I am humbled and delighted to have been ordered an Officer of the Order of the British Empire in the King’s New Year’s Eve Honours List “For services to Broadcasting and Music and to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion”.
I accept this recognition of my hard work over the years (and BOY have I worked hard, eaten dinner at 1am often in cold shoots & dark edits, juggled multiple jobs across TV, Radio, Columns simultaneously & brought the good fight before it was an official thing!)
I dedicate this award to all those who have supported me – when one of us wins, we all win!
I have been so lucky to have been surrounded by some incredible mentors and colleagues over the years, who mention my name in rooms that I do not have access to, as well as friends who cheer for me and champion me relentlessly. I’m SO lucky!
All I’ve ever wanted to do is a fun job where I can bring joy and an equal playing field to everyone else too.
Honestly, not one day in my life has felt like work. After all , I do for work, (TV, film, music), what most people call fun!
Working in the Creative Arts and the Entertainment industry, has been so unbelievable for a girl like me from a background like mine.
The most motivating and satisfying part of my job has always been to watch a younger trainee, go from being unsure about what they want to do with their lives, to catching a sudden spark of passion and running with it to be successful in their future career.
There’s nothing I like better than to watch juniors that I have trained and mentored become leaders themselves.
My colleagues at every company that I have worked for will testify that I applaud with delight and scream with excitement, every time I see a name of someone I have mentored, pop up on a TV credit list or watch them go on to win Awards and become successful themselves.
I hope they will always remember that there are good people in life who will help them with their aspirations and that they unapologetically deserve the finest things in life too.
I hope those whom I train and mentor who go on to have success themselves will continue paying it forward to others so that our society becomes an exciting, more positive place for our future young people.
There’s nothing so powerful, motivating or satisfying as being the change that we want to see in the world. Being an activist is empowering!
We should all want to take action and make change for our wider society to be its best so that we ALL thrive!
The slightly sad thing is this would have meant so much to my dad if he was still alive. So if there is anything like an afterlife where parents can view life on Earth, I hope that he is pleased by this moment.
Finally, a heartfelt thanks to my secret angels who spent copious time and energy nominating me and writing letters to make this happen!
I’m going to hunt you all down, take you for a fabulous lunch and hug you long and hard until you’re breathless!
Yesterday evening saw many of the Black British women across decades who are mostly unknown, uncredited, and responsible for so much music industry success behind the scenes, unite to watch the screening of Queens of Music which airs on BET UK.
Episode 1- 12th December
Episode 2- 19th December
A beautiful story of camaraderie & sisterhood in the music industry
The history, memories, battles,…it’s a must watch this fortnight!
Black women have often been whitewashed out of the picture, and denied their credit and flowers whilst in their roles.
This TV show shows the incredible legacy and impact that they have had not only on the British music industry, but also on each other as comrades, unifying and lifting each other up when times have been tough.
It was heartwarming and joyous to see my best friends and their peers receive their flowers.
The Celebration Gala in partnership with @centrepointuk and The Passage….
The Celebration Gala will take place at the @theo2london in September 2025, and will give people the opportunity to attend a once-in-a-lifetime concert Gala show celebration, with red carpet, and inclusive to everyone regardless of background.
The Celebration Gala will allow people from all walks of life, to experience a prestigious high-profile event.
This is “Entertainment with a purpose – because together – We can make a difference”. Together we can end youth homelessness!
Every 4 minutes a young person faces homelessness in the UK.
Young people facing homelessness are some of the most vulnerable people in our society.
Youth homelessness affects education and impacts an adult’s future life for years ahead.
1 in 52 young people are homeless in the UK.
Centerpoint is the UK’s leading young people’s homelessness charity. They support over $14,000 young people every year.
67% of young people who left Centerpoint in 2023 and 2024 have gone on to successfully live independently.
It was a truly magical evening, hosted by the BBC’s Chris Hollins, comedy by Dane Buckley, @danecomedian and music by @keleleroc Kel Le Roc and her incredible band had guests sprinting to the dancefloor.
The Celebration Gala is not a one-off event.
It will expand each year to include cities around the world to eventually create the greatest night of entertainment.
CARLA MARIE WILLIAMS (GIRLS I RATE), SAFIYA LAMBIE-KNIGHT (SPOTIFY), SHENIECE CHARWAY (GOOGLE), JACKIE DAVIDSON (JD MANAGEMENT), JASMINE DOTIWALA, MICHAEL EBODA (CEO FOUNDER POWERFUL MEDIA)
I was honoured to be invited for the first time, to the 2024 Powerlist Celebration of Black Excellence Awards at the JW Marriot, Grosvenor House Hotel, where a glittering ballroom of successful, influential, powerful people united to celebrate this years list of Britain’s most influential men and women of African, African Caribbean and African American heritage.
JASMINE DOTIWALA
The awards show gala and the Powerlist celebrates Black excellence, and recognises the U.K.’s most influential black professionals and entrepreneurs. The awards showcase the profound global impact of the Black community.
Amongst a spectacular set of people from various industries including business, leadership, innovation, purpose, arts, fashion, design, financial entrepreneurs, media, publishing, entertainment and sport, law and religion, public sector and third sector, science, medicine and engineering, technology, it was Dean Forbes who was named number 1 on this years list!
POWERLIST DIRECTOR OF EDITORIAL- ADENIKE ADENITIRE
Dean Forbes was twice homeless as a teenager before becoming a multimillionaire entrepreneur….hearing him relay his story and journey were inspiring- his wife and his mother clearly played a huge role in motivating his success.
DEAN FORBES- PIC CREDIT- GARRY CARBON
Publisher of the list – Michael Eboda- reminded us that even though some right-wing groups have been emboldened by the Supreme Court ruling in America, which have targeted diversity programs with terms such as ”DEI-didn’t earn it”- to undermine diversity efforts meaning that some organisations have scaled back their inclusion programs. This actually raises questions about their true commitment to diversity initiatives in the first place.
POWERLIST 2024 HOST TIM CAMPBELL
The Chief Exec Officer of JP Morgan – Filipo Gori- reminded us that by celebrating the voices and achievements of black leaders and innovators together as allies, we are all setting a new standard of excellence and paving the way for future generations to thrive.
The Powerlist, Director of Editorial – Adenike Adenitire- reminded us that in a world of uncertainty, it’s easy to delay action and wait for the right moment, but this year has proven that the moment is now, and that every person on the power list embodies the ethos of ”Carp Diem”- pushing boundaries, defying expectations and achieving remarkable things, not just for themselves, but for their communities and future generations.
The evening proved to be inspiring and made us reflect on our own journeys, and embrace the bold leaps of our past, as well as future ones that perhaps we’ve been considering.
