Joyce Fuerza has lived in four different countries, so it’s barely a surprise that she’s fluent in five different languages and is learning a sixth. What’s surprising is that in spite of her overwhelming success, she still comes across as apprpoachable. Fuerza is one of the most popular voices on Canadian television. Her show “The Joyce Fuerza Show” offers viewers entrepreneurship and personal development guidance. She regularly interviews small business owners and entrepreneurs from all over Canada. Business is a passion for the media personality, and this shows through her launch of her very own production company Joyce Fuerza Productions.
K. St. Fort: Joyce Fuerza, I think it’s interesting that your last name is Fuerza since it means strength in Spanish.
Thank you so much for inviting me to do this interview. I am really humbled and delighted to be able to share a bit about myself, my projects, and my journey with you and your readers. Hopefully I can inspire others to focus on their passion and motivate them to work hard towards achieving their objectives. This is definitely not the first time I have been asked to comment about my name. Fuerza is actually my middle name—given to me by my lovely mother. I use my first name and my middle name—Joyce Fuerza—as my brand.
K. St. Fort: So you know Kreyol, French, English, Spanish, Portuguese and you’re learning Mandarin. How cool.
Thank you! Living and studying abroad in four different countries has been one of the most important experiences of my life and I am so grateful for that. It definitely widened my horizons and got me to be more involved in other cultures. That also explains why I speak five languages. I encourage anyone to learn an additional language, it’s incredible how much it will change your life!
Above: Interviewing a guest on The Joyce Fuerza show, her motivational and personal development-focused talk show.
K. St. Fort: Did you feel pretty growing up?
I have always believed that being pretty comes from the inside first. I have always felt I had a beautiful personality which in turn reflects on the outside. Growing up I don’t remember ever being obsessed about beauty, and today, I’m still not. It’s so easy for people, especially young people today, to get the wrong picture about what is labeled as ‘beautiful’ or ‘pretty’ with what they are constantly seeing on TV, or with the use of Photoshop on pictures in magazines etc… What’s important is that you feel good in your own skin. Charm and kindness last way longer than beauty. Beauty will eventually fade away.
K. St. Fort: Every day practically you have a camera aiming at your face. Does that ever make you self-conscious?
No matter what you do in life, people will form opinions about you. So, if you are afraid of being judged, you will never accomplish anything in life. I am a person who believes in taking initiatives in order to make it in this world, so it is important to learn to be comfortable with not caring so much about what other people think about you and not let other people’s judgments stop you from following your dreams. Otherwise, you will never do anything great in your life. I enjoy having a camera on me as long as it’s helping me share what I learn everyday with others.
K. St. Fort: Do you have a beauty and fitness regimen?
I don’t follow any particular diet, but I do eat healthy. I prefer home cooked meals; I watch a lot of cooking shows to try new recipes. As for fitness nothing drastic either, I usually run (either outdoors or on the treadmill) and I enjoy dancing especially Salsa.
K. St. Fort: What would you say to other young women who would like to make a career in television broadcasting?
I would tell them first to make sure they get an education. Knowledge is something that nobody can take away from you. Then, go out there and network, volunteer or do internships with established organizations so you can learn more about the industry, to acquire more skill set and experience. Always be confident.
K. St. Fort: You have your own production company Joyce Fuerza Productions, Inc. What’s a Monday like running this company?
I work with a very dynamic team. We share the same passion and vision which makes our working environment not even feel like we are working, but more like sharing ideas and having fun while being productive. My typical Monday is much more than running my production company. I am also involved as the head coordinator in the organization of two major film festivals in Canada: the Toronto Black Film Festival and the Montreal International Black Film Festival. So, I go from coordinating special events, to speaking at different TV and radio outlets, going to team meetings and press conferences, welcoming celebrities coming from different parts of the world, doing red carpet interviews, among other things.
K. St. Fort: Any book or books that you’d like to recommend to me and my readers in terms of how it helped you grow as a person?
I am very business-oriented, so I read a lot of leadership and entrepreneurship books. One book I would highly suggest is The Nine Step Plan for Success by New York Times bestselling author Stedman Graham whom I had the pleasure to personally meet. If you can also attend one of Stedman’s business conferences, then it’s even better. You will learn a great deal of tips on how to grow and be more successful in your life.
[Photo Credit: All photos furnished by subject.]
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