Employee Stories
Vina Misra
Contributing to the community, one experience at a time
Finding purpose beyond work
Whether she’s organising a community grocery event, advocating for greater accessibility, or bringing a cartoon character to life for children and families, Vina Misra believes that small acts of service have a lasting impact.
Outside of work, volunteering has become a meaningful way for her to connect with different communities, support important causes and make a difference in the lives of others. Along the way, these experiences have shaped her perspective, strengthened her skills and influenced the way she is every day.
Making an impact in different ways
Vina’s volunteering journey spans a variety of causes and communities.
As a pop-up supermarket champion, she helps organise and run community grocery events that provide affordable essentials to families in need. From coordinating logistics to supporting visitors on the day, she helps create an experience that is not only practical but also respectful and dignified for everyone who attends.
She is also actively involved in disability-related causes, supporting awareness efforts and advocating for greater inclusion and accessibility.
Since 2023, Vina has taken on another role that creates a different experience for those that attend. Each year, she volunteers as Pikachu at Standard Chartered’s Kids Day Out, helping create memorable experiences for children and families.
While the activities may be different, they are all connected by a common goal: helping people feel supported, included and valued.
Lessons learned through service
Working with vulnerable communities strengthened Vina’s ability to recognise unspoken needs and respond with empathy before process.
Community events taught her how to stay calm and focused when things don’t go according to plan. Supporting disability-related initiatives fundamentally changed how she thinks about accessibility.
“Accessibility is not a checkbox, it’s a mindset.”
Even becoming a mascot taught her something different . Without facial expressions or words to rely on, she learnt how much can be communicated through presence, energy and enthusiasm alone.
Along the way, coordinating volunteers, managing schedules and overseeing event logistics also helped strengthen her organisational and operational skills.
The impact extends far beyond the events
Vina credits these experiences with shaping many of the qualities she brings into the workplace today. They have encouraged her to think more intentionally about inclusion and to consider who may be left out of a conversation or process. They’ve also strengthened her ability to stay composed when situations become complex and reinforced the importance of focusing on people first.
Volunteering has also taught her the importance of taking ownership without waiting to be asked. Every initiative is driven by a shared purpose, success often depends on people stepping forward, taking initiative and doing what is needed to support the outcome.
Looking back, Vina sees volunteering as much more than something she does outside of work.
It’s broadened her perspective, strengthened her confidence and helped her develop skills that continue to influence both her personal and professional life. Most importantly, it has reinforced the value of showing up for others, whether that means supporting a family in need, advocating for greater accessibility, creating a memorable experience for a child, or helping someone feel seen and included.