An evening with the OG, Meera Syal.
A true trailblazer who has paved the way for generations of brown women to pursue their dreams, embrace their ambitions and create their own adventures.
There is something incredibly special about being in the same room as a woman whose visibility helped you imagine what might be possible for yourself.
Long before we regularly saw South Asian women leading businesses, commanding stages and telling our own stories, Meera Syal was creating space. She showed us that our names, accents, families, culture and experiences deserved to be seen and heard.
Her success was never hers alone. Every time a South Asian woman steps into a space where women like us have historically been absent, she makes that space feel more possible for those coming behind her.
That is the true power of representation.
One of my biggest reflections from the evening was that we should never feel we have to leave our identity at the door to succeed.
For many South Asian women in business, our culture can feel complicated. We may have grown up navigating expectations around being agreeable, modest and careful about how much space we occupy.
Then we enter workplaces or begin building businesses where we are expected to be visible, confident and willing to promote ourselves.
It can feel like we are constantly moving between two different worlds.
But our stories, values and lived experiences are not weaknesses we need to overcome. They give us insight, empathy and a perspective that nobody else can replicate.
We do not need to dilute ourselves to become more acceptable.
If you cannot see yourself, create what is missing
Meera Syal’s journey is also a reminder of the power of telling our own stories.
When we cannot see women like us represented, we have a choice. We can continue waiting for somebody else to create the opportunity, or we can begin creating it ourselves.
That lesson applies far beyond television, theatre and books.
It matters in entrepreneurship too.
Many South Asian women start businesses because they recognise a need that has been overlooked. They understand a community, a problem or an experience that larger organisations have failed to see.
That personal understanding can become the foundation of a powerful business.
Some of the most meaningful ideas begin with the thought: “I wish this existed.”
Trailblazers rarely begin with a guarantee that they will be accepted.
They step forward while navigating doubt, judgement and the possibility of rejection. They act before they have all the evidence that things will work.
That is something I speak about often through my work with women: courage comes before confidence.
You do not have to feel completely ready before you apply for the opportunity, share your idea, launch your business or tell your story.
Confidence is often built afterwards, through taking action and discovering what you are capable of.
Being first should make it easier for others to follow
Success is powerful, but creating a pathway for other women gives that success a much bigger legacy.
That is what I admire about women who break barriers. Their presence changes what the next generation believes is possible.
It is also at the heart of why I created Asian Women MEAN Business.
I want more South Asian women to see what is possible for them, back themselves and build the careers, businesses and lives they truly want.
I want them to know that they do not have to navigate the journey alone.
Communities matter because visibility alone is not enough. Women also need access to support, honest conversations, practical opportunities and people who believe in their potential.
An evening with Meera Syal was a reminder that representation is about far more than seeing a familiar face on a screen.
It gives us permission to imagine.
It helps a young brown girl believe she could become a writer, performer, founder or leader. It helps a South Asian woman who has spent years playing small recognise that her voice belongs in the room.
And when one woman walks through a door and holds it open, many more can follow.
What an icon. What a legacy.
Now I cannot wait to read the book.
