From Fear to Fearless: The Jasinta Dhaliwal Story
My journey didn’t begin with confidence. As a young wife arriving in Canada, I faced fear, uncertainty, and the challenge of starting life in a new country. Through faith, mentorship, and resilience, I transformed those early obstacles into the mindset that now drives my work as a leader and entrepreneur.
Today, Jasinta Dhaliwal stands at the intersection of sales, design, and entrepreneurship. With a strong foundation in relationship-building, creative strategy, and business development, she turns challenges into opportunities and ideas into meaningful solutions. Her career reflects the power of continuous learning, generosity, and purpose-driven growth.
“I didn’t overcome fear—I learned to walk through it. That’s where my strength began.”
How did you get started in sales and entrepreneurship?
Starting in sales and entrepreneurship out of necessity and curiosity. Early in my career, I realized I had a natural ability to connect with people and understand what they truly needed. That pushed me towards sales, where I could use communication, relationship building, and problem solving every day.
At the same time, having an entrepreneurship mindset, I enjoy creating solutions, spotting opportunities and improving processes. That led me to take real estate projects, explore the design industry. eventually work on my ideas.
Over the years, working in both sales and design strengthened my business approach sales taught me how to read people and close deals, design must be backed by data , timelines and financial logic taught me how to think creatively and build experiences people actually want .The combination is what started my journey and continues to shape the way I lead, build teams , grow in business. The most important idea is that when you give , you will get abundance in life .
How has working in both real estate and design shaped your approach to business?
Working in both real-estate and design has given me a unique, two –lens approach to business strategic thinking and problem solving.
Real estate taught me discipline, market analysis, negotiation, and the importance of understanding people’s long term needs. Every decision must be backed by data, timelines and financial logic.
Design, on the other hand, trained me to think creatively, seeing possibilities, paying attention to details. It taught me how to create something not just functional, but memorable and valuable.
When I combine both, I approach business with a balance of structure and creativity. I can visualize like a designer and analyze like an investor ..this helps me to present ideas more clearly , build strong relationships, and create strategies that are both practical and innovative . It helps me to stand out because I don’t just sell a vision but I can help to shape it.
What’s your secret to building strong relationships with clients from different cultures?
My Philosophy is simple, I listen first, second I understand my client and then I respond. I take time to learn a client’s culture values, communicate preferences and decision making styles.
The most important thing is to respect and patience goes a long way . I never assume, I ask thoughtful questions. This builds thrust and makes clients feel seen, not sold to.
The conversation focused entirely on their priorities. I simplified the options , shared transparent insights and gave them space to decide.
Can you share a time you turned a tough sales situation into a win?
One challenging situation involved a client who was unsure and overwhelmed. Instead of pushing the sale, I paused, reframed the conversation, and focused entirely on their priorities. I simplified the options, shared transparent insights, and gave them space to decide. That shift from “selling” to serving “not only closed the deal but built a lasting relationship and multiple referrals.
How do you balance creativity with the pressure of meeting sales goals? I treat creativity as a tool not a luxury. When goals are tight , I use creative thinking to open new angles , different marketing approaches , new scripts , fresh presentations or personalized experiences. Creativity helps me stand out and structure keeps me on track . It’s a balance of free thinking and disciplined execution.
What do you look for when building a team that can really succeed?
I look for three qualities :
- Ownership: they take responsibility for results .
- Curiosity: They ask questions , learn fast , seek better solutions .
- Emotional intelligence: they know how to work with people, not against them
Skills can be taught, but mindset and attitude are what creates high performing teams.
How do you keep your team motivated and working well together?
I focus on clarity, recognition, and empowerment. I make sure everyone knows the vision, their role and what success looks like. I celebrate wins big or small and provide coaching when needed. I also create a safe environment where ideas are welcome and people feel supported, not micro-managed.
How do you use creativity or design thinking to solve business challenges?
I start with empathy, understanding the real problem behind the surface problem. Then I brainstorm multiple solutions, even unconventional ones and prototype quickly. Design thinking helps me break out linear “traditional” sales approaches and find solutions that resonate emotionally and practically with clients.
What drives you to speak at events and share your strategies with others?
Amazing question ? I believe knowledge grows and blessings pour in when you share. Speaking allows me to empower people, spark ideas and help others avoid mistakes I had to learn the hard way. I enjoy connecting with audiences even though I feel the jitters sometimes when standing in front of audiences. It feels good to know that I am giving out my knowledge to especially those who are just starting out or looking for new inspiration. It’s my way of giving back and staying connected to the evolving business world.
What advice would you give someone starting out in entrepreneurship or sales?
Strat before you feel ready. Learn to be consistent even when things get tough. Build relationships, not transactions. Accept that failure is part of the process, it’s feedback not a full stop . And most importantly invest in your mindset, A strong mindset will carry you further than any strategy.
“When empathy meets creativity, opportunities aren’t found—they’re created.”
