me want to show up!
 
P.S I finally hired a photographer so no more ring light photos 🤣

#thankyou #linkedin #personaldevelopment #socialmedia

Is being introverted a weakness?

I am here to tell you…

It's time to embrace your introverted nature and see it for the strength that it is.

Introverts are often deep thinkers and excellent listeners.

We are able to think before we speak, which allows us to carefully consider our words and express ourselves with thought and precision.

We also tend to be more empathetic and intuitive than our extroverted counterparts.

This makes us great:

✅ Friends 
✅ Partners
✅ Colleagues.

So, don't be ashamed of being introverted.

Embrace it and let it shine. ✨

Being introverted is awesome.

Be proud of it.

_______________________________

What are some other strengths you think introverts possess?

Comment below ⬇️

#introvert #strength #proud #publicspeakingcoach

I worked in the corporate world for almost 10 years.

Being an introvert made it very difficult.

The meetings
The presentations
The socializing

I hated all of it.

But I knew, if I wanted to succeed in my career and keep growing, I had to embrace each.

Here are the top 3 things that helped me the most:

1. Leveraging my strengths.

I focused on what I was good at, for example listening and then responding rather than just speaking for the sake of it.

2. Building quality connections.

I made an effort to always meet with my manager and maintain that relationship more than any other relationship.

3. Managing my energy.

I only had so much of it so I made sure all the important meetings, presentations and mixing and mingling was done earlier if possible.

Even though it seemed impossible, I found my way while still being true to myself.

The idea is to use what you already have, dear introverted leader.

And then nothing will stop you from achieving your full potential.
____________________

If you are an introverted leader and you need to learn how to communicate better in the corporate world..

Then I invite you to book a Free Speaker Mastermind Call with me.

Link is on my profile.

This is all around you and you probably didn’t even notice.

It is..

The Rule of 3

In simplest terms the rule of 3 states that when things are in 3’s, it becomes a pattern.

Our brain is more likely to process things in patterns.

Examples:

Public Service Announcement: Stop, Drop & Roll
Religion: Father, Son and Holy Spirit 
Stories: 3 Little Pigs
Language (Greek): Ethos, Pathos, Logos
Food: Bacon, Lettece Tomatos

I was tempted to give you only 3 examples for the sake of the Rule of 3 but the list is just so long. 😅

So, how can the Rule of 3 make you a good communicator?

When you speak in 3’s, your audience is more likely to comprehend and remember your points better.

State 3 points
Give 3 reasons why
Explain in 3’s.

This will make you a better speaker.

_______________________________________

What is another Rule of 3 you can think of? Comment below ⬇️

We've entered the final stretch of the year with only 6 months left!

Here is what you should do to make it count:

🔥 Invest in You: Take a moment to reflect and identify areas for growth. Whether it's learning a new skill, tackling a personal project, or expanding your knowledge, investing in yourself is the key to unlocking your full potential.

⏰ Time is Precious: Every second is a valuable gift. Don't let it slip away. Prioritize your goals, stay focused, and make deliberate choices to ensure you're using your time effectively.

💥 Finish Strong: Remember the dreams and aspirations that fueled your journey at the beginning of the year. It's not too late to accomplish them. Stay committed, stay resilient, and stay hungry for success.

🤝 Connect and Collaborate: Surround yourself with individuals who inspire and uplift you. Seek out new connections, foster collaborations, and together, we can achieve extraordinary things.

✨ Embrace the Journey: Life is an adventure, and these next 6 months are filled with possibilities. Embrace the challenges, celebrate the victories, and cherish every moment. Remember, it's not just about the destination; it's about relishing the journey.

💫 Make a pact: Don’t waste these 6 months. Invest in yourself, embrace growth, and finish this year strong. The time is now to create a remarkable legacy that inspires others.

Let's make the most of it! 💫

What is your goal for the coming 6 months?

#finishStrong #success #growth

On Monday I was on a coaching call with a client who spoke English as his second language.

He said to me Maria, you speak so well because English is your first language.

