Website Somia Sadiq is an award-winning entrepreneur, global peace negotiator, and visionary leader in conflict transformation strategies. As the founder of Narratives, an award-winning planning firm; of Kahanee, a nonprofit amplifying storytelling for peacebuilding; and of Ravayat, a nonprofit amplifying ancestral conflict resolution and dialogue systems in Pakistan, she pioneers trauma-informed, strength-based approaches to leadership, governance, and social change.
With ancestral roots in post-colonial Punjab and Kashmir, Somia brings a relentless drive to decolonise our ways of thinking, knowing, and being. She is a tenacious boundary pusher, advancing peacebuilding and reconciliation efforts across the globe. A dedicated spacemaker, she actively works to create pathways for more women of colour to assume leadership roles in decision-making spaces, challenging systemic barriers with courage and conviction.
With over two decades of experience in community relations, impact assessment, and decolonised planning, Somia has worked with governments, Indigenous Nations, and organizations globally to bridge divides and foster meaningful, systemic transformation. A highly sought-after keynote speaker, she blends business acumen with cultural wisdom, storytelling, and humour to inspire action in leader-ship, policy, and peacebuilding spaces.
Recognized for her groundbreaking contributions, Somia was inducted into the College of Fellows of the Canadian Institute of Planners, the highest honour for a professional planner in Canada. She has been featured on major podcasts and media platforms, sharing in-sights on identity-based conflict resolution, trauma-informed leader-ship, and the power of narratives in shaping societies.
Somia believes stories have the power to advance diplomacy, break barriers, and promote healing. Gajarah, her debut novel, is a testament to that belief and is a lyrical and evocative exploration of resilience, identity, and ancestral wisdom. Through her leadership, speaking engagements, and writing, she continues to challenge the status quo, championing transformative change with an entrepreneurial spirit and an unwavering commitment to justice, reconciliation, and the power of human connection.
