Meet Smiely Khurana

We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Smiely Khurana a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Smiely, 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.
Finding my purpose has been a journey of connecting with my roots, navigating through my passions, and learning to use my voice for something bigger than myself. Growing up as a daughter of immigrant parents, I was surrounded by stories of resilience and determination. My parents’ journey and life taught me about sacrifice, hard work, and hope—values that have deeply shaped who I am and the work I do today. They supported my dreams and encouraged me to pursue a path where I could make a difference, even when that path was unconventional.

For me, purpose began to take shape in the intersections of storytelling, sustainability, and community building. I’ve always loved the power of storytelling, how it can move, inspire, and connect us. In university, I became deeply passionate about sustainability and started to see how media could be a powerful tool for raising awareness and creating change. This led me to founding The Sustainable Act, a platform that began as a podcast and has now grown into a media movement amplifying voices in sustainability, especially those of youth, women, BIPOC, and queer creators.

As I stepped into this role, I quickly recognized how much representation was missing from conversations around sustainability and climate action. I wanted to change that by providing a space for marginalized voices to share their stories and for listeners to see themselves in those stories. Working on this platform, I’ve been inspired time and time again by the people I’ve met—activists, artists, and changemakers from all backgrounds who are transforming our world with their work. It’s incredibly fulfilling to help bring their voices to the forefront.

The journey of finding my purpose deepened even more recently as I became aware of the mental health impact of climate change. Living in British Columbia, where wildfires and floods have become all too common, I’ve felt firsthand the weight of eco-anxiety. Those experiences, along with hearing from others who feel similarly, led me to start Climate Cafe Vancouver, a space for people to come together and share their climate fears, frustrations, and hopes. Seeing how powerful these gatherings were, I realized my purpose wasn’t just about highlighting sustainability; it was about creating a community where people feel seen, supported, and empowered.

It’s been a humbling and incredible journey, and I feel grateful every day for the chance to do this work. My purpose has become about amplifying voices, building community, and ensuring that those often left out of the conversation have a place where their stories can shine. There is so much power in seeing ourselves reflected in the stories around us, and I’m honoured to be part of this movement, creating spaces where people can feel connected, supported, and inspired to make their own impact.

 

Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?
I lead The Sustainable Act—a platform dedicated to amplifying diverse voices in the sustainability and climate space through storytelling. We began as a podcast exploring the intersection of sustainability and the media and entertainment industries, but over time, we’ve grown into a media movement.

Our work now features an established editorial spread, ongoing video podcast, short form content for social media, events, and community partnerships, with a strong focus on uplifting youth, women, BIPOC, and queer voices. I believe these voices are essential to reshaping how we approach sustainability, and our mission is to make sure they’re seen and heard on a larger scale.

What’s most exciting to me about The Sustainable Act is seeing how our work connects and empowers people. Every conversation, story, and collaboration brings new perspectives, often from individuals who haven’t had a platform to share their experiences. By providing that space, we’re helping to expand what people envision when they think of “sustainability.” It’s about amplifying solutions that honour all our communities, embracing diversity, and supporting the mental and emotional aspects of climate work. That’s why we focus not only on climate action but also on climate mental health and wellness, because tackling these big issues can take a toll.

One of my newest projects, Climate Cafe Vancouver, embodies this commitment to mental health in the climate movement. Climate Cafes are a space where people come together to discuss their experiences with climate anxiety, share their fears, and find comfort in community. I’ve found so much meaning in helping create this safe space, especially after my own experiences with climate anxiety.

It’s an exciting time for The Sustainable Act as we continue to grow and reach more people. We’re also expanding our community partnerships and developing initiatives that highlight the work of creators and activists at the forefront of environmental change. It’s so special to see people feel empowered by our platform, and I’m deeply grateful for the opportunity to build something that honours my heritage and brings diverse voices into the conversation around climate and sustainability.

 

There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?
Reflecting on my journey, I’d say the three qualities that have been most impactful are resilience, community-building, and the ability to communicate authentically. Each of these has shaped my path, helping me stay grounded, build meaningful connections, and share stories that resonate across diverse communities.

My advice is to be genuinely curious about others’ stories and to prioritize building relationships, not just networks. When you see yourself as part of a larger community, it becomes a lot easier to connect, collaborate, and amplify each other’s work. For those just beginning, start by showing up for the people and causes you care about. Over time, you’ll find yourself surrounded by people who share your vision and want to make an impact alongside you.

I’d also emphasize the importance of staying connected to your purpose. Find practices and people who inspire you, embrace the challenges as learning experiences, and keep your communication genuine. Each of these skills will grow over time, and they’ll help you build a foundation that not only supports you but also empowers others.

 

One of our goals is to help like-minded folks with similar goals connect and so before we go we want to ask if you are looking to partner or collab with others – and if so, what would make the ideal collaborator or partner?
I’m always looking for collaborators and partners who share our commitment to sustainability, representation, and creating real impact. At The Sustainable Act, we aim to amplify diverse voices and bring important conversations on climate and mental health to the forefront through storytelling. We’re especially interested in working with organizations, sponsors, and funders who are eager to support and uplift these areas.

Ideal partners for us include sustainability-driven brands, climate advocacy organizations, wellness and mental health nonprofits, and cultural institutions. We’d love to connect with those interested in sponsoring or funding initiatives like our podcast and our upcoming Climate Wellness Network. Each of these projects is designed to create spaces for conversations around eco-anxiety, celebrate underrepresented voices, and share practical, inclusive solutions for a healthier planet.

We’re also looking to collaborate with community leaders, youth and BIPOC-led organizations, and like-minded content creators. If you’re passionate about creating content or events around environmental justice, mental health, or sustainable production, and want to help us reach a wider audience, let’s chat! Together, we can design and amplify initiatives that encourage action and inspire change.

If you’re reading this and interested in exploring a collaboration, sponsorship, or funding opportunity, please reach out! You can connect with me via our website (www.thesustainableact.com) or social media channels, or email us at hello@thesustainableact.com.

 

 

Contact Info:

Image Credits
Ursula Galvao, Y Hanson Photography, Smiely Khurana

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