After immigrating to Canada from India in 2019, Shagun Malhotra spent her first few years in her new home focusing on landing a great job, exploring her new surroundings, and meeting her now-husband. Prior to moving here, Shagun had close to 10 years of experience working in the financial services sector. But she soon realized that something significant was still missing for her, as she tried to figure out how she could give back to her new community.
“As an immigrant, I was really looking for that sense of belonging that I felt could only come once I started giving back to the community,” says Shagun. She refers to a Buddhist philosophy, which she explains as “your life expands when you give back.” Shagun started volunteering and joined another organization as a board member and a fund development member before joining the board of directors at Nellie’s in September 2024. With an intention to give back to our community as much as possible, Shagun also works with newly landed immigrants and youth through many RBC initiatives, as well as providing mentorship at the Toronto Region Immigrant Employment Council (TRIEC).
In her professional life, Shagun currently works as a Senior Relationship Manager with RBC Commercial Banking, working with both non-profit and public sector clients. “Working so closely with non-profit organizations helped encourage me to get more involved with non-profits myself,” she explains. “I wanted to understand the daily challenges that they go through, and not just look at them from a banker’s perspective.”
She also knew that she wanted to work with an organization that had a mandate that was close to her heart. “As a young girl, I remember that I always had a very strong sense of justice,” Shagun says. “If something is not right, I thought that I would have to speak out, I wouldn’t just stay oppressed. But I learned that I had to actually go through the journey myself of having some bad experiences, to realize just how hard it is to actually leave an abusive relationship when you’re in it.” With a focus on helping women in need and advocating against gender-based violence, Shagun thought that Nellie’s was the ideal match for her desire to give back to her community.
Luckily for Shagun, the timing couldn’t have been more perfect — she actually saw our job posting for new board members the day before it was supposed to close. “I do believe in serendipity — this was something that I’ve been thinking I wanted to get involved with and then I saw this post just in time,” Shagun recalls. “Sometimes you get associated with something that you’re so excited about and is so in sync with your life’s purpose, and it just gives you a true sense of fulfillment. That’s what happened with Nellie’s.”
During her time with the board, Shagun hopes to use her banking experience to contribute to both the finance and fund development committees, while also helping to work on strategy and advocacy efforts. “I’m really passionate about the mandate that Nellie’s has, and I definitely want to do my part in pushing our advocacy work against gender-based oppression,” says Shagun.
Thank you, Shagun, for sharing your story and for your time and service to Nellie’s.