Manpreet Kalra

Manpreet Kaur Kalra (she/her) is a social impact + equity advisor, anti-racism educator, entrepreneur, and writer working to decolonize storytelling and communicating for social change. Her work focuses on the interconnectivity of economic, social, and climate justice within sustainable international development initiatives. She collaborates with impact-driven organizations to co-create solutions that promote equitable, anti-racist and innovative work environments by rethinking how businesses approach and communicate impact.

Having worked in venture capital and startups, Manpreet founded Art of Citizenry to support impact-driven brands prioritizing people and the planet. Weaving together ESG with DEIA, she collaborates with businesses to address inclusion in all aspects, from business development to marketing strategy. She educates using a variety of mediums, including the Art of Citizenry Podcast, where she shares her nuanced and unfiltered insights on building a more just and equitable future. Her work unpacks history and addresses systemic power structures.

As a highly acclaimed speaker, Manpreet has led workshops, lectured at universities, and delivered keynotes at universities and organizations around the world including Cornell University, University of Southern California Global Policy Institute, University of Arts London, and the World Fair Trade Organization. Her powerful talks range from Ethical Storytelling to Anti-racism in Global Development.

With a passion for creative storytelling as a tool for social change, she created a photo and poetry series called Artisans of Punjab that explores the trauma of Partition through the evolution of Phulkari textiles. She is also a contributing author on ethical storytelling in The Fashion Designer Survival Guide (3rd Edition, 2021).

Featured in Forbes, she co-founded Reclaim Collaborative, an online community dedicated to fostering justice and equity across the sustainable fashion and lifestyle ecosystem (bought by tonle). She also provides pro bono consulting and mentorship to impact-driven businesses around the globe as a Nest Professional Fellow. She is a founding member of the Fair Trade Federation’s Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (JEDI) Committee. She has also served as the Chief Impact and Communications Officer at MINNA Goods and sat on the board of the New York City Fair Trade Coalition and Dasvandh Network.