This morning, I woke up with a sore face from laughing bloody hard over the past two weeks: I just completed my first intensive improvisation course at The Second City, the world's premier comedy club/theatre and school of improvisation. As it turns out, I did learn some skills to help with my public speaking.

I recently had the pleasure of interviewing award-winning editor and celebrated columnist, Leah Eichler. Her weekly career takes a refreshing and insightful perspective on issues that women face in today's workplace.

Dreaming has taken us to the moon and Mars. It has given us automobiles, movies, books, the iPhone and Facebook. Humans can live longer, healthier lives thanks to dreaming. It is the spirit of the dream that propels us forward. I confess: I am a dreamer myself.

Ariel Garten, co-founder and CEO, InteraXon, a thought-controlled computing company based in Toronto, has managed to beautifully blend the worlds of science, art, business and technology. Often referred to as the "Brain Guru," her innovative technology harnesses the power of brainwaves to control objects and create experiences, from gaming to making a chair levitate.

When we have a big vision for ourselves -- and are taking steps toward fulfilling that dream -- it can be time of major transition and growth. When we are in this stage of growth, we need to muster all that we have to make our creative dreams come to fruition. Including our self-confidence. But, often it is not wise to share our vision or dreams with others until we are truly ready to do so. Here's why.

It is wise to be driven by enthusiasm and to have a well thought-out plan to make it happen, and it is certainly nice to fantasize about, but reality has a habit of ensuring that not everything we start in life comes to fruition. Like it or not, accept it or not, it is simply the way it is.

After interviewing hundreds of accomplished women over the past few years, in my quest to discover the keys to their success, I have become aware of recurring themes. For many of these successful women, the importance of having a regular meditation practice is not only important; it has been paramount to helping them achieve career and/or overall life success.

After a fateful trip to Paris, Ackerman was inspired to turn her love of travel, food, art and culture into a business. So she launched Butter and Egg Road, a travel-inspired private members' club that brings together an international community of like-minded people to share their love of food, art and culture during weekend social events in different cities across North America.

On May 19, 2012, Shriya Shah-Klorfine became the first Canadian woman of South Asian origin to summit Mount Everest. Only a few hours later, at the age of 33, Shriya died on the descent. This past weekend, nearly two months later, her friends and loved ones gathered at a memorial service to celebrate Shriya's extraordinary life. I wanted to celebrate it, too. So I decided to honour her in this blog.

I have had the privilege of interviewing more than 150 successful women from all walks of life who have chosen to listen to their hearts. That is what makes them "extraordinary." I would like to introduce you to some of them.