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Donna Kakonge: Photo Credit - Megan Leonard

Donna Kakonge: Illustration Credit - Megan Leonard

Finally she started a business, and like the Frank Sinatra song, she did it her way (with a lot of help from good people). When Donna Kakonge was 29, she began working on a long held dream to own a multimedia magazine.

The magazine she created with the help of a business plan and other interested partners is called Donna Magazine. It was like a People Magazine that focused not on stars, but the people who get up for work every morning and shave with one hand while diapering their baby girl. For people who have decided to devote their whole lives to volunteer work and received honorary degrees for it. For people like you and me, who are taking life one day at a time and often their fascinating stories never get told.

The launching of the magazine happened with the start of her business in 2005, as well as doing her master’s degree at Concordia University. The launch in 2005 was a low-key affair with Donna working away in her office and going to bed early.

Donna did not have a lot of experience at first at running a business. Over the years of the magazine, it aims to tackle many interesting public affairs topics, from health to war to gender issues. Donna Kakonge follows another passion of hers – teaching at Centennial College, Seneca College and Trebas Institute. She teaches writing, broadcasting and online.

This magazine is something where you need to sit back, have coffee or tea and take your time to go through. The inexpensive means to pull something like this off could not have come without the power of technology and the ability it has to uplift the common man or woman. Donna has also written 26 books and has three audio products for sale that can be bought at http://stores.lulu.com/kakonged. Her official business website is: www.donnakakonge.com.

The photo above is by Megan Leonard. For more of her work, please check out: http://meganleonard.carbonmade.com/.

  1. I am a professor, broadcaster and writer. Currently I work with four schools in Toronto, Canada, as well as write for New Dreamhomes and Condominiums Magazine. I have worked for the CBC, Discovery Channel, BBC, Vision TV, various magazines all over the world and community and daily newspapers. My professional and teaching philosophies are that “information is critical” and “everything is a story.”

  2. Donna, I did not know that you are a professor and broadcaster as well as a writer.

  3. Good morning,

    It’s always a proud moment for me when I see women entrepreneurs fulfill their life long dreams. As two women with similar aspirations I would like to say congratulations and hope that you will visit my blogs.

    http://nappybrain.wordpress.com
    http://discoveringtoronto.wordpress.com

    Blessings to you and yours!

    Sincerely,
    Gloria

  4. Hi Donna,

    Isn’t memory fascinating? I’m transcribing old interviews as part of my job with CBC Radio Archives in Toronto, and I hear this woman reading a story on a program called Cloud 9 from 1992. The cadence and tone of her voice reminded me of you. A quick Google search and here you are!

    I’ve been living in Toronto since December of 2005 working for the CBC as a Media Librarian and an Associate Producer. I do freelance work for a couple of public radio stations in Albany, NY too.

    Drop me a line when you have a moment. I’d love to know what roads you’ve been traveling since our time in Montreal.

    I hope you’ve been well,

    Wayne

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