The evening left me, feeling inspired, full of ambition, and a sense of reaching higher for ambition without boundaries.
WINCIE AND SOPHIA FROM PARAMOUNT WITH JASMINE
Thank you to the team at Paramount DEI (Wincie & Sophia), for inviting me and sharing with me that my allyship is everything.
I continue to learn everyday how to be a strong ally to the groups that I am not a part of. When to speak up, when to know which physical spaces i belong in, and where I don’t, when to connect others for greater success, unlearning things I thought I knew, holding myself accountable, when to be fearless and rigid in my allyship, when to be flexible, being on apologetic about my passion to bring about change, I know that ally ship is not a wishy washy decision.
Congratulations to the Powerful Media Team – an incredible event trailblazing for current and future generations!
JASMINE WITH MOBO FOUNDER KANYA KING AND BLACK WOMEN RISING FOUNDER LEANNE PERO
Black Women Rising UK offer culturally sensitive support, information, and advice for women of colour diagnosed with cancer.
JASMINE WITH KANYA KING AND MP DAWN BUTLER
The diagnosis, outcomes, and treatment for women of colour with cancer are significantly different to White counterparts. Due to cultural tattoos, fears, and more, black and brown experience a very different cancer journey.
JASMINE DOTIWALA AT BLACK WOMEN RISING GALA 2024
Black Women Rising UK highlight the challenges faced by women of colour with cancer, ensuring they feel seen, heard, and included in the UK wide cancer narrative. This is crucial for raising awareness within marginalised communities.
JASMINE WITH KANYA KING AND TV BROADCASTER BRENDA EMMANUS
Through their bespoke projects, events, and initiatives, they empower their patrons on their cancer journeys while educating healthcare providers and support services to offer appropriate cancer support.
KANYA KING, EMELI SANDE, DAWN BUTLER, JASMINE DOTIWALA
Tonight was emotional and empowering.
Emotional speeches by Dawn Butler and Liz Hurley.
Congratulations to @leanneperoofficial , Dawn Butler, @esteelauderuk and the wider team for a spectacular event for a life-changing cause.
Musical performances by: Emeli Sande D-S-ANCE AND Carroll Thompson
Do check out the @blackwomenrisinguk Page and do what you can to support their worthy work .
The TV and Creative Industries were shocked and saddened this week at the sudden passing of our beloved Simon Albury.
Many of you follow me because of my commitment to making the Creative Industries more inclusive for people from underrepresented backgrounds, and this man is one of the reasons I have had the courage to do that.
Simon was a unicorn and a man who was totally unique – the likes of whom I have never met before.
LOOK
You would spot him in a crowd– he was tall, handsome, had pure white hair, and rocked a cream or white suit with red framed spectacles.
His visual brand was recognised and respected, way before influencers on Instagram were creating personal visual brands.
In fact, Something I often teased him about in our early connecting days was ….From a very girly fashionista point of view, I always admired Simons courage when wearing head to toe cream and white suits with a snazzy colourful tie or cravat!!!…. he was a true, confident, effortless, style guru and I loved that about him! you never got the impression that simon was concerned about spilling coffee on his pristine white suit!
He just rolled like a carefree Don – a Maverick, a trailblazer and a mentor to so many of us.
ENERGY
His energy was endless….i cant even begin to imagine that at aged 80 I will still know and connect and party with the future TV leaders that way he did.
Simon could be a gentle, jovial giant, holding Court with his energy and his booming voice, that had people drawn to his magnetic charm……
Yet he could also be a challenging adversary who would stand up for anyone and hold power and establishment to account.
CONNECTION
I’m sure I won’t be alone in saying this that Simon made so many of us feel like we were his special friend, he connected so many of us to each other, he reached out and commented on our social media posts , called and congratulated you when you were doing well , and invited you to fabulous events.
He was our personal cheerleader! – there are so many examples, but every time I’ve given evidence at the house of lords about the tv industry, he has shared the footage across the industry – and called me to say WELL DONE, and really made me feel valued and seen.
People like Simon who’ve had glittering careers and held positions of high esteem tend not to mix and frolic with the working class and juniors who can do nothing for them. But Simon turned that stereotype on the head for me. He was warm and welcoming, and couldn’t do enough to help people get ahead, progress, and connect so many of us.
Simon made so many of us, (hundreds in fact in the creative industries!), feel like we had an elder Yoda figure… a senior who had seen it all , and done it all, and could guide us in times of frustration or confusion.
So much of my contacts book and new friends exist because Simon thought to connect us because he thought we would enjoy each other’s energy. I also know that he connected people that he thought could be a force for change, and he knew that together we were stronger as a movement – not alone.
COURAGE Not once did I ever see Simon cower or flinch when he spoke to people from various different worlds- whether that be media, television, film, fashion, poetry,…. anyone from any generation could speak with Simon and he would form a new bond and connection with them…it was mesmerising to see him work a room.
Even outside of Media conversations, where we were holding authority to account to be more inclusive, Simon would go out of his way to invite me to ballet performances once he found out that I had been a ballet dancer in my early days.
LEGACY
I know that Simon would want us all to stay connected and keep his legacy alive by speaking up and standing up for inclusion, justice and diversity when it comes to race!
I know the spirit of his loud booming voice, with its deep base, and operatic timbre, will be something I remember forever and those of us who he impacted will invoke it to continue his work.
I hope that as well as having a huge celebration send off somewhere fabulous like Saint Paul’s cathedral, (because of course he was an MBE and that’s one of the benefits of having an honour!), I know that we will all ensure that there is a living /standing memorial of some sort …dedicated to his life’s work and kindness to others.
I send my heartfelt love, condolences, gratitude, and heartbreak in equal measures to Simons wife PHILLIDA and his son David….we will always hold both of you tight.
Thanks for sharing your husband and dad with us.
Simon – Thanks for being our champion and the best ally we could dream for.
REST IN ETERNAL POWER SIMON ALBURY!
P.S
(Thinking of Simon made me google him, and so much came up that I now want to talk to him about – like this Guardian piece …..what a legend!)
South Asian Heritage Month takes place from 18 July – 17 August annually, and celebrates South Asian history, culture, and community, in the UK.
This year’s South Asian heritage month theme was ”Free to be Me”.
There are approximately 5 million people of South Asian Heritage in the UK – South Asian communities form the biggest ethnic minority group in the UK, and we have been present in the UK since the 17th century. We make up 7.5 of the British population!
South Asians in the UK can come from countries like India, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bhutan, Bangladesh, Afghanistan, and more. However, most South Asians in the UK are Indian, followed by Pakistani, and Bangladeshi.
Yet there are so many more self Asian communities and religions existent on these shores.
