About us
We didn’t wait for permission to lead.
Our Story Starts with Lived Experience
Our Story Starts with Lived Experience
Gaps We Address
Why We Exist
A Message From Our Founder
Why I Built Dare To Rise
I didn’t build Dare to Rise because I had all the answers.
I built it because I know what it feels like to need some.
I came to Canada from East Africa and learned early what it meant to find my place in a world that didn’t always feel built for me.
I became a mother.
I built businesses.
I worked.
I started over.
I experienced seasons when I was strong for everyone around me while quietly trying to figure out how I was going to keep going myself.
And somewhere along the way, I realized something:
We tell people to be strong far more often than we ask what they need.
Especially women.
Especially mothers.
Especially young people trying to find their place.
There are incredible organizations doing incredible work.
Dare to Rise isn’t here to replace them.
We’re here to connect the spaces between them.
The phone call.
The introduction.
The opportunity.
The person who knows a person.
The community that shows up when life gets complicated.
I wanted to build the kind of village I believe every person deserves.
One where asking for help isn’t embarrassing.
Where a young person doesn’t need connections to get into the room.
Where a single mother is seen as a woman with dreams — not just someone trying to survive.
Where businesses don’t just sponsor community.
They become part of it.
I don’t believe one person can fix everything.
I don’t think we’re supposed to.
That’s why it’s called a village.
Dare to Rise is my invitation to build that village together.
Absane (Abbie) Ibrahim
Founder & Chief Executive Officer
Founder and Board Leadership
Abbie Jama
Founder & Executive Director
Absane “Abbie” Jama is the Founder and Executive Director of Dare to Rise. A passionate community leader, entrepreneur, and advocate for families, Abbie has spent more than two decades empowering women, youth, and underserved communities across Canada and beyond.
Her journey from single motherhood to award-winning entrepreneur and nonprofit founder—has shaped her belief that resilience is not built alone, but within the strength of a village. Drawing on her 25 years as the founder of JamaFaceBeauty and her lifelong commitment to community service, Abbie brings a unique blend of creativity, compassion, and strategy to everything she does.
Abbie has spoken at conferences, led workshops, and partnered with organizations at local and national levels to amplify voices too often left unheard.
Through Dare to Rise, Abbie is building what she always wished existed: a safe, healing, and empowering space for families to access the support they need to thrive. Her leadership is guided by one simple truth: when one of us rises, we all rise.
Magda Juliana Diaz
Board Chair
Magda Juliana Diaz is a Women’s Empowerment Mentor and Business Strategist with over 25 years of experience in leadership, partnerships, and organizational development. She is the Founder of Elemental Truth Mentorship & Business Strategy Consulting and Co-Founder of UpSkill Hub, a social enterprise creating employment and educational opportunities for immigrant women and underserved communities.
Magda is also a proud Founding Member of Immigrant Women in Business (IWB), where she has been instrumental in amplifying the voices and leadership of immigrant women across Canada. Her mentorship and consulting work are rooted in resilience, reinvention, and authentic leadership — guiding women through life transitions such as midlife identity shifts, perimenopause, divorce, loss, and career reinvention.
As a Board Member of the Dare to Rise Foundation, Magda brings her holistic, heart-led approach and her extensive community network to help further the Foundation’s mission of empowerment, resilience, and impact.
Wendy Comer
Board Treasurer
I was born in Newmarket and have proudly called the Keswick area home for more than 40 years. My roots here run deep—I’ve built my life, friendships, and career in this community, and it’s where I feel most grounded.
Away from work, you’ll often find me reading a good book, enjoying the peace of nature, or spending time with animals. Those quiet moments remind me of the importance of balance and joy in everyday life, something I encourage others to make space for, too.
My journey with money hasn’t always been simple, and that’s why I’m so passionate about the work I do now. I know what it’s like to feel unsure, overwhelmed, or even intimidated by finances, and I’ve learned firsthand how clarity and small, consistent choices can completely change your outlook.
Today, as an independent financial representative with Primerica, I focus on helping others experience that same shift—from confusion to confidence.
I work with individuals, families, and business owners, guiding them through the building blocks of financial literacy: budgeting, protecting loved ones with life insurance, saving and investing for the future, and offering group plan solutions for workplaces. My approach is always down-to-earth and practical —I believe money should empower, not complicate.
Connection is at the heart of everything I do. Whether it’s through a coffee chat, a community event, or a workshop, I strive to create conversations that are open, judgment-free, and even a little fun. I remind people that every step forward, no matter how small, is worth celebrating.
At the end of the day, my motto sums it up best: “Dawn of a new financial day.” Because each sunrise is a reminder that no matter where you’re starting from, there’s always an opportunity to take a fresh step toward the life you want.
Team Members
Tara Myshrall
Tara Myshrall is a leadership speaker, operator-advisor, and founder of Lead Elevated™️, with more than 20 years guiding leaders and teams through growth, complexity, and transformation.
Nehal Menon
Nehal Menon is a Board Member of Dare to Rise Foundation, Founder of Born to Rise and Glow Ltd., and a Mentor Coach with Mentaa.com. She is a passionate advocate for youth empowerment, resilience, and breaking generational cycles that limit human potential.
Carolina Henao is a financial planner with Sun Life and founder of LUCEM Financial Solutions, with over 17 years of experience in financial planning, retirement, and risk management.