Meet Priya Sam

Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Priya Sam. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Priya, we’re thrilled to have you on our platform and we think there is so much folks can learn from you and your story. Something that matters deeply to us is living a life and leading a career filled with purpose and so let’s start by chatting about how you found your purpose.

I had a passion for storytelling from a young age and as I got older that evolved into a passion for helping people find the power of their stories

It started with a love of reading and that turned into a love of writing. I studied journalism in university and went on to become a reporter, news anchor, and morning show host at a local TV station. Five years into my career, I was offered an incredible opportunity to fill in on a national morning show as the news anchor and one of four co-hosts. Unfortunately, I experienced working in a series of toxic work environments where I experienced discrimination. I knew I needed to make a career change for the sake of my mental health.

As I was working on making this career transition, I had to use my storytelling skills in a new way. I had to connect the dots between my skills and jobs in completely different industries so I could network effectively and eventually so I could stand out in job interviews. I ended landing an amazing job at a tech company as a product expert on the sales team. It was a perfect opportunity to use my presentation skills and love of storytelling in a new way. It also came with a significant salary increase and a work environment that was supportive and inclusive.

Just over a year later, I was recruited to a larger tech company and again my storytelling skills saved the day. They landed me the job and another significant salary increase.

In 2020, I started a podcast called “Turning Point with Priya Sam” and that’s when I started helping other people tell their stories. I interviewed guests about the biggest turning points in their lives and what I learned is that I was really guiding them to find the power in their stories.

I was seeing the power of stories in my work in sales but I knew there was a bigger place for stories in the corporate world and I had an aha moment when I was at an event in New York. I was moved onto a new team and everyone on this new team was meeting each other for the first time. I had planned ahead and practiced the story I was going to use to introduce myself – it included my experience as a news anchor and morning show host because my goal that year was to speak at more conferences and events on behalf of the company. I noticed a lot of my colleagues – especially the women – shrinking back when they were asked questions like, “tell me about yourself…” they weren’t sharing their stories or goals and I could literally see them missing out on making meaningful connections and putting themselves in a position to get bigger opportunities and promotions. That’s when I realized that I could use my experience to help other women do what I did – use their stories to make career transitions, get jobs that align with their passion and values, and get the salaries they deserve.

I did my first workshop for the women’s group at the tech company I was working at and the results were incredible – one of the women in that first workshop used her story to land a promotion just a couple of months later. My company, Unleash Your Voice was born shortly after that and I haven’t looked back. I left my full-time job in February 2024 to focus on helping women use the power of storytelling to land the professional opportunities they deserve.

Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?

I help women build unshakeable confidence and unleash their key stories to get hired and promoted, network effectively and become unforgettable in professional settings.

My signature program is called The Unleash Program and it includes both video modules and 1:1 calls with me. I have been helping women land six-figure jobs and get 10%+ raises by understanding their unique value and learning how to articulate it with confidence and impact.

I’m most excited to see more women rise into leadership roles in the corporate world because this is what is going to make work environments better for everyone and especially the next generation.

Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?

Storytelling – This was a skill that came naturally to me early on but that I really developed and harnessed while studying journalism. When I was considering making a career transition – I didn’t realize how valuable this skill would be but now I realize that it’s one of the most valuable skills you can have in any job or industry.

Persistence – There were SO many times things didn’t go my way but I always picked myself up and looked for a new path to my goal. The first new anchor job I interviewed for, I didn’t get but I kept practicing and asking for feedback and I got the next opportunity. I tried a couple of business ideas before starting to do what I do now and they didn’t work out how I had hoped but I kept trying. I’ve learned not to fear failure – what’s scarier is not trying.

Before we go, maybe you can tell us a bit about your parents and what you feel was the most impactful thing they did for you?

My parents always made me feel like I could do anything. I truly believed that no dream was too big and I still believe that to this day.

As immigrants from India, they had to work really hard to make a life for themselves and for their family here in Canada so I’ve learned a lot about hard work, determination, and adaptability form them.

They also have an entrepreneurial spirit and I definitely credit them for the drive that I have to build a business that makes a difference in the lives of others.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://priyasam.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/priyasam/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/priyasam/

Image Credits

First photo (headshot) credit: Bruna Rico