I myself come from the Zoroastrian, Parsi community and religion. We were the original Persians before the Muslims took over and renamed the country Iran. My original Persian ancestors fled and migrated to various parts of the globe. My dad’s ancestors were in Kenya, East Africa, whilst my mum’s ancestors were welcomed to India.
Some scholars say that tenets of Zoroastrianism helped to shape the major Abrahamic religions—including Judaism, Christianity and Islam—through the influence of the Persian Empire.
This means I’ve had a lifetime explaining my ethnic status and identity repeatedly.
”Have you heard of Zoroastrians?”
NO
Freddie Mercury was a Zoroastrian.
Oh yes!
I’ve not often been included in Asian events because of this ambiguous identity status, but this year I won an award at the annual Asian Woman Of Achievement Awards, and since then I’ve been included in numerous Asian community events. My mum is ecstatic!
I was asked to be on a panel for SOUTH ASIAN HERITAGE MONTH for the HATs Group, which was brilliant as I was sat alongside Asian acting legend Nina Wadia (who is also Zoroastrian), as well as cricketer Monty Panesar.
NINA WADIA, MONTY PANESAR AND JASMINE DOTIWALA – SOUTH ASIAN HERITAGE MONTH PANEL FOR THE HATs GROUP
HATS group do incredible work transporting vulnerable people in the population across the UK, and their staff are always professional, courteous and trustworthy. I’ve experienced this firsthand when my own family members have been in hospital or needed medical assistance – so I ensured to tell all the staff gathered how much I personally appreciated them.
The evening included Bollywood singers, food, dancers, and us having a fun time celebrating being us!
Next I was invited to host a panel at Freemantle Television for their event celebrating South Asian Heritage Month the panel was with the team behind the heat series Defiance on Channel 4.
Defiance has three episodes showcasing the story of how from 1976 to 1981 Britain’s Asian community stood tall against far right violence and the rising tide of racist murders.
The series examines, how British Asians and immigrants were targeted with a campaign of violence and murder as the National front and extremist activity became increasingly prominent.
I was in conversation with the incredible Series Director Satiyesh Manoharajah, and brilliant Series Producer Anoop Pandhal.
SATIYESH, ANOOP & JASMINE
The series investigates events ranging from the Southall protests, to the death of Blair Peach, the battle for Brick Lane and the extraordinary story of the Bradford 12.
it was an evening of poetry comedy conversation food drinks and celebration of the South Asians in the TV industry as well as the South Asian stories across TV and film and included other South Asian stories from Britain’s film and television makers.
The two events that I attended mentioned above were brilliant and respected and acknowledged South Asian talent culture and celebrated us with ally’s and peers.
However, it would be remiss of me, not to mention that many companies totally ignore South Asian heritage month – we make up 7.5% of the country – double the black community who are at 3% – and when companies DID put on events, they were mostly woefully inadequate and don’t do them justice.
(I attended one event that hadn’t even been bothered to book a location and held the event in an open reception area, which was completely inappropriate for the function and they served a bowl of crisps olives and wine. Another event served that age old South Asian Cuisine recognised globally – chicken goujons and chips!)
Roll on South Asian Heritage Month 2025 – businesses better step up!
I spent many years when I was working at MTV and again reporting on music stories for Channel 4 News, SKY News, and beyond, thinking about why South Asians weren’t more prominent in the music charts and behind the scenes of the UK music industry.
Jasmine with Jay Sean
Is it because traditionally and culturally south Asian communities encourage their children not to work in the Arts, but to get serious careers like lawyers and doctors? After all, if a career in music is unstable for most people, why would any community actively encourage their young people to choose that career path? Is it simply because society doesn’t align Asians with the ‘’cool factor’’ that being a pop star requires?
Asian communities renowned focus on education tends to stereotype us in pop culture as being the IT nerds, or worse – simply offers us endless TV shows about cooking, Indian Railways, honour killings, arranged marriages and terrorism.
18th July – 17 August is South Asian Heritage Month.
South Asian Heritage Month launched in 2019, and yet five years down the line, most corporations have chosen to simply ignore its existence. However, I’ve noticed that this year there’s been a sudden flurry of activity as businesses attempt to arrange last minute South Asian Heritage Month events (after the month started!).
Jasmine with Naughty Boy
Can you imagine any other annual calendar staple recognising communities like International Women’s Day, Pride Month, or Black History Month events being arranged after the period has begun?
The lack of live events around South Asian Heritage Month, coupled with the fact that the ones that I’ve been to this year have been woefully awful, means things must improve. (One event enticed a small audience with the promise of ‘’drinks and snacks’’ then offered that global renowned South Asian delicacy of chicken goujons and chips).
How can Bollywood be one of the biggest arts industries in the world, with global audiences enjoying Asian sounds and music, and yet here in the UK, Asians in the music scene are practically invisible?
How can the South Asian community be the largest non-white community in this country and yet to be so woefully underrepresented in the music industry?
I rarely see Asians in the music landscape. According to this year’s UK Music Diversity Report, 7.6% of the UK music industry is Asian. Well, where are they? They are invisible. Are they being platformed on industry panels? Are they being considered for industry highlights lists? Are they being nominated for awards?
One of our most successful British Asian music acts – Jay Sean – had to leave the UK to become successful and reach his full potential. He achieved U.S chart success and broke American Music records that no other British had managed in the past, and yet even once he achieved those accolades, his accolades were ignored here in the UK. What message do you think that sends to younger Asian people interested in a career in music?
Are the British South Asian community allowed to be creative and create music?
How often over the years have tracks from names like Talvin Singh and Nitin Sawhney playlisted on radio stations A Lists, as opposed to relegating them to ‘’specialist’’ shows?
Are British ears, hearts and minds open to hearing music by Asian talent that’s not simply the stereotype of twanging sitars?
Is it the Asian culture or music industry that makes the two unattractive to each other?
Would M.I.A, Jay Sean, Naughty Boy and Steel Banglez make it in the UK music industry if they’d used their real names? Do South Asians exist at leadership levels in the UK music landscape?
Who are the prominent British South Asians in the music industry?
The industry more widely is waking up to the global rise of South Asian music.
Last year, Coachella was praised for its line-up which included Mercury Prize nominee Joy Crookes as well as Diljit Dosanjh, Ali Sethi, Jai Paul and Jai Wolf.
This year, Glastonbury had its first ever dedicated South Asian stage area featuring names like DJ Ritu, Anish Kumar, Manara and Nabihah Iqbal.
And yet, across the music industry platforms and brands who usually rush to create content and curate events around every other underrepresented community, has been woefully quiet when acknowledging South Asian Heritage Month. We see you.
I hope behind the scenes and backstage in music’s hallowed boardrooms, South Asian Heritage Month 2025 will step up.
