We were lucky to catch up with Dr. Zabina Bhasin recently and have shared our conversation below.
Dr. Zabina, appreciate you joining us today. If you had a defining moment that you feel really changed the trajectory of your career, we’d love to hear the story and details.
Was there a defining moment in your professional career? A moment that changed the trajectory of your job? If so, please share the backstory so we can fully understand and appreciate the moment and take in any lessons or wisdom that might be learned from your experience and story.
One defining moment in my professional career came unexpectedly, yet it profoundly changed the trajectory of my work and my understanding of my purpose. This moment was both a revelation and a catalyst, pushing me to embrace my role as an advocate for children’s voices with a new zeal and clarity.
It was a typical day of work, picking up kids, and then extracurricular classes. At one of my kids’ practices, among the many children I saw that day was a young girl. She was about twelve years old, quiet, and withdrawn, with a sadness in her eyes that spoke volumes. While I was waiting for my kids, I sat next to her, and she looked up at me. I think she knew who I was as I had seen her many times. We locked eyes, and out of nowhere, she said, “No one ever listens to me. I feel like I’m invisible.” Her words struck me like a bolt of lightning.
In that instant, I saw a reflection of my childhood struggles—those times when I felt unheard and misunderstood because of my dyslexia. Growing up in a South Asian household where children were often seen but not heard, I knew all too well the pain of feeling invisible. This intensely personal connection to the younger girl’s plight was a stark reminder of the silent battles many children face.
As a child, I was often ridiculed for my inability to spell simple words like “lion,” not realizing that I had dyslexia. The adults around me failed to see the struggle behind my silence. Their dismissiveness made me feel small and insignificant, something no child should ever experience. This personal history fueled my passion to become a child psychiatrist, but it wasn’t until that moment that I truly understood the depth and urgency of my mission.
The young girl’s simple yet profound plea for acknowledgment and validation became a turning point. It made me realize that my role was not just to diagnose and treat but to truly listen and amplify the voices of children who felt unseen. I decided to channel my energy into creating platforms where young voices could be heard and valued.
This defining moment led to the creation of the “Listen to the KidZ” movement. It shaped my approach to integrating Mental, Emotional, and Social Health (MESH) principles into all aspects of my work. It also drove my commitment to advocate for play as a crucial element of child development through my leadership roles.
The lesson here is simple yet profound: every child has a voice that deserves to be heard. We, as adults, must commit to listening, understanding, and validating their experiences. It’s not just about providing solutions; it’s about being present and showing them that their thoughts, feelings, and stories matter. This moment was a powerful reminder that the most significant changes in our professional and personal lives often stem from the simple act of truly listening.
In embracing this philosophy, I’ve witnessed firsthand its transformative power—not only in healing and empowering individual children but also in reshaping our communities and the broader world to be more inclusive, compassionate, and responsive to the needs of our youngest members.
Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.
My name is Dr. Zabina Bhasin, M.D., a child expert, entrepreneur, and psychiatrist. As a dedicated advocate for youth empowerment and mental health, I’ve spent many years creating supportive environments for young people, both online and offline. My background spans various domains, including education, psychiatry, toys, and community engagement.
As a child psychiatrist with over two decades of experience in healthcare leadership, a Cornell-educated expert, and the founder and driving force behind In KidZ, a pioneering EdTech company that champions multicultural education and emotional wellness for children, my mission is deeply personal and professional. As a devoted mother and child expert,
I believe in empowering and guiding the next generation through authentic engagement. My diverse experience allows me to have a dynamic and holistic approach to mental health and wellness advocacy.
My dream is to create a future with our kids rather than for them by ensuring that their voices and perspectives are heard and reflected in the world they live in. I stand as a formidable advocate, counselor, and ally, championing a future where every child’s voice is not only heard but amplified, guaranteeing their potential and voice are realized to the fullest.
Currently, I’m deeply involved with the ‘Listen to the KidZ’ movement, where we focus on ensuring that the voices of our youth are heard and respected. We’re actively developing a comprehensive curriculum for schools, athletics, and adults in the US and beyond that covers crucial topics like Mental Health (MESH Learning), Empowerment, Digital Literacy, Future Financial Mindset, and Acceptance and Belonging.
Our goal is to empower youth sports teams, private and public school entities, and entire school districts by providing them with access to curated curricula and programming. This involves working closely with administrators, teachers, students, and parents to create rules, regulations, and empowerment initiatives that truly reflect young people’s needs and aspirations.
I’m also collaborating with various stakeholders to address the pressing issues of declining youth participation in sports, gender participation disparities, high churn rates in certain sports, lack of accessibility in youth sports, and the highest level of mental health issues ever seen before. Our mission is to foster an inclusive, engaging, and supportive environment for all young athletes.
