Dickinson can be tough when she has to be – you don’t become a CEO and investor in various other companies and achieve the kind of success by being a pushover. Her staff knows that well.
“I have a strong opinion about how I want things to be as it relates to values and the essence of my business,” she says but emphasizing, “I hope I can encourage active thinking and critical thinking but I’m not afraid to express my opinion.”
Her opinion on Canada is crystal clear. “I love all of Canada. I can’t tell you how much I love our country. I think everywhere I have gone in Canada to the smallest town and the largest city – we are just so lucky.” Montreal is one of her favourite cities and enjoys staying in the many boutique hotels. Her favourite place in Canada? On Vancouver Island at the Sooke Harbour House – a place she has visited many times.
Outside of Canada, Thailand is her favourite destination and raves about the Mandarin Oriental Hotel’s exceptional service, design and spa.
Business and family life is conducted at a frenetic pace so Dickinson relishes the chance to wind down at a spa. “When I went to Thailand I went to a spa for a week and it was fantastic and I’ve done things like that where there is a health benefit to it,” says Dickinson. Dreamily she says, “It’s always lovely to rejuvenate on a holiday in a spa – how lucky is that! That is probably something that I enjoy the most right now.”
Dickinson however isn’t afraid to get down and dirty. She has been to Afghanistan a couple of times and one of her most prized possessions was a necklace made by Afghani women that was given to her by one of the Canadian troops. Venturing deep into the community and absorbing the tastes, sounds and sights is something she enjoys most about travelling.
Dickinson reaches out and fosters entrepreneurial spirit in people. She is living her dream and now this dragon wants to fan the flames of entrepreneurship everywhere and see other people’s dreams become a reality.
Dickinson is one dragon who still has plenty of fire left in her.
Photo courtesy of CBC