In the ever-evolving landscape of the Canadian immigration industry, Shafoli Kapur stands out as a remarkable entrepreneur with over eight years of experience. This interview serves as a follow-up to a previous conversation, offering an opportunity to check in on her journey since our last discussion. She is the proud owner of TDOT Immigration Services Inc., based in Toronto, ON, and a passionate advocate for her profession.
As an immigrant herself, originally from India, Shafoli brings a unique perspective and empathy to her work. Balancing her role as a dedicated mother to two young boys, aged 12 and 9, alongside her thriving business, she embarked on this journey when her first child was just nine months old. It’s been a challenging yet deeply rewarding path that has shaped her into the dynamic entrepreneur she is today.
In an industry still dominated by men, Shafoli Kapur has carved out her own identity and success story. She sees her journey as an empowering experience, akin to giving birth, and firmly believes that the sky is the limit for her ambitions. With unwavering perseverance and persistence, she continues to inspire and pave the way for others in her field.
It’s been a while since we spoke to you, it’s a pleasure to check up on everything! Tell us first of all, what have you been up to lately?
I have been busy growing my business and team. Trying new things, and having fun along the way.
What personal changes, changed your business and why?
First off, I became accepting of myself including my flaws. I started to accept that I don’t need to be perfect at everything I do. I just need to show up and do the job. Perfection is not important. Action is important, I stopped being too hard on myself for not being able to get the desired results of whatever I was working on. Because we all are a work in progress. That changed the way I did business.
I made those changes because change is the only constant in life. Growth happens outside of your comfort zone. We get so comfortable with a certain style of living and working that usually stagnates our growth. Also, self-doubt often is your worst enemy. And I removed the enemy from my life – Quite literally.
How is TDOT Immigration Service faring? What transformations have occurred, and what are the underlying reasons for these changes?
TDOT Immigration is doing great. It can do better, but I am happy with the pace at which the business is growing. From a one-woman show to having a team of 7 stellar women is quite progress in my opinion. The changes were essential to give a new dimension to the business, and to be able to take on more clients, and also growth only happens with teamwork. Success can never come alone. It is always a result of multiple brains working together.
During the last year, what have you learned about your own business that you amplified later on?
The only things that I learned are 1. Change is necessary. We must evolve with the changing business needs. If we don’t evolve the business will die a slow death.
2. Gaining knowledge, and keeping up to date with the industry trends is extremely crucial to succeed in business. The clients like to see their service provider being confident in what they know and what they offer. Confidence comes with knowledge and experience. No shortcuts to that.
Tell us about the new things you’re working on; how did you develop these?
Ah, I am working on a lot of things right now. Both on a personal level and professional level. As the business grew, I worked on ensuring my team was equipped with the right processes it needed. I am working on digitizing the business to remove redundancy of processes and also make the user experience better. I am collaborating with industry experts to ensure I get the most out of the investment and also get the best solution.
It’s a lot you do altogether; how and when do you know you’re ready to start on something new while doing your current work?
OH, It’s a lot. Sometimes it feels overwhelming as well. And often it also affects my consulting work but if I won’t do it, who else will? I know when it’s time to do something new when it starts to get boring, or I feel there is no growth – either in business, revenue, kind of cases that come to me or when I feel stagnated personally.
It’s actually not difficult to know when it’s time to bring about the change.
Can you give us advice on how to not lose focus when working on more projects at the same time?
It’s actually very easy to lose focus especially when there is a lot on the plate. I usually set priorities. What is more important at that very moment is how I prioritize. And these priorities change frequently. Giving you an example – My work involves a lot of deadlines. So I prioritize clients’ needs, deadlines, and then business growth and change the priority order as the time demands.
Also, it is very important to be too hard on oneself when we are slacking. Don’t think that is slacking. It is what you can do all by yourself. And that is another reason why it is important to outsource some aspects of growing the business to industry experts.
What tool/service or new product are you excited about right now?
Digitizing my business and using AI in my business processes.
Do you notice anything in the business changing due to the recession?
Well, the Canadian Immigration industry is actually out of control currently. The process has become harder to get permanent residence however, the industry has become so dynamic that there is an update literally every other day. To keep up with the changes has been quite a task. In addition, Canada still has its doors open to workers to meet the labor market shortages.
With the current government policies – it doesn’t seem like the recession has affected immigration yet but it is a ripple effect and we might potentially see the effects sooner than later.
Can you share any tips that you have learned to self-motivate?
Self-motivation I think is something that comes from within. The fire to succeed and grow has to be inside of us. It cannot be ignited from external sources. It could possibly be ignited by a life-changing event, or incident in someone’s life.
I have never used self-help books or any other such source to keep myself motivated. The fire was always there since I was a little girl. Sometimes lack of direction might blow out the fire but a little effort and external maneuvering in the right direction can reignite the fire.
