DARPAN Power Women of Influence Over The Years

DARPAN Magazine embarked on a journey and celebrated the very females who built our homes and strengthened our communities at the inaugural DARPAN Power Women of Influence 2023.

 Since then, this community event has not only garnered immense praise but has gotten bigger and better.

The key highlight of the night was the DARPAN Power Talk, which comprised of 5 panelists.

The panelists discussed critical and thought-provoking subjects, including feminism, navigating power structures for women in different work fields, and more. These powerful women spoke about work-life balance, challenges of women in authoritative and leadership roles, gender bias, and gender diversity in a professional setting. They also offered advice to the next generation of female leaders, sharing their experiences.

The 2023 panelists were Hon. Attorney General of British Columbia, Niki Sharma; Business Leader and Regional Vice President of RBC, Devinder K. Gill; Social Activist also known as the "Mother of Education" in Afghanistan, Dr. Sakena Yacoobi; Indian Actor and the Winner of the Miss Universe pageant 2000, Lara Dutta Bhupathi; Media Personality and Host of CBC Vancouver News at 6, Anita Bathe. Reporter and Anchor Neetu Garcha from Global National was the panel moderator.

The first DARPAN PowerTalk speaker and host of CBC Vancouver News' flagship supper hour program, Anita Bathe, shared the importance of women dreaming big and working towards their passions with dedication, no matter how far-fetched they may initially seem to be.

The motivational Devinder Gill, Regional Vice President, Business Financial Services, British Columbia, at RBC, reminded women that they have the power to shatter glass ceilings and make their mark in the corporate world.

Attorney General, Deputy Premier, and MLA for Vancouver-Hastings, The Honorable Niki Sharma, expressed in her DARPAN PowerTalk that women are indeed capable and empowered to take on leadership and decision-making roles that may otherwise be arguably viewed as male-dominated positions.

Actress, entrepreneur, and winner of the Miss Universe 2000 pageant, the accomplished Lara Dutta Bhupathi, shared how women can use their talent to create magic in the arts field and strong-headedly tackle all challenges that fame may bring.

The final DARPAN PowerTalk of the evening came from inspiring activist, founder, and executive director of the women-led NGO Afghan Institute of Learning, Dr. Sakena Yacoobi, who shone a light on women having the power to inspire and uplift each other through social work in today's global era.

Garcha posed thought-provoking questions to the panelists, resulting in an engaging and stimulating conversation. The discussion was beyond inspiring, as panelists shared their journeys and offered practical advice on supporting women in achieving their goals.

In 2024, the tradition continued with five female powerhouse panelists.

The DARPAN Power Women of Influence 2024 comprised a power-packed panel that included the Senior VP at TELUS Health, Juggy Sihota; Actress, author, and wellness advocate Lisa Ray; President of The Angus Reid Institute, Shachi Kurl; UK Consul General in Toronto, Fouzia Younis, and Quantum Physicist Dr. Shohini Ghose.

The first DARPAN PowerTalk speaker was the President of The Angus Reid Institute, Shachi Kurl, who shared the importance of gender equity and inclusion in research.

The motivational diplomat who is the UK Consul General in Toronto, Fouzia Younis, spoke about battling sexism from somebody who has been part of the political landscape. 

Actress, model, author, wellness advocate, cancer survivor, and entrepreneur, the unstoppable Lisa Ray, shared how women can enhance accessibility and destigmatize alternative fertility paths to empower women in their reproductive choices as someone whose kids were born through surrogacy.

Senior VP at TELUS Health, Juggy Sihota, shared steps she's taking to pave the way for other women in leadership roles and advocate for gender equity in the workplace.

The final DARPAN PowerTalk of the evening came from inspiring scientist, CTO of Quantum Algorithms Institute, and professor of physics and computing science at Wilfred Laurier University Dr. Shohini Ghose, who shared how changing the system can promote greater inclusivity and opportunities for women in STEM and other male-dominated industries.

The DARPAN Power Women Of Influence is once again taking place with  RBC as the presenting sponsor and powered by Save on Foods and Cadillac.

It’s taking place on March 22, 2025, at the Vancouver Convention Centre.

Stay tuned for this year’s outstanding South Asian panelists from diverse fields.

For media inquiries, sponsorship opportunities, or further information regarding the event, please contact Gurvinder@darpanmagazine.com or Ramneek@darpanmagazine.com.