03/08/2026
Hello, my name is Shivani Dhamija
I am an entrepreneur. I arrived in Canada in 2011 and began working for myself in 2014.
People often ask me, “How did you build Shivani’s Kitchen?”
A big part of the answer is where I come from. I am a Punjabi raised in West Bengal. I grew up in cultures where women are educated, expressive, and strong. When you grow up seeing women speak, debate, create, and lead, you begin to believe that your ideas matter too.
But I also live in the real world, and I am reminded often that it is still very much a man’s world.
Even here in Canada, when I go to meetings with grocery managers, investors, or buyers, something interesting happens. When my husband and I walk into a room together, many people instinctively speak to him first instead of me. And I won’t lie, in the beginning, it made me feel terrible.
But instead of stepping back, I kept stepping forward.
I kept speaking, presenting my ideas, and standing my ground. And eventually, people realise that they cannot underestimate me.
So my message to women is simple: do not let anyone push you back.
Stand your ground. Use your education. Use your voice. Use your knowledge.
Be fearless like Maa Kali when you need strength.
Be wise like Maa Saraswati when you speak with knowledge.
Be resilient like Maa Durga when you face challenges.
Because within every woman there is power, wisdom, and courage, and when you carry all three together, the world has no choice but to listen.
Happy International Women’s Day!!
with the Bengali Association of Atlantic Canada - BAAC Family
