This February, all month long, we’re honouring the work of 28 inspiring leaders. Women who are drawing upon and celebrating their culture while making a lasting difference in their community using their gifts. From authors and teachers, CEOs to entrepreneurs, not-for-profit directors, artists, and more, these women are changing the face of leadership.
These are truly women to watch and veza community is so pleased to share their brilliance.
May their stories inspire YOU to rise.
Meet Jasmine Garcha.
Jasmine Garcha is a Registered Holistic Nutritionist, a Health and Lifestyle Blogger, and the founder ofHolistic Jazz—a platform dedicated to creating awareness about chronic health conditions, mental illness, food intolerances and holistic wellness. Basically, “All that Holistic Jazz”! She is passionate about creating awareness and educating others on thriving through a holistic lifestyle. Jasmine is an intuitive and expressive storyteller who utilizes her true, raw and authentic story of overcoming mental and invisible illnesses to empower others. She is also a holistic health enthusiast, smoothie bowl addict, sports fanatic, adventure seeker, and aspiring traveler!
Jasmine describes herself as being a woman who has seen the light through the darkness: a woman who is motivated by life experiences of being dubbed a medical mystery. Through her trials and tribulations with chronic illness and pain, she has found healing through holistic wellness. Jasmine is an intuitive storyteller who uses her true, raw, authentic voice to share a glimpse into the highs and lows of her ongoing life journey. She is a woman who is finding her way to wellness: a woman who is empowered and dedicated to breaking the stigma against invisible illnesses, and creating a world where it is okay to not be okay. Jasmine is a beautiful soul who is going against the grain and following her soul’s true calling.
So tell us, Jasmine: What inspires you most? What motivates you to get up every morning?
Embracing the unknown and trusting my soul journey inspires me to get up each morning and connect with my inner self. By doing so, I am able to be present and aware of what is going on within and around me. I am able to be true to myself and live to my fullest potential.
How do you feel that your actions teach or inspire others?
By being my true, raw, and authentic self, I am able to utilize my voice to empower others. I am very vocal about all of the real stuff that encompasses mental and invisible illnesses, and I utilize my voice to show the world the reality of living with these conditions in hopes of creating awareness and empowering others. I feel that by being my true self, I am able to show others that it’s okay to not be okay, and it’s absolutely okay to embrace your shadow side.
What is one change you’d like to see in the world?
Breaking the stigma against mental illness.
Which of your contributions to date have given you the greatest sense of pride?
Above all, I am most proud of finding the strength to be able to speak my authentic truth. I am proud of finding my voice and publicly sharing my personal mental and invisible health journey on my blog to empower others.
I believe that the work that we do on ourselves, for ourselves, to better ourselves, is the contribution that we should be most proud of. I am also very proud of many of my contributions within the community, such as the volunteer work that I have done with various arts and non-profit cancer organizations, as well as the funds that I have raised for various organizations. I am also really happy with my work as a youth worker, and working with inner city kids.
We hope you’ve enjoyed getting to know Jasmine! Learn more about her work and stay connected via social media: @holisticjazz, or her website:https://holisticjazz.ca/
Ready to RISE as a leader in your own right?
Get your copy of veza community’s NEW Feminine Leadership Guide. It’s our gift to YOU.
Inside the Feminine Leadership Guide you’ll receive a series of activating journal prompts and action exercises to inspire your next steps on the journey to greater impact.
This February, all month long, we’re honouring the work of 28 inspiring leaders. Women who are drawing upon and celebrating their culture while making a lasting difference in their community using their gifts. From authors and teachers, CEOs to entrepreneurs, not-for-profit directors, artists, and more, these women are changing the face of leadership.
These are truly women to watch and veza community is so pleased to share their brilliance.
May their stories inspire YOU to rise.
Meet Sarbdeep Johal.
