Over the last 28 years, Sahera Chohan has worked globally with individuals and teams across a wide range of private and public sector organisations delivering high-profile transformation programmes.
After University, she started her career in media in TV and also presented some shows for BBC World Service Radio, including doing a show from Delhi University, called 'Youth Debate' in 1997 to commemorate the Bicentenary of India's Independence. Sahera was the first British Asian Presenter on BBC1's Flagship Rural Affairs programme, 'Countryfile' from 1995-1997. She also presented the popular Asian Family Quiz for 3 years, 'QAsia' on BBC2 in the late 90s also.
Sahera was a broadcaster for BBC TV and radio, including being the first Asian presenter on BBC’s Countryfile. She has also run her own production company, OneVision Productions, producing programmes for BBC Television.
Her mother was a Muslim, born in Lucknow (Muslim) and her father was a Punjab born Hindu. They met and married in London. Sahera was born in Canada, raised in the UK. She studied BA Hons Social Anthropology and Religious Studies at the School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London.
Chohan married novelist Nigel Watts in the year 1991 and was widowed in 1999.
Sahera is now working as a Leadership Coach and Facilitator, and she says that she’s always in a minority (sometimes of one) amongst my caucasian counterparts.
Speaking to Asian Voice ahead of International Women’s Day, Sahera touched upon the fundamental differences between men and women, the challenges that occur in a woman’s life, and she also shared her real-life experiences of how she navigates situations as a woman.
Being the only woman in the room
Sharing one of her own experiences, Sahera said, “Recently, I was working with a senior team and my two colleagues who were male, and I felt nervous for the first 15 minutes or so because I was a woman faced with all these men. I thought they're gonna relate more to my male colleagues who were leading the event than to me. I got over that quickly, because I remembered who I was, and remembered what I bring. And then it was fine. But I had the initial fear. Now, if that team had been predominantly women, and I was co-facilitating with a woman, I wouldn't have felt the same way. So we're triggered, it's almost like a primitive thing, but that's what we need to question.”
Asking for equal pay
“As a mindset coach, I say that because that's what I do - I work with people's mindsets. We as women have a part to play as well, in terms of what we are willing to tolerate, and not tolerate. It is difficult for women to say that ‘this is my baseline, this is how much I charge period’,” she added.
Imposter syndrome
Sahera admits that she has had the same mindset, which is - ‘I don't deserve it because I'm a woman, I am on some level, slightly less worthy than my male counterpart.’
“So therein lies our work as women to go, and say to ourselves that we refuse to believe that less worthy than others. We must know that we have a certain amount of experience and are constantly committed. On some level, I think as women, we need to slightly shout louder, not just because of what we face in society, but because of our own mindset that we've taken on board that we've internalised - the inequality that is in society, and reframe our thinking on that.
I think it's all very well to tell a woman “it's okay to be who you are”, but it might not make a difference if she doesn't believe that. It does start with us and it comes through after we fight our battles.
Sahera’s work is to help people with their attitude. She told us, “If I experience any insecurities, they are drowned by my purpose, my commitment, my passion for my work. I know that's easier said than done. And I know that not all women can necessarily feel that on certain days.”
On women supporting women
Speaking about the dearth of opportunities that may sometimes lead to insecurities among women, Sahera said, “I think a lot of women in senior leadership roles become role models and mentors for other women because, on some levels, they've reached where they want to reach. So it's more comfortable for them. However, there's still competition at their level.
“I think there is a sort of an innate kind of almost primitive drive in us - the Darwinian theory of survival of the fittest - at some level, we operate out of that. When we're under stress, trying to achieve, and we're competing, we may step on other people's toes. This is an unfortunate fact.
“It's about awareness of what we're doing when we're doing that. I always say to the people I coach, you can't necessarily stop yourself from reacting to the sort of triggers on the outside - it takes a lot to manage your reaction, but at the same time, the more you challenge the way you react, the more your behaviour around tastefully stepping on other people's toes without disrespecting people will help you. We also need to remember that there's enough for everyone. You know, it's a big world.”
Fight the demons of self-doubt
When asked to give advice to young women who may be gathering the courage to start working post the pandemic in the new normal, Sahera listed three imperative points, “I think, first of all, believe in yourself. Don't ask, don't wait for other people to believe in you.
“Second - talk to the influencers. So figure out who those people are, get to know them and build rapport with them.
“Thirdly, just don't give up. Keep going even when you fail every time you fail, just keep getting up and keep going. Have a support structure around you - people who are not part of your job, but your friends, your family, somebody who is like a kind of support on the sidelines to just keep helping to encourage you to keep going.
Because it can get kind of lonely trying to forge a career and fight the demons of self-doubt.”
