Carole Trilokekar

World traveler

Carole Trilokekar is a therapist, global advocate, and founder committed to empowering communities through mental wellness, education, and sustainable innovation. With a background in psychology and international education, she blends therapeutic insight with cultural sensitivity to help individuals, particularly women and youth, to cultivate resilience and autonomy. She is the founder of Learn Travel Play Global Initiatives, a not-for-profit organization that collaborates with Indigenous communities across the world to support grassroots projects aimed at creating long-term socioeconomic independence. These initiatives include building learning centers, promoting safe housing, and providing economic opportunities for women affected by human trafficking. Each project is guided by the unique needs and cultural values of the communities she partners with. Carole is also the founder of Aryadara, a socially conscious cosmetic brand that ethically sources ingredients from Indigenous producers. The brand generates sustainable revenue streams while honoring traditional knowledge and environmental practices. A Canadian based in Vancouver, Carole travels full-time with her husband and three children, spending extended periods living and working in different communities each year. Raised in Kuwait and educated at prestigious institutions including McGill University, she brings a global perspective to her work. Her mission is to empower people to empower themselves.

I’m passionate about healing as a pathway to possibility both personally and collectively. I believe mental wellness is not just an individual pursuit; it’s a structural necessity. I’m passionate about helping people reclaim their stories, reconnect with their communities, and rebuild systems that allow them to thrive on their own terms. Whether I’m working with Indigenous women on grassroots economic projects, guiding clients through emotional transformation, or raising my children across cultures and continents, I am driven by the same core belief: empowered people empower others. And healing in a deep, honest, culturally grounded way, this is where that empowerment begins. I’m passionate about asking bigger questions about home, belonging, identity, and beauty and exploring how these concepts can evolve into tools for justice, sustainability, and joy.

Healing is not a luxury. It’s a strategy for systemic change. What if we treated healing not as something we squeeze into our lives after the ‘real work’ is done but as the strategy that makes generational change possible? Whether you’re working with Indigenous communities, building ethical supply chains through beauty products, or raising children on the move, trauma-informed systems and emotional wellness are not luxuries. They are the foundation. And if we want to build a more equitable world, we must begin by asking: what would change if healing was the starting point and not the reward?

I used to think that being on a TEDx stage meant I had to become an expert. For years, I searched for the one perfect idea I could claim as my own; something that felt worthy of the platform. I had many ideas that mattered to me, and I tried submitting to different events, hoping to be chosen. But at some point, I received advice that completely shifted my perspective: “Stop waiting for permission. Stop trying to get in the door. Build the building.” That one sentence changed everything. I realized I wasn’t just passionate about sharing one idea. I was passionate about the whole idea of sharing ideas. So I decided to stop asking to be included and instead create a space where others could belong too. I applied to host a TEDx event, not to showcase my own voice, but to lift up many. And in doing so, I found my own TED story. It wasn’t about being heard. It was about becoming a bridge.

People don’t know I’m good at arts and crafts. I’m actually very hands-on and creative; I love painting, building things, and creating with my hands. I also have a deep love for designing spaces. Whether it’s curating a cozy corner or reimagining a room in a way that tells a story, I find joy in transforming environments to feel both beautiful and intentional. It’s my quiet outlet where I get to create without rules.