Meet a Maverick: Shahmeen Sadiq
Shahmeen Sadiq used to jump out of airplanes for fun. I’ve worked with Shahmeen before, but she casually drops this fact during this photoshoot. My jaw dropped! She’ll tell you the first time she stepped into the wind, she stepped straight through her fear, and she’s spent her life helping other people do the same. For more than twenty years she coached leaders. Now she’s turned that toward women over fifty, helping them get stronger in every way that counts. What stays with you about Shahmeen is her spine. She’s the one who won’t laugh at the joke that shouldn’t have been told, who says the true thing out loud when every reason in the room says stay quiet. Here she is, in her own words.
What does being a ‘maverick’ mean to you?
To me it means being willing to stay close to your own experiences and to tolerate the discomfort of feeling that you see things so differently from “the norm”. And to move into action that is inspired by that noticing, even when it feels like you’re all alone.
Tell us about a time you felt powerful, proud, or truly yourself.
I’ll share a moment that was particularly challenging. I was invited to join a selected group of colleagues who had long served on a highly esteemed engagement at a well known American university. This was one of those “dream gigs” that everyone in our professional circles knew about, and so to be included felt like a pretty big deal.
Problem was, this group had a meme that preceded my involvement, that equated a lower state of consciousness with the colour brown, which is the colour of my skin. They’d never had anyone in this group with brown skin before, so naturally it didn’t occur to them that this was a problem. I had heard them reference this meme before and I’d mentioned my feelings a couple of times one-on-one with the leader and other members of the group beforehand.
Despite all of that, the leader of the group used the meme early in the conversation at a group dinner the night before the work was to begin. My heart fell as everyone laughed. One woman in the group noticed that I was not laughing, and she asked me how I was feeling about being there. All eyes were on me, including those of the two representatives from the university who had joined us for dinner. It would have been easy to bypass the moment and override my own integrity for the sake of sparing anyone else any discomfort. After all, there was a lot at stake! This was my first night as part of this group. I could easily be uninvited for future work. Also, I didn’t want to embarrass the organization in front of their clients.
But in that moment, I knew that what was most important was to speak about what was true for me. My face was flushed hot red and my heart was beating super fast. I took a deep breath, looked at the leader and said in the clearest voice I could summon, “I actually find that statement to be deeply insulting. I’ve mentioned to you before that it’s inappropriate and yet you didn’t seem to take me seriously.”
Dead silence at the table now. After a moment another member leaned forward and said, “Thank you, Shahmeen, for sharing that. I didn’t realize the effect that would have on you and others like you. I’m sorry and I’ll not use that reference ever again.”
I served as part of that engagement until it ended almost a decade later, and in my presence that meme was never spoken again.
What’s one challenge you’ve overcome that shaped who you are today?
In a world where security often depends upon giving up your personal agency, I have found a way to live free.
For most of my adult life I’ve done the work I love to do, employed my passion and interests through creative means, and generated enough income to live a modestly comfortable life. While I can’t claim the conventional success marker of amassing great financial wealth, I feel prosperous in not being beholden to any person or entity. My schedule is my own to shape, so I was very present day-to-day with my children when they were young, even while I lived the vision of traveling a lot to work with leaders all over North America. I have a wonderful family and extended family with deeply loving relationships between us. I get to be creative in my work and I’ve become resilient and courageous enough over the years to flex and flow with what life brings me. Is this newsworthy? Does this make the cover of magazines? No. But I have shaped my life on purpose and for that I am extremely grateful.
What’s something most people don’t know about you, but should?
I’ve been coaching adults since I was 22 years old. I began this part of my life in the sport of skydiving. Yes, I used to jump out of perfectly good airplanes for fun!
I did my first jump when I was about 20 years old and it set my life on a new trajectory. When I stepped through the door into the wind that first time, it was as if I stepped right THROUGH my fear. The feeling is indescribable. Suffice it to say I left with a certainty that if I could do THAT, I could do ANYTHING. It was all I could talk about for months. (Apologies to my very patient work colleagues who had to hear about it over and over and over again.)