Sarbdeep is a teacher by profession. As she stepped into motherhood a few years ago, she was able to reflect deeply about her connection with the language she was first taught to speak by her own mother. The language was Punjabi, and that was how she was able to identify the author within herself: she has since published two Punjabi/English books under the B.B. Series (@Baanibooks).
Sarbdeep would say that she is a keener, a learner, and a risk taker. She believes in positive energy, feeling strongly that if you are able to dream, you can definitely bring that dream into reality through your faith, hard work, and self-confidence.
So tell us, Sarbdeep: What inspires you most? What motivates you to get up every morning?
The students I teach at school. I feel passionate about teaching them as well as learning from their experiences. It is an amazing feeling to see the world from a learner’s perspective, and this keeps me grounded as a teacher, and especially as a human being
How do you feel that your actions teach or inspire others?
I teach empathy and respect.
I feel having an understanding as humans, as learners or even as a teacher is most important aspect of my job. Always putting yourself into other person’s position and try to connect how they are feeling thus help them succeed in what they may be struggling with. I try to be positive and happy most of the time
What is one change you’d like to see in the world?
One change I would like to see would be more acceptance—more knowledge and respect for all humankind as one.
Which of your contributions to date have given you the greatest sense of pride?
My teaching career as well as the Punjabi English books I was able to publish last year under B.B.Series. Baanibooks.
We hope you’ve enjoyed getting to know Sarbdeep! Learn more about her work and stay connected via Facebook: B.B.Series, Instagram: @b.b.series , or on her Amazon author page: Sarbdeep Johal.
Ready to RISE as a leader in your own right?
Get your copy of veza community’s NEW Feminine Leadership Guide. It’s our gift to YOU.
Inside the Feminine Leadership Guide you’ll receive a series of activating journal prompts and action exercises to inspire your next steps on the journey to greater impact.
Get instant access to the veza Feminine Leadership Guide right here.
This February, all month long, we’re honouring the work of 28 inspiring leaders. Women who are drawing upon and celebrating their culture while making a lasting difference in their community using their gifts. From authors and teachers, CEOs to entrepreneurs, not-for-profit directors, artists, and more, these women are changing the face of leadership.
These are truly women to watch and veza community is so pleased to share their brilliance.
May their stories inspire YOU to rise.
Meet Jill Valentine.
Jill is the founder of UGO Travel for Change, which offers life-changing volunteer experiences, and Dare to be a Dandelion—an organization that uses life coaching and consultation to help volunteers, humanitarians, and social entrepreneurs harness their skills and passions to do good in the world.
She is an author, transformative travel coach, humanitarian entrepreneur, disability sport advocate, travel enthusiast, volunteerism specialist, and mother. Jill believes strongly in being of service to others, and she enjoys helping to enable others to find their way to be of service, and then connect them to service that inspire and fulfill them.
Prior to becoming a social entrepreneur, Jill poured her energy and passion into the nonprofit sector for over 20 years at organizations such as the Heart & Stroke Foundation, Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation, and ParaSport Ontario amongst others. Â As an avid humanitarian Jill has volunteered thousands of hours of her time for over 30 different organizations both locally and abroad, most passionately within the disability sport arena in East Africa. Currently Jill is a board member of the Toronto Accessible Sports Council, promotes volunteerism for Volunteer Toronto, and launched her book Dare to be a Dandelion as a fundraising tool in the fall of 2017.
Jill sees the immense benefits of volunteering abroad as a tool for personal and global change, and also strives to empower women and girls to step into their own power. She tries to be a role model in this whenever she can, especially as an example to her young daughter. Authentic community and connection are both extremely important to her, and she enjoys supporting others to succeed and find joy.
So tell us, Jill…
What inspires you most? What motivates you to get up every morning?
Knowing that the projects I am working on can make a real difference in the lives of others: both locally, and internationally.
How do you feel that your actions teach or inspire others?
How being of service can enrich and benefit the lives of those you serve, as well as yourself.
What is one change you’d like to see in the world?
I’d like to see more compassion, and resulting action being taken. I would like to see people helping and supporting each other more—both in our own community as well as those far away.
