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I am surprised and thrilled to have been nominated for an Asian Women of Achievement Award!
Thanks to this years #AWA judges for seeing something impactful in me.
In the Nineties, when I got my first job in TV straight out of University, many of my parents peer group and my extended family were not approving of my choice to work in the creative industries as opposed to the traditional asian doctor, lawyer style professions.
We suffered many years of whispered judgement about my terrible career path choices and journey as one of the first Asian women to present the UK’s biggest Youth Culture TV show – The Word on Channel 4.
Not only did our community not accept my career choices, neither did my school teachers.
However, I knew that it was an exciting, incredible industry which I was adamant I would get into and continue to do my best to thrive in across the years.
On my journey at businesses like Channel 4, MTV, Viacom, Paramount, Media Trust, Netflix UK and more, I have had bosses and mentors who kindly encouraged me and allowed me to bring my authentic self and identity to work and open doors to others.
This in turn, has allowed me to train, employ and catapult hundreds of other young people from similar under-represented communities into TV, Digital and media careers.
It’s been the honour of my life to front and produce stories from hidden communities for people who didn’t have a voice in the mainstream.
So to be included in this list of brilliant Asian women means so much – it really does!
I now see so many young Asian women working across Media and Creative Industries – they are successful, recognised, being nominated for awards, being asked to sit on panels and ultimately being recognised, credited and remunerated for their hard work…..and I am so relieved that their road is less rocky than mine was.
Whether I am the ultimate winner of this category or not – I am elated (and tickled pink!) to be shortlisted in this brilliant lineup.
Good luck and congratulations to all of us!
@perminder_mann@tasnimnazeer@lalitataylor100
@awaawardsuk NatWest Business
#AsianWomenofAchievementAwards
#Diversity#DEI#inclusion#equity
