DIDIHOOD ~ Issue 58

Happy December Didis! 

I know everyone is saying the same thing, but can you believe we are already at the end of 2022? To wrap up the year, we've got a special event for our BC Didis over in Kelowna. In partnership with the Bibi Agency and Little Straw Vineyards, experience an intimate gathering of South Asian women in the Okanagan this Friday, Dec. 9. 

Meet the Didi: 
This month, we meet Rakhee Sapra who has built an exciting career in marketing and communications working with companies such as VICE and Universal Music. Her most recent role is as the Senior Manager of Marketing and Communications for Disney+ Canada. 

What inspired you to pursue a career in communications? 
To be honest it happened by chance. I finished university feeling woefully unprepared for the working world. I could write a great essay but had no hard skills. I applied everywhere and landed an internship at a television company in the communications department. It was through that experience that I learnt what a career in comms/marketing could look like. It has been rewarding ever since. I get to work with storytellers across a host of different mediums to elevate their work and with journalists/producers who are consistently smart, incisive and challenging in the best way possible. 

What obstacles have you faced along the way, especially as a South Asian woman?
I'm very fortunate to have worked at a lot of companies that understand the importance of DEI and allocate meaningful budgets/resources towards it. That being said, throughout my career I have markedly been in the minority as both a woman and a woman of colour. This has meant dealing with a range of obstacles ranging from microaggressions about how I speak English very well to systemic issues often concerning a lack of pay parity with my male colleagues. I think there has been an immense amount of progress but hope to one day not have to be an advocate for myself and others in the capacity that I have done so to date. 

You recently took on a role with Disney+ Canada, tell us about it: 
I'm very excited about my new role! I am managing communications and marketing for Disney+ Canada. I've been a fan of the platform for some time now so getting to work with the teams I've long admired is incredible. 

Outside of work, you've also volunteered at TIFF and led a network of women in communication and technology. Tell us about your involvement there: 
TIFF is always an incredible experience. I started volunteering on the red carpet when I was still an intern and did it for several years after that. It's a terrific insight into the beast that is a film festival — how a premiere, press, talent interviews, even red carpet photos can all impact the reception of a film and its eventual distribution. I never take for granted that one of the world's premiere film festivals is in Toronto. 
I worked with the WCT (Women in Communications and Technology) extensively as well. It was an incredible opportunity to program events with speakers I admired and simultaneously provide a forum for women in similar industries to network and create genuine friendships. 

What advice do you have for younger Didis hoping to pursue a career like yours?
Don't underestimate the importance of admin — keep your LinkedIn and resume up to date so you're always prepared for new opportunities. Don't be afraid to reach out for informational meetings — keep them brief and always have a list of questions prepared. It always helps if you're genuinely interested in whatever you're working on. And not to be trite, but believe in yourself. 

What we're reading:

Check out all the Didis that were featured on the Forbes 30 Under 30 list: Iman Vellani, Arushi Jain, Sonali Mehta, Janvi Shah, Niki and Ritika Shamdasani, Anjali Chandrashekar, Tanya Gupta, and Urvi Sharma

Gold Inheritance: The quiet feminism of South Asian women by Rosa Kumar 

Feminist podcasts you need to listen to right now in Cosmopolitan India

Artist Misha Japanwala owns her South Asian heritage with an ode to her nose and her nose candle holder 

What we're watching:

Amrit Kaur in the second season of Mindy Kaling's The Sex Lives of College Girls

The latest season of Four More Shots Please!

— Nikkjit Gill 

Issue 58
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