Roshni’s Journey - Resilience, Optimism, and Dedication to Making a Difference
“Honesty and hard work, service to others, listening to the wisdom of elders and making decisions for the collective were values that were strongly upheld in my family.”
“I want us (WOCPSN) to be a safe space where women of colour can access knowledge, resources, and connections so they feel seen, valued and have the tools to thrive”
Meet Roshni Prabhu the Women of Colour in the Public Sector Network (WOCPSN) incoming Co-Chair in March 2025. Roshni is Senior Advisor Engagement at Maritime New Zealand. She was born in Cochin, India but never lived there. She grew up in Singapore and has fond memories of visiting her extended family in India annually. Her mother tongue is Konkani, and she is also fluent in Tamil, Hindi, French, and Mandarin to varying degrees.
With over 15 years of experience in the public, private, and NGO sectors, Roshni has worked in communications and stakeholder engagement in both Singapore and New Zealand. Education, work and life has taken her to more than 20 countries around the world, which has enriched her understanding of different cultures and ways of life. In 2012, she migrated from Singapore to Wellington, New Zealand, where she has lived ever since.
In her free time, Roshni enjoys reading, watching world cinema, cooking for friends, exploring New Zealand and supporting her daughter in making her dreams come true. Roshni Prabhu's story is one of resilience, optimism and dedication to making a difference.
Values
Growing up, Roshni was instilled with values of honesty, hard work, and service. "Honesty and hard work, service to others, listening to the wisdom of elders and making decisions for the collective were values that were strongly upheld in my family," she explains. These principles guided her through her education in all-girls' schools, where she learned that "girls can do anything that they put their mind to.”
Living in multicultural Singapore, Roshni believed that regardless of race, language, or religion, she could achieve her professional and personal dreams. "A lot of my experiences made me, rightly or wrongly, also believe that success was linear and defined by how much money I made or the possessions I had," she recalls.
However, moving to New Zealand in her mid-twenties made her reassess all these values and beliefs.
"I was not ready for the challenges of migration or adjusting to the culture shock of working and living in New Zealand. At the same time, I was able to explore things in New Zealand that were not valued in Singapore. It wasn’t until my daughter was born that I made a conscious decision to get clear on the values and beliefs that I wanted to keep and get rid of those that no longer served me," she shares.
Overcoming challenges through self-belief, support and optimism
Roshni reflects on what helps her overcome challenges and says it’s "Unwavering belief in myself. Having a small group of people I can talk to for guidance. Faith that the Universe will deliver, and if it doesn’t, know that some things were not meant to be."
Advice to people facing challenges
Roshni's advice to those facing challenges is:
Trust your own intuition and give things a go.
Seek counsel from friends and mentors/coaches in your circle of trust.
If things don’t work out, look at ways to learn and pivot.
Understand that there may be some things that are not in your control and think of how you can make peace with that in your mind and in your heart.
Roshni’s 2024 Highlights
In 2024, Roshni celebrated several milestones, including finding work in a tough job climate and helping turn visions into reality:
She organised her daughter’s 5th birthday and brought her daughter’s dream of a mermaid princess fairy party to fruition.
She worked on the formal launch of the Women of Colour Public Service Network (WOCPSN).
WOCPSN and being the incoming Co-Chair
Roshni joined the WOCPSN journey when it was just an idea. "It's inspiring to see people who look like you—many who have overcome more struggles than I have—be so passionate about bringing about structural change for WOC in the NZ public sector," Roshni reflects.
Roshni explained that she initially joined the network because she felt seen and heard and it gave her a greater purpose. “I found a safe space where I could connect with other WOC in the public sector in Wellington. I love bringing people together and I saw myself as someone who could quietly help with these skills behind the scenes.”
She goes on to state, “I am proud that my WOCPSN sisters supported me in taking on the Co-Chair role. It is an enormous privilege to continue the work our previous co-chairs started," she explains.
As the incoming Co-Chair of WOCPSN, Roshni wants the network to be a safe space where women of colour can access knowledge, resources, and connections so they feel seen, valued, and have the tools to thrive. “I want our work to spotlight power dynamics and inequitable practices in the workplace and collaborate with other networks and allies to drive systemic change,” she shares about her vision for the network.
Her message to WOC sisters and allies who want to join the WOCPSN:
Welcome! We build community and connection through getting involved
Listen in to our webinars and actively participate.
Get your WOC sisters and allies to join the network too via this link: https://employeenetworks.govt.nz/find-networks-events-and-resources/women-of-colour-in-the-public-sector-network-wocpsn
Roshni explains the network’s plans for 2025. “We have ambitious plans for our network. We are a running a Concrete Ceiling Campaign in 2025 to raise awareness about the challenges WOC face in the workplace. We need all the sisters and allies who can help.”
Roshni’s Reflection on her journey
Reflecting on her journey, her advice to her younger self is "I am proud of you and how you use your gifts to make the world better. It’s okay to make mistakes. Don’t worry about perfection. Just start." This advice is valuable not only to Roshni’s younger self but to everyone.
Roshni Prabhu's story is a beacon of hope and inspiration, reminding us that with resilience, optimism, dedication, and a clear vision, we can overcome challenges and make a meaningful impact in our communities.
If you would like to be involved in the WOCPSN upcoming Concrete Ceiling Campaign or interested in finding our more about it, please Email: wocpsn@gmail.com or connect with the Network’s incoming Co-Chairs Afnan and Roshni via LinkedIn.