Through the Listen to the KidZ initiatives, we can educate kids, parents, and lawmakers on how to build toward a healthier future. It’s about challenging mainstream platforms to do better and ensuring that our youth are equipped with the tools and knowledge.
Can you tell us about a time you’ve had to pivot?
One of the most pivotal moments in my career came when I transitioned from a traditional healthcare role to launching In KidZ and championing the “Listen to the KidZ” movement. This shift was not only a professional change but a deeply personal journey that reshaped my understanding of my mission and the impact I wanted to have on the world.
As a child and adolescent psychiatrist, I spent years in healthcare, dedicating my time to understanding and treating the health challenges faced by people. My work was fulfilling, yet I often felt that traditional healthcare settings limited my ability to address the broader, systemic issues affecting people’s well-being. I knew that if I genuinely wanted to make a difference, I had to step beyond the confines of the healthcare sector.
The turning point came when I started noticing the profound impact of social (DEIB), emotional, and mental health challenges. Despite my best efforts within the healthcare system, I realized that addressing these issues required a more holistic approach—one that integrated education, family dynamics, and community engagement. This realization led to the launch of In KidZ, a company dedicated to creating culturally relevant and educational products that support children’s growth and learning.
In KidZ was my first significant pivot. It allowed me to reach children in their everyday environments, providing tools that parents and educators could use to foster mental, emotional, and social health. Through In KidZ, I began to see the power of combining my medical expertise with innovative, playful learning solutions. This venture opened my eyes to the vast potential of influencing children’s lives outside the traditional healthcare model.
However, it was the voices of the children themselves that propelled me to make my next significant pivot. One day, during a community outreach event, a young girl named told me, “No one ever listens to me.” Her words echoed my own childhood experiences of feeling unheard and misunderstood. It was a stark reminder of the silent struggles that many children face and a powerful call to action. This moment was the catalyst for the “Listen to the KidZ” movement.
Launching the “Listen to the KidZ” movement was my response to the urgent need to amplify the youth’s voices. It was a pivot from providing tools and resources to actively creating platforms where the youth could express themselves and be heard. This movement is about more than just listening; it’s about empowering the youth to take an active role in shaping their own lives and futures. It’s about validating their experiences and ensuring their voices are central to the conversation about their well-being.
Today, as the leader of the “Listen to the KidZ” movement and an advocate for MESH (Mental, Emotional, and Social Health), I am committed to transforming the way we engage with our youth. By integrating MESH principles into the toy industry and advocating for play as a crucial component of child development, I am working to create environments where every child feels seen, heard, and valued.
This journey from healthcare to entrepreneurship and advocacy has taught me that sometimes, the most impactful paths are those that require us to step outside our comfort zones and embrace new ways of thinking. Each pivot has been guided by a desire to address the real, lived experiences of children and to create a world where their voices matter.
In sharing this story, I hope to inspire others to listen more deeply to the young people in their lives and to recognize the immense potential that lies in truly hearing and empowering the next generation. Our children are not just our future; they are our present, and their voices hold the key to creating a more inclusive, compassionate, and responsive world.
Do you think you’d choose a different profession or specialty if you were starting now?
If given the chance to go back, I would choose the same path every single time.
My journey into the field of child and adolescent psychiatry has been profoundly shaped by my deep-seated love for youth and my unwavering commitment to their well-being. Every decision I’ve made and every step I’ve taken in my career has been guided by a blend of my medical expertise and my passion for listening to and empowering young voices.
There’s a unique fulfillment in being able to blend scientific knowledge with genuine care and empathy for children. My background has provided me with the tools and authority to understand the complexities of the human mind and the developmental challenges that our youth face. This foundation has been invaluable as I’ve ventured into broader advocacy roles, such as leading the “Listen to the KidZ” movement and championing MESH (Mental, Emotional, and Social Health) principles within the toy industry.
Throughout my career, I’ve seen firsthand the transformative power of truly listening to young people. It’s not just about addressing their mental health needs; it’s about validating their experiences and giving them a platform to express themselves. This realization has driven me to create spaces where children feel safe, heard, and valued—whether through innovative educational products with In KidZ or through my advocacy work.
If I could go back and choose again, I wouldn’t change a thing. My medical training and my dedication to youth have not only defined my career but have also been the driving forces behind the impactful work I am doing today. Every challenge, every pivot, has been a step towards creating a world where every child’s voice is heard and respected. And there’s no greater honor or fulfillment than being a part of that journey.
In hindsight, every experience has reinforced my belief that we must be the advocates our children need. We must leverage our expertise and our love for youth to build a future where they can thrive. So yes, I would choose this path over and over again, because it has allowed me to blend my professional authority with a cause that is deeply personal and profoundly important.
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zabina bhasin