Immigrant Entrepreneur of the Year 2025

Your thoughts on winning the CanadianSME National Business Award

Winning this award feels like a meaningful acknowledgment of a journey that began with a simple goal: to make quality mental health care more accessible in our community. Building The Wise Self from the ground up has meant countless hours of learning, adapting, and leaning on an incredible team of therapists who share that same commitment. This recognition isn’t just about the business milestones we’ve hit; it’s a reminder of the incredible resilience many immigrants develop through this journey. I’m deeply grateful to the CanadianSME team, and to everyone who has supported the clinic’s growth along the way.

A special message or advice to small business owners

Growth rarely follows a straight line, and that’s okay. When I started The Wise Self, I didn’t have every system or process figured out; I learned by doing, and by staying close to the people, both clients and staff, that the business exists to serve. My advice is to invest early in the right people around you, stay curious about your own gaps in knowledge, and don’t be afraid to make mistakes. Small business ownership can feel isolating, but building a strong network of mentors, peers, and advisors makes the hard decisions easier and the wins more meaningful.

Milly Feliz

CEO & Founder of The Wise Self Psychotherapy Clinic

Milly Feliz is the Founder and Clinical Director of The Wise Self Psychotherapy Clinic in Etobicoke, Ontario. A Registered Psychotherapist (RP) and Approved Clinical Supervisor with the CRPO, she also holds registration as a Clinical Psychologist in the Dominican Republic. Since founding the clinic in 2022, Milly has grown it into a team of 14 therapists serving clients across the Greater Toronto Area, providing culturally competent care. Milly is passionate about building accessible, high-quality mental health care for her community.