It was an honour to join @wearecreativeuk Garden Party at Buckingham Palace in May.
We were lucky to have a beautifully warm sunny day with a stunning array of guests and celebrities who are leading the creative industries in the UK on the world stage.
Yet there were serious disscussions about the future of the industry and future proofing so many job roles and brands.
On the world stage our musicians actors, directors, producers, developers ,writers, designers, and shine are bright.
Arts funding is in decline. UK Orgs are fighting for survival-its time to secure our creative future.
With Creative Industry stars including Michelle Escoffery and Amanda Maxwell
The vision for Our Creative Future is that our world leading outputs from fashion,craft,video games, museums, heritage, visual Arts, advertising, film, TV, live performance are celebrated.
In 2023, the contribution of the creative Industries was 6% of the economy. We create jobs at three times the UK average rate employing 1.8 million people across the sector
With UK Music Industry Legend Mervyn Lyn and Music artist, Tech Ambassador Wyclef Jean
With the right investment & support the cultural & creative Industries can generate social & economic prosperity across the country.
Creative businesses generate £126bn for UK PLC & produce some of the most impactful entertaining & famous creative brands across the globe!
We need whoever is in power post general election to take this sector and its potential seriously.
With Tallawah CCEO Janay Marie Davis and Clara Amfo
We believe that the future economy is a creative economy. It’s crucial that our next UK government shares this vision.
With Angellica Bell
Thanks to @mervynal and Caroline Norbury @wearecreativeuk for a fabulous afternoon in the sunshine to celebrate the creative Industries
With MOBO CEO Kanya King
OH ….AND IF YOU GET THIS FAR IN READING MY POST THEN KNOW THAT EVERYBODY SEEMED TO HAVE SPOTTED ME HAVING A CHAT AND A HANDSHAKE WITH KING CHARLES , BUT NOT ONE OF MY BLOODY FRIENDS THOUGHT TO CAPTURE IT ON CAMERA OR FILM AS I DID FOR THEIRS ……TYPICAL!
With Creative UK CEO Caroline Norbury and Music Industry legend Mervyn Lyn
I really can’t Believe this! -how did this happen!?
The other nominees in my category are f*”*$#@ incredible achievers!
Salute to my fellow nominees Perminder Mann, Tasnim Nazeer and Lalita Taylor.
Asian women are such a confusing brand.
The world thinks that we are submissive, obedient, and apologetic.
In workspaces we can feel invisible.
We are always stereotyped in TV story lines and in movies , where we are seen as ‘’the women who come from the world of arranged marriages….oh… and rejection …because our parents apparently all favoured boys’’….and on and on and on it goes…
.. and yet …when i looked around the room last night ….all I saw were stunningly smart, resilient, tenacious,stunningly beautiful, and stunningly fabulous Asian women, achieving in so many different worlds and landscapes!
How proud I felt to be standing amongst them all!
(Also total major imposter syndrome…there were ferociously successful game changes everywhere from science, to medicine, to humanitarian and more!)
BUT TRULY- (and I’M SURE MANY OF US FEEL LIKE THIS)… anytime ANYONE WHO LOOKS LIKE US… is publicly recognised….and shortlisted for an award …and gets to stand here as a winner …..we are all seen…and we all win!
My earliest memory of feeling this way was watching television as a child and seeing Moira Stuart present the news and Uhara on Star Trek.
They made me feel seen.
When I see other women winning, I want to align myself with them… After all you are the average of the five people you spend the most time with.
I love shining a light on, cheering for, and mentioning great women’s names in rooms where they are not present. I am extremely lucky that I also have friends and peers that do the same for me.
Asian communities are so vast and varied… with different languages, traditions, cultures, and communities, but i have to keep it real….
· we are often more segregated than other communities
· we are often isolated and competitive in ways that both benefit us… and do not benefit us.
For example, When I was a child at first school , an older Asian parent told me that I couldn’t play with their kids after school as I am from the Zoroastrian community and therefore ‘’not a real Asian’’….and that moment has never left me.
Similarly when I became the first Asian woman on British TV to host a primetime Channel 4 entertainment show, then at MTV for many years… some people in the Asian community made my family feel 2nd class… my mum and dad were mocked ..(i think entertainment jobs are akin to being worthless back then).
And so my whole life.. I’ve subconsciously felt like an outsider …and unable to verbalize my attachment and connections to the wider Asian community.
However times change, and since being nominated for this award and meeting the other nominees at the judging day, I have really felt a sense of community and unity.
The thing I’m most excited about is that there will now be a WhatsApp group with all the Asian Women of Achievement winners, which means I have a vast landscape of incredible women to look at, connect with, and share more opportunities with.
Last but definitely not least- this moment couldn’t be complete without me thanking my own Asian woman of achievement- thanks to my mum- ROSHAN DOTIWALA- who is my personal hero!
With more love, congratulations… and more success to all the shortlisted nominees and winners.
Thank you so much Shernaz Engineer for nominating me. (Shernaz is a trail blazer from the Zoroastrian community who galvanizes and cheerleads so many younger people. The royalty, mayors , and politicians in the room last night were all clearly in awe of her energy and spirit.
Thanks for being a woman who fights to shine a light on other women.
Also, thanks to Mary Martin AGAIN for always allowing me to wear something with some magical va-va-voom!
I’m not traditional or meek in my personality and Mary always rustles up something fun and theatrical for me to reflect that.
( I know you music industry lot already saw this wonderful dress by Couture Designer Mary Martin at the BRITs earlier this year, but as I had so much fun swishing about in it I wanted to take it out for a second date!).
They say never meet your heroes because you’ll be let down, but this past month I met one of my heroes, and she was not a let down …in fact, she was wonderful!
When I got my first job at Channel 4 in the late 90s as a presenter, I would end up in hotel rooms by myself all over the world, and similarly my next job as an MTV presenter/ producer /and director saw me in hotel rooms across different continents, and each time I would be in a hotel room looking for the English-speaking channel I would land on CNN where Christiane Amanpour would be holding court speaking to and holding world leaders to account- and mesmerizing me with her authority, slickness, grace and style.
Anyone who’s ever travels a lot for work knows who this woman is and adores her!
(She didn’t know it but she was like my traveling buddy bestie across the globe)…I did tell her that as I fan-girled her.
Seeing a fellow Persian woman on a global TV channel ,doing what she did, speaking to everyone from global leaders to movie stars and more, made me feel seen, and made me acknowledge that there were role models out there for me, who belonged in the TV industry, and she STILL continues doing an incredible job killing it on global telly today!
One of her slogans is ” I insist on being truthful, not neutral”, …. that really resonated with me. She has won multiple global awards – and every single one so well deserved! The page below is just one of MANY PAGES!
