From Potential to Purpose: The Journey of Marco Pasqua, Accessibility Advocate and Inspirational Speaker

Marco Pasqua is an award-winning entrepreneur, accessibility consultant, keynote speaker, and proud father. Born with cerebral palsy, he uses a wheelchair and his voice to break down barriers and advocate for inclusion. He co-founded Meaningful Access Consulting with his wife, Karin, and also runs Marco Pasqua Enterprises, providing speaking, mentorship, and writing services around the world. His bestselling book, From Potential to Purpose, introduces The CUBE Principle—a framework to help individuals build authentic connections. Marco’s work centers around legacy, inclusion, and empowering others to creatively channel their energy into purpose-driven lives.

Could you elaborate on the nature of your business, highlighting its purpose and the ways it benefits people?
I operate two purpose-driven businesses: Marco Pasqua Enterprises and Meaningful Access Consulting. Through MPE, I offer keynote speaking, emceeing, one-on-one mentorship, and writing services to global audiences, with a focus on accessibility, entrepreneurship, and personal development. Meaningful Access, co-founded with my wife Karin, provides disability awareness training and accessibility consulting. Together, we help individuals, governments, and organizations understand inclusion as a strength—not a checkbox. Our goal is to remove barriers (both physical and attitudinal) and spark a shift toward more compassionate, universally-designed spaces for all people to thrive.

What inspired you to start your journey as a coach and entrepreneur? Were there any specific events, challenges, or people that motivated you to take this path?
My journey into entrepreneurship was anything but conventional. I began my career in the video game industry, building immersive digital worlds—until I was laid off during the 2008–2010 recession. That loss shook me, but it also cracked open the doorway to something far greater. My then-girlfriend (now wife and business partner), Karin, saw it before I did. “Good,” she said. “Because you were never meant to work for someone else. You were meant to light a fire in people.” That was the spark.

With her encouragement, I applied to the SEEDS (Self-Employment Entrepreneur Development Society) program. Out of 22 applicants, only 11 were accepted after pitching in a “Shark Tank”-style presentation. I was one of them. That experience gave me not just extended income support, but the confidence and tools to build Marco Pasqua Enterprises from the ground up.

But the truth is, this journey started long before I ever stepped on a stage. I was born with cerebral palsy. Growing up in a manual wheelchair, I learned how to navigate a world that wasn’t built for me—developing persistence, adaptability, and creative problem-solving skills long before I called them “entrepreneurial traits.”

My biggest inspirations? Rick Hansen—whose legendary Man in Motion World Tour showed me that a wheelchair doesn’t define limits, it defines possibility. And my speaking mentor, Dale Elliott—known as the Wheelchair Mentor—who helped me sharpen my message and reminded me that our lived experiences can become our most powerful tools to impact others.

That’s why I became a speaker, a mentor, and an entrepreneur. Not for applause, but to transform lived adversity into meaningful action—and help others rise into their own purpose.

Looking back at the beginning of your career, what were the major challenges you faced when establishing yourself as a leader/coach? How did you overcome those obstacles?
Looking back, the biggest challenge wasn’t just building a business—it was being seen as a business. As a wheelchair user with cerebral palsy, I had to overcome society’s assumptions about what I couldn’t do before I could even showcase what I could. There were times early on when people didn’t take me seriously as a professional speaker or coach because they couldn’t imagine someone with a visible disability leading from the front.

On top of that, I was navigating the startup world without a financial safety net. When Karin and I were just starting out, we were living well below the poverty line, in a cramped apartment with cockroaches—but we had vision, grit, and each other. That belief carried us through.

Another major hurdle was confidence—believing I belonged on stages, in boardrooms, and leading corporate trainings. I had the lived experience, but I had to learn to value that as expertise. Mentors like Dale Elliott helped me shape my voice, while inspiration from Rick Hansen reminded me that visibility itself can be revolutionary.

I overcame these obstacles by leaning into authenticity. I stopped trying to “hide” my disability or fit the mold, and started owning my story. That shift allowed me to connect with audiences not in spite of who I am, but because of it. My message, my energy, and my perspective are what set me apart—not what hold me back.

Would you like to share any remarkable achievement?
One of the most memorable achievements of my career was rappelling down the side of a 20-storey building—in my wheelchair—to raise funds and awareness for accessibility. It wasn’t just a thrill-seeking stunt; it was about showing what’s possible when we stop seeing disability as a limitation and start seeing it as another form of strength.

In 2025, I was deeply honoured to receive the King Charles III Coronation Medal, a national recognition awarded to only 30,000 Canadians for significant contributions to their country. I was nominated by the Rick Hansen Foundation for my work in accessibility, advocacy, and inclusion—a full-circle moment, considering Rick was one of my earliest inspirations through his Man in Motion World Tour.

I’m also proud to be the author of From Potential to Purpose: Your Guide to Authentic Connections, which became a #1 bestseller within 24 hours of its release. The book is not just my story—it’s a practical framework for turning obstacles into opportunities through what I call The CUBE Principle.

These moments aren’t just milestones—they’re reminders that bold action, recognition, and storytelling all serve a greater purpose: building a world where inclusion is the norm, not the exception.

Women are a growing force in the workplaces worldwide, standing shoulder to shoulder with their male counterparts. What are your thoughts about women leadership today?
I believe women’s leadership isn’t just a growing force—it’s a restorative one. For too long, we’ve undervalued the kind of leadership that prioritizes empathy, collaboration, and intuition. Today, those are the very traits reshaping the future of work—and women are leading that transformation.

I’ve been shaped by powerful women. My mother, who was born and raised in Canada, is the backbone of our family. She met my father—a young Italian immigrant—when he was just 17. Together, they taught me the values of perseverance, partnership, and dignity. And my wife, Karin, is a powerhouse in her own right. As the co-founder of Meaningful Access Consulting, she brings a depth of insight to accessibility that challenges and inspires me daily. I made it clear from the start: I don’t want her standing behind me—I want her standing beside me, with her own platform, clients, and voice.

Now, as a father to our daughter Stella, I’m committed to raising a leader who knows her worth. I want her to grow up believing that she belongs anywhere her heart and intellect take her—and that she never has to ask permission to be powerful.

The world needs women’s leadership more than ever—not because it’s trendy, but because it’s transformational.

What message/advice would you have for future women leaders and aspiring entrepreneurs?
To all future women leaders and aspiring entrepreneurs: you already have everything you need inside you. The world may try to convince you to be louder, tougher, or more polished—but I’m here to tell you, you don’t need to be more of anything. You just need to be more of yourself.

Leadership isn’t about having all the answers. It’s about showing up with integrity, leading with empathy, and making room for others to thrive beside you. Challenges will come—so will doubt. But those aren’t signs to quit. They’re invitations to rise.

I say this not just as a speaker or entrepreneur, but as a father to a little girl named Stella—whose name literally means “star.” My mission is to help build a world where she knows that her voice matters, her dreams are valid, and she doesn’t need permission to lead. I want her to see strength in kindness, power in collaboration, and bravery in vulnerability.

So my advice to you? Lead as your full self. Your authenticity is your greatest asset. Shine bright—not just for you, but for every young girl watching and waiting to believe she can too.

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