Samra Zafar is an award-winning international speaker, author, scholar, and entrepreneur who advocates for equity, inclusion, and human rights.
Samra Zafar is an award-winning international speaker, bestselling author, consultant, educator, and entrepreneur who advocates for gender equity, inclusion, and human rights. She has been recognized among the Top 100 Most Powerful Women in Canada, and a Top 25 Canadian Immigrant. Her book, A Good Wife: Escaping The Life I Never Chose, is an international bestseller and named among CBC's Best Books of 2019, and is now being adapted to a premium TV series. She is one of the youngest Alumni Governors at the University of Toronto, a Celebrated Ambassador for Plan International, and a board member for Women's College Hospital Foundation.
After arriving in Canada as a child bride and escaping a decade of abuse, Samra pursued her education as a single mother working multiple jobs and graduated as a top student from University of Toronto with several awards and scholarships. She began sharing her story to raise awareness about gender-based violence and has since become a globally recognized expert on equity and inclusion, violence against women, and mental health. Her speaking portfolio includes three TEDx Talks, and speeches to Immigration Refugees and Citizenship Canada, UNICEF, Yale University, Amnesty International, Art of Leadership, and many leading nonprofits, corporations and universities around the world. Her work has been extensively featured in both Canadian and International media, including Washington Post, Huffington Post, National Post, Globe and Mail, CBC, CTV, Global News, Yahoo, and more - impacting tens of millions of people worldwide.
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Awards and Recognition
Canada’s Top 100 Most Powerful Women, 2019
Canada’s Top 25 Immigrants, 2019
Ascend Canada Mentor of The Year Award, 2018
CPACT Malala Yousafzai Women Empowerment Award, 2018
RBC Global Citizen Award, 2017
Woman of Courage Awards (several organizations)
Spotlight Award (Canada Pakistan Professionals Association)
Brilliant Minded Woman Award, 2018
Pink Attitude Award, 2018
Proclamation by Mayor of Cleveland, Ohio, 2017
Top Student in Economics (University of Toronto)
CivicAction DiverseCity Fellow, 2019
Academic Achievements
John H Moss Scholarship – University of Toronto top student Award
Ontario Graduate Scholarship
Gold Medalist in Economics
13 other awards at U of T including TA Excellence, Faculty Choice, Research Excellence, Community Leadership
Brave Beginnings
Founded by Samra, Brave Beginnings is a non-profit in the GTA that matches women who have escaped oppression with mentors who are empathetic and caring. Working together, women receive personal support, motivation, and friendship from their mentor to help rebuild their lives, reach their goals, and live with the respect, dignity, freedom, and happiness they deserve.