We recognize and celebrate brave female leaders. The women featured in our Brave Women Leaders blog demonstrate resiliency, bravery, and the ability to radiate their light brightly. They have gifts, experience, and strengths to share with the world and they do so bravely.
Narissa Vohora is taking tiny steps of bravery each and every day in her leadership and life. She is a Senior Business Analyst at the City of Vancouver and sits on the board of directors of Vancouver Women in Technology.
What does bravery mean to you?
To me, bravery means stepping out of your comfort zone and doing something that enables you to grow – whether it’s big or small. It’s recognizing that you might feel a bit nervous, uncomfortable or scared – and choosing to do it anyway because you realize the risk of NOT doing it could be even bigger. We all have the ability to make meaningful change, it’s about being aware of that and taking steps forward to make it happen.
What is one of the bravest things you have ever done?
Asking for what I want! Certain things had always served me well in life – being diligent, following orders, doing a good job of tasks that I took on. I realized I could either keep doing this and remain in the same place (which isn’t necessarily a bad thing) – but I recognized I wanted more, and in order to get that, I had to be brave.
In my career, I came to the realization that no one was going to tap me on the shoulder to present me with new opportunities. So I had to ask – and make it known that I was dreaming bigger and was capable of more. This seemed scary, and I would find myself looking for excuses to not do it – I figured I’d be told I wasn’t ready, or dismissed completely. But this wasn’t the case. As soon as I shifted my mindset, new opportunities began to surface and those around me were happy to know that I was willing to take them on. This opened the door to new possibilities, relationships, and so much more – both inside and outside of work.
What benefits have come from leaning into bravery?
I think that consciously thinking about and choosing to take action on something allows you to take steps that are aligned with what you value, and what impact you want to have on the world. It becomes less about following a pre-defined path, and instead choosing what’s meaningful to you and acting on it.
The benefits of this are endless – you realize it’s okay and actually good to consistently feel challenged. You’ll do things you love, that inspire you and those around you. Along the way, your mindset and old habits start to shift so that you become more focused and less afraid of growth, and are able to share this energy with others.
