Meet Resilience Expert and Champion of Women’s Rights, Komal Minhas.

Komal Minhas is an internationally respected resilience expert, host, interviewer, investor and champion of women and women’s rights. Featured on Oprah’s Super Soul 100 list, Komal has interviewed inspiring people including Michelle Obama and Sophie Gregoire Trudeau, and is the founder and host of the successful podcast Lessons Learned, featuring soulful conversations about resilience. Komal also just launched an online shop of inspirational uplifting prints, perfect for home or office.

My first job ever was… working the concession stand at our local hockey arena! I wasn’t allowed to work — as a first-generation Canadian, education was a major priority — but I secretly got this job so I could save up to go on a class trip to Europe in 9th grade. Of course my parents found out, but it all worked out in the end.

I decided to be an entrepreneur because… my entrepreneurial spirit didn’t fit the traditional workplace mould. My business has become a creative vessel for me, and a space for me to make an impact, create wealth for myself and my team, educate and tell powerful stories. It’s my dream job!

My proudest accomplishment is… having my parents in the stadium the day I interviewed Michelle Obama in 2019. It was one of the best moments of my life to see their pride after holding space for such a powerful conversation with the former First Lady.

My boldest move to date was… pitching Michelle Obama directly at a meet and greet to interview her as part of her stadium tour. She took my hands and said, ‘this is destiny.’ It took 10 months, and lots of no’s for it to finally happen. That was my boldest moment!

I surprise people when I tell them… I am actually more of an introvert than an extrovert! I really love my down time!

My best advice to people starting out in business is… take your time. The start-up world is full of stories of ‘overnight’ successes, but they are few and far between. Do what you need to take your time as you build — and do it in a way that makes sense to you financially.

My biggest setback was… being diagnosed with cancer and a neurological illness in the same 10-months. Recovery took a few years during my 20s. 

I overcame it by… listening to my body and taking recovery day-by-day. When you face mortality at such an early age, you come to appreciate life in different ways. That experience led me to having a strong focus on purpose and impact and finding a way to create a business that could help me maximize both things well.

The best thing about being an entrepreneur is… employing others and leading them in a mindful, empathetic way.

If I had an extra hour in the day, I would… sleep.

If you googled me, you still wouldn’t know… how hard this journey of entrepreneurship really is and how much my support system helps me get through hard days.

The one thing I wish I knew when starting my business is… it takes time to find product-market fit and each failure is actually a powerful step forward towards something that will work and hopefully scale.

I stay inspired by… my friends, and making new friends who challenge me and show me what is possible in my own life.

The future excites me because… so much can happen!