A Journey Built on Courage and Self-Worth:
In an honest conversation with host Rishika Kaushal, Navkiran Kaur reflects on her remarkable 17-year journey from being a Central Government nursing officer at PGI Chandigarh to starting again from a basement in Canada. Her story goes far beyond professional success. She speaks openly about women finding their voice, understanding marriage realistically, becoming financially independent and refusing to lose themselves within family responsibilities. From supporting nurses preparing for the challenging NCLEX exam to sharing her thoughts on relationships between daughters-in-law and mothers-in-law, Navkiran offers a practical and powerful message: women should never forget their own worth.
From a Secure Career to Starting Again:
For Navkiran, success did not come overnight. At 32, she made the difficult decision to leave behind a stable and respected nursing career in Chandigarh and move to Canada. It was a major change, but one she had carefully thought through.
Instead of simply looking for a new job or a better lifestyle, Navkiran wanted to create something meaningful. Having understood the difficulties Indian nurses face while trying to establish themselves abroad, she decided to build a platform that could help them navigate the process of becoming Registered Nurses.
Starting from a rented basement, she slowly turned that vision into something much bigger. Her journey became a lesson in taking calculated risks, staying resilient and believing in an idea even when the beginning is far from glamorous.
“Don’t Be a Doormat”:
But Navkiran’s strongest message is not only about career success. Much of her conversation focuses on women, relationships and the importance of having an identity of their own.
She questions the notion that marriage inherently provides immediate comprehension and unwavering support. She believes that the initial years of marriage may include adaptation, conflicts, and the process of understanding someone else. Two individuals originate from distinct families, experiences, and backgrounds, so establishing trust and understanding inherently requires time. Her advice to women is simple but powerful: don’t become a doormat.
A doormat sits at the doorway, walked over many times and recognized only when it’s absent. Navkiran employs this image to illustrate the consequences of women perpetually sacrificing their views, aspirations, and identity for others.
For her, having a voice is the starting point for empowerment. A woman ought to express her thoughts, make choices, and advocate for herself. She thinks that this strength influences the following generation as well. When kids observe a mother who values herself and communicates assertively, they adopt those same principles.
Independence Can Change a Woman’s Life:
Navkiran also speaks about women who find themselves in difficult or unhealthy family situations. Through her work, she has encountered students dealing with serious emotional and domestic pressures while trying to build their careers.
For many nurses, passing the NCLEX exam can become an important step towards financial independence. Yet preparing for such an exam can be extremely stressful, especially when a woman is surrounded by people who question the money, time or effort being invested in it.
Navkiran believes that education and professional independence can give women choices and sometimes, having choices can completely change the direction of a person’s life.
The Women Behind Strong Men:
Interestingly, Navkiran’s message about women does not stop at women themselves. She also highlights the role mothers play in raising respectful and supportive men.
She believes a man who genuinely supports his wife is often shaped by the values taught by his mother. Instead of treating the relationship between a daughter-in-law and mother-in-law only as a source of conflict, Navkiran offers a different perspective, one built around mutual respect and understanding.
While speaking about her own mother-in-law, whom she describes as a “Queen,” Navkiran becomes emotional while appreciating the way she raised a grounded and respectful son.
That moment contributes an additional dimension to her message. Empowering women involves more than just helping them become self-reliant. It is also about educating sons to honour women, assist their partners, and recognize equality.
Navkiran Kaur’s journey ultimately carries a simple but powerful lesson: a woman can care for her family without losing herself, build a career without apologising for her ambition and love others without forgetting her own worth.
References/ Sources:
- Primary Source: Rishika Show — Interview with Navkiran Kaur
- YouTube: Rishika Show — Navkiran Kaur interview/video.
- Author/ Writer: AARCHI VERMA