Which of your contributions to date have given you the greatest sense of pride?
 The year I spent in Uganda supporting the disability sport movement, which culminated in me organizing and facilitating the first national disability sport summit.  Â
Is there anything else you’d like to add?
I love this initiative!!!
We hope you’ve enjoyed getting to know Jill!
Learn more about her work and stay connected by following her on social media: @daredandelion and @UGOTravelforChange
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Ready to RISE as a leader in your own right?
Get your copy of veza community’s NEW Feminine Leadership Guide. It’s our gift to YOU.
Inside the Feminine Leadership Guide you’ll receive a series of activating journal prompts and action exercises to inspire your next steps on the journey to greater impact.
We all have a purpose here on earth. The purpose differs for each person.
It is so important to know what your purpose is so that you can live a fulfilled life, one that you feel so happy about and one that allows you to have excitement to wake up to each day.
Join us as we talk about the ways we can incorporate both our left and right brains – the creative and analytical approach – to our work, even if we have never considered ourselves “creatives” or “storytellers.” Everyone has a story to tell, either about their work, personal lives, history, culture, or the way they see the world. It’s our superpower and so many of us keep it hidden because, at some point in our lives, we were told we aren’t smart enough, creative enough, or capable enough. In this chat, we will discuss tangible steps on how to cultivate more thought leaders and empower them to tell their stories and speak from their lived experiences.
Stephanie Raghubar (She/Her)
Stephanie Raghubar has almost eight years of extensive experience in the market research field in Canada, analyzing and bringing data to life through interpretation and visualization.
She has led partnerships with Procter & Gamble, Jamieson Wellness and other consumer goods companies, designing strategic solutions to complex business problems.
After taking an extended backpacking trip across South and Southeast Asia, Stephanie has pursued a career as a freelance Market Research & Data Expert, providing analyses, guidance and presentations on largely survey and advertising data. Stephanie holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Economics.
Stephanie currently spends her time between various places in India, and her hometown near Toronto.
Jaspreet Kular (She/Her)
Jaspreet has a strong diverse background in International Relations, specializing in Geopolitics and Connectivity, Immigration (corporate, family class, student, and humanitarian streams); and Human Resources Compliance. Currently, she is working on a PhD research proposal examining the tactics and images used by organizations for fundraising drives to benefit populations of the Global South.
The objective of her proposal is to generate images and narratives that disrupt the uneven and colonial power dynamics between the Global North and Global South, without negatively impacting target amounts for donations. The assumption that drives this proposal is that reifying stereotypes of the Global South hinders progress for long-term solutions whereas community empowerment, through narrative and image shifts, could lead to locally-developed, locally-led, sustainable solutions. Jaspreet originally hails from Vancouver and currently resides in the Netherlands.
Ishu Kler (She/Her)
Ishu Kler is a photographer and Social Media Manager at Veza Global. She currently owns and operates a freelance photography company called Ishu Kler Creative where she specializes in branding, portrait and event photography. Born and raised in Vancouver, B.C., her love and passion for photography led Ishu to travel and live in New Delhi, India, where she obtained her Diploma in Photography. She also travelled to Costa Rica in 2015, where she obtained her Certificate in Documentary Photography from Photographers Without Borders.
“My love for stories came from my love of travelling to new places, learning new things and hearing of all the experiences people across the world have had and live. Diversity and inclusion has always been something I have been passionate about, and through my work at Veza I have been able to learn so much about the power that inclusion and belonging have. As a photographer, one of the most rewarding experiences I have is being able to bring out the inner-confidence of my clients. It’s more than taking a photo, it’s listening and working through self-doubt, confidence and my client’s past experiences in their lives. Diversity and inclusion is so important in my work, and I want for people to be able to know that the sky is the limit, regardless of what background they come with.”
Jodi Dodd (She/Her)
Jodi is a passionate writer, editor, and organizer with high attention to detail. Committed to clear communication and integrity, Jodi works with individuals and organizations who are making the world a better place, helping them express their essence and reach more people.
