Ila Edgar lived life with her whole heart. Her vibrant spirit, boundless energy, and ability to lift others up was almost magical. We're heartbroken to share that we've lost this extraordinary woman.
If you were part of her world, whether through her work, her podcast, a keynote that left a deep impression, a conversation that changed something in you, or the Hello Love movement, you know she was a force - the kind that made you feel like the only person in the room. She had a remarkable ability to make you feel seen and valued, exactly as you are. She always left you feeling more human, more yourself, more loved.
Ila built her life's work around a simple, revolutionary idea: we all deserve love, starting with loving ourselves. In everything she did, she invited people to stop performing "fine" and start feeling fully alive. She recognized that being 'messily human' isn't something to fix; it's something to celebrate.
Throughout her career, she chose roles that allowed her to help people live the life they were meant to. She helped countless leaders and individuals find the truth inside themselves and the courage to live more fully. Wherever she worked, she made beautiful friendships, because for Ila, work was never just business, it was always deeply human.
She felt strongly that love plays a critical role in the workplace and encouraged others to see that humans caring for humans is what will change organizations, and the world, for the better. Through her leadership coaching, her Trust on Purpose podcast, and her keynote sessions, she shared her voice, her laughter, and her wisdom about trust, vulnerability, and what it means to lead with your whole heart.
She was vibrant. She was whimsical. She wore sparkly shoes and heart-shaped sunglasses. She laughed in a way that made you want to laugh too. She showed up for her clients, her colleagues, her community, her loved ones, with an authenticity that was both disarming and magnetic. She made ordinary moments spectacular simply by being present in them.
Ila spread love like confetti. Not the sanitized, greeting-card version, but the real kind that says, "you belong here, all of you." She taught us that love isn't something we have to earn or be perfect to have. It starts with us; with seeing ourselves, accepting ourselves, choosing ourselves, and then rippling that out into the world.
Even in her hardest moments, she chose aliveness over numbness, connection over isolation, love over fear. She showed us what it looks like to live fully human, not despite the mess, but because of it.
Ila will be deeply missed by her husband of 32 years, Rory, her son Rohan, her daughter Alex, her sisters Sue and Judi, and the countless family, friends, clients, colleagues, and community members whose lives she touched. Though she's gone far too soon, the love she gave and the ripples she started will continue to spread. She truly made the world a better place, and for that we are eternally grateful.
In honour of Ila's life and legacy, we invite you to do what she did best:
Spread some love. Write a love letter (find special templates she made here). Tell someone they matter. See someone fully. Make an ordinary moment spectacular.
That's how we keep her spirit alive.
If Ila impacted your life or work, please share a memory or reflection on the Hello Love Instagram account. Let's fill hearts with the love she so generously gave.
