Narveen Maan
Senior Talent Acquisition Consultant & Founding Member, Talent Collective
1. What seemed like an inconsequential decision at the time, but in hindsight turned out to fundamentally reshape your life?
July 27th 1999 – we went out for my best friend’s birthday, unknowingly to an area where much gang violence occurred. She passed away in my arms that night, the victim of a drive-by shooting. We were 16 years old and it was 3 days shy of her 17th birthday.
2. At what age did you become an adult? What happened, and how did you know?
I was 9 years old when I began the “adult in training” program and I experienced a pretty steep learning curve during this period. I’d be happy to share the story if asked but I would say that this was the first year I had to make pretty crucial decisions for myself, my mother and my sister. The official day of my “graduation” was on Dec 9th 2000, exactly one month after my moms passing from metastatic cancer. It was also 1 month after I turned 18. My training had set me up well. Due to my estranged relationship with my father I took on the responsibility of raising my sister, who was 15 at the time. My mom had left me with some clear instructions as to what my responsibilities would be after she passed. Mainly that we pursue a life with purpose and become financially independent, to be good humans and lead with love. I truly believe she held on until I was of legal age so that I would have the freedom to make these decisions. She knew she had taught me well. She was right. I did fine.
3. What habit or behaviour or belief have you recently acquired? Why is it now in your life?
Meditation and positive self talk, I also do not expose myself to any negative content after 8pm i.e. scrolling on social media, watching violent or disturbing shows. I am becoming deeply aware of the power of the subconscious mind. Thoughts become things.
4. When was the last time you changed your mind about something really important? What was it and what led you to change your view?
Manifestation has always been something I have been skeptical about but after hearing Mel Robbins and Tara Swart Bieber discuss the power of Neuroscience, I highly recommend listening to this podcast. “The # 1 Neuroscientist: After Listening to This, Your Brain Will Not Be The Same” ”https://www.melrobbins.com/podcasts/episode-163
5. What is your untrainable superpower?
Empathy and sympathy have taught me true compassion, so I would say compassion is my superpower. My life experiences have taught me how to have an open mind and a deep ability to connect with people from all walks of life. I’m incredibly grateful for this gift, as it has allowed me to build meaningful connections with a diverse range of individuals on many levels.
6. What is the number one thing you would recommend every person in the world to practice from now on in order to increase their happiness and wellbeing?
Learning to live life with ‘no expectations’ opens the door to true happiness. I’m working on this, and while it’s not easy, it’s incredibly powerful. Happiness is not just a feeling—it’s a practice, a lifestyle, and a mindset shift. Once you understand this you can implement the habits to live happily.
7. When was the last time you felt like an outsider in a group? What/How did you learn?
Imposter syndrome is something I’ve learned to expect, especially in situations I have to be in, rather than those I choose. Over time, though, it has become less of an issue. As I’ve gotten older, I’ve focused more on what truly energizes me and leaned into those experiences. Through this, I’ve gained clarity about the environments where I felt like an outsider. Often, it’s simply because we don’t “speak the same language,” and that’s perfectly okay. Trying to be everything to everyone is exhausting. Instead, learning where I feel a genuine connection has been incredibly empowering.
8. What do you think is acceptable today but will become taboo tomorrow?
As technology continues to evolve and become more ingrained in our lives, the value of in-person connections and real-life relationships seems to be diminishing. I believe that in-person interactions will increasingly depend on an individual’s personal values, making face-to-face meetings feel more unusual than hopping on a Zoom call. As time goes on, making new connections are likely to become more difficult, if there is less effort made to build those deeper, in-person relationships.
9. What is the best purchase you’ve made recently? Why?
Travel has truly enriched my life. I’m incredibly grateful for the experiences I have had and to connect with people from all walks of life.
10. What is your most prized possession? What’s the story behind it?
Journals from my mother with her wishes and lessons she wrote during her last year of life.
11. If you were to own a bar, and you could design it how you wanted, what would it look like?
The bar would be in the shape of a circle, and would be at the heart of the room. It would be a 1920’s theme playing new york jazz, house, funk, soul, old school, hip hop and r&b. It would be the center of the space and the outskirts would be where I ran my business. At the end of the day, we would meet in the middle and just chill.
12. Aside from family & friends, if you could invite any 3 people - living or dead - to your final dinner party before the end of the world, who would they be and why?
Neville Goddard, Elon Musk and Princess Diana.
They each have a super power that I’m fascinated by. I’ve learned so much from their lives and the incredible impact they’ve had on the world. Their contributions have been invaluable, and I can only imagine how engaging a dinner conversation with them would be. My first two questions would be: What were they like as children, and what were the biggest mistakes they’ve ever made?
13. What’s the best piece of professional advice you’ve ever received? Who gave it and when?
Stick to the plan and not your mood. I read it somewhere.
14. What's a skill that isn’t on your resume, but your former bosses would recognize as one of the reasons you are successful?
Resilience without fail, every performance review and piece of feedback I’ve ever received has highlighted my determination and focus. These qualities have been key to my growth and success throughout every stage of my journey.
15. What’s the one bad quality you wouldn’t mind in a colleague? Why?
A colleague who was overly critical of my strategy/recommendations would be my ideal partner in crime as they would ensure a good balanced approach. I appreciate the perspective of a devil’s advocate.
16. What role do you find yourself playing when you join a newly formed team? Can you explain why this happens?
I’m the strategist—the one who steps back to gain a broader perspective, I go deep into the problem space and brainstorm potential solutions. My experience across various business models, industries, and hiring challenges equips me with a rich library of insights to draw from. I deeply enjoy problem-solving when it comes to people related initiatives and I genuinely enjoy thinking creatively to find solutions.
17. When it comes to our work and industry: what scares you most?
Top talent with toxic traits.
18. What common wisdom in our industry needs to be debunked?
Feedback is a gift! It absolutely should not be! Self-awareness is a crucial yet often undervalued skill that deserves our attention. I frequently observe the unfortunate consequences of a lack of self-awareness, as there’s a common assumption that we inherently know ourselves. In reality, many of us remain ignorant or develop this essential awareness too late. The current feedback loop is fragile, often ineffective, and those with a growth mindset must put in significant effort to seek feedback. I believe the world would be a better place if we could support one another in recognizing our shortcomings, ultimately saving years of unnecessary struggle.
19. If you could add a question for the next person to answer, what would it be?
What is the legacy you want to leave behind, and how do you want to be remembered?
20. Who would you recommend to do the next 20 Questions With … ?
Susie Cardew – I massively admire her leadership style, she is an amazing recruitment professional.
Krista Skalde Roy – because she is an incredible leader with amazing career success and I would love to learn more about the way she thinks, some of her life experiences and learnings.
Tim Ryan – because his commercial acumen and pulse on Toronto’s Tech Startup Ecosystem is unmatched.
Marianne Bulger, Alison Kaizer, Georgia Ilios. I am keen to put some Canadian top talent on the map and on your radar Hung!
Thank you to Narveen Maan for taking 20 Questions for The Brainfood Tribune. Make sure to follow Narveen on LinkedIn