We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Anahita Thukral . We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Anahita below.

Hi Anahita , thanks for joining us today. So let’s jump to your mission – what’s the backstory behind how you developed the mission that drives your brand?

Our mission story is one of discovery, purpose, and empowerment. It began with the realization that the stories of women, their achievements, struggles, and dreams, were often obscured by a narrative dominated by other voices. This recognition led to the birth of Hear Her Stories, a platform designed to amplify these voices and provide them with the spotlight they deserved.

As the founder of Hear Her Stories, I embarked on a journey to engage with women from all walks of life – world leaders, scientists, artists, and experts in diverse fields. Through their stories, I uncovered a wealth of motivations and barriers that shaped their professional trajectories, inspiring a mission that aimed to empower and uplift.

But our mission didn’t stop at storytelling. It expanded to embrace action. Witnessing the unique challenges faced by visible minority women in industries like technology, finance, consulting, and telecommunications, the Diverse Women (DiWo) initiative was born. DiWo became a conduit for change, offering tailored resources and training to help these women not just navigate, but excel in their chosen fields.

Our journey is rooted in data-backed insights and an unyielding commitment to inclusivity. The digital landscape became our canvas, enabling us to share impactful resources far and wide. The mission that drives our brand is a testament to the power of stories, the strength of community, and the unwavering belief that every woman’s journey deserves recognition and support.

Anahita , before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

At the heart of our efforts lies a mission to amplify the voices of women and celebrate their achievements. We accomplish this through two interconnected avenues: Hear Her Stories and the Diverse Women (DiWo) initiative.

With Hear Her Stories, we provide a platform for women to share their personal journeys, successes, and challenges. Through engaging conversations with women leaders across various sectors, including world leaders, scientists, artists, and experts, we highlight their stories to inspire and showcase the diverse paths to fulfillment.

Complementing this, our DiWo initiative is dedicated to supporting women especially in industries like technology, finance, consulting, and telecommunications. We offer tailored resources and training to empower these women, helping them secure mid-senior level positions and excel in their chosen fields.

Hear Her Stories’ mission and strategies align to create a meaningful and sustainable impact in the landscape of women’s workforce development. Through storytelling, partnerships, and accessible resources, the organization works towards a more diverse and inclusive workforce that drives lasting economic growth.

Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?

My journey of resilience embarked on a path of empowerment with the inception of Hear Her Stories and the DiWo initiative. Witnessing the persistent gaps and challenges faced by underserved women, including newcomers and those re-entering the workforce, ignited a fire within me to drive change.

The struggles these women confronted became the catalyst for my determination to create a platform that amplifies their voices and paves the way for their success. Hear Her Stories was born from a deep-rooted belief in the power of storytelling to inspire, connect, and uplift. I understood that by highlighting the achievements and narratives of women, we could dismantle barriers and inspire others to overcome adversity.

The DiWo initiative emerged as a direct response to the stark challenges these women faced in transitioning to employment. The disparities were stark, but they fueled my resolve to bridge the gaps. Building a resourceful ecosystem, we developed free tools, harnessed the potential of professional networking, and delved into hands-on training to impart career readiness skills.

My journey has been one of resilience, constantly adapting and evolving strategies to empower these women. Witnessing their growth and transformation as they embraced new skills, engaged in networking, and secured job placements became my driving force. The success stories that emerged from DiWo’s first implementation, including the attention of a Canadian Bank, affirmed the purpose and potential of this initiative.

Through Hear Her Stories and DiWo, my journey has become a mission to create lasting change. Empowering women by amplifying their stories, equipping them with skills, and fostering a supportive community has become my personal commitment to breaking down barriers and championing resilience in the face of adversity.

Have you ever had to pivot?

In the journey of “Hear Her Stories” and the DiWo initiative, we encountered a pivotal moment that prompted us to reconsider our approach. While our focus had been on sharing written stories of women’s achievements, we began to receive direct feedback from our audience. They expressed a growing interest in more direct engagement and networking opportunities, along with comprehensive support for women seeking to transition into the workforce.

In response to this feedback, we embarked on a pivot that encompassed both initiatives. We expanded our strategy to introduce live virtual events and webinars, where accomplished women shared their stories in real-time, followed by interactive Q&A sessions. This pivot allowed us to provide our audience with the chance to connect directly with the women they admired and engage in insightful conversations.

Moreover, we created an online community platform that became a hub for discussions, story sharing, and seeking advice. This change not only applied to “Hear Her Stories” but also complemented the DiWo initiative. Through DiWo, we provided practical resources, hands-on training, and networking opportunities tailored to support women’s career transitions.

This firsthand experience of pivoting was integral to our evolution from platforms centered around written narratives to dynamic communities. This transformation not only addressed our audience’s desire for more engagement but also elevated the impact of our initiatives by creating spaces for meaningful exchanges, collaborations, and career empowerment among women.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://hearherstories.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hearherstories/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/hearherstories.fb/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/hear-her-stories/
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/hearherstories