The theme to this year’s International Women’s Day (IWD), “Inspire Inclusion,” resonates strongly with me – perhaps more than any other IWD theme that’s come before it. 

It hits home because 15 years ago, as a BIPOC woman navigating the tumultuous waters of entrepreneurship while raising a young family, the corporate world didn’t feel inclusive to someone in my shoes. Back then, building our agency was an uphill battle. I was cold-calling brands all day, selling them on our shop and convincing them to take a chance on our small but passionate team. 

I vividly remember striking up conversations with potential clients and just as things were going well, they would go sideways. A brand executive would propose a breakfast meeting at 7 am or cocktails downtown at 5:30 – times that clashed with my family’s busiest time of day. It wasn’t that I didn’t want to take the meeting. On the contrary, I needed to. But as the mother of three young children, managing those time commitments seemed impossible. 

And spoiler alert: it was.

Back then, well before COVID-19 blurred the lines between work life and home life, finding balance between my two worlds felt like like walking a tightrope. I worried that if I leaned too far in one direction, everything would come crashing down. Still, I knew I had to start setting boundaries or neither area of my life would flourish in the way it deserved.

I recall the day I finally asserted myself saying, “That time doesn’t work for me, can we meet later in the morning?” It was a defining moment that wasn’t just about advocating for my needs but about laying the groundwork for the kind of business I wanted to build. 

I eventually learned to navigate the delicate dance of parenthood and entrepreneurship with humour, disarming applicants with, “Oh, you didn’t know babysitting was part of the job?” when they’d arrive for an interview and see my infant daughter on my lap. 

It was my way of normalizing what should be a very normal thing: a CEO who’s also a mom.

Fast forward, and I can safely say those formative years shaped how I run both my agencies, by prioritizing a culture that respects boundaries and work-life balance through initiatives like a four-day week and flexible work schedules. Additionally, we provide support through wellness programs while also monitoring overtime and burnout closely. Our agency is proudly certified as a Great Place to Work, and was recently named a finalist by Ragan’s 2024 Workplace Wellness Awards in the category of work-life balance.  

In the end, running a successful company isn’t just about the bottom line, it’s about building a life worth living and creating an environment where your team can do the same. 

There’s a business world where hustle and heart can coexist.  

That’s what inspiring inclusion means to me.

Priya Chopra is the founder & CEO of 1Milk2Sugars and Double Shot.