The Power of Incremental Courage
If you browse through the wellness section of your local bookstore, you’ll probably find a huge stack of books that promise to help you become “fearless.”
Whenever I see these titles, I cringe. In fact, I get angry: these books are selling people a lie.
I have made many bold decisions in my life. I left an abusive arranged marriage. I faced the terrors of poverty as a single mother putting herself through university. I gave up a successful career in finance to become a psychiatrist. And in each instance, I was anything but fearless.
The truth is that there’s no such thing as “fearlessness.” It is natural for us to feel fear when we do something new or different. If we didn’t feel fear in such moments, then we would be robots – not human beings.
In this stirring keynote, I’ll walk you through my journey and teach you how to live with courage in the presence of fear. You’ll learn how to embrace fear as a faithful friend that’s there to protect you. With this foundation, you’ll discover how to tap into your strengths by understanding your “why.” And finally, you’ll be empowered with self-care practices that will help you stay the course and thrive as you bravely walk the road of courageous leadership
In this presentation, you will learn how to:
-Access your inner courage in the face of fear
-Practice lived and proven strategies that lead to greater confidence and bold actions
-Tap into your conviction by understanding your “why”
-Make decisions from a place of power instead of desperation
-Use self-care practices to persevere when the road gets rough
This session is for anyone who wants to live and lead with courage.
If you’re looking to break free from limitations and live an unconditional life, this presentation is for you!
Blaze Your Own Trail
Each and every person needs to be seen and respected for who they really are.
However, we grow up surrounded by subliminal messages telling us that who we are is not enough. “Just be normal,” they say. “Get a university degree. Find a prestigious job. Meet the love of your life. Get married. Buy a house. Have two kids and adopt a dog. Follow this checklist, and you’ll be happy!”
Spoiler alert: this promised happiness often doesn’t come.
If this narrative feels all too familiar, I have good news: you don’t need to be “normal” to be seen, heard, and respected. Showing up as your true, authentic self is the best thing you can do – both for yourself and for the rest of the world.
In this thought-provoking keynote, I’ll teach you how to liberate and own your authentic self. You’ll learn why your well-being depends on three essential pillars: your relationship with yourself, your relationship with others, and your sense of purpose.
You’ll discover how to strengthen and maintain each pillar through proven practices backed by science-based research. You’ll leave empowered with the knowledge to become your own champion, build your own communities, and fly over barriers, all so you can shine your light strong and bright – because you deserve it and the world needs it.
In this presentation, you will learn how to:
-Identify the true origins of the self-limiting patterns that are holding you back
-Befriend your “negative” emotions so you can courageously step forward in the face of fear
-Develop healthy boundaries to intentionally cultivate meaningful relationships
-Trust your intuition and strengthen your mind-body relationship
-Embrace your purpose – simply put, what gives you joy – so you can lean into healthy, empowering interdependency
This session is for people who want to unlearn “normal” and unlock their authentic power.
If you’re looking to shine your light strong and bright, this presentation is for you!
DEI: Beyond Checklists & Buzzwords
These days, words like “diversity,” “equity,” and “inclusion” are thrown around so much that we don’t even know what they mean any more. We think that they’re describing good things, but we’re not sure what they look like or how to actually bring them to life.
In this enlightening keynote, I will expand your knowledge so you can make DEI more than just a poster in your HR office. You’ll learn what these terms actually mean and how they’re often practiced in harmful ways that work against their intent. Moreover, I will give you practical tools so you can bring these concepts to life in all levels of your workplace.
As a result, you and your team will be equipped to learn and practice true allyship – the kind of behaviours that go beyond term-dropping and empty promises. Because when DEI stops being a buzzword and becomes simply the way you operate, your entire team will prosper and flourish.
In this presentation, you will learn how to:
-Understand systems of inequality through a lens of intersectionality
-Recognize and use your privilege to dismantle barriers and work in solidarity with equity-deserving groups
-Address unconscious biases by building inclusive habits
-Practice self-care to prevent burnout and compassion fatigue
-Build a culture where diverse voices are welcomed and sought after around the table
This session is for leaders and HR professionals who want to expand their understanding of DEI and build cultures of inclusive belonging.
If you’re looking to harness the true power of diversity, this presentation is for you!
Resilience Redefined
When it comes to resilience, many people take a reactive approach. You could sum up their mindset with the phrase “work hard to play hard.”
