People from war-torn countries have a different kind of suffering and the uncertainty only adds to the systematic breakdown of an individual. So many countries have faced the wrath of wars with millions displaced and thousands killed. Everyone has lost someone, a friend, a family member, siblings, parents, spouses, and children. At times, families have been wiped clean. At times, houses have been destroyed. At times, there has been no place to go, no place to escape the reckless destructions. In such a scenario, only one thing stands vital – the will to survive, the will to live, and the will to run away from the path of destruction.
One thing it’s not is easy and the same was the case with Leena Yousefi. Born in Iran, there came one point in her life when her family had to take the call – leave everything behind and run away for dear life or stay back and face the consequence, even death. With continuous bombs exploding in her neighborhood 24/7/365, Leena’s family took a decision – they had to escape, they had to hold on to dear life, they had to find a better place to stay alive and thrive.
Of course, things were not easy. How would it be? Immigrating to another country with all the plans laid out is another thing, however, with no place to go, how will you feel if you were stuck in a foreign land? Especially when you know that you can’t go back to your country, the place that you called your home?
As a child of the Persian Gulf war, Leena Yousefi and her family immigrated to Canada when she was just 13. The transition to a completely different place with a contrasting culture came with its own set of problems for Leena. “That was also very difficult,” Yousefi explained. “I had lost my home and my friends, and I was in a completely different culture.”
Of course, the transition took a toll on her and it’s quite natural when you think of it. The transition took a toll. In her second year at the University of Victoria (UVic), she suffered from depression and experienced a complete loss of identity. Her academic performance nosedived. Her family thought she was a lost cause. And to top everything up, Leena was kicked out of her college.
“I was kicked out of university and I just wanted to show everybody that I wasn’t who they thought I was,” explained Leena. “One morning I woke up and I basically said, ‘I can take this pain and turn it into something really good, or I can let it turn me into something really bad,’” she said. That morning Leena with a renewed determination, packed her bags and returned to the university.
The motive? Well, to show everyone that things were still not over for her. She graduated with distinction and a degree in social justice. Four years later, she attained her law degree. Yousefi spent several years earning a practical education in the way firms worked – or didn’t work before starting her own solo venture. “I broke out because, quite frankly, I couldn’t wait to break out. It was this golden opportunity,” revealed Leena.
Yousefi founded YLaw in 2013 on a foundation of modern business practices and a give-before-take ethos to client relations. YLaw has grown more than 500% over the past five years and plans to open a third office in 2020. Yousefi has also been named one of the top 25 most influential lawyers in Canada and B.C.’s top family lawyer for 2018. “I get insane gratification from doing this job,” she said. “I can make things worse or I can make things better, and my goal is always to make things better.”
Editor’s note: For more such inspiring stories of great businesswomen showing resilience, willpower, and determination to overcome barriers and emerge victoriously, don’t forget to subscribe to the CanadianSME Small Business Magazine.
