2020
Sahar Khyabani
- | She/her/hers
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Every woman knows gender inequity firsthand, particularly women of color. It is imperative to have female leaders from diverse backgrounds actively participate in policy discussions. The institutions of our world perform better when an intersectional female perspective is acknowledged and included. Uplift and empower our voices to build a better future for all.
- Sahar Khyabani
Bio
Sahar Khyabani is a first-generation Afghan Canadian born and raised in Vancouver, BC, Canada. She is a digital marketing strategist with over six years of experience leading marketing initiatives in Canada, the US, and the UK. She has also volunteered over 300 hours of her time with various local charities and non-profits. A content creator on TikTok with 10.8K followers, Sahar uses her platform to raise awareness about PCOS and body positivity. Sahar believes that knowledge is power and has completed three post-secondary credentials. Through the content she creates on TikTok, Sahar hopes to educate the public and empower people with PCOS.
What ignited your pursuit for gender equality?
Inequity in healthcare for women, particularly women of color is a topic overlooked by many medical professionals. As a woman of color myself, I know from first-hand experience how our pain is minimized and not taken seriously. Specifically, with respect to women’s health issues such as Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS), women are often told, or we tell ourselves that we are just stressed, or we are overthinking our symptoms. I want to merge my experience in marketing to help raise awareness about PCOS, a complex hormonal condition that affects nearly 10 million women globally. It is one of the most under-diagnosed and under-researched conditions and it just happens to be a women’s health issue; there is no cure. It can lead to serious heart disease or cancers if not addressed sooner. My goal is to educate young women about PCOS.
Please share your biggest wins as an advocate for gender equality.
I have two biggest wins thus far. My first big win is providing people with the information that they need to get diagnosed with PCOS. My second big win is educating young doctors or medical students so that either new or future medical professionals are better equipped to recognize the symptoms of PCOS. Statistically, it can take up to two years for someone to get diagnosed with PCOS so my goal is to help close that gap so that the treatment process can begin sooner rather than later.
Outside of your gender equality advocacy work, what do you enjoy doing?
As a content creator, I love to tell stories and take a multimedia approach. I enjoy being in the water, taking long walks in nature, and doing yoga. I also have a huge passion for travel and spent three months in 2022 solo traveling through Europe & Asia.
Languages Spoken:
- English (Advanced/Native)
- Dari (Elementary)
Speaks On:
- polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS)
- Mental Health, Body Image Issues & Anti-Diet Culture
- Medical Fatphobia
Past Awards, Certifications, or Fellowships:
- The Greater Vancouver Board of Trade's Leaders of Tomorrow Committee Member of the Year - Communications Committee
