Meet Urmi Hossain | Self- Published Author and Female Advocate

We had the good fortune of connecting with Urmi Hossain and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Urmi, what do you think makes you most happy? Why?
That’s a million-dollar question! Happiness is temporary and transitional; it comes and goes depending on the phase of life.

Currently, what makes me happy is having the ability to do what I love—pursuing my hobbies and passions.
I’m deeply involved in various activities and community work, particularly through organizations like Women in Leadership, Femme Influence, and Empower ‘Em.

What truly energizes and motivates me is the meaningful connections I build with women in the community. For me, happiness stems from creating an impact and fostering relationships that inspire and uplift

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I love the power of mentoring.

When I was in university, mentoring was my first paid part-time job. I did this role for two years, and upon graduation, I never imagined that mentoring would shape my identity and become such a meaningful part of who I am. Offering guidance—whether in a formal mentoring relationship, through speed mentoring, or even during a quick coffee chat—has consistently shown me the incredible value of exchanging ideas.

My most memorable mentee was a young woman in her 20s who wanted to study finance. She was driven, outgoing, and incredibly ambitious. For six months, I mentored her, and it turned out to be the best mentoring relationship I’ve ever had. While I was her mentor, her determination to overachieve motivated me to push myself harder as well.

Mentoring isn’t just about helping the mentee; it’s a two-way street. Sometimes, it’s the mentee who inspires the mentor. At the end of the day, mentoring isn’t about titles or roles—it’s about creating meaningful connections and learning from each other.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Here are three spots I would take them:

1. San Gennaro – a small coffee shop located in Little Italy that serves delicious Italian-style pizzas, typical Italian desserts, cornetti and great coffee ranging from caffe’ macchiato to cappuccino

2. Casa di Toto’ – another hidden gem located in Little Italy. Unfortunately, it is a family-run place that not many know about, but it does sell great Italian pastries such as tiramisu, sfogliatelle, cannoli, and even pizza. They serve the best cannoli in town.

3. Pizzeria Gema – I am an Italian-Bengali, so, it is normal that all my suggestions are about Italian food. So here is another one – for pizza lovers, Pizzeria Gema makes one of the best pizzas in town. Again this restaurant is located in the heart of Little Italy. They have great food, great music, and great ambiance. it is a place one can’t miss

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
At the beginning of 2024, I had the pleasure of reading an incredible book called Invisible Women by Caroline Criado-Perez. This thought-provoking book gave me a lot of perspective on how the world is deeply men-biased and predominantly built for men.

The author’s research is thorough, and packed with compelling statistics and facts that highlight the gender data gap across various fields. While the book is quite detailed and tackles heavy topics, Criado-Perez makes the content accessible and engaging.

It’s a must-read for anyone looking to understand the structural inequalities that women face daily and how these can be addressed.

This book doesn’t just educate—it inspires action for a more equitable world.

Website: https://www.womeninleadership.ca/victoria

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wil_victoriachapter/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/urmihossain/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@urmihossain

Other: Book: https://www.amazon.ca/Discovering-Your-Identity-Interracial-Struggle/dp/B0B6XJ6Y3Q