Photo Credits: Cristian Dina from Pexels
This series is all about diverse entrepreneurship, but Jelly Social has a different and broader definition of diversity, one that highlights the uniqueness of individuals. To us, there are two forms of diversity to us: inherit diversity (age, gender, race) and acquired diversity (education, knowledge, skills, experience, values). Using inherited and acquired diversity can help us to realize all the different ways we are diverse. This week, we are talking to expert Rida Dar on her journey as a diverse entrepreneur!
What makes Rida Diverse?
As a diverse entrepreneur, shed some light on yourself, the work you’re doing and maybe some of the things that make you diverse!
I come from a South Asian background being from Pakistan, I’m Muslim, and I also immigrated here so I feel that I am not Canadian at times despite being an official citizen. I’m a woman of colour and a mother which adds a lot to my buckets of diversity. Even though I was born in an age with a lot of issues with diversity, I’m lucky enough to have not faced any major issues because of my diversity. I never felt singled out or put in a bracket when I applied for a job which is something that not many can relate to.
My profession started with social media marketing when I realized my love for having my own entrepreneurial journey, while my influencer background came from my enjoyment of the teaching I have been doing for a while. We try to put ourselves in a small role with our talents and interest focused on one thing when we first start out, but we don’t realize how many different things we can take on. For example, I really enjoy teaching but that doesn’t mean that teaching is the only thing I am good at or meant to do, just like how I enjoy designing despite it being a small part of what I do as an entrepreneur or influencer. I consider myself a social media strategist because I kept adding different roles until I found one that I was happy with, yet I still work with marketing, designing, and influencing. Currently, I shifted towards influence managing where I work with different influencers to figure out which brand influencers can represent them as well as the other way around. I work towards creating a social media calendar while working with the social media team to figure out which influences would be great for them. It gets difficult since you must make sacrifices, but your brand will be your brand regardless which is something that I always moved towards.
Obstacles on her Journey
Thinking back on your journey to becoming the person that you are today, what would you say was the biggest obstacle to overcome? Could be a professional obstacle, a personal obstacle, a mental obstacle, an emotional obstacle.
That is interesting because I usually don’t think about them. In my first job that proper job, the biggest thing was that my agency saw me as external which made my religion become an obstacle because I wasn’t quite able to fit. I converted that obstacle into an opportunity because I realized that I could either work with their rules and continue to feel outcasted, or I can quit to pursue my own thing. I could do my own thing and even if people don’t understand it, maybe I can make people understand it from my own perspective. It was difficult initially since I had to invest my own time, money, but it was something I needed to do for myself. I never understood how tough motherhood could be on my profession. You are always a mother first, so it was hard to switch between pausing what I am doing and continuing where I left off despite how fortunate I was to have help around me. As soon as I feel that I have it figured out, something new throws itself which forces me to consider how I can balance it. Sometimes it’s a tantrum, or my kid not sleeping, but there are will always be new challenges that I will have to figure out how to manage while still giving my child the time and attention he deserves. I overcame this by jumping into my work right away, which people thought I was crazy for doing.
Rida's Advice: Chill, it'll work out
As if you were to have a conversation with your younger self, what type of advice would you give your younger self?
I think my younger self was the opposite of what I am now since I was more outgoing. However, I never felt that I fit in when I was growing up since I was always in the British system. When I was in Middle East, I was in British school I was with other globally diverse students, but I felt I was different. I felt that my colour is different since I came from a South Asian culture, which was only amplified at home because of how my parents would mention me getting darker or that I don’t fit into specific things. You made to feel apologetic for that nature, but it is something that doesn’t and shouldn’t matter. That is something I would have told my younger self; it doesn’t matter what colour, race, religion, or ethnicity you are because it is the same. Coming from a very strict family, there were things I couldn’t wear which automatically made me feel that I wouldn’t be able to fit in if I wasn’t able to wear a skirt or whatever. Overtime, I learned it is not what you wear but how you wear it which helped to build my confidence. I used to be conscious about what I was wearing and how I looked but I’m the complete opposite now; as long I look decent, I’m out the door. It takes time and a lot of confidence boosters until you can get to the point where you can understand that you need to chill because things will work out.
Social Media Tips
I know that, of course, you’ve demonstrated a ton of expertise in communication. Taking things from that perspective, we’d love for you to drop your top tip on what you can teach others about breaking through their own communication challenges.
Figure out what you’re good at; there are so many things you can do, it’s a matter of figuring out how you can make yourself different and make yourself stand out. My method was figuring out how I can stand out while enjoying what I was doing, figuring out how to take it forward. As soon as you can recognize this and take it forward, the game starts and you’re ready to go. It still requires a lot of practice as you go because things can always go wrong, but that is how it is.
Speaker's Specifics
Rida is a PR & Digital Marketing teacher by day, Social Content Marketing specialist by night.
After realizing people wanted authentic connections with real voices and stories that compelled them, she understood the new digital marketing strategies that humanize businesses & brands. She now promotes small and local businesses, in addition to connecting brands and businesses to other content creators and influencers!
Connect with Rida on her LinkedIn or Instagram to collaborate with brands and influencers around the GTA, Canada and (now) America!
