In a world grappling with complex challenges, the need for sustainable and empathetic leadership has never been greater. Sapna Saleem, a leadership coach and mentor, is at the forefront of this movement, equipping leaders and entrepreneurs with the skills to build a more equitable and sustainable future. From teaching alongside Professor Marshall Ganz at the Harvard Kennedy School to guiding entrepreneurs through the Centre for Entrepreneurship’s (CfE) Venture Mentoring Service (VMS), and coaching social impact leaders in Toronto through the Institute for Change Leaders, founded by Mayor Olivia Chow, Sapna is fostering a generation committed to positive change.
Sapna's principle, “everyone shapes the world, intentionally or otherwise,” fuels her commitment to collective impact, a commitment evident from her earliest experiences. As an engineering student in India, she volunteered to teach children in local shelters, a foundation that led to her work improving education quality for low-income communities worldwide, including impactful projects in Kenya, Jordan, and the United States. With a Master's in Educational Leadership and Entrepreneurship from Harvard University, she empowers global communities to create sustainable societies and drive meaningful change.
If she were to pen an autobiography, it would be titled ‘Raised by the Village,’ reflecting her belief that individuals are shaped by the collective support of their community. This concept of shared support further drives her vision: “The world I want to create is one where we are intentionally and actively providing this support for the next generation.” She seeks to build a world where nurturing future generations is a deliberate and collective effort, a goal deeply rooted in the interconnected principles of sustainable development, particularly its focus on social equity and intergenerational responsibility.
Sapna believes that community building and sustainable progress rely on the ability to truly listen. “As a leadership coach and mentor, the best way I can build capacity is through asking thought-provoking questions and building relationships over a foundation of trust.” This approach allows mentees to explore innovative solutions to pressing challenges, fostering a collaborative and inclusive approach to problem-solving.
For Sapna, mentorship is about “being behind someone to give them a slight nudge when they need it while also holding up the flashlight for them to see the path ahead better so they can choose where to go.” She emphasizes the importance of finding a mentor who not only cares and listens, but one that also challenges you to think critically about the long-term impact of your work. “A little discomfort is not only good but essential in your growth.”
Sapna draws inspiration from those around her, including from her mentee Meghan Yeung. This past March, Yeung, as co-president of the U of T Women's Student Association, invited Sapna to speak at their Leadership Conference on International Women's Day. Sapna was struck by Yeung's exceptional leadership, noting how she “successfully brought together a diverse and impactful group to facilitate a very important conversation. Seeing her in action and then having the opportunity to meet her proud parents, was a genuine joy and really what motivates me.”
For Sapna, joining the VMS program was a natural extension of her mission to empower future leaders. “The higher education space has so much potential in how the next generation of problem solvers and innovators are supported. I am here to build this movement with U of T,” she affirms. Like many VMS mentors, she has found immense value in co-mentoring, a key aspect of the program that recognizes the power of collective wisdom. Sapna also highlights the fulfilling experience of witnessing the strong relationships that develop among mentors and mentees. “Everyone truly cares for each other, and it contributes to nurturing this culture of continuous learning and relationship building,” she observes, emphasizing its essential role in fostering a thriving landscape of sustainable ventures.
Sapna's vision of sustainable, caring leadership resonates throughout the VMS program and the broader entrepreneurial ecosystem. Further demonstrating her commitment, she served as a head judge at the 2025 Hult Prize OnCampus program at U of T, hosted by the CfE, where she evaluated groundbreaking solutions to global issues. This commitment to nurturing future leaders makes her mentorship a powerful catalyst for positive change, driving us towards a more resilient and equitable future.
--
Feeling inspired? Learn more about the Venture Mentoring Service. Recruitment of mentors and mentees for the next cycle of the program will begin in Spring 2025 – stay tuned for more details!