Somia’s journey as a peacebuilder is rooted in post-colonial Punjab and Kashmir. From a young age, Somia learned what it means to be a storykeeper, as someone who must listen deeply to peoples’ stories to push for change. Today this means an award-winning consulting practice called Narratives that amplifies stories for marginalized communities to reclaim their power and agency, and a non-profit called Kahanee that amplifies stories and story work for peacebuilding.
“Take the time to get to know yourself. Be genuine with your leadership style. Don’t watch random videos and try to be someone you’re not or adopt a style that isn’t true to you. And take care of your team – be their biggest cheerleader. It’ll be the most important thing you do.“
-Somia Sadiq
Please introduce yourself and tell us in your words, about your inspiring story. How did you get to where you are today?
I ended up in Canada in 2002. While I am truly incredibly grateful to be here, Canada wasn’t my choice – it was the only choice I had at the time. My journey in Canada started by navigating many barriers – as a woman, as a Muslim, as a woman of color. Back then, newcomers couldn’t apply for student loans or bursaries or scholarships and we weren’t allowed to work off-campus either. So, I maxed out my work on campus and then picked up cleaning gigs, offering to drive elderly folks around, or odd jobs here and there for cash. I found myself at leadership tables early in my career and was often the only woman at the table, the only person of color at the table, and yes, the only Muslim at the table. I knew I had to work harder than everyone else in the room. So, I did. For me, every interaction was an opportunity to observe, learn, and grow – what to do, what not to do, how to, and why. I knew I was in someone else’s land and I needed to learn the ways of this land.
Fast forward to today – I am still learning the ways of the land. Except I’m learning from the original peoples of the land – the First Nations, the Inuit, the Metis alongside other settlers and newcomers. My journey now entails walking with the original peoples of the land to better understand Canada’s history, so we can correct past harms and learn to walk together in a good way. What started with me in my basement 7 years ago is today a 50+ strong multi-award winning company housing incredibly talented professionals from all walks of life, skills, lived experiences, and expertise that together create magic. Similarly, my non-profit Kahanee creates space for people to come together as storytellers and story listeners to reflect on our shared humanity, celebrate our identities and ways of knowing, and support the fabric of peace.
We all face challenges, looking back, what have been some of the biggest challenges and pitfalls you’ve helped your clients navigate?
One of the most damaging impacts of colonization has been a systemic undermining of ancestral, traditional ways of understanding systems – be it legal, social, customary, or other. One of the biggest challenges then is for people to navigate foreign systems that do not resonate with their own ways of being. For our clients, it is paramount that we create space for them to leverage their own systems, their own indigenous and customary laws, their ceremonies, and their rituals, so any change that occurs as a result is transformative.
What are the three most important habits to be a successful high performer or leader?
Trust your gut.
Don’t be afraid to take risks.
Celebrate your people.
When did you know it was time to become a full-time entrepreneur?
I was working on a project for an Indigenous community years ago. As a part of the process, I wanted to spend some time with the Elders understanding their story, understanding their connection to the land and all relations. To honour their time and knowledge I wanted to offer them an honorarium. It took 12 hours of back and forth with my project leaders and finance team and senior leaders to justify my ask and explain the difference in worldviews and why it would be wrong to just ask someone to share their knowledge and not compensate them for their time and expertise. I decided that day I could do things differently. It was time.
What social media platform is the best for business growth and why?
We love using a combination of LinkedIn, Instagram, and Facebook to reach our diverse client base. We love the diversity and accessibility of the platforms to get the word out and share our journey.
Can you share some of the most important lessons you’ve learned from your successes and failures in business?
- Failing sucks, yes. But we have to fail to keep us humble, to keep us on our toes, to learn, to be scrappy, to be resourceful. If we don’t fail, we don’t innovate.
- Become a student of people – Take the time to understand your team. What motivates them, what inspires them, and what would bring meaning to them? Find those common areas to find ways for them to be their best selves, meet their needs, and for you to support them.
- No matter how much you do, it will never be enough. Just accept it and settle into the state.
- For every person rooting for you and your success, there will be 10 trying to take you down. Know that this is such a sad reality and take the high road. Your journey is yours and theirs is theirs.
- Celebrate the little things. Don’t wait for big moments to celebrate your people. Make every little moment count.
What book do you think everyone on the team should read?
I’m a book nerd! Every story has so much to share. That said, I Absolutely love the work of Khaled Hosseini for its deeply interwoven, poetic, raw exploration of relationships, connections, and ties. I love Thrity Umrigar’s works that so brilliantly spotlight deeply systemic issues around race and class while celebrating human resilience, grit, and resourcefulness that transect boundaries. Lastly, I have found incredible wisdom, guidance, and learning from Gerald Taiaiake Alfred’s works that give such life and meaning to the deeply sacred connection to the land.
If you had one piece of advice for someone just starting out, what would it be?
Invest in a good bookkeeper and accountant. Invest in setting up good systems and make sure you surround yourself with good advisors. Take the time to get to know yourself. Be genuine with your leadership style. Don’t watch random videos and try to be someone you’re not or adopt a style that isn’t true to you. And take care of your team – be their biggest cheerleader. It’ll be the most important thing you do.
Honor diversity. Diversity doesn’t just mean color, race, gender identity, class, cultural background, or religion – it is worldviews, ways of knowing and being. It’s a lived experience. If you inherently honor different ways of knowing, you’ll take a step back someday and realize just how diverse your team is.
What do you think is the single most important quality in an entrepreneur?
Fearlessness. For every reason not to push a boundary or pursue a better way of doing something, there are 10 reasons not to do it. Lean into that one reason.
What can you tell our readers about what’s next for yourself and your company?
At Narratives we are very excited to focus on building thought leadership around trauma awareness, creative approaches to research, and inquiry, to
How do you prioritize self-care and well-being while managing the demands of your business?
Before self-care comes understanding your needs. I learned this amazing approach from the Goodlife Institute. Kate and her team work with you to first help you understand what your needs are, and then start building strategies to meet those needs. Ultimately those strategies done right, done consistently, and habituated result in a healthy balance. All leaders should take the time to find that balance. And no, for me that doesn’t meet I clock out at 3:00 PM. But I know what fuels me, I know how to get there, I know how to find balance and I know I need to keep working on it so I can lead by example.
Do you have a favorite quote or motto that inspires you?
Beyond the land of wrongdoing and right doing is a field. I’ll meet you there – Rumi
To me this quote creates permission, invitation, and opportunity to know that magic happens when we get out of what we’re told is right or wrong, good or evil. Magic happens when we explore, when we push, when we take the time to understand all the colors beyond black and white. That takes courage, resilience, and an endless drive to keep walking, keep learning, keep growing.
Where can we find out more?
You can find me on Linkedin or at Instagram.
I invite you to visit Narratives and Kahanee. Both organizations have been built with care, compassion, and a true passion doing our part to build a better world for our generations to come so they can look up to us and know we carried them in our minds as we walked the earth.
Lastly, it’s not easy to be a woman entrepreneur but believe me, we can do it better. The world needs more women leaders. Our young ones need to see us so they can see themselves in these leadership roles. We cannot become what we don’t see. I am here because of my ancestors, my mentors, and the kickass women in my life who built me. Help our little ones see it’s achievable, and inspire them. Share your story. We’re all listening!
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Melissa Stewart is the founder of SheOwnsIt.com. She is a Purveyor of Possibility, Entrepreneur Advocate and Coffee Addict. She believes that behind every successful woman is her story. What’s your story?
