We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Lieva Hadisi a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Lieva, thanks for joining us today. Let’s start with the story of your mission. What should we know?

Dosti Collective began its journey in 2019 under a different name, undergoing a rebranding in 2023. At that time, I was balancing school with a full-time job as a bartender. Despite being surrounded by people, I struggled with persistent feelings of loneliness. It seemed like my interactions lacked depth, leaving me yearning for more meaningful conversations. Through casual conversations with friends, I came to realize that my experience wasn’t unique, and that many people were feeling increasingly isolated and lonely within their existence. This doesn’t come as much of a surprise to me now, given my age and the depth to which capitalism has affected and alienated us.

However, it became evident that a solution wouldn’t arise unless I acted. Thus, I decided to create the space I needed, and others did to. I began to bring people together from different life stages and perspectives around one shared goal – the need to build as supportive community as a form of self-care. What started as a small, 4 persons gathering, as grown into a 1,700 person community. Throughout these past years, the collective has undergone many changes, but our mission has stayed true and continues to be our North Star.

Dosti Collective is a passion project born out the desire to build community by igniting honest conversations and cultivating safer spaces. Community care is at the core of our mission, dosti embodies the spirit of friendship, education, and mutual aid. We host gatherings in cozy environments, bringing the community together to connect, have conversations, exchange knowledges, and create circles of care. We aim to foster safer spaces for people to exist as they are.

Lieva, 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?

My name is Lieva Hadisi, pronouns are she/her, I’m a 30 something year old Kurdish-Canadian. I currently live in Tkaronto, commonly known as Toronto. This is the city where I live, work, play, and experience joy. By day I work for the Government of Canada in Social Finance, leading the social equity initiatives, where I work to bridge gaps and champion gender and social equity. By night, I work as a bartender at a local restaurant in the city. I wear many other titles in life but the ones I’m most proud of are; community builder, auntie, sister, and friend.

Dosti collective is something very near and dear to my heart. Even though I’ve only been nurturing it for a few years, I’m immensely proud to continue to unveil my brand and community in its entirety to everyone. Dosti brings together people from all life stages and perspectives around a shared goal – the need to build a supportive community as a form of self-care.

At dosti collective, we don’t offer products, but a sense of belonging and camaraderie. I think what sets us apart is our commitment to inclusivity and accessibility, striving to create safer (and free) spaces for everyone. Ultimately, I want potential clients, followers, and community members to know that dosti collective is more than just a brand or an event planner—it’s a movement towards building a less alienated, more connected world for everyone.

We’d love to hear the story of how you built up your social media audience?

This might elicit a response of ‘here we go again,’ but I genuinely believe in the importance of authenticity – just be yourself. There have been numerous occasions where I’ve shared content, whether on my community or personal social media platforms, that didn’t feel genuine to me, and it fell flat. When you’re posting content that doesn’t reflect who you are and how you want to live your life, that lack of authenticity is evident to your audience, and it never performs well.

I may not have the largest social media platform, but I do have a trusted and dedicated following who consistently engage with my content on the three pages that I run. From stories to in-feed posts, I prioritize authenticity, and my audience appreciates that. It’s not about following trends or emulating others’ content; while that can be enjoyable and can support in gaining momentum, it shouldn’t overshadow staying true to yourself.

I think now, more than ever, people crave authenticity. Brands and individuals who only showcase their products without revealing the work behind the scenes miss out on building genuine connections with their community, and that’s crucial. Additionally, I think slow-burn content is vital. In today’s fast-paced online world, there’s often pressure to churn out content quickly, which can leave creatives (or just anyone) feeling burnt out and uninspired. I can attest to this because this exact same thing happened to me. Instead, I advocate for posting when it feels good and right. Authenticity and timing are key; when you prioritize these, following and engagement naturally follow suit.

Are there any books, videos, essays or other resources that have significantly impacted your management and entrepreneurial thinking and philosophy?

While this book isn’t your typical management or entrepreneurial guide, it serves as a cornerstone in every facet of my life, shaping how I navigate the journey of building dosti collective. This book is ‘all about love’ by bell hooks.

‘All about love’ is a profound exploration of love in its various forms and how it shapes our lives. In this book, hooks argues that true love requires commitment, understanding, and mutual respect, and she explores how love can be a powerful force for healing, connection, and social change. Throughout the book, she addresses issues such as the impact of patriarchy, capitalism, and media on our perceptions of love, and she offers insights into how we can cultivate more authentic and meaningful connections with others.
In all aspects of life. It’s not just a book about romantic love; it’s a guide to living a more loving and authentic existence.

Contact Info:

• Other: personal instagram – https://www.instagram.com/lievsss?igsh=eGJjMTJzYnY0dDc1
  dosti instagram- https://www.instagram.com/dosticollective?igsh=N3AwdXcwbXJqNjJm

Image Credits

photos are my own taken on film by Lieva Hadisi