This year’s theme of #EmbraceEquity is a call to action for the corporate world. The pandemic shone a spotlight on the countless inequities that women and communities of colour always knew existed but weren’t fully exposed until the system ground to a halt. Now more than ever, it’s incumbent on all of us to examine our business practices through a lens of equity to root out systemic disparities in the wage gap and ensure a culture of fairness and anti-bias in the workplace. As a female entrepreneur from a South Asian background, I know firsthand how tough it can be to break into a business world that routinely underestimates and overlooks female BIPOC talent. Through 1Milk2Sugars and double shot, I’m dedicated to challenging the status quo and creating a more equitable world for my own employees, for BIPOC content creators and for the next generation of female leaders.
Priya Chopra
Founder and CEO of 1Milk2Sugars
Born and raised in Montreal with an East Indian heritage, Priya is the founder and CEO of 1Milk2Sugars, an award-winning and bilingual PR and digital marketing firm, and the partner entity of her globally inclusive talent agency, double shot.
Priya launched 1Milk2Sugars in 2012 and hasn’t looked back since. She’s grown the agency into a multi-city operation with hubs in Montreal and Toronto and has surrounded herself with a team of passionate doers known industry-wide as “The Sugars.”
Priya’s passion for excellence has positioned 1Milk2Sugars as a rising star in the business world. The agency has grown by triple digits in the last three years and was proudly named one of Canada’s Fastest-Growing Companies by the 2020 Growth List, one of Canada’s top Female-Led Agencies by PR in Canada and a Small Business of the Year by Canadian SME Magazine. Under Priya’s leadership, 1Milk2Sugars has garnered national and international industry recognition, including a CPRS Ace Award for outstanding brand development. 1Milk2Sugars is proudly certified a Great Place to WorkTM.
Priya is an outspoken advocate for equality who has weaved her passions for diversity, social awareness and female empowerment into the fabric of her agency’s DNA. In 2021, this culminated in the launch of Priya’s most purpose-driven initiative yet – double shot, a talent management division aimed at amplifying BIPOC and underrepresented voices in lifestyle marketing.
In launching double shot, Priya envisioned a talent management agency to uplift undiscovered and underrepresented voices and give them an equal chance to shine. Today, double shot has achieved triple-digit business growth year-over-year and is credited as Canada’s first talent agency to make global inclusivity its raison d’etre.
Priya’s outstanding professionalism as President & Founder of 1Milk2Sugars and double shot has been recognized by the Forbes Agency Council, Bloomberg Canada, Ernst & Young and the Chamber of Commerce to name a few prestigious distinctions. She’s been nominated for an RBC Women of Influence Award four times, was bestowed a PR In Canada Women in Communications Award for 2018 and 2020 and was named Inspirational Leader of the Year for 2020 by Canadian SME Magazine.
In addition to being an accomplished business leader and a champion of change, Priya is trilingual and the proud mom of a multiracial family including three children. She feels incredibly gratified to be fulfilling her personal dreams in tandem with her professional ambitions and is excited for what comes next.
