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Empowering Women With Leadership: A Game-Changing Night For National Girls & Women In Sports Day

by Last updated Feb 14, 2025Baron Rings

Explore the inspiring journeys of Drina Baron-Zinyk, President of Baron® Championship Rings, and Muna Fadel, founder of Alchemist Athletics. Both women champion authentic leadership and empower others through their businesses. Learn how Drina redefined her family’s legacy in Championship Rings and how Muna transformed her life through fitness. Discover their insights on leadership, confidence, and the rising influence of women in business.

Empowering Women With Leadership

February 13, 2025 — The Windsor Express and All Women L.E.A.D. (Leverage. Empower. Archive. Do.) proudly hosted the Women In Business Networking Event on February 6, 2025. This inspiring event took place from 5:30 PM to 7:00 PM at the WFCU Centre, right before the highly anticipated Windsor Express basketball game.

Attendees benefitted from a powerful “Empowering Change Through Leadership” presentation by Melissa Maloney, Co-Founder of All Women L.E.A.D. Furthermore, engaging panel discussions were led by Melissa, featuring distinguished guests Drina Baron-Zinyk, President of Baron® Championship Rings, and Muna Fadel, founder of Alchemist Athletics, a leader in elite-level jump rope fitness.

Participants were invited to enhance their evening by opting to attend the thrilling Windsor Express game against the KW Titans, capping off a night dedicated to empowerment and networking.

  • @alchemist.athletics – Alchemist Athletics
        Women supporting women 💜 On Thursday night I had the absolute honour and privilege to join Melissa Maloney and Drina Baron-Zinyk of @baronchampionshiprings for an amazing event by @allwomenlead ✨…Read More

“A huge thank you to the Windsor Express and Melissa Maloney (AWL Co-Founder) for hosting such an inspiring panel of women leaders! It was an honour to be part of such an empowering event.”

–  Drina Baron-Zinyk, President at Baron® Championship Rings

Meet Melissa Maloney: Empowering Leadership and Inspiring Change

Melissa Maloney is a skilled facilitator, educator, and speaker who specializes in leadership development, strategic planning, and sales. As the co-founder of AWL Partners, she helps leaders and teams create inclusive, high-performing environments through emotional intelligence and effective communication.

With expertise in change management and employee engagement, Melissa provides organizations with strategies to enhance collaboration, morale, and performance.

 

She has delivered impactful workshops across various industries, focusing on equity and leadership. Her extensive certifications in areas such as emotional intelligence, gender equity, and behaviour change enable her to design customized, results-driven solutions for businesses seeking sustainable growth.

Melissa Maloney’s Introduction in the Ladies’ Night Celebrating Women: Empowering Women in Sports and Leadership

Just before everyone arrived, Melissa Maloney posted a video on her Instagram account, sharing details about the upcoming event she is involved in.

“Hi everybody, it’s Melissa Maloney with All Women L.E.A.D. and AWL Partners. I am hanging out in Windsor today. We have partnered with the amazing team at the Windsor Express for a Ladies’ Night, Celebrating Women In Sports and really excited to deliver a bit of a short keynote to the amazing women that are coming out. Really excited to facilitate a panel of amazing women in sports. Just kinda chat about how they broken barriers.”

At the start of the Ladies’ Night Celebrating Women event, Melissa Maloney welcomed everyone and began with a brief introduction of her journey in sports.

Melissa emphasized the powerful connection between sports, leadership, and business, highlighting how athletic experiences shape essential qualities like teamwork, resilience, and competitiveness.

She referenced her conversation with the Canadian Women in Sport Association, which advocates for recognizing these transferable skills in professional environments.

Drawing from her time at GoodLife Fitness, Melissa shared how the company actively recruited athletes, recognizing their ability to handle pressure and persevere through challenges.

Melissa reflected on the culture within the gym industry, where managing stress through physical activity was normalized. Only after leaving did she realize how rare yet impactful these habits were in the broader workplace, reinforcing the importance of integrating movement and resilience into professional life.

 

Empowering Women With Leadership: “In order to be our best leaders, we need to be our best selves.” — Melissa Maloney

The Power of Energy: Maximizing Your Potential

Melissa Maloney is passionate about fostering positive work environments and empowering leaders.

In her research, she explored the mind-body connection and discovered The Energy Project, a study from Harvard that identifies four key energy systems: physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual. The study found that employees who optimize these energies experience greater engagement and retention.