I told him:

English is actually my Third Language

I was taught Urdu fluently first, then French because I grew up in Montreal.

When I eventually moved to Toronto at the age of 8, that is when I learned English.

How do I speak English so well even though it is my third language? 

It’s because I love to read.

Reading is my life hack.

It helps me exercise my mind so I can:

✅ Form better sentence structures
✅ Articulate my thoughts well 
✅ Speak clearly & concisely

Now I'm not saying living in Canada did not help, it absolutely did.

More than that it was my passion for learning and getting lost in a good book 📚

If you also want to speak better English, pick up a book that will actually make you think and READ.

By the way, these are the 3 self help books I am reading right now:

1️⃣ The Mountain is You - Brianna Wiest
2️⃣ The Obstacle is the Way - Ryan Holiday 
3️⃣ Maybe you Should Talk to Someone - Lori Gottlieb

What is a book you cannot put down? Comment below ⬇️

#read #personaldevelopment

Last year in June I celebrated 100K Followers.

At the start of the year I gave myself 6 months to grow my business.

I knew if I didn’t, I would have to give up and go back to the corporate world.

That alone was a HUGE motivating factor for me to continue working hard.

I’m not going to bore you guys with what I did to get to 100K followers on Linkedin.

But I will say one thing.

I believed it was possible.

I had a vision of what I wanted and everyday little things contributed to that vision.

And the most important thing..

I appreciated and leaned on everyone that helped me get to where I am.

Mentors, Friends, family, and all of you.

If an ordinary girl from Toronto like me can do it.. trust me…

So can you.

Thank you so much for making my dreams a reality.

I will never forget my journey to 100K.

Sincerely,

Maria Malik ❤️

#linkedin #thankyou #business

All I ever wanted was to be a normal Toronto teenager.

But when I was 17, my parents brought me to Pakistan and married me off.

I teamed up with Toronto Life Magazine to talk about how I escaped an abusive relationship and found my way back home.

The Memoir titled “My Forced Marriage” is available right now on the Toronto Life Magazine front page.

It isn’t easy talking about this, but I am doing this for all the women AND men who also suffered this fate.

This is to tell you, you are not alone.

This is to show you that you can still live the life you want.

This is to give you hope, and to encourage you not to give up on your dreams. 

Thank you Toronto Life Magazine for working with me on my Memoir.

***Side note***

This is in no way hate towards any culture or religion. I am still a proud Pakistani.

This is my experience, the immigration experience and about a family who learned to respect and adapt to both Pakistani & Canadian culture.

It is also about healing and forgiveness.

I am posting the link in my comment section for the full story.

I hope you enjoy reading it 😊

Sincerely,
Maria Malik

#mystory #personalgrowth #toronto #memoir

When I was 24 years old, I was told by my manager that I am extremely quiet.

I did not speak much during meetings, presentations or networking events.

I had no idea what to say and how to say it.

Because of my shy introverted nature:

❌ I always struggled to get the jobs I wanted
❌ I would always be passed on for promotions
❌ I would hate going in to work

I have done it all, the worst I can remember is calling in sick the day before because I had a huge presentation in front of C-Suite executives.

Guess how that made me look at work? Terrible…

There came a point where I knew something had to change.

So, I started taking courses.

I started reading books about confidence & public speaking..

I also hired a coach to teach me how to create presentations in front of large crowds. 
Years of hard work paid off when I started to notice that:

✅ Getting the jobs I wanted came with much ease
✅ I got promoted faster and faster (8 months was my record)
✅ I loved giving presentations and even enjoyed going into work.

To take it to the next level,  when I left corporate and started my business, my business took off much faster than expected.

All because I had put in the time and energy into developing Public Speaking skills.

Mastering Public Speaking has been life changing for me.

If I could go back, I would do things the exact same way!

The lesson to be learned here is to not quit but get better at something you feel you are lacking in.

Can you think of a skill that has been life changing for you?

#publicspeaking #presentations #interviews

I am not anti-social. I am selectively social.

