Breaking Barriers & Building Pathways: Ontario
Description
This International Women’s Day, we’re coming together to honour South Asian women who didn’t just break barriers, they also built pathways so others could follow.
So many of us know what it feels like to be the first, the only, or one of very few in the room. To carry the invisible labour of representation while quietly creating access, opportunity, and change for others. This gathering is about diving into that journey. The resilience it takes to push forward, and the generosity it takes to reach back.
Because it’s not just about shattering glass ceilings.
It’s about making sure fewer people have to.
Leading with Intention
In Ontario, we’re spotlighting South Asian women who are building legacy, wellness, and economic power while opening doors for others along the way.
Kiran Mann, CEO of Brar’s
Bhanisha Patel, Founder of Elevate Nation
Malinda Chohan, Founder of Banglez
Across food, fitness, and fashion, these founders have turned vision into impact. They’ll speak candidly about leadership, community responsibility, and what it takes to grow something meaningful while carrying the weight of being “the first” and choosing to make it easier for those who come next.
Featuring a special spoken word poetry performance by Taniya Gupta.
Rooted in Purpose, Built for Community
Laadliyan’s Annual International Women’s Day events are spaces of reflection, affirmation, and collective growth. They are a space of our own where our stories are honoured, our labour is seen, and our futures feel a little more possible. Come be part of a conversation that celebrates the women breaking barriers and intentionally building pathways for those who follow.
Gather, Connect, and Celebrate
Our gatherings are meant to be felt as much as they’re seen. Enjoy thoughtfully curated refreshments, from tea to something sweet, We’ll also be hosting a raffle featuring beautiful offerings from local women of colour–owned businesses, because supporting each other is part of the celebration. And don’t forget to step into the photobooth with The Memory Hub to capture the laughter, joy, and moments you’ll want to remember long after the evening ends.
This is about slowing down, showing up, and making memories together.
Meet the Laadliyan in Leadership
Bhanisha Patel, Founder of Elevate Nation (Panelist)
Bhanisha is a performance-based coach, former pro athlete, and founder of Elevate Nation, a boutique training studio rooted in athletic development, nervous-system regulation, and holistic health. After leaving a traditional corporate career due to burnout and health challenges, she turned her lived experience into purpose, building a space that challenges outdated fitness narratives while empowering people to reconnect with their bodies. As a South Asian woman in a male-dominated industry, Bhanisha is passionate about breaking barriers around body image, performance, and cultural expectations, while creating pathways for sustainable health, leadership, and self-trust. Her work bridges discipline with presence, science with intuition, and strength with self-awareness.
Kiran Mann, CEO of Brar’s (Panelist)
Kiran Mann is a Canadian business strategist and global leader in organizational transformation whose 30-year career spans design studios, automotive and food manufacturing. As CEO of Brar’s, one of Canada’s leading South Asian food brands, and Founder of M2M Business Solutions, she is recognized for driving performance through clarity, culture, and compassion. Kiran began her career in fashion design, where creativity and precision shaped her instinct for excellence and innovation. She later made an unexpected leap into the global automotive industry, a field where few women held senior leadership roles. Over the next two decades, she led large-scale operations and transformation initiatives across North America and Europe, earning a reputation as a calm, trusted change agent. Those experiences led to the development of her leadership approach, the Harmonic System, which delivered measurable outcomes in operational turnarounds, automation projects, sustainable growth, and stronger employee engagement. Applying her innovative approach to Brar’s, Kiran has guided the company through a period of remarkable evolution, achieving 22% organic growth in only two years, strengthening performance through post-pandemic volatility, and modernizing operations through automation and infrastructure upgrades, all while preserving the company’s cultural essence and values. A sought-after speaker and consultant, Kiran now advises global leaders on how to apply her leadership philosophy, The Harmonic System, blending strategy with self-awareness and empathy. Built on three core principles of Knowingness, Presence, and Love, it reframes leadership as an act of alignment, where people, purpose, and performance move together. As Kiran often says, it’s about “bringing humanity back into performance.” A mother of three, Kiran holds an Executive MBA from the Ivy School of Business and is currently pursuing her Doctorate in Business Administration, exploring how humans and AI can collaborate ethically within integrated ecosystems, continuing her lifelong interest in aligning innovation with integrity. Often described as a quiet force, Kiran brings clarity to complexity, balances data with intuition, and helps organizations evolve from the inside out. Her journey - from fashion studios to factory floors to the boardroom - is guided by one enduring belief: “When culture, strategy, and humanity work in harmony, real leadership happens.”
