PHOTO: Portmanteau Media

What it
Actually Means
to Live Like
a Legend

BY JACKELYN GILL
WXN Media
SEPTEMBER 7, 2026

 

We don’t usually think of ourselves as legends.

That word feels reserved, for history books, for names we learned long before we ever imagined what our own path might look like.

But when we asked Canada’s Most Powerful Women: Top 100 Award Winners what it means to live “Like a Legend,” their answers didn’t sound distant or unattainable.

They sounded lived.

Grounded in decisions, in setbacks, in the quiet moments where you choose who you’re going to be, again and again.

Here’s what they shared.

 

1. Stay true to yourself

Focus on the values, principles, and causes that drive you and be intentional about how they show up in your actions. It takes courage to do what you believe is right, especially when there’s pressure to do otherwise. But when you stay rooted in what matters, your impact becomes clearer and stronger.

"Like a legend means not letting any outside pressure change who you
fundamentally are, being truthful to yourself, and respecting others."
- Patricia Bouchard, CPKC Skilled Trades Award Winner

2. Follow what pulls you forward

Know your purpose - and own it. Living with meaning isn’t about waiting for certainty. It’s about listening to what matters to you and choosing to move toward it, fully. When you commit to what you care about, your work has a way of reaching further than you expect.

"By wholeheartedly following your passions and striving to create a positive impact, your deeds and aspirations can ignite a similar drive in others."
- Prerana Manoj, STEM Award Winner

3. Become who you’re capable of being

Being your best self isn’t a destination. It’s something you return to daily. It means recognizing your strengths, continuing to learn, and choosing to grow, even when it’s uncomfortable.

"Living like a legend to me is to be the best version of myself that I could be, every day, every moment, especially when times get tough. To live with integrity and values instilled in me and be kind, humble, and compassionate to those around me."
-Afsheen Jiwani, Community Impact Award Winner

4. Take the leap, even when it’s unclear

Legends don’t wait for certainty. They step forward anyway. They make difficult decisions, take risks, and move beyond what feels comfortable because staying still was never the goal.

"Dream big, take risks, fall down and rise up even higher."
- Lily Pourzand, Women of Courage Award Winner

5. Let failure shape you, not stop you

Setbacks are part of the path. What matters is what you do next. In every failure, there’s information. There’s growth. There’s a chance to come back stronger.

“Like a Phoenix who rises out of its ashes stronger than before, living like a legend means rising up for a challenge, not fearing failure and embracing it as an opportunity.”
- Dr. Atty Mashatan, Executive Leaders Award Winner

6. Lead with humility

People may not remember everything you say or do, but they will remember how you made them feel. When you center others, lead with compassion, and act with intention, the impact lasts longer than any single moment.

“Living like a legend is about striving to leave a positive echo in the room once you exit - that the emotions in others, created when they think of the work you have done, cause the biggest impact.”
- Stephanie Thompson, WXN Hall of Fame Award Winner

7. Leave something better behind

We build on what others started, and we carry that forward. Progress isn’t always visible in the moment, but it compounds. The work you do now creates a different path for someone else.

“Living like a legend is to recognize our kuleana (Hawaiian), or responsibility, in making the world a better place and working relentlessly to do so.”
- Rochelle Atizado, Amex Emerging Leaders Award Winner

8. Bring others with you

There’s power in what you share. When you help others grow, when you create space for them to succeed, the impact extends far beyond your own work.

“If I can have a positive impact on someone's day, career, or life, no matter how small or unrecognized, then I have achieved something impactful and lasting.”
- Tanya Postlewaite, Executive Leaders Award Winner

9. Rethink what leadership looks like

No one succeeds alone. Leadership isn’t about control. It’s about creating the conditions where others can do their best work. When people feel supported, they show up differently.

“To live ‘Like a Legend’ is to be a leader who seeks to bring out the best in others, both in character and performance. By combining a clear vision with empathy, high standards, and a growth mindset, they create an environment where individuals are inspired to achieve their utmost potential.”
- Jenn Lofgren, Entrepreneurs Award Winner

10. Be willing to change things

You don’t need permission to challenge what isn’t working. Progress happens when someone is willing to question the norm and do something about it.

“Living like a legend means going past the ordinary and making a positive change in the world. I am a catalyst for change to promote more inclusive and equitable spaces where everyone has the opportunity to become the best version of themselves.”
- Lara Shewchuk, Professionals Award Winner

Living like a legend isn’t about recognition.

It’s about the choices you make, especially when no one is watching.