Melissa believes that leadership starts with self-care, echoing the oxygen mask theory—where taking care of oneself first allows for better support of others.

By understanding and balancing these four energy systems, individuals can enhance both their professional and personal lives, leading to increased joy, passion, and overall well-being.

Melissa Maloney explains the four key energy systems that impact our performance and well-being:

  • Physical Energy: Our bodies function in 90-minute cycles, requiring movement and proper rest to recharge. Chronic stress keeps us in an elevated state, making it essential to slow down and reset.

“Our physical energy ends and flows in 90-minute cycles…you can create a world for yourself where you can move every 90 minutes, you’ll operate the best. Sitting at your desk is not going to operate at your best, we need to move every 90 minutes,” said Melissa Maloney.

 

  • Emotional Energy: Feeling safe and trusted in our environment prevents energy-draining behaviours like constant self-monitoring. Psychological safety at work enhances overall well-being.

“We act in this way that takes extra energy because we can’t just be ourselves. We can’t say what we want to say, think what we want to think and do it just naturally. That’s draining,” explained Melissa Maloney.

  • Mental Energy: The ability to focus and prioritize has become harder in the digital age. Managing distractions and dedicating time to high-value tasks helps maintain clarity and efficiency.

“We can’t make decisions one at a time anymore because if all you did was respond to emails/texts/notifications as they happened, how much do you accomplish each day?”

  • Spiritual Energy: Connecting to a deeper why—whether through work or personal passions—fuels motivation and fulfillment.

“Sometimes we have a job that we don’t have a connection to the ‘Why’. You need to have something that fills you, it makes you feel good. “

By balancing these energies, individuals can enhance their leadership, productivity, and overall quality of life.

 

“If you picture riding a bike down the hill, think about the feeling, it feels so good, that’s how a strength feels like, it feels easy. If you think about that uphill, you get the momentum, the first half of the hill isn’t that hard, but as you continue to go up the hill it becomes harder. That’s how a weakness feels like, working in a space where it doesn’t energize you,” explained Melissa Maloney about the Energy-Blocking.

Empowering Women With Leadership: “Imagine coasting downhill on a bike—that’s how it feels when you’re working in your zone of strength.” – Melissa Maloney

The ‘Energy-Blocking’ Strategy: A Smarter Way to Work

She concluded by offering two practical strategies to help maximize energy and performance.

  • The “Sandwich Effect” (Energy-Blocking): Instead of traditional time-blocking, alternate between tasks that energize you (strengths) and those that drain you (weaknesses). Starting with a strength builds momentum, preventing exhaustion and maintaining steady energy throughout the day. This ensures you still have energy left for personal life after work.
  • Aligning Time and Money with Values: Where we invest our time and money reflects our true priorities. Misalignment leads to guilt and exhaustion. By consciously directing energy toward what truly matters, we enhance well-being, leadership, and overall fulfillment.

“If I’m spending too much time on something that isn’t valuable for me, I’m spending too much money on something that isn’t truly valuable for me, and that misalignment turns into guilt. The guilt thing can be exhausting.”

 

Breaking Barriers & Building Legacy: A Q&A on Women Leading in Sports & Business

Melissa Maloney confidently kicks off the panel discussion by warmly welcoming two remarkable women who have excelled in both sports and business.

  • Drina Baron-Zinyk, President of Baron® Championship Rings, is the first female president of a Championship Ring company. Baron® designs rings for major teams like the Cleveland Cavaliers, Toronto Raptors, and Windsor Express.
  • Muna Fadel, founder of Alchemist Athletics, specializes in elite-level jump rope for fitness, helping individuals unlock their full potential through movement.

She encourages them to share their non-professional bios before diving into the discussion.

Drina Baron-Zinyk, President of Baron® Championship Rings, shared her journey in the family business, which recently celebrated its 40th anniversary. Initially focused on Class and Firefighter Rings, she and her brother, both passionate about sports, saw an opportunity in Championship Rings. In 2015, they purchased and rebranded the company to specialize exclusively in this market. Their breakthrough came in 2016 when they designed the Cleveland Cavaliers’ Championship Rings, opening doors in the U.S. market. Since then, Baron® has continued to grow, working with teams like the Toronto Raptors, Windsor Spitfires, and Windsor Express.

