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28 Leaders To Watch: Meet Sarbdeep Kaur (Parmar) Johal

28 Leaders To Watch: Meet Sarbdeep Kaur (Parmar) Johal

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.

28 Leaders To Watch: Meet Harpreet M Dayal

28 Leaders To Watch: Meet Harpreet M Dayal

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 Harpreet M Dayal.

Harpreet was born and raised in London, England, and moved to Calgary in 2015. Before her impending move, she began writing a story about a worm that is afraid of change. Writing this story was therapy for her: the main character’s fear of change mirrored her own fears of moving to another country after spending the majority of her life in London.

Although she has a background in finance, moving to another country encouraged her to explore her creative side and start taking writing more seriously, so she could do something different in this new country. Harpreet has made a concerted effort to integrate into the local arts and culture sector and began reciting her poetry pieces at local spoken word events. Eventually, she began receiving invitations to speak at charities and mental health workshops.

She has been sharing short pieces of poetry and musings on her Instagram page (@harpreet.m.dayal) since 2015, and that page now has a following of over 60K readers. In 2016, Harpreet went on to publish her first children’s book, Wilbert the Worm, and a poetry book titled Svadhyaya: A Journey of Self Learning, which was a celebration of her taking a step into her power and self-belief in her words.

Harpreet has held two book signings in two different Chapters-Indigo branches for Wilbert the Worm, and has also held book readings in local schools, sharing Wilbert’s journey of overcoming fear and bullying. She has been invited to speak to youth and create a workshop that caters to building confidence in young people. Furthermore, Harpreet has recently started her own poetry event called “Love Notes and Coffee” with the goal of bringing positivity and people of different artistic backgrounds together and share what they love. She hopes to encourage established and aspiring artists to be able to share their work in an inviting and non-judgmental environment.

So tell us, Harpreet: What inspires you most? What motivates you to get up every morning?

What motivates me to get up every morning is the challenge of being present and grateful for what the day has to offer. I have a desire to keep learning, to experience new things and better myself in whatever I decide to explore, whether it is creatively or professionally. All whilst not forgetting to stay rooted to the ground, remaining consciously aligned with my heart, and resting in the present moment.

How do you feel that your actions teach or inspire others?

People often say that they feel inspired by my words. They say that they relate to my vulnerability, the challenges I face, my struggle with low self-esteem and the fear of stepping outside of my comfort zone, which I often express through my writing. I am very open about my successes and failures, and this makes them feel like they are not alone. I hope that when young girls and women look at me and see my work, they get a sense of “if she can, then I can too”.

What is one change you’d like to see in the world?

There is a plethora of changes I would like to see in the world, but most urgent to me would be the elimination of racism and gender discrimination. Even in this day and age we are seeing a rise in violence against women, and towards people of different races and backgrounds. We often lose sight of the fact that we are ultimately all the same: human.

Which of your contributions to date have given you the greatest sense of pride?

I felt the greatest sense of pride when I went to a school to read a chapter of my children’s book to the students. They had already been reading Wilbert the Worm, and they had been waiting for me to come and read the ending. They were especially excited about meeting an author. When I sat down with them and asked them about their favorite characters and what they loved about the book, they were awestruck. But, I can definitely say that feeling was mutual. It truly made me feel like I had accomplished something worthwhile when they shared the things they learnt from reading something I had written.

We hope you’ve enjoyed getting to know Harprett! Learn more about her work and stay connected via Instagram @harpreet.m.dayal, or her Facebook page: www.facebook.com/harpreetmdayal

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.

28 Leaders To Watch: Meet Chantal Carter Taylor

28 Leaders To Watch: Meet Chantal Carter Taylor

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 Chantal Carter Taylor.

Born and raised in Montreal, Chantal Carter Taylor is an entrepreneur who has worked in the fashion industry for over 20 years, as a Stylist, Image Consultant, and magazine Style Director. She was a key player in winning the Kenneth R. Wilson Award for best art direction and ranked 3rd best speech in a Toastmasters International area speech competition. She also appreciates creating high-end simplicity in fashion and food. She displayed this talent as a contestant in the 1st episode of Four Weddings Canada, winning 1st place for her wedding. Chantal’s passion to uplift women of colour through fashion inspired her to develop a diverse skin tone intimates line called Love & Nudes. This brand is more than just fashion, it’s a social movement connecting women and celebrating the beauty of difference through social media and events. She believes apparel and cosmetics should be accessible to all in the manner that allows them to showcase their personal style.

