[Interview] Dr. Sabreena Ghaffar-Siddiqui: We are Mentally Colonized

Sabreena Ghaffar-Siddiqui: Youtube:    / @dr.sabreena   I am a Professor of Sociology and Criminology, a researcher, and an independent consultant who provides expert analysis, training, and strategies on DEI, communications, public policy, organizational development, and public relations. I am also a multiple award-winning public speaker, well-known media commentator, trusted community leader and social justice advocate, and renowned leadership coach. Inspired by my mother’s cancer journey and her experiences in the healthcare system, I began researching and writing about health inequities, disparities, and barriers for racialized immigrants over 15 years ago. I have since then expanded my research and advocacy efforts to explore and shed light on other forms of discrimination, unconscious bias and microaggressions in various public and private settings. Having dealt with many barriers and obstacles in my career journey, including the experience of being a single mother and having lost my younger brother to a traumatic death half-way through my PhD, I have often been asked to share my story to inspire others. For many years, I had been involved in youth mentorship and leadership workshops, especially those focused on women’s empowerment. But, despite best efforts, I had always felt something lacking in the structure and delivery mode of existing training models and programs I was invited to be a part of. This is what gave birth to “HOWN” – my leadership training program, developed and delivered by someone with lived experience as a racialized woman.