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

Urmi, appreciate you joining us today. What was one of the most important lessons you learned in school? Why did that lesson stick with you?

When we think about the education system, we think of studying and taking tests. Exams are taken to pass a course and progress to the next class.

During high school, every week I took numerous tests for the various subjects I was studying. There were times when I found myself having 2-3 tests per week, whether written or oral. Each week, my professors tested us to determine if the class had internalized the materials taught. The entire education system was centered around the concept of taking tests and passing them to succeed in school.

Now that I am much older, I no longer have to take exams or answer multiple-choice questions, but life still challenges me with real-life tests.

My biggest lesson learned from high school is that life itself is an ongoing series of tests. These real-life challenges may not be structured with defined questions and answers or even be graded, but they demand a set of skills such as resilience, open-mindedness, problem-solving, and critical thinking. Life throws at each one of us everyday challenges which are part of the unpredictable and diverse hurdles that adulthood brings.
Life problems don’t come with a syllabus, but they require adaptability, perseverance, and the ability to learn from each experience. Just like in school, where passing one test prepares you for the next level, navigating through life’s tests helps us grow and progress on our unique journey.

The essence of testing continues to play a significant role in my life even beyond the confines of the classroom, shaping how I approach and navigate the complexities of life.

Urmi, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

I work in the financial sector, but I’m also a blogger, self-published author, YouTuber, mentor, and, most importantly, an advocate for women’s empowerment. A significant accomplishment for me is volunteering as the social media lead for an organization called Women in Leadership. Through my work, I contribute to women’s progress and success in various leadership roles, even beyond traditional full-time jobs.

As a South Asian woman, I use platforms like my blog and magazines to raise awareness about issues related to child marriage, which unfortunately still persists in countries like Bangladesh.

My life goal is to break stereotypes and contribute to creating a more gender-equal world.

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

I built my social presence with a couple of tools and a lot of collaborations. It all started with creating an online presence on LinkedIn before shifting my focus to Instagram, YouTube, and my blog. It was a trial-and-error process because I was relatively new to this game, especially with YouTube and blogging. Building a website took some time, but eventually, I created something that represented me. I had to conduct extensive research to understand how the blogging industry and YouTubing worked. The beginning is always a struggle as you need to set up all the platforms, but once they are in place, it becomes much easier to create and post content.

My suggestion to those starting is that your platforms are a representation of you, and you always want to show your most honest self. This is what the audience will appreciate the most. The second most important thing is to be consistent with your content creation. If you have a lot on your plate, don’t overdo it by posting every day; instead, stick to a more consistent schedule—less is more

What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?

For me, the most rewarding aspect of being creative is the self-expression and exploration.

Creativity allows me to express my unique perspectives and be my authentic- self.

It’s a form of storytelling where I get to experiment, try new things, and learn more about myself with every stroke of imagination.

This process not only helps me with my self-discovery but also serves as a constant reminder that creativity is an adventure. In embracing my creative pursuits, I find a sanctuary where I can be genuinely me, unapologetically while navigating the waves of ideas and emotions.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.myways.ca/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/urmamio/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/urmihossain/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@urmihossain/videos