Shifting The Norm: Sharing Stories That Matter

It is time for our annual sharing stories that matter event but this year it is with a twist for it shall be VIRTUAL yet Real and Raw as three (3) phenomenal women share their incredible journeys of moving from the ordinary into the unknown.

For 3 consecutive Saturdays in June, join us to listen to storytellers:

June 6th,   11:00 - 13:00: 

Gaayathri Periasami, owner of Baby Peppers

June 13th, 14:00 - 16:00: 

Nina Bogerd, owner of Birth Your Way

June 20th, 14:00 - 16:00: 

Dr. Mollynn Otim, owner of Mollynn Cares

Each story will be followed by a reflective workshop by Veena Raju Joseph on igniting transformations in every day life. She gently but firmly reminds us to step out of our comfort zones, makes the necessary shift(s) into the unknown and show up as our true authentic selves.

Save the dates:

This event is free but registration (RSVP) is required.

Zoom link for the 3 dates shall be shared after your registration.

Why Stories?

The stories we listen to, believe in and share with others about ourselves often play a critical role in helping us interpret the meaning of events. They provide a framework through which we filter our experiences and transform them into worthwhile ventures. 

Through sharing “Stories That Matter” UnikBlends and Forerunners Consulting and Coaching offers, the opportunity to connect with women who have powerfully engaging stories based on their actual experiences and hope these stories inspires others to reshape their own story to revive what lies within.

Meet our 2020 Storytellers:

1. Gaayathri Periasami (6th of June: 11:00 - 13:00)

Gaayathri was born was born in India, raised in Singapore from 4 weeks old but now Australia is currently her home. A highly driven individual with a legal background and compliance expert, Gaayathri is constantly on a quest to up skill herself to assist the broader community with her creative writing and research abilities and currently manages SheSustains social media, helping women to share, listen, care and grow together. 

Having 3 amazing kids, motherhood inspired her to create and found Baby Peppers, a social enterprise specializing in sustainable bedding textiles for children while empowering and ensuring financial independence to many of the women (a lot of them are single mothers or victims of domestic violence) who work tirelessly to craft Baby peppers products.

Gaayathri is also a contributor for the Entrepreneur platform and freelances for other platforms periodically. She will be joining us for the Shifting the Norm event to share her story and more about her latest article for Entrepreneur regarding how rejection is nothing more than a social construct and if we perceive and interpret the event of 'rejection' with a growth mindset, we can shift the norm to our favour and be able to serve from a place of abundance.

2. Dr. Nina Bogerd (13th of June: 14:00 - 16:00)

Born in Slovenia, Dr. Nina Bogerd lived and worked in Switzerland before moving to the Netherlands.  She now lives in the Delft area with her sons, Neo and Njal, and her husband Niels. She is an outdoor enthusiast and philanthropist, with a scientific research background in physiotherapy, physiology and human movement science. Besides building a career in academia, she has a great dedication with helping refugee families as a volunteer and has traveled several times to refugee camps in Balkan and Greece as well as supporting refugees in Delft.

In 2018, Nina and her family made an incredible journey around the world. During this period, she explored her career options and realized she found fulfillment with her volunteering services, particularly with assisting pregnant women and mothers. She made the radical but conscious decision to become a certified doula and now as owner of Birth Your Way provides birth education for expats living and working in area of The Hague, Leiden, Delft and Rotterdam.

Nina shares her story of transitioning from her 'normal' academia life and the greater good this shift brought to her life.

3. Dr. Mollynn Otim (20th of June: 14:00 - 16:00)

Dr. Mollynn Mugisha-Otim was born and raised in Uganda by has lived in The Netherlands since 2007. As an expatriate in an inter-cultural marriage, she is also raising 2 multi-lingual children in The Hague. She has over 10 years’ experience working in early childhood education. She is an author, including "So said Grandma" and owner of Mollynn Cares, who enjoys teaching others to live life to the full with great knowledge, good health and a positive outlook on life.  

Mollynn shares with us her journey of relocation from Africa to Europe, to live in diaspora, while raising Third Culture Kids (TCKs) in a fast and constantly changing global environment. She will elaborate on how she reinvented herself amidst all the uncertainties in a foreign country and cultures to define a new norm, while building on her medical profession and embracing her passion for working with children and women.

3-part Reflective Workshop: Igniting Transformation by Forerunners consulting and coaching by Veena Raju Joseph

The workshop will be sub-divided into three parts, each part conducted after listening to each of our storytellers.