Renowned for her insightful dialogue on cultural change, Samra Zafar combines scientific research with her corporate experience and hard-earned life lessons to shift our understanding of wellness and illustrate the transformative benefits of belonging. A bestselling author, physician-in-training, and leading corporate consultant, she specializes in DEI strategy, mental health, and authentic leadership, and shares valuable tools for building authentic human connection and fostering inclusive spaces.

After escaping a decade of abuse living as a child bride in Canada, Zafar has become a beacon of hope for those facing exclusion and abuse. She is a four-time TEDx speaker and the bestselling author of A Good Wife: Escaping the Life I Never Chose, named one of CBC’s Best Books of 2019 and a top 2019 read by The Washington Post. She is currently writing her second book, Unconditional, which explores science-based strategies to unlearn limiting beliefs and live a fuller, unconditional life.

Previously an executive in financial services, Zafar is currently pursuing a medical degree at McMaster’s DeGroote School of Medicine, specializing in psychiatry. She is also the founder and executive director of Brave Beginnings, a registered charity that provides mentorship to survivors of abuse. Her work has been featured in several national and international media outlets, including The Huffington Post, Harvard Medical School’s Primary Care Review, CTV, CBC, Global News, the Globe and Mail, the Toronto Star, and more.