Leaders of Today with Ziyaan Virji

At 15, I went through a life-changing experience that led me to find purpose in creating social impact. I started "For The Menstruator" empowering over 20,000 people in 10 countries globally. This opened opportunities for me to serve with the biggest organisations in the world impacting over 500,000 people. I went on to share my story on some of the biggest platforms including TEDx, BBC and winning prestigious accolades like the Diana Award, Global Teen Leader and Future25U25. 6 years later, I want to extend my legacy by empowering young people to start their leadership journey today!

Last refreshed: July 9th, 2025 at 8:49 AM ⓘ

Follow this podcast in the Metacast mobile app to refresh it and see new episodes.

Follow on

Apple Podcasts

Spotify

RSS

Podcasts are better in Metacast mobile app

Don't just listen to podcasts. Learn from them with transcripts, summaries, and chapters for every episode. Skim, search, and bookmark insights. Learn more

Episodes

The Untold Stories of Menstrual Health, Social Entrepreneurship and B Corp - Madeleine Shaw | E11 | Leaders of Today With Ziyaan Virji

Starting her journey as a feminist leader at university in the 80s, Madeleine shares untold stories of over 30 years as an activist, social entrepreneur and author. She is famously known for her venture Aisle (previously known as Luna Pads), G day and her book The Greater Good. 0:00 - Episode Intro 1:58 - Childhood & growing up 4:00 - Mindset influence 6:15 - University Experience 8:00 - Traumatic experiences 10:30 - Taking action at a young age 13:20 - Getting into menstrual products & ...

May 18, 2023•1 hr 6 min•Season 1Ep. 11

How I Became A Professional Music Producer and DJ As A Student - Koji Aiken | E10 | Leaders of Today with Ziyaan Virji

Growing up, Koji found his passion for entertaining from an early age through his father who used to be a juggler. But it was only until his summer before university where he found his love for music. In this episode, Koji shares his journey of he became a professional music producer, started his own event company - Kumo Vancouver and is now on a mission to build a platform for other artists to fulfil their dreams as a creative. 0:00 - Intro 1:34 - Dad inspiration & background 3:15 - Dancing...

Apr 07, 2023•1 hr 4 min•Season 1Ep. 10

How I Wrote a Book, Spoke at the UN and Started A Nonprofit About Sex Education: Niyati Sharma | E09

After going on exchange in Belgium, Niyati realized the importance of Sex Education for youth and the lack of it India - her home country. This inspired her to start her own nonprofit that has empowered over 29,000+ people in India. Niyati's work has been featured and recognized on various platforms like Forbes India, NDTV, TheGuardian and more. She is an author of her own book 'Under the Carpet' and was recently invited to speak in New York at the United Nations Headquarters. 0:00 - Intro 1:15....

Mar 30, 2023•1 hr 3 min•Season 1Ep. 9

How I Became An All-Star Canadian Basketball Player - Kamar Burke (KB) | EO8 | Leaders of Today with Ziyaan Virji

Starting his career as a Basketball player, Kamar Burke (also known as KB) shares with us how he played for the Moncton Miracles and the All-Star team of the National Basketball League of Canada (NBL). He also shares how he transitioned his career from starting his own academy, to working as a videographer for famous artists like French Montana, Massari and Tory Lanez and eventually co-founding his own media company Joybox. Subscribe to our newsletter for weekly resources, opportunities, and beh...

Mar 21, 2023•56 min•Season 1Ep. 8

How I Started An Award-Winning Non Profit Organization at 15 - Vedanshi Vala | EO7 | Leaders of Today with Ziyaan Virji

Starting her journey when she was only 15, Vedanshi shares her story of how she started her non-profit organization - Bolt Safety to create safer and more equitable communities around the world! Timestamps: 0:00 - Intro 1:00 - background and childhood 2:00 - moving to Canada 3:50 - family life 5:35 - earlier school life 7:00 - BOLT inception 9:50 - continuing after a loss 12:00 - finding your cofounders 14:10 - expanding BOLT 16:38 - think like an entrepreneur 18:28 - what is an “entrepreneur” 1...