Malinda Chohan, Founder of Bangelz (Panelist)
Malinda is a first-generation Canadian Indian, a mother of two, and the founder of Banglez, a jewelry brand that has been celebrating South Asian culture and craftsmanship for over 18 years. With deep roots in the wedding industry and Toronto’s South Asian community, she has become a trusted voice and resource for women seeking meaningful, high-quality pieces that honor tradition while embracing modern style. Trained in graphic design and with more than two decades of experience in marketing, content creation and brand storytelling, Malinda brings a distinct creative edge to every project she undertakes. Her work blends artistry, culture and entrepreneurial spirit, resulting in jewelry collections and campaigns that resonate across generations. Known for her purposeful collaborations and her ability to translate tradition into accessible expressions, Malinda has built a loyal community of women - from brides to mothers to creatives. As both a designer and entrepreneur, Malinda is dedicated to creating meaningful connections through her work and highlighting the beauty and depth of South Asian culture in fresh, innovative ways.
Taniya Gupta (Performer)
Taniya is a poet, yogi and tea-lover. Poetry and tea have been a part of her life since childhood. She is constantly looking for moments of slowness in this rapidly moving world through yoga, tea, and poetry. Her poetry, which explores feminism, mental health, and patriarchal traditions, acts as a means of connection and healing. She actively works towards creating spaces where women can step into their empowered versions. Her poems have been published in Brown Girl Magazine, and her debut poetry collection titled What Will People Say is now available online & in bookstores.
Prabhjot Kaur, Laadliyan Operations Manager (MC)
Prabhjot Kaur is the Operation Manager at Laadliyan, a non-profit organization in Peel region that empowers South Asian girls and women through engagement, education and awareness. Prabhjot has been with Laadliyan for over 6 years now. She currently leads the Udaari project which is a program specifically geared towards providing supports to female-identifying international students. She is passionate about seeing change within the community and has been involved in various projects in the Peel Region and currently serves as the National Director of Strategy and Engagement at the World Sikh Organization of Canada.
Manvir Bhangu, Founder & Executive Director of Laadliyan (Moderator)
Manvir Bhangu is an award winning dedicated community builder with over a decade of experience in gender equity, human rights, youth and community engagement, research, immigration, and settlement. She is the founder of Laadliyan (laad-lee-ah), a non-profit empowering South Asian daughters through education, engagement and awareness. Laadliyan has directly impacted over 12,000 girls and women through mentorship opportunities, access to menstrual hygiene, bridging intergenerational divides and much more. Manvir's accomplishments include being named in Brampton's Top 40 under 40 in 2018, winning the Women Working in Social Activism Award in 2022, and receiving the Young Woman of Distinction Award from YWCA Toronto in 2023.
Agenda
- 6:30 pm - 7:00 pm
Doors Open
- 7:00 pm - 7:10 pm
Opening Remarks
- 7:10 pm - 7:20 pm
Spoken Word Poetry by Taniya Gupta
- 7:20 pm - 8:15 pm
Panel Discussion + Q&A
- 8:15 pm - 9:30 pm
Networking
FAQs
- What is Laadliyan?
Laadliyan, Celebrating & Empowering Daughters is a non-profit organization that inspires South Asian girls and women of all ages to become empowered individuals through engagement, education and awareness.
- What is accessibility like at your event?
Laadliyan is committed to hosting an inclusive and accessible event for everyone. When registering, please mention if you require any accommodations.
- Is parking available at the venue?
Yes, there is free underground parking after 6:00pm at Brampton City Hall on George Street.
- Is there a dress code?
There is no strict dress code enforced. We always encourage everyone to wear whatever makes you feel your best. That said, Laadlis do love to dress up, so we recommend a smart-casual look!
- I registered but can no longer attend, what should I do?
Please send us a message! Spaces are limited and we want to make sure another Laadli has the chance to join if you’re unable to attend.
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