Her experiences in travel, working with equity-deserving communities in other countries, holding space for healing, and studying human behavior for over 15 years have given her a compassionate perspective and open mind to bring more inclusion, belonging, and diversity of thought to all her projects at Veza Global and beyond.
Kelsey Kalyn (She/Her)
Kelsey is a passionate Multimedia Designer & Communications Specialist with a diploma in Multimedia Production and over nine years of diverse design experience in different areas of the world including roles within multinational in-house marketing teams Microsoft and Technetix, marketing agencies and freelance. These experiences have led her to develop strong use of design principles, skills in Adobe Creative Cloud, knowledge in motion graphics and video editing, and knowledge in creating effective communication for a wide range of audiences and cultures.
Currently she is finishing a Bachelor in Professional Arts Major in Communication Studies, a degree program that compliments her multimedia production background with theory and research from the communications field, allowing her to apply her expertise within national and international mass media and communication contexts.
Shreya Seghal (She/Her)
Shreya is currently an IDEA+B Consultant with Veza Global, and passionate about creating inclusive environments for everyone. Shreya has spent 6 years in the Technology industry, focusing on Talent, Operations, and DEI. Shreya’s purpose in life is to help others by making their lives easier and ensuring everyone is treated fairly along the way.
Shreya looks for opportunities to improve processes, and create efficiencies everywhere she goes, with the IDEA+B lens on everything. Most recently, Shreya worked with an edu-tech company, where she was able to blend her passion for creating equal opportunities and inclusive environments for everyone by owning Talent Operations and leading their IDEA+B initiatives.
Shreya has also taken a coaching course through the International Coaching Federation, and loves to mentor her peers. At Veza, Shreya contributes to process improvement and People & Culture related projects.
Manpreet Dhillon (She/Her)
Ranked #15 globally on the 2020 EmPower Ethnic Minority Future Leaders list, Manpreet Dhillon is the Founder, Veza Global. Over the past 15 years, Veza Global has built and supported the implementation of IDEA-B throughout all levels of an organization by applying research-based organizational maturity models and utilizing proprietary assessment technology developed from our international experience. Manpreet has over 20 years of leadership, coaching, human resources, and community development expertise. She focuses on creating systemic change to address institutionalized inequalities through representation from the communities being served.
Manpreet serves as an Ambassador with the Women’s Enterprise Center and as a past Business Coach for Entrepreneurs with Disabilities program. Veza has worked with several notable organizations including UN affiliate: Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons, UN Women, HR Tech Group, Immigrant Employers Council of BC and Terramera. Manpreet has also led a trade mission of women entrepreneurs to Croatia – one of the first held by a private company to further the mission of increasing export by women entrepreneurs. She has held positions as a board member of Canada India Education Society, liveBIG Society, British Columbia Institute of Technology Alumni Board of Directors, past Board Member of Royal Roads University, and has served on various arts and health boards.
Manpreet received her Masters in Organizational Management as is a Certified Human Resources Professional, Certified in Gender Mainstreaming and Certified Internal Auditor and is a settler, born in Canada with parents from India. She is a contributing author to Chicken Soup for the Soul, and a contributing author to Forbes, Thrive Global, and CHRP People Talk.
Andisheh Fard (She/Her)
Andisheh is an IDEA-B Consultant at Veza Global. She has experience in community engagement, facilitation, anti-racism, anti-oppression, human rights, as well as mass atrocity prevention and response. She holds a Master of Arts in Human Rights Studies from Columbia University and a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in Political Science with International Relations from the University of British Columbia. She has worked with and volunteered for numerous organizations, including Impact North Shore, Simon Fraser University, the International Coalition for the Responsibility to Protect (ICRtoP), Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada, UN Women in Afghanistan, and the North Shore Women’s Centre.
