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Dr. Samra Zafar

Leading Expert on Authentic Leadership, DEI, and Mental Health

Samra Zafar
Speaker Reel
I Was an Abused Child-Bride: A Journey of Survival and Self-Discovery
Dr.
Samra Zafar
Speaker Reel
I Was an Abused Child-Bride: A Journey of Survival and Self-Discovery

Renowned for her insightful dialogue on cultural change, Dr. Samra Zafar combines scientific research with her corporate experience and hard-earned life lessons to shift our understanding of wellness and illustrate the transformative benefits of belonging. She is a bestselling author, physician, educator, and leading corporate consultant who specializes in DEI strategy, mental health, and authentic leadership. In her compelling presentations, she shares valuable tools for building authentic human connection and fostering inclusive spaces.

After escaping a decade of abuse living as a child bride in Canada, Zafar has become a beacon of hope for those facing exclusion and abuse. She is a four-time TEDx speaker and the bestselling author of A Good Wife: Escaping the Life I Never Chose, named one of CBC’s Best Books of 2019 and a top 2019 read by The Washington Post. She is currently writing her second book, Unconditional, which will explore science-based strategies to unlearn limiting beliefs and live a fuller, unconditional life.

Previously an executive in financial services, Zafar is currently completing her residency in psychiatry at the University of Toronto. She is also the founder and executive director of Brave Beginnings, a registered charity that provides mentorship to survivors of abuse. Her work has been featured in several national and international media outlets, including The Huffington Post, Harvard Medical School’s Primary Care Review, CTV, CBC, Global News, the Globe and Mail, the Toronto Star, and more.

Zafar is an award-winning, internationally renowned keynote speaker. Her past clients have included UNICEF; United Way; Yale University; HRPA; Amnesty International; TD; Adidas; Art of Leadership; Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada, and several other non-profits, corporations, government agencies, and universities around the world. She has been recognized twice as one of Canada’s “Top 100 Most Powerful Women” and named one of the “Top 25 Most Inspirational Women” in Canada and one of the “Top 25 Canadian Immigrants”.

Zafar is a graduate of the University of Toronto with a bachelor’s and master’s degree in economics. She currently sits on the board of Women’s College Hospital Foundation and is a celebrated ambassador at Plan International Canada.

Speaking topics

Presentations listed below include in-person and virtual keynotes, as well as workshops, fireside chats, and other presentation formats.

  • The Workplace of Belonging: Where Inclusion and Wellness Meet

    Psychological safety is the cornerstone of health and wellness. But in order to build a psychologically safe workplace, a culture and atmosphere of inclusion must first be cultivated.

    A challenge facing many leaders today is how to properly engage a multi-generational and a neurodiverse talent pool, especially as we continue to navigate an emotionally charged world and immense economic change. In this illuminating presentation, Dr. Samra Zafar shares science-backed strategies to help eliminate systemic barriers, knee-jerk reactions to connectivity, and one-size-fits-all approaches to workplace wellness, and instead build inclusive and positively motivating workplace cultures.

    Audiences will learn:

    • Methods to curate inclusive and positively motivating environments.
    • How to pinpoint and eliminate systemic barriers for diverse populations.
    • The scientific and business outcomes of authentic belonging in the workplace.
    • Techniques for shifting mindsets and changing behaviour for the long-term.
    • Productive ways to implement healthy boundaries.

    Alternative keynote titles:

    • Breaking Systemic Barriers to Inclusion
    • Fostering Psychological Safety and Empathy for Your Workforce
    • Understanding the Immigrant Experience
    • Inclusive Wellness Practices for the 21st Century Economy
    • Understanding Intersectionality and Cultural Competency
    • Making Room for the Interpersonal Attachments of a New Generation

  • Resilience Redefined

    This talk explores resiliency through the lens of neuroscience and the psychology behind human connection and belonging.

    Sustainable resilience requires far more than a day of pampering at the spa and eating our most beloved comfort foods. This keynote shows audiences how to unlearn sabotaging beliefs surrounding self-care, and equips them with actionable strategies to help strengthen relationships, find long-term success, and build resilient workplaces that thrive today, and far into the future of work.

    Audiences will learn:

    • An inclusive, science-based perspective of resiliency.
    • Accessible practices to build mental and emotional buoyancy.
    • How to view fear as a challenge to lean into.
    • How to heal from burnout and address its effects.
    • Leading parenting techniques rooted in resilience teaching.
    • Tools to regulate “negative” emotions and tactfully navigate discomfort.
    • Practices for navigating turbulent times with empathy and compassion.

    Alternative keynote titles:

    • The Science of Burnout and How We Can Learn From It
    • Weathering Economic Turbulence Through Financial Wellness Practices
    • Unlocking Your Personal Resilience
    • Resilient Teams: Leading with Courage Through Adversity
    • Turning Fear into Courage: Mindfulness, Self-Care, and Self-Love
    • Finding Opportunity in Adversity

  • Journey of Critical Allyship: How Workplaces Can Unpack Privilege and Advance Equity

    A lack of inclusive practices in any environment can lead to adverse implications that stretch beyond individuals to affect families, workplaces, and the global economy as a whole. It’s only through learning how to build spaces of belonging can we truly be inclusive of culturally diverse and neurodiverse perspectives. Allyship is the key, and Dr. Samra Zafar will show audiences how to become true allies and combat unconscious bias in the workplace and foster genuine and productive connections that advance equity for all.

