By Frederick Halley
DESPITE being a successful businesswoman at the age of 38, Julie Rambali’s parents still play a major part in her life, “as they continue to help shape my moral and ethical values.” Julie also still has fond memories of her homeland Guyana and in an exclusive interview with the Sunday Chronicle, she gave a candid outlook on her busy schedule and versatile lifestyle.
“Guyana will always hold a special place in my heart. I often reminisce playing in the rain, flying my hand-made kite in the sea of kites during Easter at the beach, going to church every Sunday in my ‘mom made me wear it’ frilly frock, celebrating all holidays from all religions, and of course, eating endless types of fruits directly from my backyard trees or stealing it from my neighbour’s.”
These memories still live with Julie although leaving Guyana at the tender age of nine with her parents to Toronto, Canada in 1986. According to her, “they moved to explore their opportunities for a better life.”
Today, Julie is the proud owner of Infinite Lynx which offers website development, domain hosting, graphic designing and printing which she continues to operate successfully from the comfort of her home since 1998.
Julie is also the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the annual Wi Canadian Expo, the Miss West Indian Canadian Pageant, Wi Can Dance Competition, the founder of Wi Canadian and event organizer of the successful Wi Canadian Expo established since 2007. According to her, the Expo has attracted sponsors from various industries and in 2010 the expo expanded its mandate to include a Miss West Indian Canadian Pageant.
Over the years, Julie’s experiences have varied from web design and development to video editing and to event planning. Her vast knowledge includes digital art design as well as marketing conceptualization and implementation and she posited that her exposure to the event planning industry has proven to be most valuable for Wi Canadian endeavours.
Julie has been proactively involved in the Caribbean cultural scene for many years and has consequently attained substantial resources along the way. They include models, promoters, photographers, make up artists, designers, decor specialists, organizations which have established an affiliation to her projects, and a community of supporters that continue to patronize her annual events.
For Julie, the Wi Canadian vision is to provide a premier service unsurpassed to any other organization . The opportunity to positively promote the Caribbean culture internationally is something she uses to her advantage.
The Wi Canadian Expo is the first and only West Indian trade show in North America. It displays a culturally rich event uniting exhibitors from a diverse market. The expo has expanded to not just Bridal but also Arts & Entertainment, and Health & Beauty. Couples and their families are able to find all wedding related services fitted to their budget and cultural requirements. The expo is an efficient way to review what’s in the marketplace allowing everyone to compare quality and price for all their special occasions.
Julie also pointed out that “the expo also maintains and enhances the quality of trade shows for the benefit of exhibitors and the public, to encourage greater responsibility to the community, to increase communications and integrity with exhibitors and fellow producers, to connect, develop resources, and gain inspiration in an environment of mutual support.”
Julie boasts that the Miss West Indian Canadian Pageant is the most recognized pageant in the West Indian Canadian community. “The possibilities this pageant brings with beautiful, talented, intelligent, and cultured women enhance the spirit of the community.”
The pageant features traditional and non-traditional designer bridal wear well co-ordinated with exotic embroidery and ethnic colours. The grand opening features choreographed dance by the pageant contestants, their talent, evening gown, Questions and Answers and crowning presentation accompanied by Little Miss West Indian Canadians, hilarious comedians, dancers, singers, giveaways, great raffles, free samples, and much more
Julie said this platform was created to promote the West Indian Canadian culture and to provide the youths with a vision to be proud of for generations to come. “Everyone in the community gets involved to support this great initiative which projects positive exposure for The Miss West Indian Canadian Pageant.”
After attending Etobicoke Collegiate Institute and Western Tech Collegiate Institute, Julie disclosed that she felt a huge amount of culture shock which led her to switch schools and she was finally able to find comfort in the diverse ethnicities while attending Thistletown Collegiate Institute.
It was while she was in high school that she realized her love and skill for computers. Julie then proceeded to graduate in 1999 from Seneca College in Computer Programming and Design. In 1998 while at Seneca College, she foresaw the major career opportunities within website design, prompting her to launch her own business.
While living in Toronto, Julie has not forgotten her West Indian heritage. She felt a need to not only give back but take it to the next level and coordinate different opportunities for the West Indian Canadian community and is a firm believer in inspiring the next generation.
Julie’s motto is “always love what you do, and aspire to do more,” while she describes herself as a “well organized busy-body that runs a tight ship and one who puts her heart into her career behind the scenes, as she does not seek to be recognized.”
Julie is also an active pool player and has played eight-ball and nine-ball versions since 1998, captaining a team of seven players over the last 10 years. For her, the sky is the limit and this has led her “to conquer her goals and become the multifaceted entrepreneur she is today.