We were lucky to catch up with Shobna Kannusamy recently and have shared our conversation below.

Shobna, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. What do you think it takes to be successful?

Success takes authenticity, courage, and the ability to redefine what success means for you.

I transitioned from a stable engineering career to creating Soirette Pastry Boutique, a decision met with skepticism and cultural barriers as a young woman of color. Despite these challenges, I built a successful business. However, daily microaggressions led to imposter syndrome, and I often hid behind my brand.

Through self-reflection and embracing my multicultural heritage, I realized that my authenticity was my strength. As I leaned into my authenticity and continued to grow, I started gaining recognition from within the industry and the community, which led to my debut on Food Network Canada as a judge on the “Wall of Bakers”. The community embraced my authenticity and diversity, when I showed up as myself, unapologetically. This incredible journey of entrepreneurship was an ultimate reminder that being true to myself was the key to my own success.

During the pandemic, coaching helped me navigate personal and professional challenges, leading me to close the bakery at its peak and transition to organizational coaching, supporting women leaders and their teams through Soirette Connections.

In essence, success takes trusting yourself, taking risks, and staying true to who you are. Surround yourself with supportive people, and have the courage to create your own path. By showing the world who you really are, you find strength and achieve true success.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

I started my career as an engineer in New Zealand, but my passion for creativity led me to study French Pastry Arts at Le Cordon Bleu. This pivot allowed me to express my love for edible art, resulting in the creation of Soirette Pastry Boutique in Vancouver. For a decade, I poured my heart into this business, building motivated teams, and a brand known for its innovation and strong ties to the community. Along the way, I faced and overcame numerous challenges, learning invaluable lessons in leadership and resilience.

As my journey evolved, I realized a deeper calling: to support and empower leaders and their teams. This led me to transition into leadership coaching, where I leverage my 25 years of cross-disciplinary expertise to foster transformative change. I completed my Certification in Organizational Coaching from the University of British Columbia, which cemented my dedication to this new path.

At Soirette Connections, I offer leadership development coaching to leaders and their teams, and facilitation services that help clients navigate change with agility, build meaningful connections, and enhance performance. My approach is rooted in emotional intelligence, applied neuroscience, and a deep understanding of human connection. I design and lead workshops that empower entrepreneurs and leaders to unlock their potential, overcome limiting beliefs, and drive impact within their organizations and communities.

What sets me apart is my unique blend of creative, analytical, and entrepreneurial skills. I bring a vision-focused mindset and agility in navigating change, which I use to guide my clients toward authentic leadership rooted in their values, strengths, and self-awareness. I serve clients across Canada, the USA, Australia, New Zealand, and Singapore, providing a global perspective and diverse insights.

On the side of my desk, I proudly host and produce the Colour Me Brave podcast, where I explore themes of entrepreneurship, parenthood, courage, and vulnerability, especially through the lens of women of color. This platform allows me to amplify voices, share stories, and foster a sense of community and belonging.

Ultimately, my work is about helping individuals and teams discover and unleash their authentic leadership potential, enabling them to thrive and make a positive impact. I believe that by showing up as our true selves, we can achieve more than we ever thought possible, and I’m here to support that journey every step of the way.

Any advice for managing a team?

Leading with Authencity
My journey from engineering to pastry arts and now leadership coaching has shown me the power of being genuine. When I embraced my multicultural heritage and presented my true self, it built trust and respect within my team. Authentic leadership encourages everyone to bring their full selves to work.

Communication is Key
Clear and regular communication was a key to my success for both my businesses. Whether through team meetings, check-ins, or casual conversations, keeping the lines of communication open ensures everyone is aligned and feels heard.

Recognize and Appreciate
Celebrating the hard work and contributions of my team was essential. Recognition can be as simple as a heartfelt thank you or a team celebration. Acknowledging achievements boosts morale and motivation.

Foster a Positive and Inclusive Culture
Creating an environment where everyone feels valued and included has always been a priority. Encouraging diverse perspectives and celebrating individuality helped me build a stronger, more innovative team.

Empower and Delegate
Trusting my team to take ownership of their work was instrumental in my success. I was a solo entrepreneur – I HAD to rely on my team! Empowering team members to make decisions fosters confidence and demonstrates your belief in their abilities.

These five principles have been foundational in my experience, helping to build and maintain high morale within my teams. By leading with authenticity, fostering a positive culture, and empowering your team, you can create an environment where everyone thrives.

What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?

One significant lesson I had to unlearn was the belief that my identity and background were obstacles to my success.

When I transitioned from engineering to French pastry, my decision was met with skepticism and cultural barriers. My family questioned my choice, and I felt the weight of their disapproval. As I built Soirette Pastry Boutique, I faced daily microaggressions and felt pressure to conform to the traditional image of a French pastry chef.

I internalized these judgments and believed my identity as a “brown” woman was a hindrance. This led to a deep-rooted imposter syndrome, where I allowed my light-skinned team members to take credit for our successes, thinking my presence diminished the brand’s worth.

Through years of self-reflection and growth, I realized my authenticity and multicultural heritage were strengths. Embracing my true self and infusing my products with my Malaysian-Indian-Kiwi-Canadian heritage became a turning point. This authenticity resonated with our community and led to national recognition.

Unlearning this lesson allowed me to lead with confidence and authenticity, showing up unapologetically as myself. It reinforced the importance of challenging societal norms and expectations. By embracing my identity, I found a deeper sense of purpose and fulfillment, which I now carry into my leadership coaching practice, empowering others to do the same.

This journey taught me that success is about embracing and celebrating who you truly are, not conforming to others’ expectations. It’s a powerful lesson that continues to guide me in both my personal and professional life.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.soirette.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/soirette.connections/ and https://www.instagram.com/lovesoirette/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shobnakannusamy/ and https://www.linkedin.com/company/soirette-connections/
• Other: http://www.colourmebrave.com/

Image Credits

WORTH group photo and panel photo:
Photo credit: Mark Kinskofer, https://visionphoto.ca/