Collaborating with individuals, groups, institutions, and agencies.
Soni Dasmohapatra is an accomplished consultant and academic, dedicated to creating inclusive platforms. These platforms seamlessly blend strategy, design, wellness, and art, sparking transformative change.
Soni is a strong believer in investing in lifelong learning for growth and reflection.
Soni is currently a doctoral candidate at Royal Roads University in Victoria. Holding a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Alberta, a master’s in public administration from the University of Victoria, and a certificate in gender studies and human rights from Oxford University, she brings a unique blend of academic prowess and real-world experience.
Her career journey of over twenty-five years spans roles as a senior project manager in the Government of Ontario and a consultant for the United Nations. Soni has worked in Kenya and India as well as nationally, provincially, and municipally for the public service, voluntary sector, philanthropy, and higher learning. She is a strong advocate of applying global good practice to local spaces and vice versa.
Dance, Music, Culture
Born and raised in Edmonton, Alberta Soni’s childhood was filled with exploring dance, music, and cultural connections to her ancestral roots in India. She has continued nurturing this interest throughout her life. She is a trained Kathak dancer and Hindustani singer. She carried this knowledge and expanded her interest in these art forms in Toronto.
Soni spent a substantial amount of her adulthood In Toronto, Ontario where she led grassroots social innovation and philanthropy efforts, partnering with entities like the City of Toronto, United Way Toronto, and Laidlaw and Maytree Foundations, solidifying her dedication to positive community impact.
Wellness and Somatic Coaching
Soni completed her yoga teacher training and expanded her education in Ayurveda and Jyotish in India. She has built holistic wellness practices by completing Moon Mother certification with Miranda Gray and building a somatic coaching practice.
Her interest in these areas led to her to build capacity to bring individuals together to discuss and heal from the trauma of the impacts of racism on mental health. She cultivates her model of a somatics program named Lunar Womb which facilitates safe spaces for women to come together to discuss reproductive health over the lifespan.
The Next Stage
Now living in Edmonton Soni has spent the last eight years engaged with the Government of Alberta, played a core role in Edmonton ShiftLab 1.0, and served as grants manager at the Edmonton Heritage Council. Currently, she is a management consultant, driven to craft holistic ecosystems that ignite social innovation. Her passion lies in mapping arts, culture, and heritage ecosystems to drive social innovation. She is committed to fostering positive change and progress in all the projects she undertakes.
In 2023 Soni joined MacEwan University as an Assistant Professor in the Arts and Cultural Management department located in the Faculty of Fine Arts and Communications. This next stage in her career is an opportunity for her to build a legacy in academia, which will carve the path for her to share her emerging research interests. Her current research is focused on leadership, organizational change, and embodiment in the performing arts sector. She is interested in documenting racialized people’s narratives inspired by her own lived experiences in the Canadian arts, culture, and heritage ecosystem. She is drawn to explore ways that data processes can be decolonized to build spaces for equity and inclusion in the sector.
Soni is open to collaboration and is invested in mentoring the next generation of Asian Canadian and racialized women.
She has been fortunate to take part in many professional development programs that have built her leadership capacity, and she is keen to pass it forward.
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