Authentic Dedication to Honouring & Preserving Our Past: Meet The Founder/Publisher/CEO of AAJ Media Group Suki Pangalia

by Varnnitha | Nov 12, 2019 | Team

Suki Pangalia

Founder/ Publisher/ CEO  of AAJ Media Group

Suki Pangalia was born in Bengal, India and arrived in Canada in 1977, with his mother and six other siblings. He was raised by his late mother, Surinder Pangalia, who is his inspiration and a guiding force for his life’s ambition. His vision and aim have always has been supporting, loving and caring for humanity by providing unconditional support, advocacy and service to others for creating social change and justice. He continues to support and advocate for families in need. His inspiration comes from the community and their stories.

Growing up was difficult and he faced many challenges and hardships. During the young years, Suki was surrounded by many individuals: pessimistic as well as optimistic. The decision was his, which way he would go; he chose to give back to the community and continues to do so.

Suki is the Founder, CEO and Publisher of the AAJ Media Group established in 1997, now consisting of AAJ Magazine, AAJ Television and AAJ Radio. Currently, AAJ television has four programs airing on Shaw multicultural channels. Suki has always been known as a community leader and cultural ambassador who continues to strive to develop platforms for people to engage, start a dialogue and create positive social outcomes.

He is the Founder and Executive Director of the award-winning dance and art academy ‘Rangeela Dance School’, ‘Academy of Indian Arts and Dance’, which was established in 1994. Rangeela had locations across North America and won many international awards. His aim was to teach and inspire the South Asian community through the arts, culture, dance, language, and heritage.  Suki was also a creator of a Multicultural Mascot, Rangy Baba.    Rangeela had over 20,000 students and cultivated the passions of children, youth and families and produced many best selling artists, accomplished dancers and former students who went on to open their own dance schools to promote South Asian culture to future generations. Rangeela won many awards and stood first internationally 7-10 years in a row.

Suki has a degree in Child and Youth counselling and has worked for the Delta School Board and Children’s Foundation as a child and youth counsellor. He was also a staff counsellor of a transition home with Mountainside Community services and a drug and alcohol counsellor. He was an Aboriginal Counsellor with the Surrey School Board and is currently providing Child Protection and supervised access work to the community with Journey Child Protection and Family Services as a volunteer.

Suki is a retired commissioned officer of the Canadian Armed forces (CIC) with Captain Qualifications. He is qualified as a Range Safety Officer, Orienteering Instructor and Training Officer. He was also the platoon commander of Echo Company at the VACC. He is currently a board member of White Rock Multicultural Society and has been a long-standing member of the Child and Youth Association of British Columbia. He was Vice-Chair of 3300 British Columbia Regiment Cadet Corp that he assisted in establishing. He was member of the Lions Club, National Indo-Canadian Counsel (NICC), Oasis, Mosaic and India Club.

He has been awarded medal of honour for community work by Maritime Forces Pacific, stand to action award by SEEDS, Best editor award by Harjinder Thind. He has professional partnership with Consulate General of India (Vancouver), BC Children’s Hospital, Surrey Museum, Surrey Board of Trade, Gujarati Society of Vancouver, Art Vancouver, and BC India Network.

Connect with Suki Pangalia on LinkedIN:

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Authentic Dedication to Honouring & Preserving Our Past: Meet Karen Dosanjh

by Varnnitha | Nov 4, 2019 | Team

Karen Dosanjh

Vice-President, Marketing & Communications, OSI Digital​

Throughout her 20-year career, Karen has built a bona fide reputation as a trusted advisor and expert in marketing, communications & public relations. She is laser-focused on helping companies achieve their business goals by connecting with and influencing key audiences through authentic and insightful marketing communications strategies. In her current role, Karen leads the marketing strategy for OSI Digital, a leading provider of business and technology solutions for Fortune 500 companies around the world.

As Director of Innovation, Global Brand at GE Digital, Karen oversaw the brand integration strategies for GE Digital’s acquisition companies and helped drive the company’s digital industrial transformation narrative in market. Prior to joining GE, Karen led the Marketing & Communications function for Bit Stew Systems which was acquired by GE in November 2016. At Bit Stew, Karen was instrumental in establishing and building the marketing communications team and infrastructure from the ground up. This is the second time in her career that Karen has led the marketing and communications efforts for a technology start-up that was successfully acquired by a major corporation. The first being ISM-BC which was acquired by TELUS in 2000, and where Karen continued a successful, 15-year career in a variety of senior communications roles within the company.

On a personal note, helping others rise is part of Karen’s DNA, and she brings a deep commitment to giving back to her local community through service to others. Karen actively advocates for women’s issues in technology and business. She established and led the first GE Women’s Network in BC, the GE and TELUS ‘Women in IoT: Adopters & Influencers’ event, and currently serves on the Board of Advisors for the Women in Leadership Foundation. A sought-after thought leader and speaker, Karen was featured in Business in Vancouver’s ‘Women of Influence’ issue, a recent BC Tech Association video series, and is also regular guest lecturer on ‘Leadership & Influence in the Global Workplace’ at SFU’s Beedie School of Business. Karen will be speaking about the ‘Power of Mentorship’ to the Young Women in Business (YWiB) Vancouver on May 8. Most recently, Karen was named a 2019 Shakti Award Winner in the Professional Achievement Category.

Karen is visionary for the AAJ Legacy Initiative. For her, preserving pioneer voices for future generations is truly a passion project which  began in 2006 when her family documented and celebrated their forefather, Baba Gian Singh Johal’s 100 years in Canada. Working with leading publications like AAJ Magazine, the Vancouver Sun and Province, and the Surrey School Board, Karen has worked tirelessly to bring Sikh pioneer content to students who greatly benefit from learning about the resiliency and dedication of those who paved the way for the South Asian community.

Connect with Karen on LinkedIN :

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Woman on the Rise: Meet Leader & Influencer Karen Dosanjh

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