Andisheh was born in Tehran, Iran and is a visitor on the unceded and ancestral territories of the Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish) and səlil̓ilw̓ətaʔɬ (Tsleil-Waututh). For Andisheh, inclusion means having a sense of belonging and freedom to be your true self without fear. As an EDIB constant at Veza Global, Andisheh works with clients to embed Equity, Diversity, Inclusion and Belonging across their operations.
John Kehinde Atoyebi (He/Him)
John is an IDEA-B consultant with Veza Gobal. He has over ten years of experience in the justice sector. He worked in a private law firm, as a government counsel and in the Nigerian judiciary, first as a researcher and later as a judicial officer. He led diverse teams in the justice sector and collaborated with relevant stakeholders to promote and protect the human rights of the people. In addition, John has experience in community mobilization, and he has worked with several organizations and communities to create peaceful and inclusive societies.
John is a human rights activist and has taught graduate students International Human Rights Law in the University. He has attended several human rights training in prestigious institutions, including the Centre for Human Rights, University of Pretoria and the Lucerne Academy for Human Rights Implementation, University of Lucerne, Switzerland.
John holds a bachelor’s and master’s degree in law. He was called to the Nigerian bar. He is also a graduate of the Master in Intellectual Property and Development Policy programme, jointly organized by the World Intellectual Property Organization, the Korean Intellectual Property Office and the Korea Development School of Public Policy and Management.
He is an experienced public affairs analyst, a policy researcher and analyst, and a community mobilizer. He is a leadership expert who became exposed to leadership as a teenager. He has since participated in numerous youth-centred programmes and initiatives locally, nationally, and internationally while also providing leadership.
He is a certified IDEA-B professional. His principal motivation for joining Veza Global was to contribute to creating a world where humans will live daily in the consciousness of the truth of their shared Humanity— the truth that every one of us is sacred, has dignity, and has the right to wellbeing in this human experience. As a consultant to Veza Global, he Provides strategies and advice on how to help organizations embed Equity, Diversity and Inclusion in their operations.
To John, inclusion is means that no one is denied the right to enjoy the collective human experience.
John is a visitor to the unceded and ancestral territory of the Musqueam, Squamish, and Tseil-Waututh Indigenous peoples of Canada.
Ramya Kandhasamy (She/Her)
Ramya is a Leadership Training Consultant at Veza. A Change Agent, Ramya has spearheaded several transformational initiatives around strategy, KPIs, marketing, hiring, company culture, processes, employee engagement, and more.
Creating an accessible and inclusive work environment is at the core of every leadership role Ramya has essayed. Her work has helped mitigate bias in business planning and strategy across multiple organizations. She has nurtured innovation through diversity of thought while cultivating a climate for progressive feedback. All this enabled Ramya to build high-performing and super-engaged teams of 70+ individuals.
Her passion for enabling organizations to thrive led her to leave behind a rewarding 11-year career at Yahoo to start her own Strategy Consulting business in 2021 as a new immigrant in Sweden.
Michelle Casavant is mixed heritage, French, Cree-Metis, and Irish from central Saskatchewan. She has been a visitor on the unceded territory of the Musqueam, Squamish, and Tsleil Waututh people since 1997. Michelle has a background and formal training in fine arts, education and law. As a member of the urban Indigenous community in Vancouver for 20 years she has been actively involved in breaking down barriers for Indigenous peoples and students and building bridges with non-Indigenous peoples and communities.
Michelle’s work in Aboriginal law began 15 years ago. She has worked for the federal government for 10 years in numerous roles involving Indigenous peoples and communities: she was part of the legal team at the Department of Justice that conducted the Independent Assessment Process hearings for residential school survivors, she has been a Negotiator with Crown-Indigenous Relations, and managed a consultation team for major projects with Indigenous Services Canada.
Michelle has sat and sits on many boards and committees providing Indigenous perspectives to policies and programming. She has a passion for sharing her culture. Michelle actively hosts Indigenous authors book clubs, cultural competency training, community engagement, and cultural workshops.