ABOUT MOE AKEL
They told me to shrink. Now I help others rise.
I’m Moe Akel—a Lebanese-Canadian executive and life coach, community leader, author, and LGBTQ+ advocate. My work is rooted in a simple belief: you shouldn’t have to abandon yourself to belong, succeed, or be loved.
MY STORY
I learned what it costs to hide, and what becomes possible when we stop.
Growing up gay in Lebanon, I learned early how to read the room, stay small, and protect parts of myself from rejection. Speaking openly about LGBTQ+ rights as a young adult brought courage, loss, and difficult consequences. Those experiences shaped my understanding of identity, belonging, and the survival patterns we can carry long after our circumstances change.
Moving to Canada opened a new chapter. I began turning pain into purpose through community health, newcomer support, LGBTQ+ advocacy, leadership, and public service. Over the past decade, I’ve supported thousands of people through programs focused on resilience, inclusion, grief, and wellbeing.
Today, I bring that lived experience and professional practice into coaching and creating space for people to hear themselves clearly, trust their choices, and move forward on their own terms.
A LESSON I CARRY
Even the deepest wounds can become a place of healing.
One of the most profound chapters of my life was reconciling with my father after seven years of estrangement. We reunited shortly before his passing. In those final days, I experienced forgiveness, healing, and a love I once feared had been lost.
That experience didn’t erase what came before. It taught me that healing can hold grief and love at the same time, and that a different ending can still change how we carry the story.
WHAT SHAPES MY COACHING
Professional practice, grounded in lived experience.
1 — LIVED EXPERIENCE
I understand what it means to navigate identity, belonging, cultural expectations, grief, and the pressure to become who others need you to be.
2 — LEADERSHIP PRACTICE
More than a decade of leadership and community work informs a practical approach focused on clarity, communication, boundaries, and meaningful action.
3 — TRAUMA-INFORMED CARE
Our work moves at a pace that respects your experiences, choices, and autonomy without judgment, pressure, or the expectation that you need to be “fixed.”
CREDENTIALS & EDUCATION
Training that supports thoughtful, ethical coaching.
COACHING & LEADERSHIP
ICF Associate Certified Coach (ACC)
Executive & Life Coach Certification
Symbiosis Coaching
Negotiation Mastery
Harvard Business School Online
Diversity and Inclusion Training
Cornell University
EDUCATION & PUBLIC SERVICE
Master of Climate Change
University of Waterloo
Bachelor of Science in Medical Laboratory Sciences
American University of Beirut
Public Appointee
Ontario Advisory Committee on HIV/AIDS
Community-health and nonprofit leadership experience across Ontario
SELECTED RECOGNITION
Recognition rooted in community impact
INSPIRE AWARD
CITY OF TORONTO
LEADERS TO BE PROUD OF
CANADIAN ARAB INSTITUTE
Award Recipient
2025
30 Under 30 Honouree
2023
Pride Award Recipient
2023
Person of the Year
2026
READY WHEN YOU ARE
You don’t have to figure out what comes next alone
If you’re ready to trust yourself more deeply, make clearer decisions, and create change that feels true to you, let’s begin with a conversation.
My story, in my own words
Once, I was told to shrink. Now, I help others rise. This is for the ones who’ve fought to be seen, who’ve turned pain into purpose, and who are ready to lead with love and courage. 🏳️🌈 Your journey matters. Your healing and transformation begin now.