    This comprehensive keynote guides audiences through:

    • Identifying and recognizing privilege to make way for better collaboration.
    • How to exhibit true allyship through deliberate action.
    • Equitable solutions that foster workplace inclusion.
    • Clinical routes to uprooting deep-seated unconscious biases.
    • Strategic ways to equitably lead diverse teams.

    Alternative keynote titles:

    • Acknowledging Affinity Bias and Rebuilding Company Culture
    • Starting From the Top: How Leaders Can Advance Equity
    • Unmasking Allyship with Courageous Conversations
    • Diversifying Thought and Acting on Inclusive Practices
    • Survival and Belonging: The Effects of Exclusion on Our Neural Pathways

  • The Power of Authentic Leadership

    As human beings, we’re not static objects, but dynamic organisms. There is power in being who you are, rather than trying your hardest to conform. Dr. Samra Zafar has travelled the world to learn from and work with leading companies and teams to strengthen her understanding of exceptional leadership traits. She draws from her experience as both a corporate and non-profit leader and extensive educational background in science, the humanities, and finance, to offer actionable solutions to advance equity in the workplace through becoming an authentic leader.

    Audiences will learn:

    • Practical strategies for developing self confidence.
    • How to discern relevant experiences for widespread sharing.
    • How and when to incorporate personal storytelling.
    • How to leverage unique perspectives in professional settings.
    • Thoughtful ways to enhance group satisfaction and engagement.

    Alternative keynote titles:

    • The Authentic Leader: Transparency and Connection
    • Conforming is Not an Option: Dynamic Leadership Techniques for Today’s Workplace
    • Find Your Why: Leading Purposeful Lives and Careers
    • Expand Your Network: Building Authentic Connections
    • Reinvent Your Career: Manifesting Your Vision

  • Blazing Your Own Trail

    In this motivational talk, Dr. Samra Zafar urges listeners to carve their own paths by leaning into authenticity, finding their purpose, and recognizing their resilience. She shows people how to find and use your voice by sharing her personal journey as a child bride to financial executive and now physician-in-training. Audiences will leave empowered to become their own champions, build their own communities, and ascend internal barriers to unlock their true potential.

    Participants will learn:

    • About the circumstances that call for allocating specialized resources.
    • How to identify and shift harmful internal dialogues and narratives.
    • Effective practices that lead to self-empowerment without the alienation of others.
    • Productive ways to promote self-love and mutual respect.
    • Practical strategies to lean into one’s true identity.

    Alternative keynote titles:

    • Changing the World by Embracing What is Within
    • Advancing Equity at the Level of Self
    • Strengthening Authenticity to Clarify Purpose
    • Plotting a Course to Success in Unfamiliar Territory
    • Finding Confidence Through Demonstrated Resilience

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Related Content

More great information and resources.

Books

  • A Good Wife: Escaping the Life I Never Chose

    At 15, Samra Zafar had big dreams for herself. She was going to go to university, and forge her...

    → Read More

Articles

Client reviews

  • IBI Group

    Samra was wonderful. Her sessions were very well received by our audience. She was engaging and captivating and did a really great job of tying her keynote to the IWD theme of Embrace Equity. We had very positive feedback about her session from all who attended. She was also a pleasure to work with, very responsive and was just wonderful in every way.

  • CIBC Mellon

    Thank you for attending and sharing your story: you were passionate and honest, and you were able to help your audience share and understand your experiences. We received very positive feedback from staff and clients regarding your participation as our guest speaker. Because of your strength and courage, I have every expectation that Brave Beginnings will be a great success which will help many people be bold for change. Keep up your amazing work!

    Thank you once again for being part of our event.

  • Intuit Canada

    We had the pleasure of welcoming Samra to celebrate International Women’s Day at our Mississauga Office on March 8th. Samra shared her inspiring journey from oppression to empowerment, which she was able to deliver perfectly to align with this year’s event theme of Press for Progress. We’ve received nothing but positive feedback about Samra’s story and her engagement with our employees and couldn’t be more pleased with the response.

  • The Citizen's Foundation

    When Samra spoke on behalf of The Citizen’s Foundation, there was pindrop silence as she brought us into her world and told us how her thirst to be educated changed her life path.  In thirty minutes we cried with empathy, were angered by the injustices and jubilant for her triumphant finale.  Her ability to dig deep and tell her story so honestly coupled with the poignant message of supporting education for underprivileged children is a global issue that we can all be behind to make our world a better place. As a speaker Samra was able to research our theme and create a narrative which is a testimonial to her combination of brilliance and professionalism. Our evening by all measures was a success

  • Cambridge Chamber of Commerce

    Samra’s keynote was inspirational, and she is an amazing and genuine person. We have received wonderful feedback from the attendees. Everyone enjoyed the event and loved listening to her speak.

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