I was lucky enough to be invited over to NAVROZE lunch at a friend’s home last month and……. Christiane was at the lunch!…. and she was as warm, kind, curious, and even more wonderful than I could have hoped that she would be in real life.
Thank you so much Ben De Pear and Leila for inviting me and Shappi Khorsandi to yours…. we had so much fun! Amazing company, delicious food, fun conversation, a beautiful family, the cutest dog, a beautiful afternoon….
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.
Semtex is a world-class DJ, producer , broadcaster, radio hero, live event crowd King , and celebrated author.
DJ Semtex has had a fascinating life as a witness and participant and front seat on the journey of Hip-Hop.
His book shows and proves that he is in the DNA of hip hop culture, cosigned by the culture, and this book is made for the culture.
He was honest, authentic, open, vulnerable, confident, and an entertaining interviewee… which is what every host curator dreams of. 🏆
The audience feedback afterwards was marvellous. 👏🏽
Thank you to the Sony/ Orchard teams for their support and to @cookiepryce for recommending me 🙏🏽
Thank you to Semtex and the audience for trusting me with this very important conversation.
Hip Hop Raised Us All!
* If you’re looking for an incredible Christmas gift for any of your loved ones who might be music or hip hop fans I can’t recommend this book enough- it’s totally incredible! ⭐ The book is both a love letter to Hip Hop, as well as a definitive charting of its story over the years, with incredible album covers , infographics, notable moments, beefs, influence diagrams, and of course Sentex’s own journey within Hip Hop.
The introduction chapter is written by Public Enemy legend Chuck D, and artists like Baby from Cash Money, Ghostface Killer , and Jay-Z all have and love the book!
My friend and former BBC RADIO LONDON colleague LionHeart partnered with the Royal Albert Hall to host the Hall’s first dinner in celebration of black and brown excellence.
LIONHEART
It was very exciting for me as it’s my favourite live venue to watch film, music, dance, and more creative arts in the world. It’s accessible to everyone. The staff are always lovely and welcoming and it never loses its magical sheen of luxury and magic.
We had the whole of the Royal Albert Hall to ourselves!
Beyonce is one of one…….Here, we were one of twenty one guests invited to dine.
My fellow guests included actors Adoah Andoh, David Ajala, Simon FrederickRichard Pascoe Sharlotte Ritchie, , Andi from YouTube, and other incredible high achievers in their fields of fashion, music and more.
This night was about recognising and championing 21 people, with a night of exquisite catering, conversation and a warm candid speech from the Hall’s Associate Artist LionHeart.
It was very special.
Llionheart is a Multi-Disciplinary Artist, Poet, Visionary Director, but what makes him stand out is he has HEART! A huge clean, celebratory heart that is open, champions everyone he meets and connects with and that makes him PRICELESS.
People are magnetically drawn to his energy and when he brought together a group of us at the Royal Albert Hall to celebrate Black & Brown Excellence, it was a night of magical company, conversation and creative gastronomical opulence.
The food by chef @kerth.gumbs was out of this world works of art…..I am still dreaming of the mouthwatering delicacies and food experience which included a feast finished with frothing volcanos!
Lionheart brought together people who celebrated heart, people who find joy and motivation in helping others win.
Often, transactional business buddies fade away…. In Lionheart’s squad, people become family and cheer for each other even when they’re not in the same room.
It made sense that we were brought together at the best live performance venue in the world, who are warm, welcoming and inclusive to every member of society – with inclusion and equity for all at the heart of their experience.
Thanks to the Royal Albert Hall team – Sara Jane Power, Matt Todd, Darranda, Davina, and the excellent backstage teams – standing ovation to you all!
Yesterday I was invited back to my MTV building where I spent 12 years of my career working. It was one of the best times of my life.
I started at MTV News as a presenter MTV International in 1997, quickly moving to producer director and then across to MTV UK where I headed up MTV Base production until 2009.
Working at MTV in Camden in London has been one of the most fun chapters of my life and led to some incredible adventures across the globe with some of the world’s most prolific music and entertainment talent.
As a progressive American business, MTV were always ahead of the curve when it came to any conversations around inclusivity and diversity.
In fact I was on the MTV diversity committee when I started in television way back in 1997!
RICHARD PASCOE, JASMINE DOTIWALA, JODIE DALMEDA, COOKIE PRYCE, JAY DAVIDSON, JARREN DALMEDA, NORMSKI, AJ SLAYER
Every year now for the past 6 years MTV has an annual inclusion week that is global for Paramount staff.
It’s an opportunity for MTV staff around the globe to come together and listen to voices that are often marginalised.
I was invited back to MTV yesterday by the head of diversity Wincie Knight and Sophia Lee, to curate and host a panel around the 50th anniversary of hip-hop, and where hip hop culture intersects with and has impacted British culture.
The diversity team worked with me to curate a long list and then a short list of panelists who have helped shape curate and document British Hip Hop culture.
When it comes to Hip Hop, often the earliest originators and voices are not given their credit.
Ultimately, we had a stellar panel of critical expert thought leaders and voices, who could dissect and debate the conversation about how Hip-Hop culture has impacted British culture.
I wanted to respect and honor the Paramount office of Global Inclusions vision for ensuring that no voices are marginalised.
When Hip Hop shines today, it rarely shines a light on the original get fresh crew.
So we ensured we chose four important and topically relevant names.
1.
Cookie Pryce. Someone who was one half of the first UK hip hop artist outfit Cookie Crew, and now continues to work in the industry and is next month receiving a lifetime legacy award from the Artist and Managers Awards. How amazing is that!
2.
Normski, someone who was a part of the fabric of Hip Hop in the 80’s, presenting his show Dance Energy and documenting via his incredible photography the culture for the past five decades. His new book just released is titled the Man with the Golden Shutter. It captures the essence of UK Hip Hop. Go check that out!
3.
Jonzi D. Someone who is one of the original B Boys dancers and rappers and is currently a resident artist at Sadler’s Wells Theatre, who with his annual Hip Hop theatre festival titled Breakin’ Convention has done single-handedly more for hip hop dance culture in this country than anyone I know. In January he launches his Hip Hop Theatre Academy at the Olympic Park. We must all support that!
4.
Neef. A younger journalist who documents the stories of younger Hip-Hop culture stars like Skepta, Dave, Giggs, Little Sims and Burna Boy. He has a new book being released to this January titled Where We Come From which is an incredible look at Hip Hop and rap genres across the UK Nations and regions and the stories of Caribbean and African families who came here. I’ve read it. It’s brilliant!
It was a powerful hours conversation live from the MTV studios in Camden to the Paramount staff globally across New York, LA and Latin America.
