Celebrating Exceptional Drivers on International Women’s Day

Meet three inspiring Lyft drivers — from our very own Ottawa and Toronto — who are driving our community forward.

Nara, Toronto

Nara started driving with Lyft to earn supplemental income to support her family. She found Lyft when she needed it the most. “My daughter and I have been through some tough times. After my divorce, I really didn’t know what we were going to do in the future,” she says.“After I started driving with Lyft, I felt good knowing when there is a need, there is a way. I did not have that confidence before I started driving. It’s really empowering.” The money soon became an afterthought as she fell in love with being a Lyft driver. Meeting new people, talking to passengers, forming relationships, and listening to music are all bonuses of driving. “Driving with Lyft has shifted my mentality from survival to thriving, Nara says.”

Nara primarily works evenings and weekends. Her favourite rides are the long distance ones, where she can get out of the hustle and bustle of the city, or drop people at the airport before departing for a vacation.

Nara’s advice for other drivers is to imagine you’re driving your best friend. If you do that, you’ll always find joy when driving. She also tells us it’s important to focus on the quality of the drive, treat your riders with respect, and always prioritise their safety.

After the birth of her daughter, Nara says her proudest moment is winning a Lyft Driver of the Year award last year — and having her daughter present to witness this very special moment. Next up, Nara’s ultimate goal is to book a trip to Disney World for her daughter’s birthday.

Emily, Ottawa

Emily loves meeting new people. And she also loves driving. When she was looking for a part-time job where she could control her schedule, driving with Lyft just made sense. Emily’s goal is to pay off her student loans as quickly as possible. “They are a huge weight on my shoulders and I want to be able to chip away at them so my debt-free life can begin, she says.” Emily is driven to succeed through driving with Lyft.

Along the way, Emily loves learning a bit about each passenger and listening to their stories. “For my longer duration rides, I sometimes joke that I provide driving and therapy services to my riders. I call that my ‘unsolicited Lyft driver advice,’” she says. A lot of my riders laugh and say that they’re so happy to have met me.”

Her best advice to other women in the Lyft driver community is to be yourself. And to be prepared for people to say, "You're my first ever female Lyft driver! Do you like it? Do you feel safe?" Emily’s answer is, "Yes! I love the freedom and meeting new people. I feel completely safe because every passenger is just like you!"

Grace, Toronto

Grace first started driving with Lyft while she was looking for a part-time job that had flexible hours to supplement her income. Grace loves being able to take passengers home after a long day, knowing they appreciate the friendly and comfortable ride she provides. Driving has become a rewarding experience for her.

Grace enjoys the freedom Lyft provides.  She has sickle cell anemia, so creating her own schedule allows her to work at her own pace and not stress herself out too much.

Today, Grace is proud to be one of Lyft’s top drivers in Toronto. Grace loves meeting new Lyft riders every day, especially new moms. “A few of my favourite moments include picking up and riding with new mothers who share their experiences as young mothers with me,” she says. “I am always so pleased and humbled to share my personal experiences as a mother and advice with them.” In fact, Grace recommends new moms drive with Lyft, since it provides flexibility around school hours.