“We rebranded the company to Baron® Championship Rings because we want to specialize in just Championship Rings. We wanted to be the Best of the Best in the industry. There was no Canadian company that was doing Championship Rings in all my years.”

Muna Fadel, founder of Alchemist Athletics, shared her journey from competitive hockey to entrepreneurship. After winning two National Championships at a Division 3 school, an injury led her to quit hockey. During COVID-19, she rediscovered jump rope as a fitness tool, lost 40 lbs, and found a deep passion for it. She built a social media following, coached women—especially busy moms and professionals—helping them feel empowered through fitness. Noticing a gap in high-quality jump ropes, she collaborated with an engineering student to design and refine her own, launching the “V-15” rope in March 2024. She named her brand after The Alchemist, symbolizing self-trust and personal transformation.

“2-3 weeks into my jump rope journey, I told myself that I was going to find a way to make this into my career and make money from it, but I didn’t know how. This was the first time in my life I was so passionate about something that I just had to see it through.”

Melissa: We wanted to talk a little bit about leadership and your experiences and the connections between leadership/sports/business. What does authentic leadership mean to you?

Muna values authenticity above all as an entrepreneur, emphasizing the importance of staying true to oneself rather than copying others. She believes that being authentic helps attract the right people to your business. Muna acknowledges that this is a continual learning process, especially on social media, where she faces challenges with hyper-sexualization and superficiality. She strives to inspire women by promoting modesty and confidence, encouraging them to feel empowered even when dressed casually, like in oversized hoodies and sweatpants, while focusing on the true purpose of her brand—jump rope and fitness.

“You can be working out in an extra big hoodie and sweatpants and still feel super confident and empowered.  That’s how I try to be authentic in my space as an entrepreneur.”

For Drina, authentic leadership is centered around integrity and loyalty. At Baron®, she emphasizes an open-door policy, encouraging employees to freely come in and share their ideas. She values listening to her team, allowing them to feel heard and appreciated, which in turn fosters excitement and engagement.

“I love listening to them in the room bouncing those ideas off, and seeing them getting excited.”

Empowering Women With Leadership: Empowering women through leadership and resilience, discover the inspiring journeys of Drina Baron-Zinyk, President of Baron®, and Muna Fadel, of Alchemist Athletics.

Melissa: Drina, when you think about your own network organizations or the organizations you worked with, do you have thoughts on how organizations can be more inclusive and create a space for women and young women coming in to work to make them want to be there?

Drina: It does go back to being heard. You want to be able to follow those actions. They tell you how they feel about a certain idea and promote a certain idea, and you actually execute that. I think that’s huge. You wanna work together as a team.

Melissa: Muna, do you have advice that you would give to women starting a professional journey or an entrepreneur journey?

Muna: If there’s any advice I could give to somebody in my position a year or two ago, I would say to not compromise on the idea that they have. Meaning, that entrepreneurship is much more popular now than ever. Where a lot of people go wrong is to try to make a quick buck, they want to be their own boss and do it the easy way. However, there is no easy way at all. I think if you can stick to your vision, your belief and your values, and do what you think is best. I think this is something we should all strive for.

Melissa: Do you think there is a connection between that and women in business? Do you believe there is a relationship aspect in terms of commitment to people? Do you see a connection?

Drina: I think now is that women are starting to have their own voice, and we’re owning it. We’re taking the space, own your journey. To me, power is your own unique story and women just need to embrace that more.

Muna: I agree. That is something I have noticed too, the collaboration vs competition. I think there is this movement happening people are realizing that women, not only can be entrepreneurs but they can make a difference. The women, themselves, are realizing that too, and I think it’s amazing and empowering. We are coming together, there’s room for all of us and there’s no need to have a competition. We need to do it together, supporting each other no matter how similar or different our business are.

Melissa: What are our opportunities to help more people come into business and find their voice within a business? How do we be part of creating of exclusive feature, within your organization or how do you get more voices to the table? Different ages, genders, religions and use that. Do you have any thoughts?

Muna: I think it comes back to authenticity, integrity and sharing our story. I think it helps to see people of different religions/races/colours starting as entrepreneurs and sharing their journey. Even for me, it’s not super traditional to be doing this. I always kinda knew that I wanted to be my own boss, independent and do my own thing. There are cultural barriers within that. I think where the power lies within that, and if you are doing that and pushing through and sharing your story then other people will see that get inspired.

