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www.oakvillebeaver.com The Oakville Beaver Weekend, Saturday January 6, 2007 - 3 Making a difference in southeast Asia By Angela Blackburn OAKVILLE BEAVER STAFF akville resident Sonia Ricotti may have been far from the devastation of the tsunami in southeast Asia two years ago Boxing Day, but this year she knows she's made a difference to those affected because she visited just before Christmas to finally help. And perhaps the most valuable thing she left behind was not something she gave, really, but the memory of something she received and shared -- a few simple hugs. "The devastation in Thailand remains vast and lives have been forever altered, however, hope and love prevail," said Ricotti. The four-year local resident made a humanitarian mission with Airline Ambassadors International (AAI) to Thailand in late October to help the survivors of the tsunami that devastated the region two years ago Dec. 26. Ricotti visited from Oct. 20 to Nov. 2 and has detailed her two-week trip on her blog at www.leadoutloud.blogspot.com. "When the tsunami hit two years ago, I immediately wanted to go on a humanitarian trip to help the survivors. Unfortunately, all AAI trips were full and the other organizations wanted people with "disaster relief" experience (people who have dealt with death and destruction). Although I had been on several humanitarian trips in the past, I didn't have that type of experience. I felt frustrated and helpless, but I vowed to go there eventually. When I heard that AAI had a trip organized to go to Thailand in October, I signed up immediately," said Ricotti. A defining moment for Ricotti was a visit to an orphanage that housed 18 children who lost their families when the tsunami hit. AAI threw a party in honour of the children. "Towards the end of the evening, I noticed many of the children crying, hugging and consoling each other," said Ricotti. "One of the people who worked there told me that the girl singing is singing a song in Thai about losing your mother. I began to cry, too. At that moment a little nine-year-old girl PHOTO COURTESY SONIA RICOTTI named Som, who lost both her mother and LOVE MAKES ALL THE DIFFERENCE: Oakville resident Sonia Ricotti is pictured during a father in the tsunami, walked up to me, lighter moment with two of the orphans she met at a party held for the orphans while visiting areas of stopped, looked straight into my eyes, wiped the tears from my face and gave me a big hug. southeast Asia that were struck by the tsunami two years ago. O She was the one who had lost both her parents and yet she had the compassion and courage to console me," said Ricotti. It's that kind of power that is embodied in Ricotti's own business, Lead Out Loud. It is a leadership development company that develops transformational leaders; leaders that inspire and transform organizations, communities, and the world. The company has three divisions focusing on three different areas of leadership; corporate leadership, benevolent leadership, and personal leadership. At its core is the principle of the universal Law of Attraction. It's Ricotti's belief that we can make the world a better place. No matter what age, race, or religion a person is they can be an inspirational leader and make a difference in the lives of those they touch. Ricotti calls it the Wave Movement -- a ripple effect dedicated to creating world peace and abundance. By focusing on the positive rather than the negative in all situations, the world can be transformed. "The tsunami was what actually inspired me to create Lead Out Loud. The horrific disaster stirred up something deep inside me. I would have left my six-figure salary corporate career in an instant to go to southeast Asia to help out. It made me realize how making a difference is at the core of who I am," said Ricotti. It was then that she said she began thinking of ways she could make a difference and make a living. "I tried to dream up a career that would allow me utilize my leadership expertise and also make a difference. After a lot of thought and reflection, the vision of Lead Out Loud came about," said Ricotti. Lead Out Loud was launched in January 2006 though she said it was "a work in progress" for a long time. Ricotti is a speaker and trainer on leadership, personal growth, and making a difference. She has held numerous senior management positions and received several leadership awards. She has had work published and is a trained life coach and executive coach through The Coaches Training Institute (CTI). Ricotti has been on several humanitarian trips with Airline Ambassadors International. 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