It clearly showed and proved how Hip-Hop culture has shaped our lives and the way we think, speak, dress, dance, listen, move, and our attitude.
Hip Hop culture has given a voice to the voiceless and shaped so much of what our society is today.
All our love and respect goes to the musicians, their teams, the media platforms, the radio DJs, the party DJs, the TV producers, the live events teams, music journalists, those who capture and championed the music and culture relentlessly, and of course the music lovers!
Congratulations to Hip Hop cultural tribes everywhere on 50 years of smashing it!
Thank you to The Office of Global Inclusion at Paramount
Thanks to Funny Hands TV for the brilliant slick tech.
Thanks to Chris & Rob at Paramount Tech Team.
Thanks to Stefon Grant from the REFRAME PROJECT at the South Bank Centre
Thanks to my best friend Roderick Arnold for sitting at my unwell mothers bedside in hospital so that I could get away to do this.
JASMINE WITH MEMBERS OF THE AUDIENCE AT THE WORLD ZOROASTRIAN YOUTH CONGRESS
The 8th World Zoroastrian Youth Congress took place in London this week, from July 21st – 26th 2023. It was last held in London 27 years ago.
There were numerous panels, sessions, key-note speeches and socials about young Zoroastrians and their future.
Young Zoroastrians from all over the globe flew in from over 15 different countries.
The congress across six days hosted panels, seminars, thought sessions about the future of the community, interfaith marriage, mental health, anti-normative career choices.
JASMINE WITH HER ”ZOROASTRIANS IN THE MEDIA” PANEL. (L-R) TANYA HOSHI, AVA PATEL, JASMINE DOTIWALA AND SHREAS PARDIWALA
Zoroastrian facts of interest:
Zoroastrianism is the world’s oldest monotheistic faith.
The most famous Zoroastrian is Freddie mercury (Freddie Balsara), and even though the world knows his name they know nothing about his community / culture.
Zoroastrians are mistakenly known as ‘’fire-worshippers as we have an eternal fire that burns in our places of worship.
The 3 wise men in the Christmas story were Zoroastrians.
We famously also used the cycle of life theory to bury our dead in the past. (sky burials). In the past, when we died, vultures would eat the body (returned to nature),after the religious ceremony and we thought this was a healthy positive human/animal/earth cycle of life. This has now died out, as there are no vultures.
We occupied Iran when it was called Persia. When the Muslims took over, Zoroastrians fled across the world as refugees. Our ancestors were refugees in India and the generosity of King Rana helped us to succeed.
Zoroastrianism is older than Islam and Christianity and numerous other cultures have been influence by Zoroastrian inventions, education, symbolism and more. (Especially our very own British royal family and the freemasons)
Like the Jewish community, we must be born into the religion, but unlike the Jewish rule which dictates birth by Jewish mother, Zoroastrians can only be accepted in a mixed faith marriage if the father is Zoroastrian.
As you can’t convert into the religion, one day it will totally die out. We are the smallest underrepresented community in the world.
Famous British Zoroastrians include …Freddie Mercury, Celebrity chef Cyrus Todiwala, actress Nina Wadia, Lord Bilimoria, BBC News ‘ Matthew Amroliwala.
I was asked to be on two panels. One about Zoroastrians working in the media, and another more informal, interactive Ask Me Anything session.
JASMINE WITH INDIAS BOLLYWOOD COMEDY ACTOR- SHREAS PARDIWALA
In attendance were young Zoroastrians from over 15 various countries, with so many of them already achieving brilliant accolades across various industries.
What a great couple of panels at the World Zoroastrian Youth Congress I was honoured to take part in.
So many young Zoroastrians from over 15 countries and all so smart, funny, dynamic and hot! There were around 500 people in the room, even after partying until 5am! Impressive
It was so good to see young people from my community globally achieving so much.
Who knew we were this talented?
There were some great speakers and questions.
Below are just a handful of interesting attendees I heard about who would make brilliant stories.
1. Ruzbeh Hodiwala – from India/ studying in the UK Ruzbeh Hodiwala is a Zoroastrian scholar at SOAS who has conducted extensive research and delivered numerous speeches on Neo Zoroastrians (Converts) and the future of the religion.
Angle: Focus on the dwindling population and reduced acceptance of converts.
2. Natalie & Nicole Kanga – are from the USA Natalie and Nicole Kanga are sisters from an interfaith marriage. Both have played instrumental roles in their local Zoroastrian communities, organizing events and delivering speeches. Natalie spoke on the headliner panel about ‘Relationships’ and the future of the community. Natalie works at a mental health startup, while Nicole is in project management. Both are fantastic advocates for the community, speak very well, and continuously work to promote acceptance and inclusivity within the faith.
Angle: Focus on relationships, inter-faith marriage and the identity of youth who have grown up in inter-faith households. Promote acceptance and how coming together can even be our superpower. This is also a theme that may resonate with other South Asian communities.
3. Shreas Pardiwala – is from India Shreas Pardiwala is a Bollywood actor and psychologist from Bombay and clearly extremely popular with an infectious, addictive personality – the audience adored him!. This was his first time at the congress, and he spoke on multiple topics, including Zoroastrians in the media, and mental health. He is very comfortable in front of the camera and obviously a star.
Angle: Focus on Zoroastrians breaking out of ‘normative’ careers and into creative pursuits.
4. Parshan Koshravi – from both the USA & Iran Parshan Koshravi is a young democrat from California and the 7th World Zoroastrian Youth Congress Chair. He gave a talk on Zoroastrians in public life. His unique and interesting journey is worth following, especially as there were a few panels focused on the role of Zoroastrians and human rights, which connects back to our heritage with the Cyrus cylinder.
Angle: Focus on his political career and his pursuit to embody values of good thoughts, words and deeds to develop communities of good. Much of his political work surrounds human rights.
5. Ayesha Billimoria -is from India Ayesha Billimoria is an athlete who was once the fastest woman in India. She is considered one of India’s most successful athletes. Ayesha gave a talk at the Congress and also runs a social enterprise where she promotes young South Asian girls’ involvement in sports.
Angle: Similar to Shreas, Ayesha is breaking out of that ‘normative’ career, really embodying the value that Zoroastrian girls can live for themselves and empowering those around her.
The whole congress was organised and led by the young Zoroastrians in the UK
The Zoroastrian faith, which has endured for over 3500 years, carries a profound message of Good Thoughts, Good Words, and Good Deeds. In a world increasingly divided, with a current population of only around 200,000, it is crucial to gather the next generation to ensure the survival and development of this ancient religion. The 8WZYC aims to host a variety of speaker sessions, workshops and social events to foster diversity and inclusion within the Zoroastrian community.