I recently did a poll and I asked you:

Does this sound like you?

“I am not anti-social. I am selectively social”

Yes?
No?

Any clue what the results were?

To no surprise the vote was in favor of YES at 92%.

As introverts there is a misconception that we are:
 
❌ Anti social 
❌ Boring
❌ Loners

This cannot be far from the truth 😖

As introverts, we are very selective with where we exert our energy.

This is because we only have so much of it.

We require more time to recharge our battery 🪫

Hence we tend to keep our circle small.

When we ARE around people we trust, we are extremely fun and maybe a bit corky at times 🤪

We can be 2 completely different personalities depending on our comfort level.

And that is okay.

Dear Introvert: Your identity and purpose are self-known and intentional.

Be proud of it!
______________________

Fun fact - I rubbed off on my dog Caesar and he is also an introvert 🤣

#personaldevelopment #professionalgrowth

That one time I did a photoshoot 📸 and Caesar wanted to be in every photo 🐶

Watch until the end to see what happens when I actually wanted a photo with him 🤣

Sound on! 🔊

#photoshoot #linkedin #personaldevelopment #publicspeaking

I have 20 clients who started my program this week.

Last year this time I had only 3.

It’s crazy how much things can change in just 1 year.

I had a dream and I was determined to make it happen.

Anyone I would talk to about it, thought I was crazy…

Honestly, I myself thought I was crazy too! 😅

But, I did it…

I am exactly where I wanted to be business wise.

(AND life wise but that is a story for another time)

I am telling you this because I know you too have heard that your dreams are outrageous.

That what you are asking for is too much..

I am here to tell you it is not…

If you think you can make it happen..

Then guess what,

It will.

But…with time, hard work, persistence and determination.

_______________________________

Join me LIVE on my next Masterclass 3 Steps to Get Promoted Faster as an Introverted Leader.

This is for you, if you feel that your fear of Public Speaking is holding you back from your true potential.

Link to join is in the comment section

See you then!

#publicspeaking #masterclass #publicspeakingcoach

Public Speaking is a Talent.

True or False?

Most people think that being a great public speaker is a talent.

However, it is not.

It is a skill.

One that is VERY easy to learn once you know the techniques and you get the right amount of practice.

If you want to get better at public speaking, I have a free training for you:

Just got to my profile and click “ACCESS FREE TRAINING“

#publicspeaking #talent #leader #people

🚨 This is It: Doors Close TONIGHT 🚨

If you're still thinking about joining Voices That Lead...

Ask yourself honestly:

How much longer are you willing to wait to be heard?
How many more meetings are you willing to stay silent in?
How many more opportunities are you willing to watch pass by?

The truth is... if nothing changes, nothing changes.

Over the last few months, my clients have gone from feeling invisible to leading meetings, delivering presentations, and landing promotions, often in less than 90 days.

Now it's your turn. But the window is closing — fast. ⏳

Doors to Voices That Lead close tonight at 11:59 PM PT.

When they reopen months from now:

🔺 It’ll be at a higher price
🔺 The free 1:1 bonus session with me will be gone
🔺 And the time you could have spent building your voice, confidence, and career? You won’t get it back.

Imagine yourself three months from now:

Speaking up in meetings with clarity.

Owning the room with confidence.

Finally getting the recognition (and pay) you deserve.

Most people wait until the last moment to make big moves.

👉 Don’t miss your moment.

It only takes 2 minutes to join, and it could change everything.

🔗 Link to join Voices That Lead is in my bio and in the comments.

Got questions? DM me “Voices That Lead“ — I’ll be checking my inbox all day. 👀

Your future self will thank you for the action you take today. 🎤

#SpeakWithConfidence #CareerGrowth #LeadershipDevelopment

Conversations between an Introvert and Extrovert

Can you relate?

I’d love to know, what are your usual weekend plans?

A perfect weekend for me would be staying at home, resting, reading and spending time with my dog, Caesar.

What’s yours?

Comment down below!

#introvert #weekend #extrovert #publicspeaking