



The Courage You
Seek Is Within You
I’ve always been the kind of person who questions why things are the way they are.
It started when I was a little girl. I was born in Pakistan, but my family lived in Abu Dhabi, where I attended a British private school. When we traveled home for the summers, I began to see just how privileged I was. Everywhere we went, I saw kids my age begging on the side of the street.
“Why aren’t those kids in school?” I asked my family. “Why am I in this nice, air-conditioned car while they’re in the scorching sun – barefoot, wearing hardly any clothes, asking for money?”
I never got any good answers.
And that leads to another thing you should know about me: when I see a norm that needs to be challenged, I always take action and push for change.
When my family stopped me from playing cricket with boys in the street – concerned about how other people would view me – I started a girls’ cricket team and inspired other schools to do the same.
When I was forced into a stifling arranged marriage at the age of 16, I refused to give up on my education dreams – completing my high school classes through correspondence and secretly storing away money to save up for my first year of university tuition.
When my husband grew abusive and threatening, I stood up to him and eventually obtained a divorce – even though that led to being shunned by everyone I’d ever known.




I could go on and on, but the point is this:
I’m not content to accept the status quo just because everyone else does.
If the status quo is unhealthy, I’ll question it and be an active force for change.
I am grateful for this gift and the amazing paths it’s led me to travel. It was a driving force behind my success as a business leader. It also prompted me to share my story, first in journalistic articles and later in a bestselling memoir. More recently, it’s inspired me to go back to school and become a psychiatrist.
But these pursuits and achievements have never been about me. My gift is not a unique superpower. It’s a calling we all have as human beings – a calling to demand that injustices and inequities be recognized and dismantled.
That’s why I share my stories as an author, inspire audiences as a speaker, and promote healing as a doctor. I want everyone I meet to discover what it’s like to live a bold, daring, and courageous life.
Awards & Acknowledgements
Two-time WXN Canada’s Top 100 Most Powerful Women
Top 25 Canadian Immigrants
Top 25 Most Inspirational Women in Canada
Desmond Parker Most Outstanding Young Alumni Award, University of Toronto
Arbor Award, University of Toronto
Pioneer for Change Award
Ascend Canada Mentor of the Year Award
CPACT Malala Yousafzai Women Empowerment Award
RBC Global Citizen Award
Spotlight Award (Canada Pakistan Professionals Association)
Brilliant Minded Woman Award
Pink Attitude Award
CivicAction DiverseCity Fellow
John H Moss Scholarship, University of Toronto

Values That Guide The Way

Impact
My driving force
Creating meaningful change that creates a positive ripple effect in people’s lives. Opening people’s minds so they shift their thinking to more progressive and inclusive ways. Making a collective difference in the world.

Courage
Being bold & daring
Taking that tiny step forward in moments of fear and ambiguity. Inspiring people to believe in their dreams enough to access their inner courage, and forge a path to an unconditional life.

Wellness
Taking proactive care
of our health
Creating a healthy world and psychologically safe workplaces where we can be our authentic selves and unlock our highest potential. Understanding the neuroscience of self-care through implementable lessons that foster inner resilience.

Intersectionality
Celebrating unique identities
Learning how to treat people how THEY would like to be treated. Breaking the trap of “one size fits all” approaches to create inclusive environments that make people feel represented and seen.

Authenticity
Building true human connections
Opening people’s hearts and minds by sharing authentic and vulnerable stories that promote collective resilience. When our social needs are met, we do better and we achieve higher.

Leading by example
Being the change you want to create
Leading change by first working on changing yourself and then speaking up for progress. Exemplifying and modeling what you stand for. Following dreams and inspiring others to do the same.

Continuous Learning
Doing the right thing
Constantly learning, reading, and researching to bring the latest science and lessons to audiences. Being open to failure, keeping an open mind, and having the willingness to be challenged.
I’m on a mission to inspire
a world of wellness, inclusion, and meaningful belonging.
I’m on a mission
to inspire a world of
wellness, inclusion, and
meaningful belonging.
