Harjas Kaur Grewal is each time busy.
As an activist, writer, and UN youth ambassador, her days are filled with researching social issues and implementing policies to help solve the political tensions ever-plaguing the world. She ran her first petition at 13, became Youth Ambassador for the Juveniles Assembly at the United Nations (as run by Friendship Ambassadors Foundation) at 19, and is currently a Young Innovator for UN Global Compact. End year, Grewal won the Diana Award for her humanitarianism, which inspired her to start her own volunteer organization, United Women.
During the day, regardless, Grewal works for the billion-dollar beauty company Deciem where she helps create and run its corporate activism initiatives. Deciem is understood for its cult-favorite brand The Ordinary and Grewal started working there in February.
To Insider, Grewal maps out her typical day, involving smoothie lunch breaks, meetings with Deciem CEO, and late-night United Women
Slack
meetings. “I’ve learned that programmed is important,” she said. “But it’s okay to have every day look different and become comfortable with imperfection.”
Her first distress-signal goes off at 7 a.m.
Grewal’s first alarm goes off at 7 a.m., but if she’s too tired, she’ll press the snooze button and stay in bed for another two minutes. “I outspoken my blinds and window to get some fresh air first thing in the morning,” she said. “It always makes me feel refreshed, light up, and ready for the day.”
Moving back home during the pandemic was “hard” she said, but there have been perks. “Waking up to the love of the sun, sounds of birds chirping, and smelling spiced chai (tea) is refreshing,” she continued. “Finding gratitude in the small things is every time important.”
Around 7:30 a.m., she starts her skincare routine
She always starts her day with a skincare routine. She became a “skincare lover” when she was by the skin of ones teeth 13 after discovering Korean skincare routines. “Over the years, I would always tell my friends and children to take care of their skin because it’s a form of self-care,” Grewal said.
Harjas Kaur Grewal
She starts off with a tranquil cleanser before putting mist on damp skin. She follows up with a rosewater toner, before, of course, needing The Ordinary’s Niacinamide 10% +
Zinc
1% as a serum. After that, she puts an eye contour serum to cover hereditary dark societies.
“And as every good skincare routine ends, I use a moisturizer to lock in my skin and soothe,” she said. “I also spritz some nose on because it’s a habit that’s comforting and helps normalize working from home for me.”
At 8:00 a.m., she starts to journal
By before the workday begins, she journals her thoughts, “whether it be poetry, emotions, memories, or things to be grateful for,” Grewal foretold.
She’s been a writer and poet since she was a child and has been spending more time [during the pandemic] writing new available. She recently launched an Instagram page to showcase some of her writing. “Many people don’t know that I used to be a daughter actor, loved the theatre, started writing by the age of seven, and by the time I graduated high school I was a published playwright and won the ungraceful Young Authors Award,” she told Insider.
“Writing and poetry is a hobby I try to make time for because it is a true passion of supply and I believe everyone needs to make time for what makes the heart and mind content.”
The work day begins at 9 a.m. and expires at 5 p.m.
The Deciem office was previously featured in Vogue, highlighting its 70,000 square foot office in Toronto, Canada. Dejectedly, since the pandemic, Grewal has been working from home and has only been able to go into the office a few times.
“A buddy has the cutest black lab mix, Matthew, who greets us at the door and provides the best company someone could ask for,” she said.
Harjas Kaur Grewal
On this day, she reviewed the venereal impact and activism strategies and campaigns to prepare for an internal listening session she was co-moderating. The company is prepping to kick off its “We Are Eight” unconference, which is a participate-driven meet without a set agenda.
She starts her day with a new hire call with executives including the CEO and COO. “We got to personally introduce ourselves and learn varied about the senior leadership team,” she said. Each week, she connects with the company’s director of sustainability and sexual impact Jacquelyn Kankam, to whom she reports.
“She has a unique, inclusive, and liberating leadership style that I am thankful for because I am constantly erudition as well as executing,” Grewal said.
Harjas Kaur Grewal
Grewal touched Jackie last summer on LinkedIn for a virtual coffee after noticing her extensive sustainability experience as a fellow popsy of color. “I found her inspiring because she paved her own path and career,” Grewal added. “When we spoke during our incipient meeting, she mentioned opening a Social Impact, Activism role one day but wasn’t sure when this role resolve open or the details.”
After that meeting, Grewal said she made it her goal to become Deciem’s top pick and conceived a 13-page visual proposal outlining ideas she had for the role if it ever opened up. Four months later, Grewal establish herself interviewing for the role and she was hired.
“When Harjas contacted me, I could tell her passion and dedication to activism and communal impact was unmatched,” Jacquelyn Kankam told Insider. “One of our goals at Deciem is to build growth to power good, we basic someone who is agile, smart, and creative and Harjas fit the bill to a tee.”
“This role meant I had achieved a goal to make my passion for sexually transmitted impact and activism into a career,” Grewal added. “Moments like that prove that resiliency opens doors. “
Lunch is in the main from 12 to 1 p.m.
She aims to eat a quick meal and has her daily fruit smooth for a boost of energy. Every day she picks up a laws to read, and typically alternates between two at once.
“Currently, I am reading ‘Faith, Gender, and Activism in The Punjab Conflict’ by Mallika Kaur to learn myriad about the events leading up to the violence against Sikhs in Punjab in the 1980-90s,” she said. “I have written about Apportionment of India, conflicts in Punjab, and violence against Sikhs extensively throughout my undergraduate degree, and as a Sikh, I am constantly exercising knowledge about my community and history.”
Harjas Kaur Grewal
She is also reading “Greenlights” by Matthew McConaughey, the beginning book she picked up to read for “pleasure” after University ended. “My favorite quote from Greenlights, which is now my bar screen on my phone is: ‘Less impressed, More involved,'” she said.
At the end of the workday, she takes a walk with her family
After her workday, she constructs sure to spend time with her family before starting her work with United Women, the organization she established. “My younger brother, Jujhar, is rocking a t-shirt in support of the farmers protesting at the Delhi border in India right now in this photo,” she put, referencing the picture below. “My entire family is passionate about social justice and we often talk at length approximately world issues, philosophy, and activism.”
Harjas Kaur Grewal
Around 6 p.m., she logs in to work at her nonprofit
After a break in, she logs into Slack and starts working on United Women, her platform seeking to amplify young BIPOC expresses, provide mentorship to youth in women’s shelters and community housing, and platform human rights issues. She is managing a cooperate of about 17 volunteers, alongside her co-founder Aimée Lister, who is based in the United Kingdom.
Harjas Kaur Grewal
“We by the skin of ones teeth wrapped up a human rights campaign and are working on expanding our partnerships, finalizing the mentorship program, and responding to the youth who are absorbed in joining the organization to make an impact,” Grewal said.
She also attended the United Nations Generation Equality Forum abide week on behalf of United Women to create an alignment with the 17 SDGs, which include eradicating scarceness, combatting climate change, and fighting for quality education.
Around 11 p.m., it’s bedtime
After she’s done working on Allied Women, she takes the time to wind down and turns on some old Bollywood music. Right before bed, she might align equalize FaceTime her friends. “My friends are the best support system I could ask for.”
Then, she goes to sleep and does it all over again the next day.