Laadliyan in Leadership: A Celebration of South Asian Women

This International Women’s Day, join us for an evening filled with inspiration, courage, and connection. 🌸 Laadliyan presents Laadliyan in Leadership, a candid panel discussion featuring the incredible Harpo Mander, Raveena Oberoi, and Neetu Garcha.

These extraordinary South Asian women will share their deeply personal journeys into leadership, offering insights into the challenges they’ve overcome, the triumphs they’ve celebrated, and the lessons they’ve learned along the way. Through their stories, you’ll uncover themes of resilience, authenticity, and empowerment that inspire us all to dream bigger and lead boldly.

📅 March 3
📍 Museum of Surrey
⏰ Doors open 6:00pm | Panel begins 7:00pm
🎟️ Donation based admission with all proceeds going towards supporting Laadliyan’s initiatives

Come be part of a meaningful celebration of leadership, diversity, and empowering daughters 💕 Light refreshments and drinks will be provided.

Harpo Mander
Harpo is a visionary cultural producer and dynamic leader in the South Asian arts scene in British Columbia. She is the Executive Director of 5X, an arts organization serving young South Asians, and a proud Surrey native redefining what it means to be South Asian in the Lower Mainland.

With a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology & Gender, Sexuality, and Women’s Studies from Simon Fraser University and a Master of Arts in Education & Society: Gender and Women Studies from McGill University, Harpo’s work bridges academic research and community leadership. Her insights into bicultural identities shape her advocacy and leadership at 5X, including spearheading the renowned 5X Festival.

Named one of the Surrey Board of Trade’s Top 25 Under 25 in 2021, Harpo is also a thought leader, podcaster (Brown Girl Guilt, 200K+ plays), and a frequent voice in media outlets like CBC and OMNI Punjabi. Her tagline says it all: “Building the world I want to live in

Raveena Oberoi
Just Cakes Bakeshop and The Jar Bar founder Raveena Oberoi is a pastry chef & entrepreneur who challenges the bound of the food service businesses. She pivoted strategy amid the pandemic and opened a second bakeshop and Canada’s first cake jar vending machine. She entered the commercial space with Fresh St Market stores across BC, as well as several other retail partners. A South Asian woman in a competitive industry, she is aware and activity fighting of intersectional challenges faced by entrepreneurs and women. Through Just Cakes, Raveena also advocates for social causes. Moreover, Raveena is a Food Network winner - winning on an episode of “The Big Bake”, and now also a brand new judge to Food Network’s new series “Wall of Bakers”.

Neetu Garcha
Neetu is an award-winning Global News reporter and anchor based in Vancouver. Since joining Global National as a National Correspondent in 2022, she has covered major stories, including the 2023 wildfire season in Canada and Maui, U.S. military operations in Japan, and Pope Francis’s meetings with Indigenous delegations in Vatican City.

A proud Penticton native, Neetu holds a degree from UBC Okanagan and a journalism diploma from BCIT. She began her broadcast career at Global Okanagan in 2014 before joining Global BC in 2017, where she covered diverse topics from Indigenous stories to international crises.

Neetu’s work has earned numerous accolades, including the 2022 Canadian Association of Broadcasters’ Broadcast Performer of the Year and recognition for her coverage of the India farmers’ protest. She also produced and wrote the acclaimed Crime Beat episode, Forbidden Love: The Murder of Jassi Sidhu.

Outside work, Neetu enjoys traveling, reading, and indulging in her not-so-guilty pleasure: chocolate.

About 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.

Laadliyan is committed to hosting an inclusive and accessible event for everyone. When registering, please mention if you require any accommodations.

Contact the host of Laadliyan in Leadership: International Women’s Day Panel