Drina: I know with our business, we are very multicultorial. Many years ago, my parents hired a man named Tang, may he rest in peace, he is no longer with us. He was a gentleman who taught us at work what hard work was, and dedication, and loyalty that I’ve never ever seen in my entire life. Although he did not speak very well Eglish. My parents raised us to always be part of all the different cultures, be part of that and learn. That gentleman thought us, even my children and my husband and I. When they were little, Tang would show them how to do jewellery and even though there was that language barrier was there, the love, loyalty and dedication we saw from him came together.

Melissa: How do you actually measure success? What does success look like to you?

Drina: Success for myself is walking into our company every single day, seeing the faces, smiling and being happy at doing what they do. It’s not about dollars and cents. We are truly a company that came from nothing and we watched our parents grow. I always say that where the hard work came from, it’s not from my brother and I, it’s from my mom and dad, that was hard work, that was the dedication back then, that was the grit. When we see that it’s going into the next generation and seeing now what we have, it’s truly amazing. You attract the people you want in your life, every single employee we have in our Baron® team. I truly believe attracted/manifested because they are all, every single one of them is incredible. To me that’s success!

Muna: Love that, it’s pretty much the same for me. I think success for me is fulfilment. For me, fulfilment is when I see someone using my ropes Someone posted a video, they bought one of my new ropes and posted this super cool rope routine, and I watched so many times, and that is the coolest feeling ever. Seeing other people feel empowered and feeling good about themselves. Success is definitely much more mattered for me in terms of how I actually and positively impact other people.

Reflections from Attendees

The event not only provided valuable insights from industry leaders but also created a space for attendees to share their own thoughts on leadership and empowerment. Here’s what a couple of the women had to say about their experience:

“This event was great, there were great people here. I like the fact that they interviewed and shared their thoughts about what leadership could be.”

On Melissa’s strategies, one attendee shared:
“Start your energy on a high note, then do something you don’t like, and then go back to what you enjoy. This strategy will keep up your energy for the day. For me, by the end of the day, I’m exhausted because my day starts with unpredictable meetings. This strategy is a great idea to keep my energy up and maintain focus, which is something I can definitely use!”

Another attendee, who moved from Mexico to Canada, expressed the event’s value in fostering connections among women:

“I didn’t know much about events for professional women, but I feel that having more opportunities like this is important. In my company, I’m the only woman in management. This event inspired me and gave me encouragement, seeing other successful women entrepreneurs. It’s motivating to know that success can be achieved, and that gives me the drive to keep going.”

Empowering Women With Leadership: Melissa Maloney, Co-Founder of AWL Partners, Drina Baron-Zinyk, President of Baron® Championship Rings, Muna Fadel, founder of Alchemist Athletics

Empowering Women With Leadership

Drina Baron-Zinyk, President of Baron® Championship Rings, has made a remarkable mark in her family business, steering its focus toward Championship Rings after a bold rebranding in 2015. The company’s defining moment arrived in 2016 with the iconic Cleveland Cavaliers’ Championship Rings, paving the way for collaborations with numerous prestigious teams.

Muna Fadel, founder of Alchemist Athletics, transformed her path from competitive hockey to successful entrepreneurship following an injury. During the COVID-19 pandemic, she discovered jump rope and embraced it as a powerful tool for weight loss. This journey inspired her to launch the high-quality jump rope, the “V-15,” with a mission to empower women through fitness.

Both women are strong advocates for authentic leadership. Muna Champions the importance of staying true to oneself and fostering confidence among women, while Drina underscores the values of integrity, clear communication, and teamwork within her organization. They both recognize the rising influence of women in business, advocating for collaboration over competition and emphasizing the strength found in embracing one’s unique journey.

Celebrate Leadership and Achievement with Championship Rings
At the heart of every great achievement is leadership, dedication, and the pursuit of excellence — values that were celebrated at this empowering event. Just like the leaders who shared their insights, every Championship win is a testament to hard work and commitment.

If you’re looking to commemorate your team’s journey and success, Baron® Championship Rings is here to help you create the perfect ring that represents your victory. Whether you’re a sports team, organization, or individual, we specialize in designing custom Championship Rings that highlight the achievements that matter most.

Ready to celebrate success?
Order Your Custom Championship Ring Today
Our expert team will guide you through every step of the design process, ensuring that your ring reflects the uniqueness of your achievement. Let us help you commemorate your Championship with a Ring that stands the test of time.

#yourjourney #yourmoment #yourlegacy

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