Natalie

In honour of International Women’s Day, we wanted to celebrate the remarkable achievements of local female entrepreneurs. Here is our interview with Lisa Mattam, founder of Sahajan, a natural skincare brand from Toronto offering high-performance, clean skincare based on the ancient Indian science of Ayurveda. Derived from the Hindi word for “intuitive” – Sahajan brings you the evidence to follow your intuition and choose clean beauty.

1. How did you come up with the idea for your brand?

Sahajan began with a simple yet profound moment—finding my daughter covered in my skincare. It made me question what was truly “good enough” for her and, in turn, for me. That moment sparked a journey into Ayurveda, a tradition deeply rooted in my family’s heritage. As a former pharmaceutical executive, I realized I could bridge ancient wisdom with modern science to create something both effective and clean. Partnering with Ayurvedic doctors and pharmaceutical chemists, I built Sahajan to honour tradition while delivering real, proven results.

2. What inspired you to become an entrepreneur?
(What were your motivations or aspirations at the beginning?)

I always knew, intuitively, from my heritage that these ingredients worked, and I felt compelled to bring that wisdom forward. Hearing how Sahajan is transforming people’s skin—and even their lives—is incredible, but for me, it’s also a way to honour my roots and share the power of Ayurveda with the world.

3. What impact would you like to have on people, other women, society in general?

I believe the biggest impact I can have is in growing Sahajan in a way that allows the brand to do good—both for people and for the world. That means helping people nurture their wellness, but also giving back in meaningful ways. Through Lip Karma, we support girls in developing countries as they navigate their futures. We donate products to women’s shelters and programs that help women re-enter or begin their careers. On a more personal level, I’m passionate about supporting my team and fostering an environment where women can thrive.

Beyond that, representation matters. I recently had the opportunity to speak at a high school in the city where I grew up, and seeing young people connect with me, someone, who shares their background was incredibly powerful. I hope that by sharing my journey, I can inspire other women to pursue their ambitions—whatever they may be.

4. How do you manage work-life balance as an entrepreneur?
(Do you have strategies for managing stress and preventing burnout?)

I actually don’t believe in the concept of balance. Running my own business while raising children, supporting aging parents, and maintaining a full life means that sometimes work requires more of me, and sometimes life does. I lean into whatever needs my attention most at any given time—that’s how I manage.

This year, I’ve made a real commitment to taking better care of myself. I’ve prioritized working out, but I’ve also put a huge emphasis on family and community. Last year was an incredible year for the business, but I had my head down the whole time. This year, I want to be more present—to spend more time with friends and family, because as much as wellness, exercise, and meditation are important, I know that people are what truly make me happy.

5. Are there any women who have inspired you in your professional or personal life, and if so, why?

In my personal life, my mom has always been a huge inspiration. She immigrated here and built a life from nothing, demonstrating resilience and determination in ways I can only aspire to demonstrate. Both of my parents are warriors from my point of view.

And in a more fun way, I’ve always been inspired by Olivia Pope from Scandal—specifically, season one Olivia Pope. I watched the show a few years after it aired, and maybe it resonated because, at one point in my career in pharma, I dressed like her and had a similar hairstyle. But more than that, she represented an incredibly intelligent, no-nonsense woman in a way I hadn’t seen before. I am sometimes shy to admit it, but I have often rewatched season 1 to inspire me.

6. As a woman entrepreneur, have you encountered any unique challenges?

Absolutely. Women entrepreneurs continue to face unique challenges, and the data reflects that. Less than 2% of VC funding goes to women-led businesses, and we’re still breaking the mold of what entrepreneurship looks like.

One of the most striking examples of bias I’ve faced happened last year. I sat on a panel, then did a fireside chat at a company’s town hall. I was excited to share my journey, talk about my incredible investors—Rupi Kaur, Yvonne Strahovski, the president of Lululemon—and celebrate the achievements of our brand. At the very end, after discussing all of these milestones, the final question I received was: Is this what you do full time?

That moment summed up the underlying bias women entrepreneurs face every day. I’ve built a company with a growing team, operating in two countries, with strong retail presence, yet there’s still this disbelief that this level of scale is complicated. Perhaps the bias is augmented because I run a beauty business but that moment became a reminder of how much work still needs to be done.

7. What advice would you give to young women who want to start their own business but are hesitant due to fear of failure or perceived barriers?

There’s no better time for women to step into entrepreneurship than right now. The fears and barriers will always be there, but once you take the first step, you’ll be amazed at what you can accomplish.

We now have so many relatable role models—women who have paved the way and shown us what’s possible. In beauty, founders like Tata Harper have set the standard. In Canada, we see incredible success stories in brands like Jenny Bird and Knix. These brands remind us that success is achievable.

More than ever, women entrepreneurs have access to networks and support systems that didn’t exist before. Possibility is right in front of us—so go for it.

8. How do you define success?

Success is difficult to define because, for me, it’s more of a feeling than a specific milestone. But if I can raise kind, happy children, maintain meaningful relationships with my family and friends, contribute to my community, and run a thriving business—that is success.

9. Can you share a defining moment or success that you’re particularly proud of in your entrepreneurial journey?

Raising our first round of equity funding was a defining moment for me.

It felt incredibly daunting, but I knew it was necessary—not just for the financial support, but for the strategic partnerships, mentorship, and doors it could open. Now, having successfully raised funding and brought on investors including Ridgeline Ventures, Top Knot Ventures and also notables including Rupi Kaur, Yvonne Strahovski and Celeste Burgoyne, President, Americas and global guest innovation at Lululemon, I am incredibly proud that I not only faced that mountain but that I was able to recruit an incredibly engaged group of investors who believe in Sahajan. The raise was invaluable and I hold that milestone close to my heart.

10. If you could give one golden rule to an aspiring female entrepreneur, what would it be?

Know that it takes a village to grow a business.

You don’t have to do it alone, and in fact, you won’t be able to. Surround yourself with people who will support and uplift you—whether that’s emotional support, business advice, or hands-on help. When you build that kind of network, anything is possible.