Mar 12, 2023•1 hr 1 min•Season 1Ep. 7

Derek Kesseler: The Untold Stories of Big Brother & Being a Social Media Influencer | E06 | Leaders of Today with Ziyaan Virji

Growing up in a small town in Canada, Derek shares his story of how he became a finalist in Canada’s most-watched reality TV show (Big Brother Canada) and his journey of how he became a full-time social media content creator. 0:00 - Intro 1:03 - Growing up in a small town 2:50 - Small-town living shaping who you are as a person 3:35 - Being a people pleaser 6:15 - Working in the construction & oil industry 7:30 - hating my job 8:30 - the sum of your closest 5 people 10:00 - moving out and ta...

Mar 02, 2023•1 hr 13 min•Season 1Ep. 6

Michelle Kwok: How I Co-Founded (and Sold) my First Startup by 23 | EO5 | Leaders of Today with Ziyaan Virji

On Michelle’s 8th birthday, when she was asked what she wanted to be when she grew up, she said “she wanted to change the world and do something positive”. Naturally, she was given three options “a doctor, a lawyer, or an accountant”. After trying everything, Michelle spent her teenage years pursuing being a doctor. In high school, Michelle would spend her summer at research labs which led her to pursue a pre-med degree at Western University. Going to university across the country have Michelle ...

Feb 24, 2023•1 hr 9 min•Season 1Ep. 5

Teon Gibbs: From Playing at Church in Africa to one of Canada's Most Well Known Voices | EO4 | Leaders of Today with Ziyaan Virji

Growing up, Teon Gibbs had to move around a lot every couple years from Botswana, South Africa, Angola, UK and eventually Canada. He was first introduced to music and hip hop when he would listen to his brother's CD's when he was away from home. As he moved around a lot, Teon built strong connections and felt consistency in his life through music. He was even actively involved in Church while playing guitar and the bass. This helped him find a sense of community at the time as well as taught him...

Feb 16, 2023•50 min•Season 1Ep. 4

Harpo Mander: Growing Up In Surrey, 5x Fest, Imposter Syndrome, Body Positivity and more! | E03 | Leaders of Today with Ziyaan Virji

Harpo Mander is a visionary, thought leader, community builder, storyteller, and cultural producer. Her mission is to be the vessel through which one experience's love. She is a brown girl who adores being a brown girl and is navigating and unpacking her brown girl guilt, while continuously exploring what a world without that guilt looks like for herself and her didis. Growing up in Surrey, BC in an immigrant South Asian family, Harpo always wanted to be part of something bigger than herself. As...

Jan 31, 2023•56 min

Sam Park: From Dropping Out of School Twice to Working with The Fastest Growing Social Media Network | E02 | Leaders of Today with Ziyaan Virji

Sam Park moved to Canada when he was 7 and grew up in a single parent family with his mum and two sisters in Vancouver. When he first moved, he lived in a 380sq ft one-bedroom apartment with his family of 4. His early days growing up really seeded the ambition and passion for him to live a life where he can take care of the ones that he loves. In grade 11, Sam was first introduced to entrepreneurship by his friend but that was not the first time he knew about business. He actually despised busin...

Jan 24, 2023•58 min•Season 1Ep. 2

Ziyaan Virji [UNTOLD]- From losing 3 weeks of his life to impacting 500,000 around the world! | E01 | Leaders of Today Podcast

After losing 3 weeks of his life as a result of dengue fever, Ziyaan turned his life around. He went on a journey of finding purpose that led him to start his own nonprofit at 15 that went to impact 1000s of people around the world. This episode features stories Ziyaan has never shared before and dives into what really shaped him and how any person can find purpose and change their own lives. Subscribe to our newsletter for weekly updates, opportunities and behind the scenes insights: leadersoft...

Jan 14, 2023•31 min•Season 1Ep. 1

We are not only Leaders of Tomorrow, but We are Leaders of Today

Tomorrow never comes. That's what my grade 3 teacher used to say when I used to submit my homework late. But what does that really mean? This is a podcast for any young person that has a new idea, a passion, a purpose to not wait until tomorrow but start their leadership journey today.

Jan 07, 2023•50 sec•Season 1Ep. 1

Hosted on Spotify for Creators (Anchor)

For the best experience, listen in Metacast app for iOS or Android