Within two weeks of arriving in Canada in 1978, I was enrolled in a junior high school in Calgary, Alberta. The Canadian classroom culture was distinct from that of South Asian and Middle Eastern classroom. I experienced extreme bullying by my classmates who made fun of my clothing, food, accent, and hair. I skipped school, but that would only last so long before my parents received a call from the principal. 

I also struggled to make friends within the South Asian and East Indian community. I always felt like I was in the “third space”. I never quite fit in with the White European 3rd and 4th generation Canadian (as I was too conservative) but I was simultaneously accused of being “too White” by the South Asian and East Indian Community. Considering that I did not fit in either culture, I made it my lifetime mission to work toward creating an inclusive and welcoming space for everyone, irrespective of their differences. 

Social justice is important to me; however, I take a gentler approach, where I invite individuals together that hold conflicting views. I do not cater to the “cancel culture”; I believe that we can bridge the dialogue by first listening and developing the terms of relationship. We bring change incrementally. I particularly find working with leaders in an organization to be highly rewarding. I believe that leaders shape the culture; hence, at Canden Consulting, I ensure that leaders have the skills and tools to be inclusive.