The congress reignited connections by inspiring young Zoroastrians to address the challenges of dwindling numbers and leverage their diverse population. Over 70 distinguished speakers shared insights on various topics, including inter-faith marriage, LGBTQ+ relationships, conversion, and the achievements of young Zoroastrians in media, arts, and sports.
In addition to the enriching sessions, evening events provided a platform for the youth to network, engage, and explore different aspects of their identity. Attendees had the opportunity to experience Persian dancing and instrumental performances, fostering connections that transcend borders and amplify the global voice of Zoroastrianism.
Key Themes at the congress were:
1. Religious Education & Identity – This theme will provide delegates with insights into the rich history of Zoroastrianism and how it relates to their current values, behaviour, and overall identity.
2. Social Responsibility – This theme will address a range of issues, from sustainability to human rights, and explore the role that young Zoroastrians can play in tackling these challenges.
3. Networking and Opportunities – This theme will highlight career pathways in media, entrepreneurship, design and more, as well as opportunities to network and create lasting connections with others.
JASMINE DOTIWALA AT THE RADISON BLU HOTEL WHERE MOST OF THE WORLD ZOROASTRIAN YOUTH CONGRESS WAS HELD
Hashtag: #ZoroYouthCongress
Thank you to the young London based team who coordinated an incredible lineup of speakers. Stay connected!
From gang leaders to social entrepreneurs to Corporate CEO’s.
Everyone, at some point, will be hit by uncertainty that will bring you to your knees.
This month, I learned how to Identify the feeling of fear, fog and stasis in your body.
Because the more you can identify fear – the better you can cope with it.
Here’s how my journey started.
In the UK, it feels like we’ve had a decade of stress.
Starting with the Brexit vote, then a world of Trump and Johnson kick-started culture wars, culminating in the covid pandemic which was the pinnacle of uncertainty in our lives.
Since then, we’ve had the cost-of-living crisis, and nothing in this country seems to work anymore, our industries are on their knees and the quitting culture is dominant.
There seems to be no let-up in the weight piling onto our shoulders and minds.
Never in my life have things felt so uncertain and unpredictable.
In fact, that word UNCERTAIN has cropped up in every area of people’s lives.
In our careers, the threat of A.I, relationships, the work- life balance, health, home, security, stability…..
Everywhere I look, people are being paralysed by self-doubt and a lack of direction.
People are yearning for trusted leadership, to be empowered, to gain confidence and direction. To live their best lives, to thrive, not simply survive.
UNCERTAINTY EXPERTS
A few months ago, an old friend Sam Conniff – a former colleague and someone I’d worked with in my MTV days – reached out to me explaining that he had set up a program around uncertainty. Many corporate businesses have been sending teams to try it out – including Netflix, Apple, Nike and Nestle, and Sam invited me to try it out.
It’s a set of online sessions both live and pre-recorded for five hours in total.
(Truth be told, I love self-reflecting workshops that help us understand who we are and why we behave the way we do. In my next lifetime I may retain as a psychologist!)
Also, I knew that anything Sam had put his hand to would be progressive, provocative, pirate and risky. I’d worked with him in my MTV days on the ground-breaking Dubplate Drama which was the world’s first interactive digital and on-air drama.
Sam is a rule-breaker who challenges the status quo, and with his partner – Lead Scientist Katherine Templar-Lewis – they’d developed another ground-breaking way at looking at life’s uncertainties and making our world better.
So whilst I’d been hearing about the UNCERTAINTY EXPERTS PROGRAMME for months and was dying to try it, I just hadn’t been able to get the time to partake.
Then suddenly various stable areas in my life became unstable.
For the first time in my life, things were totally out of my control and my day-to-day activity depended on other people and the universe. I was living every day minute by minute with no stability or certainty.
I needed assurance that I was able to power through this chapter with resilience and I knew the time had come for me to find the time and accept Sam’s invitation.
I reached out to Sam explaining my current ‘wading through treacle’ chapter, and he replied with the most gracious, warm, welcoming email inviting me to join the next cohort of UNCERTAIN people.
The UNCERTAINTY EXPERTS programme’s purpose was to transform our uncertainty from a negative to a positive.
To understand the science and story of turning uncertainty into opportunity.
‘’The Uncertainty Experts programme brings together psychology, neuroscience, CBT, empathy design and emerging technologies to create a show like no other, an evidence-based intervention into Uncertainty’’.
Uncertainty Experts is a unique and transformative personal development experience bringing together neuroscientists from UCL to create the world’s first interactive documentary scientifically proven to increase Uncertainty Tolerance.
The live sessions are led by the two Uncertainty Experts Sam and Katherine. The pre-recorded sessions include a set of incredible people who have overcome adversity.
The episodes are exciting, well shot, dynamic, futuristic, engaging and gripping. (Not surprising then to learn that they are created by Netflix producers).
To make the positive change we would take a journey of two self-assessments and watch three masterclass episodes with complimentary extra episodes. That’s it.
UNCERTAINTY EXPERTS IN ACTION
So here we were on the programmes launch night, where I met 20 of my other uncertainty colleagues – my squad – my uncertainty crew- and we were talked through the different chapters of uncertainty, why people want to be certain and how this program would help us deal with areas like fear, fog, and stasis.
Once the launch was over, we’d unlocked our online pre-assessment.
Feeling excited and slightly nervous, yet curious and excited about what this pre-assessment would be like, I dived in.
It involved some multiple-choice questions about how we felt about different areas of our lives.
It also included a fun jeopardy-style game blowing up balloons via your laptop keyboard – but tap that space bar too many times and the balloons could explode and you lose all your accumulated points! (I’m hard wired to be competitive and win so this was a moment of jeopardy!)
The aim was to gain the highest score, but as there was no logical gameplay involved it truly was down to a ‘’whatever’’ attitude. All so uncertain and anxiety inducing!
How did it make us feel? On self-reflection, it was silly to get worried about something that was totally out of our control. The lesson was learned. Sometimes you just have to let life lead you, take some risks, shrug it off if they don’t succeed and keep it moving.
After the pre-assessment we had unlocked the first episodes about FEAR, FOG & STASIS that we could watch, and the first episode was about fear. In this section of the programme, various uncertainty experts talk to us through their experiences of Fear. their journey and overcoming it.
During the episode titled fear we learnt about how to make our fight or flight response step down, and step more into our resting and digesting energy, we also learned how to be grateful.
This masterclass was full of all the F Words. Fight, flight, fear, fawn, freeze, fold, f*&*!
The session broke down the science of why we crave certainty, and what happens to our brains when we lose it. I learned how to flow like water and pivot to meet uncertainty, rather than fight it. It was clear that this would lead to less anxiety, and more joy and contentment. If I can only learn to acknowledge and embrace it moving forward!
