Hello, I’m Manjit
Although I have been coaching, advising, consulting, and creating shifts for over 30 years, it has been a winding route, filled with both uncertainty and laser focus.
It has taken me turning my life inside out to have the comfort and clarity to write about the paradigm shift needed in leading our lives, our teams, our organizations, and our communities.
EARLY YEARS AS AN IMMIGRANT
I was born in a little village in Northern India. My father emigrated to Canada in 1960 — my mother and her 7 daughters followed in 1968. It takes great courage to leave your home for a foreign land that is vastly different from all that you know and love.
We felt both welcome and alien. We were definitely misunderstood. We struggled to embrace new ways, while not losing our history and sense of self. It is from my parents and the community they created with other early immigrants from India, that I learned about the resiliency of humans, their generosity of spirit in the face of adversity, and unconditional love.
Experimentation
vs. status quo
Life felt idyllic, I also sensed we were different. It was ingrained in my mind that I needed to work harder than others around me to succeed in this world. I had no problem working or studying hard –but it didn’t make me feel like I belonged.
As I entered my teenage years, other differences began surfacing that frustrated me more – gender differences; being an Indian-Canadian; being a ‘good girl’ and experimentation vs. status quo.
I CRAVED FREEDOM AND ADVENTURE,
but being a good girl meant I needed to reign in my free spirit. It seemed to mean I had less choice. I also craved safety and stability —and most of all, I craved belonging.
It’s taken me a long time (work still in progress!), to integrate the many aspects of myself into some type of coherent identity. These early experiences have been formative in how I have applied myself in all of my endeavors. The human spirit takes priority.
Early, I learned to use my gift for the gab. I challenged the partriarchy – oh no, you wouldn’t consider me a rebel or an activist in today’s context, but I certainly thought I was courageous. Although I was the first in my family to attend university on a full 4-year scholarship after winning the Governor General’s Bronze Medal, I dropped out twice–once for marriage, and second for becoming an entrepreneur. There’s been much to learn about freedom, belonging, love, choice, and stability.
ENTREPRENEURIAL BEGINNING
Working for myself has been one of the greatest gifts I have given myself. It’s not for everybody, but it fires me up.
At 20, I left university once again to become an entrepreneur with four locations of The Body Shop – an international trailblazer that challenged business as usual.
To be a part of a group of wise, passionate, wild and compassionate women changing the world was like nirvana.
At The Body Shop,
LEARNED THAT BUSINESS IS A TOOL FOR GOOD IN THE WORLD. I learned I could make money, create social impact, and be gentle with the planet. I could be myself and create a culture for my teams, customers, and communites to be whole too. Oh, I made a lot of mistakes. I allowed myself to be influenced by what business is “supposed” to be. WHEN I FELT MOST FULFILLED, I WAS RABBLEROUSING, BEING CURIOUS, AND CREATING CHANGE AND GROWTH - BE IT LEADING CAMPAIGNS, TEACHING AND COACHING TEAMS, ADVISING ON BOARDS, VOLUNTEERING AT THE GRASSROOTS LEVEL, OR BUILDING LEADERSHIP PROGRAMS. Those were my best moments.
I work with people and organizations as a coach, learning facilitator, advisor — or what I like to call, a ‘shift’ disturber.
SINCE SELLING MY BUSINESS IN 2008
I have been deepening my learning of human and system dynamics, along with obtaining professional training in ontology, narrative coaching, and neuro-linguistic programming.
MY INTEREST IN CHANGE-MAKERS LANDED ME IN HOSTING A COMMUNITY TV SHOW
featuring local trailblazers, and later to being a founder of Synapcity – a not-for-profit dedicated to breaking silos, creating engagement, and citizen-centered communities.
Roots of Inspirations
And throughout all of this, I have raised one son and three daughters, and now enjoy the wild ride of being grand mummy to 3 grand kiddies.
The role of a matriarch, old crony, wise woman, of course, continues to be my most interesting adventure.
The thread that is woven through all that I’ve done is the belief in people to create change in their lives, and that we can find joy, meaning, and aliveness at work. Even more so, that we all can thrive through our differences if we challenge ourselves to speak, listen, and sense with engaged minds and open hearts.
I AM HERE
to offer what makes me feel most alive…. creating spaces for people and organizations to shift into what’s next. Our work cultures and sometimes our communities are missing the heart, body and mind connection that makes people flourish.
If like me, you believe that any organization or community is a network of relationships, then you understand why I do the work I do
I support you
in deepening your understanding of yourself, your interpretation of the world around you, and strengthening your relationships.
IN MY FIFTIES,
I am continuing on my path of what is true for me: being in service of others to lead lives where they feel peace, excitement and purpose.
I’m home when I walk beside you.