Are you doing anything to encourage women to get more in diverse sectors? How so?
As a woman, this journey of becoming an entrepreneur and also standing up for myself has not been easy. And through this journey, I realize that many women struggle to find their two feet. I have always been very forthcoming and open about my journey, my challenges, my struggles and my personal aspirations. I have been a guest speaker on podcasts meant for women and Hosted by women, I speak at my industry meets, I use my social media as a channel to motivate and inspire women, and also I sponsor events whenever and wherever possible that are organized by women and meant for women. In fact, my team at work – that I call my second family and my strength are all a bunch of fierce women. I love my all-women team.
Tell us something else you would like to share with the readers.
Never Give up! No matter the challenges life throws at you. Those are not meant to weaken you. Those are meant to make you stronger. Don’t think a setback in life is the end of life. It could even be the start of a whole new chapter – and that too the most crucial chapter that sets the stage for the rest of your life. So don’t ever give up
What would you like to advise the people who want to immigrate in 2023? – The opportunities are endless.
– Be patient
– Be Strategic
– Work on improving your skills – education, hard/soft skills,
– Learn French
– Don’t look for shortcuts or easier options – there are none in real life.
– Do your research. Don’t blindly follow the advice of anyone
– Hire a licensed immigration consultant only.
– Anything that looks too good to be true, or sounds exorbitantly costly – RUN!
– Keep the faith.
In the first interview we asked you ‘’As an entrepreneur, what is it that motivates and drives you?’’, has your answer changed from ‘’The joy and smile on my client’s faces upon getting success in their application is what motivates me and drives me. I get up each morning looking forward to bringing a smile on my client’s faces and giving them that joy and ray of a better future.‘’?
My answer still Is the same. That smile on my client’s face is still what keeps me going and motivated. My ultimate goal in life is to truly help people live their Canadian dream. Help families reunite. And make sure no one is misguided in the name of Canada.
![From Music to Perfume: How did your background as a music teacher influence your transition into perfumery, and how do you incorporate your musical sensibilities into creating fragrances? I’ve always thought in terms of metaphors, and music has many that can be related to perfumery! Beyond just thinking in terms of top, middle and base notes [soprano/alto/tenor in choir], I approach each fragrant idea as a composition. When documenting my ideas, song structures often come to mind. As the scent brief is visited, I meditate on what the fragrance should convey - do I want to create an accord or a “chord” of fragrance note combinations? Do I want an a capella soloist (a particular ingredient to stand out more than others?) Many of my thoughts regarding song composition transfers to my scent formulation process, with me treating each note as an intentional soliloquy at some point.
Brand Origin: What inspired you to start Pink MahogHany in 2005, and how has your vision for the brand evolved since its inception?
An avid lover of all things pleasantly scented (with slight modesty), looking back in retrospect, it’s no huge surprise that I’ve created an indie perfume house with just an idea to provide unique options for those who may be sensitive to unnecessary pungency. Initially, I just wanted to evaluate various blends to note their aroma profiles when “played” together…it wasn’t until I had friends and family asking if I knew of brands that catered to those who may be on the more olfactory sensitive side, that I really began to take my research more seriously. In the almost 20 years that Pink MahogHany has been in existence, our micro visions for the brand have evolved to larger territory. Where Pink MahogHany used to only be a personal brand, we are now also a bespoke formulation service provider to other indie brands seeking unique fragrance offerings for their products. These products range from (but are not limited to) perfumes, candles, body butters and lip balms. Ingredient Transparency: You emphasize transparency and the use of desirable ingredients in your products. How do you select your ingredients, and what challenges have you faced in maintaining this standard?
Being an indie brand often comes with a set of assumptions and misconceptions - one of them being more negative than positive as it relates to ingredients used. There is a lot of “fluff” in the industry with labeling falsification. Because fragrance formulas are a trade secret, not every molecular breakdown of a material has to be noted on the ingredient label (it would be incredibly long), but we at Pink MahogHany™️ adhere strongly to the IFRA [International Fragrance Regulatory Association] regulations that state for common and potential allergens to be listed on our ingredient label. We’ve taken this a step further to also include these ingredients listed on our website to promote further transparency, all while protecting our intellectual property. Unfortunately, we’ve had companies to unethically sell lesser expensive “dupes” of our artisan perfumes, so as a way to create a better authenticity stamp, we make it our duty to be honest about our claims. If our perfume says “Rose Bulgaria”, it is in fact just that and not a component of rose being passed off as the source material. Collaborations and Custom Scents: Can you share more about your work with private label clients? What excites you most about creating custom scent solutions for other indie brands? I could easily sum this up in one word and say “Funding.” True, there is money out there, but I’m always thinking outside the box. Having a program that has an “Each One Fund One” mentality doesn’t exist (that I’ve been made aware of). Bootstrapping can be quite the challenge, even when you’ve reached the 6-figure mark annually. Competition to be seen and set apart is extremely high, so having quality packaging and branding is a must. There are lots of factors to consider, though when desiring to make upgrades. If there were a unique, tier-geared funding operation available, it would help perfume brands offset packaging and bulk material costs in the beginning stages.