We were asked to find an object that we were grateful for. It’s not the most sentimental object, but I am grateful for my phone. It allows me to live an empowered life via communication, safety, knowledge, memories and more.
We were asked to silently talk to it for 30 seconds and tell it about all the things I was grateful for it for. The experts showed us how emotions like gratitude create a dopamine hit in our brains. So as a group we all had a unified dopamine hit together. ‘’Group drugs’’ defined differently. LOL
INTEROCEPTION
The pre-recorded uncertainty experts’ stories were fascinating and humbling. A group of people who truly embraced the uncertainty in their circumstances to push through to ultimate success and breakthrough. These people included:
MORGAN GODVIN – A young woman who went to prison accused of her best friend’s death and managed to stay positive during her imprisonment leaning into the gratitude and empathy she had for her daily blessings
MARK DEMPSTER – a former Glaswegian smuggler who is now a trauma specialist and works in Harley Street with politicians around anxiety and addiction
KARL LOKKO – A former gang member one of the most notorious Gang members in London who is now runs a black business incubator and is an entrepreneur
(See the full set at Uncertainty Experts website)
We learnt about Safety behaviour, which are the negative things that we do when we are anxious scared or angry. We might be aggressive, swear, shout, overeat, drink too much, take drugs…..
As soon as you recognise ‘’safety behaviour’’, we can stop it. (Mine are working out, keeping busy, eating, and …enlightening moment….having a slight ‘’saviour complex’’. I realised I try and help others save themselves, so I don’t have to save myself!
IMPOSTER SYNDROME IS A MINOR UNCERTAINTY
I loved the exercise where we were asked to make a list of things that we do within our comfort zone, and then other activities in our ‘’stretch zone’’. We made small steps to get fully into our stretch zone, so that in a few months, when we look back in retrospect, all the things in our stretch zone, would be in our comfort zone, making room for more new things in my stretch zone! Make sense? I found this exercise incredibly exciting!
What else could I do to stretch myself?
I learned that there’s something about uncertainty that boosts your productiveness and your consciousness.
We were shown that research from Harvard University shows that uncertainty and anxiety put the brain in a top state for learning and growth.
UNCERTAINTY EXPERTS’ SUMMARY
I like to think that I have a high resilience and tolerance for challenges. This programme helped me understand the tools and emotional mental ride we experience when things are not in our control.
It highlighted why a welcoming embrace of uncertainty is critical.
One lesson leapt out at me:
A high tolerance level enables you to live your best life, meet new people and have a socially active happy life.
Low uncertainty levels lead to us being more susceptible to populism and conspiracy theories.
The course enabled me to recognise my own accomplishments. (Even writing that last sentence made me cringe). I recognised that I HAVE MOVED THE DIAL! I HAVE CONTRIBUTED TO PEOPLE’S SUCCESS. (Still cringing!)
So next time you have a fear around uncertainty or fear of something happening, think about the missed opportunity… what opportunity will you miss that you may come to regret?
Grip the fear with both hands and leap forward through the journey.
It reminded me of a quote I have on my fridge magnet. ‘’ Fate whispers to the warrior “You cannot withstand the storm” and the warrior whispers back “I am the storm”.
At the final assessment and graduation ceremony, we learned that as a group we scored high on bravery and resilience, but low on decisiveness.
It made us realise that Connection is the way out. Connection to people, places, and conversations will always make us more resilient.
The programme was a journey I appreciate for many reasons. The sessions and timings made it easy to take part even if you’re mega busy as there are various time and date options. There are numerous reading materials and videos all collated and shared. They make it easy to recognise positive and negative habit forming.
Everything about the way society works makes us demand control and certainty, so this course made me realise it’s ok to simply lean in and embrace uncertainty. I thought I was already resilient and i think this course made me shrug and say ‘’ok so I don’t know what’s next and i can’t control it- but whatever happens, happens and I’ll be the best I can with what I have’’.
I encourage you to check out the UncertaintyExperts.com site and try out their quick free resilience tests. Go on! Be curious….
We can all thrive in uncertain times……if we can learn to consistently explore the benefits of uncertainty.
It’s been a busy month for hosting panels in the media industry.
This fortnight I curated an RTS Futures session with people across the UK titled NEW VOICES AND STORIES IN DOCUMENTARIES. (Watch video at the bottom of this page).
In 2023, TV commissioners and viewers are more attracted to stories from real people across the UK, in their authentic voices- than ever!
I am lucky enough to know and brought together some brilliant names who have been bringing award-winning insightful, provocative content to diverse British TV audiences this past year.
We heard how they persuade new voices to reveal, share and preserve their unique- very personal – stories with the world. We were able to step into the shoes of the commissioners and producers who give us access to other people’s most life changing moments and heard how they source the subjects and stories, make the approaches, gain trust and access, and of course understood why it was important to tell those stories.
We heard from the teams behind THE RTS award- winning documentary THE EVOLUTION OF BLACK BRITISH MUSIC (BET UK), and the team behind Channel 4’s Youth News Strand UNTOLD – which has produced some dynamic shows about Incels, YouTubers, and reality show stars.
It takes dynamic, forward-thinkig people who are unafraid to push boundaries to make great content that shines a light on under-represented communities.
JASMINE HOSTING THE ‘ASK ME ANYTHING’ SESSION AT THE BE YOU FESTIVAL FOR SOHO MEDIA CLUB
There were so many great panels and speakers at the #BeYouFestival at @OuternetGlobal on July 13.
I really enjoyed chairing the ASK ME ANYTHING session with TV industry stars Fatima Salaria, Melvin Odoom and Mobeen Azhar – three incredibly talented people who have made it in their respective lanes by using sheer grit, tenacity, resilience and of course TALENT!
Fatima Salaria, Jasmine Dotiwala, Melvin Odoom and Mobeen Azhar
It was an opportunity for anyone, from industry veterans to new and rising talent to hear our industry experts share their personal career stories, and then ask the panel for advice on navigating the industry, overcoming obstacles and making it.
We covered areas that the panel found difficult at the start of their career, the one thing that progressed their career from mid to senior levels, to what they owed their success, the gaps they see which new entrants to our TV world should master, best TV hacks, best TV personalities for various genres, and an example of a time that they failed and what they learned from that experience.
JASMINE WITH FESTIVAL HOST MUKI KULHAN AND FELLOW PANEL HOST RIA HEBDEN
We crammed in LOADS of insight with great questions from the audience!
Thanks to all who attended, the rest of the Advisory Committee, many of you who have said such kind things about enjoying the sessions, and the founders of SOHO MEDIA FESTIVAL Jaisica Lapsiwala and Tomasz Witkowski for curating a busy, fun, interactive day full of a very diverse audience.
Follow
