About Seema
Seema (she/her) is a Tkaronto-based cultural leader and bridge-builder who finds deep joy and fulfilment in creating meaningful change for artists and equity-deserving communities.
Whether working with grassroots organisations or large-scale institutions, Seema intentionally and creatively designs experiences and solutions that convene folks from all walks of life to push forward her vision for a more equitable world.
Extra Cardamom
Consulting
Extra Cardamom Consulting is a boutique consulting collective that collaborates on thoughtful, strategic, and values-driven work with organisations across sectors that are ready to make a meaningful change.
Our team includes heart-centred and purpose-driven leaders who believe the process is equally important to the results, and that equitable art and culture is essential to shaping thriving cities and communities.
Services Include:
Community & Stakeholder Engagement
Strategic Planning
Meeting Facilitation
Inclusion Strategy
Cultural Programming
Program Design
Experience and Event Design
Art Interventions
Speculative Futures
Product Strategy
Audience / User Research & Journey Mapping
Product Management and Roadmapping
Product Marketing
And more
Testimonials
“Seema is an empathetic and strategic leader with strong values. She is adept at bridging disparate communities to drive forward meaningful change. Seema and I worked together at the Department of Canadian Heritage (PCH) from 2018 to 2022 when she was Regional Director General (Ontario) and Federal Lead, Anti-Racism Engagement. Having joined the senior ranks at PCH directly from the non-profit sector, she had a unique and valuable perspective as someone with a deep understanding of the issues facing the communities we serve. She was able to juggle complex files and lead diverse teams thoughtfully while influencing policy. I appreciated Seema’s commitment to raising awareness about systemic barriers gracefully, her reflex to design for communities at the margins, and her ability to address barriers at their root. She is an excellent collaborator who developed trusting relationships across teams and branches to drive forward ideas with impact. What I will remember most about Seema is the way she modelled the change she aimed to inspire across the department”
- Isabelle Mondou,
Deputy Minister, Canadian Heritage
“Seema’s deep knowledge of issues of inclusion and anti-racism, coupled with her leadership style steeped in empathy, humility and collaboration enriched IDEA office’s knowledge and enabled us to create a more informed and grounded long-term IDEA (Inclusion, Diversity, Equity and Accessibility) action plan”
- Jenny Ratansi-Rodrigues,
Director General & Corporate Secretary, Canadian Heritage
“Seema’s practice feels like a warm fire…provides comfort, you are tended to with care, you are drawn to its presence. I was searching for someone who understand nuance, is highly emotionally intelligent, creative, and trustworthy - Seema went above and beyond when matching these traits. There are not many people I would trust with my team on an intimate, two-day staff retreat - but I trust Seema, and after our retreat with her, so does our entire staff team”
- Kamilah Apong, Founder & ED, Lil Sis
Clients & Collaborators
Let's Connect!
Extra Cardamom is based in Tkaronto, Treaty 13 Territory and the ancestral lands of the Mississaugas of the Credit, the Anishnabeg, the Chippewa, the Haudenosaunee and the Wendat peoples.
We have considerable learning and unlearning to do - internally, interpersonally and systemically - to move forward in right relations with First Nations, Inuit and Métis Peoples. We commit to deepening our understanding of Indigenous cultures and histories, making conscious efforts to interrupt patterns that harm Indigenous communities, and moving towards meaningful and equitable reconciliation.