Industry Challenges: What are some of the biggest challenges you've faced as an independent fragrance house, and how have you overcome them to grow your brand? As the brand continues on the path of organic growth, I would like to expand our reach into schools, offering perfumery as an arts elective for middle and high school. I’d love to partner with botanists, farmers and horticulturists directly to grow and source raw materials for the students to work with in the creation of tinctures. My passion is getting back to nature as best as possible, as nature was my first “scent experience” as a child. We would also love to witness our fragrance creations being used to scent model homes, our focus diffuser blends being used in automobile dealerships as well as partner with Air Bnb and boutique hotels that specialize in highlighting minority, indie brands. Personal Journey: How has your personal experience, particularly as a divorced mother and someone who has experienced the loss of a child, shaped your approach to life and your work in perfumery?
Because I homeschool my twin sons, we are together a lot more than most, so one thing we all do is have moments of sharing where a neutral “floor” is laid to converse about anything. Though they are quite communicative by nature, I realize that sometimes I can be in work mode so much that it spills over into what should be our quality time. My sons see the authentic me and learn how to communicate through seeing authenticity. I’ve learned not to feel as if I have to be the epitome of perfection but allow them to see my imperfections vulnerably but with discernment. Having had two traumatic experiences pretty close together has taught me how to truly slow down and enjoy the simplicities of life - igniting a spiritual aspect that I’ve always carried but never fully explored…until Kenji’s sudden passing (2018.) Grief has a way of catapulting us into a quest for more meaningfulness in both life and business. After Kenji’s passing and my processing through the initial stages of grief, I was able to incorporate our spiritual bond into Pink MahogHany by way of essential oil diffuser blends for both focus and sleep and most recently aromatic perfume elixirs. It’s been quite the process channeling the void of his physical presence, but I also have peace knowing he can be honored in a great way through scent. I noticed once I began to be more open and receptive to spiritual signs, synchs and “winks”, more ideas began to flow. It’s been this way since his transition. Emotional Expression: Fragrance is often tied to memories and emotions. How does your personal life influence the fragrances you create, and do you have a particular scent that holds special meaning to you? My creative process is much more alchemic now, and I include Kenji by talking out loud to him, believe it or not. I’m a firm believer that when our loved ones transition from the physical plane, they are still present - just in another form. I choose to keep his memory alive by not pretending he never existed (even if for a brief period of time). I am working (slowly) on a book and accompanying fragrance, but I know it will require me to revisit some memories I’m not quite ready for, so until then, his big brothers will launch their debut fragrance, The Peaceful Tiger (they chose the name.) I’ve learned that even in what we consider “small things”, our transitioned loved ones want to be recognized and acknowledged. When the twins and I designed their fragrance label (with a designer out of the country that didn’t know anything about me personally), we had issues with the graphic - so much so that the designer asked if they could rework the design. When they sent the proof for approval, the Tiger was not only younger but sleeping, with an uncanny, angelic resemblance to baby Kenji! Becoming more aware and being more sensitive to my intention for launching a fragrance has definitely made room for more divine situations like these to occur. Healing Through Scent: In what ways has creating fragrances been a form of healing or expression for you, especially after the loss of your son, Kenji Mwamba? I know my sons may not necessarily want to be perfumers, but they definitely have an entrepreneurial heart. My desire is that whatever they decide to pursue (acting, script-writing, music or architecture), they know that anything is possible with the right amount of determination, grit, belief and immersion. One reason I chose to homeschool is so they could enjoy learning without restraint and have ample time to devote to their own separate passions and it still be fun. They know Pink MahogHany is theirs if they want it (many, many years from now - lol), and we are already discussing business structures for whatever they choose their role to be once I retire. Work-Life Balance: How do you find balance between your professional responsibilities and personal well-being, and what self-care practices do you prioritize? I’m not just a perfumer; I’m also a consumer, and self-care is huge for me. I often take salt baths to reset my energy and clear my mind after being around large groups of people or free a long day. I’m a habitual perfume sampler, and I have so many to choose from to wear as my “nightcap.” Even if just for 10-15 minutes, I cherish each moment I’m able to have some “me-time.” When time and co-parenting schedules permit, I’m definitely on a flight somewhere to indulge in some delicious food and mouth-watering mocktails!](https://www.womenontopp.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/IMG_3812-1200x720.jpeg)
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