Prior to my first jump, I didn’t know that skydiving was an actual sport that you could progress in. I dove in deep, accumulating jumps and licenses. After a couple of years, I became a jumpmaster, first jump course instructor and sport coach to participants in this high adrenaline endeavour.
This was a huge part of my life for more than a decade. I stopped after my children were born as it became harder to go “up there” while they were on the ground below, but what a joyful and rich experience it was to have been a part of this sport! It launched my life into a courageous and alive direction that I will always be grateful for.
I suppose that’s why I’ve always coached people in one way or another: I believe that we are here in human form to fully enjoy this experience of life. My desire, therefore, is to help people juice every single drop of joy through their lives. Whether in their sport, as a leader, and now for women in the second half of life… I believe we are here to live fully, contribute passionately, and enjoy being human together, and I’ll use my life force energy to my dying day to facilitate this for anyone who wants it.
What legacy are you building or living?
I have a dream for humanity. We are all thriving. Every body prospers. We listen deeply to each other, laugh heartily together, love intensely and enjoy the company of all the others immensely. Even though we may see things differently, we remain connected through the shared condition of being human.
In every chapter of my work and life, I’ve facilitated that kind of human connection, respect and regard. The past 20+ years were all about helping leaders who work together to come together for more ease and shared success.
Today, my focus is shifting to Wise Women Strong, a new line of business that helps professional women over 50 get stronger — physically, mentally, emotionally and relationally.
Why? So we can put our long-earned wisdom and experience into potent action, being of serious influence as the harsh, old ways crumble. All the doors are opening now to reshaping how we are together as humans. We have the opportunity to become kinder, more humane, yet infinitely creative in approaching global challenges together. We already know how to live this way, now it’s time for us to lead the way!
What message would you share with other women who are still finding their voice or their confidence?
You matter. Your heart and your voice matter. The experiences you have had, the terrain you have navigated (easily or not), have all shaped you into the beautiful, powerful human being you are today. What you think, how you see things, the kind of world you envision for your children’s grandchildren, matters! Yes there are still things you don’t know and can learn, but right now you have everything you need to take the next step. Take it, and let life support you AND show you where the next edge is. You are enough!
Find Shahmeen
Shahmeen’s new chapter is Wise Women Strong, where she helps professional women over fifty get stronger in body, mind, heart, and the way they connect. If she resonated with you, reach out.
- Wise Women Strong: wisewomenstrong.com
- Email: hello@wisewomenstrong.com
- Her book: Heart Matters: A poetic revolution of truth, healing, and belonging. LINK TO ORDER BOOK
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shahmeensadiq/
If you love her gorgeous orange silk top as much as I do, she bought it here: https://sariknotsari.com/ Sari Knot Sari has an incredible mission statement. Let me know if it resonates with you:
“Our luxurious silk clothing, including the renowned Upcycled Vintage Pure Silk Collection, offers elegance with a conscience. By upcycling vintage fabrics and emphasizing quality craftsmanship, we’re reducing waste and environmental impact while supporting artisans worldwide. We’re not just about fashion; we’re about ethics, inclusivity, and sustainability. Join us in dressing beautifully while making a positive impact on our planet.”
Anita here one more time.
Shahmeen’s story about the insulting meme reminds me of a post I shared recently: “Stop worrying about whether people of colour know you are a safe white person to be around and start making sure white people know you are not a safe person to be racist around.” Wise words for many of us. Thank you Shahmeen for your vulnerability and allowing us to see the harm that happens when we don’t recognize or call out racist words/actions.
Our collaborative partners:
- Hair & Makeup: Alice of Alycat Hair and Makeup https://www.alycat.ca/
Location: Anita Watkins Photography, London, Ontario