Chantal is a person who never felt like she fit into societal expectations and obligations, e.g. working in a job she hated simply because the pay was decent. She always wanted to do something more, and meaningful. Chantal is happy when she’s being creative, socializing and hanging out with family who love her no matter what! Finally, she is a dark chocolate fanatic and is currently obsessed with white wine, as well as sparkling and special spirits.

So tell us, Chantal: What inspires you most? What motivates you to get up every morning?

Doing work I want to do, not work I have to do.

Sometimes I am not inspired each day and that’s okay. I understand that we all have things we must do whether we love it or not, but the bigger picture has to be something I love, where I can use my creativity and the best parts of me for something meaningful. Right now it’s Love & Nudes.

How do you feel that your actions teach or inspire others?

I feel that I embody consistency and perseverance.

What is one change you’d like to see in the world?

Representation for people of colour at the highest level everywhere: in medicine, media, government, business, law, etc.

Which of your contributions to date have given you the greatest sense of pride?

I am really proud to have launched a line of bras and panties that reflect the skin tones of women of colour, and of all the things that I had to do to get it launched!

We hope you’ve enjoyed getting to know Chantal! Learn more about her work and stay connected via her Facebook and Instagram @loveandnudes, or on Twitter: @loveandnudes_

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.

28 Leaders To Watch: Meet Mollie Sommer

28 Leaders To Watch: Meet Mollie Sommer

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 Mollie Sommer.

Mollie is the proud mother of two beautiful children, and owner of Mollie Sommer Wellness in Kamloops, BC. Learning to let go and embracing her faith, she has opened her heart to a new way of life. Through trial and error, Mollie’s life has become a teaching tool for those struggling to find their feet. She uses her experiences to authentically teach, coach, and lead others. Her company offers meditation, mindfulness, yoga, Reiki, life coaching, and retreats to help clients grow, expand, and step into the life they want.

Mollie feels that life has been her education. She has experienced life’s highs and lows and has come out the other side with her lessons stored as tools in her toolbox. She has turned her Karma into Dharma, using her past to build her purpose. She feels that her past has made her strong: a lioness who uses the infinite love of the universe to help people rise out of their fears and fog.

So tell us, Mollie: What inspires you most? What motivates you to get up every morning?

Gratitude, love, and the great opportunities life offers.

How do you feel that your actions teach or inspire others?

I try to lead with love in everything I do. Every day, I practice gratitude, compassion, love, and excitement for life’s adventure. I hope that I teach others to do the same.

What is one change you’d like to see in the world?

I would love to see people shift from living from a place of fear into a place of faith and love.

Which of your contributions to date have given you the greatest sense of pride?

My children. They are pieces of my soul shining back at me.

We hope you’ve enjoyed getting to know Mollie! Learn more about her work and stay connected via social media @molliesommerwellness, or via her webpage: www.molliesommer.com

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.

28 Leaders To Watch: Meet Balwinder Dhillon

28 Leaders To Watch: Meet Balwinder Dhillon

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 Balwinder Dhillon.

A proud stay-at-home grandmother, Balwinder is a 58-year-old South Asian woman who married at the age of 17 and moved to Canada, where she didn’t really know the language or know the man she had married. She was fortunate to have the opportunity to attend high school here, even though she had her first child at 19, and the second at 21. At age 24, she had to deal with her daughter struggling with an autoimmune disease, which impacted her entire family.

Balwinder ran two very successful businesses at the same time when she was 31 years old, and at 47, she pursued a life-long goal and went back to school to earn a diploma. Then a few years ago, she had to learn to live life positively as a parent surviving their child.

So tell us, Balwinder: What inspires you most? What motivates you to get up every morning?

My grandkids:  their laughter, their curiosity, and the joy they bring me.

How do you feel that your actions teach or inspire others?

I think I inspire others to be better people and be more caring. I have a habit of forgiving others quickly, which can be questionable sometimes, but it’s a quality of mine that I wish others had more of.

What is one change you’d like to see in the world?

I’d like to see the elimination of drugs so people can focus on enjoying life in other ways.

Which of your contributions to date have given you the greatest sense of pride?

I went back to school at 47 and earned my hospitality management diploma, I went hiking in Nepal on a volunteer trip, and in general I’m proud of helping others to have an easier life.

We hope you’ve enjoyed getting to know Balwinder! Learn more about her work and stay connected via Facebook:
www.facebook.com/balwinderd

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.

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