The Power Of Stories Podcast

Urmi Hossain is a Finance professional, author, speaker, and Co-Chair of Women in Leadership Montreal. She is passionate about mentoring and empowering women, and is involved with organizations like Women in Leadership and Dress for Success, where she supports women in building confidence, navigating their careers, and reaching their goals. 

In this episode, Urmi discusses how growing up in a culturally conservative South Asian...

Dr. Dawn Arda is a Health and Life Coach and Science Writer specializing in health and nutrition. She studied Natural Sciences and Chemical Engineering to PhD level at the University of Cambridge and spent over ten years at a Cambridge research consultancy, researching and analyzing scientific evidence across hundreds of projects for multinational food and health companies. Dawn has written a book exploring how we can use nutrition...

Japleen Pasricha has been a storyteller for over a decade and an enabler of women telling their own stories. She founded Feminism in India (FII), an award-winning digital intersectional feminist and bilingual media platform, to create a generation of young women who are aware and educated about feminism and social justice and put a feminist lens on day-to-day current affairs

In this episode, Japleen talks about the everyday inequali...

Sonya Shikhman, LL.B., is the Founder of Shikhman Barristers, a Toronto criminal defence law firm. Recognized in Best Lawyers in Canada for Criminal Defence in both 2024 and 2025, she has spent more than two decades defending individuals facing serious criminal allegations. Known for her fearless advocacy, she believes the justice system only remains fair when it is challenged, tested, and held accountable. In addition to her pract...

Jill Saberman is a California-based Women’s Health Nurse Practitioner. In her professional practices, Jill focuses on Obstetrics & Gynecology, prenatal care, fertility, contraception and menopause. She values helping women understand their bodies, their health, and themselves. 

In this episode, Jill discusses her philosophy of care which includes these words, “I am forever grateful to be in a partnership with my...

Hassanah Al-Saba is a commercial pilot from Jamaica who loves the beach and ice cream. She completed her training at the Aeronautical School of the West Indies and distinguishes herself as Jamaica’s first Muslim female pilot. She is now 25 years old. 

In this episode, Hassanah discusses the importance of perseverance and commitment in paving her life’s path… her interest in becoming a pilot when she was a you...

Sara Hirsh Bordo is an award-winning documentary filmmaker of women and girls’ stories. She is the Founder of a female empowerment production company called Women Rising® and a first-time author.  Sara’s book, Autoimmunity and the Good Girls, How Permission to Put Ourselves First Has the Power to Keep Us Well, is a personal transformation story that reminds women that their healing begins when they give themselves ...

Jovia Kusiima is a project manager by profession, menstrual justice educator, social impact leader and entrepreneur. Jovia serves as Vice Chairperson of the European Union Delegation to Uganda Youth Sounding Board. She is very passionate about advancing the dignity and accessibility of menstrual justice. 

In this episode, Jovia discusses aspects of menstrual justice, including freedom from shame and discrimination, access to pa...

Yamina Bibi is an award-winning former Acting Deputy Headteacher and English Teacher from London.  She is currently Education Project Specialist at Chiltern Learning Trust and The Chartered College of Teaching, and a freelance consultant and coach. Alongside this work, Yamina is co-founder of South Asian Educators’ Network, a Diverse Educator Associate and a #WomenEd Network Leader. Yamina is the author of The Little Gui...

Erin Elise Eriksson is a globally minded leader, lifelong learner, and Chief Operating Officer of Hedgehog Dryer. She works at the intersection of business, philanthropy, and innovation while raising five young kids and navigating life across continents. A self-proclaimed recovering perfectionist and people pleaser, she brings honesty and humor to the messy reality of trying to do it all. Her story is about leadership, resilience, ...

Dr. Kesiwe Phuthi holds a doctorate of literature and philosophy and is Head Of School at Masiyephambili College. She is a seasoned teacher, lecturer, sociologist, health communicator, examiner, and school administrator with over 30 years of experience at various levels within the Education sector. Dr. Phuthi is a qualitative researcher at Doctorate level in Health Studies focusing on Public Health, in particular HIV and AIDS, and ...

Dr. Karleen Gribble is an Adjunct Professor in the School of Nursing and Midwifery at Western Sydney University where her research focuses on breastfeeding and communications in women’s health. Karleen advocates for recognition of the importance of mothers to their infants and works to create environments that support breastfeeding and the mother-infant relationship, especially in circumstances of adversity. She is a mother t...

Jennifer Jones is an accomplished and award-winning dancer, actor, author, and cancer survivor.  At the age of 20, Jennifer overcame race barriers by making history as the first Black woman to join the Radio City Rockettes. In the years since, Jennifer has continued to trail-blaze  and is celebrated for her unwavering advocacy for equal rights in the arts and for women’s health.

In this episode, Jennifer discusses a ...

Stephanie Venn-Watson, DVM, MPH, is a serial entrepreneur of for-profit and not-for-profit companies. She is a veterinary epidemiologist and public health scientist with over forty patents and seventy peer-reviewed scientific publications. Stephanie is currently the Co-Founder, Co-Chief Executive Officer of Seraphina Therapeutics. Previously, she served as an epidemiologist tracking diseases for the Centers for Disease Control and ...

Dr. Ruchi Verma is a medical doctor and Public Health professional by training. We have been fortunate to know Ruchi for several years through the SayItForward.org platform, where she has shared insights about her story and her spiritual journey.

In this episode, Ruchi discusses ways that her professional and personal experiences have affected her sense of self… the insights gained from dealing with people and the recognition...

Kalkidan Mulugeta is an Ethiopian tech entrepreneur and co-founder of ClearSkies Technology, a company that works in information technology and telcom services in Ethiopia. She is always seeking that fresh insight that changes the way she sees the world. Kalkidan’s journey has taken her through Addis, Nairobi, Seattle, Philadelphia, Windhoek, and back again to Addis. And, each of these chapters has enriched her story and shap...

Jenny Caven grew up in Southern Africa where she saw the impact of inequality and oppression due to apartheid. Her sense of fairness and justice, along with a love of language, led her to study politics and journalism. As life brought other responsibilities  Jenny found success in the corporate world. However, it was not fulfilling her need for self-expression or to ‘give back’ and that’s why, later in life, ...

Urmi Basu is a gender rights activist who has a degree in social work. In 2000, Urmi founded the organization, New Light, a registered charity started in Kolkata that looks after sex workers and their children. She has been working for women’s rights and the rights of marginalized people for 25 years. Urmi sees herself as a warrior for compassion, peace, and love.

Urmi received the Nari Shakti Puraskar in 2018, an award from t...

Patience Poni Ayikoru is a Ugandan activist, lawyer and Member at the Uganda Association of Women Lawyers. She is enthusiastic about women’s inclusion in governance and gender equality. Patience has a keen interest in Women’s Rights. She has been a champion in several leadership spaces and has attended several platforms for great leadership and debate. As an advocate for gender justice, Patience created a platform for y...