First, they log crazy hours at their jobs, constantly hopping from one stressful situation to another. When they’re on the verge of burnout, they treat themselves to a “mental health” spa day or a night out on the town. And then they start the cycle all over again.
Is it any wonder that our mental health crisis isn’t going away?
The solution to this problem is simple: we need to redefine resilience.
In this transformative keynote, you’ll discover why resilience – the ability to weather life’s inevitable storms – is the fruit of proactive behaviors and habits.
We’ll explore the neuroplasticity of burnout and resilience so you can understand why your mental health depends on three essential pillars: your relationship with yourself, your relationship with others, and your sense of purpose. Empowered with this knowledge and simple practices, you can strengthen your resilience muscle and intentionally develop a life of true wellness.
In this presentation, you will learn how to:
-Build a personalized self-care toolkit that will help you navigate adversity and challenges
-Stop being your harshest critic and become your biggest champion
-View “negative” emotions as opportunities to discover the root causes of your discomfort
-Cultivate intentional relationships with people who enthusiastically cheer you on
-Find meaning in your life by embracing the things that bring you joy
This session is for leaders and teams who want to end the crash-and-burn cycle and keep burnout at bay.
If you’re looking to courageously lead yourself and your team through the highs and lows of every season, this presentation is for you!
The Workplace of Belonging
Every business leader wants their workplace to be an environment of high performance. What many people don’t realize, however, is that a culture of belonging is a prerequisite to productivity, creativity, and innovation.
In this illuminating keynote, you’ll discover how to foster a culture of belonging – one that welcomes and celebrates the intersecting identities of all your employees.
You’ll also learn the science behind motivation: why we’re unmotivated when we feel excluded or overlooked and why inclusive practices are the key to nurturing your employees’ creativity, confidence and resilience. This knowledge will equip you to unlock your team’s highest potential by cultivating an environment where diverse voices are welcomed and sought after.
In this presentation, you will learn how to:
-Harness the lessons of neuroscience so your team can elevate their performance
-Nurture intentional relationships by seeing yourself and others through a lens of intersectionality
-Create a culture of belonging and psychological safety by addressing unconscious biases
-Dispel the myth that our personal lives are a threat to work performance
-Prevent burnout in your teams by instilling a culture of proactive wellness
This session is for leaders who want to create an environment of inclusive wellnessTM in their workplace.
If you’re looking to develop a culture where every person is welcomed and championed for who they really are, this presentation is for you!
Courageous Acts Lead to Bold Results
Whether I’m sharing my life story or explaining how to implement proven wellness strategies, I approach every presentation with a single goal – to empower people with the knowledge they need to transform their world.
My presentations are both entertaining and educational, combining neuroscience with my business experience and hard-earned life lessons.
This unique blended perspective deepens their understanding of mental health and gives them valuable tools to build belonging through authentic human connection and foster inclusive spaces.
Technology Capabilities
High definition camera and mic for an unparalleled virtual experience for groups of all sizes
Expertise with all virtual platforms including Cisco Webex, Microsoft Teams, Google Meet, Zoom, Go-To Meetings & Webinars
Customized, personalized combinations of keynotes, webinars, fireside chats, breakout sessions and Q&A
What Others Say
Previous Notable Speaking Events
In The News
Samra’s work and story has been featured by news outlets globally, reaching an audience of almost 15 million people. Here are some notable mentions:
National
The Washington Post – Top 10 Books of 2019 – December 31
CTV, Your Morning – Interview – March 4
Global News, The Morning Show – Interview – March 4
The Globe and Mail – Opinion Piece – March date TK
Quill & Quire – Starred Review – March Issue
Postmedia (papers across Canada) – March Books Roundup – March
Religion Unplugged – Review – March 7
CTV, News Channel – Interview – January 12
CBC Radio, The Next Chapter – Feature Interview – air date TK
The Globe and Mail – Feature Interview – March 4 online; March 9 in print
The Canadian Press (syndicated to 1,200+ Canadian outlets) – Interview – March 5
Regional
TVO, The Agenda with Steve Paikin – Panel on Femicide – February 11
Toronto Star – Interview – March 2
Vancouver Co-op Radio – Interview – March 18
The Source Vancouver – Speaker Profile – February 15
Winnipeg Free Press – Review – March 9
Online
ELLE Canada – Pop Culture Feature – February 28
Yahoo! Canada – Book Promo Video – March 8
GlobalCitizen.org – Profile – run date TK
Huffington Post Canada – Voices Video Series – March 1
Divine.ca – Review + Giveaway – March 14
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