The Women of the Future Podcast: Balvinder Sidhu

Growing up in Smethwick as one of five children, Balvinder Sidhu was keen to use education to get ahead in life following the death of her father when she was just 8 years old.

Hailing from a strict Punjabi family, Balvinder had to act as a carer for both her mum and sister from a young age, and was delighted to become the first in her family to go to university to study Psychology.

 

After volunteering at a local radio station, Balvinder managed a refuge for victims of domestic violence, before returning to her journalism ‘pipe dream’ and studying for a post graduate diploma in journalism at Birmingham City University, a course that was sponsored by ITV, and the company became her long-term employers shortly afterwards.

 

2018 was a stellar year for Balvinder, seeing her gain three national awards - the Royal Television Society’s Journalist of the Year, the Asian Media Awards Regional Journalist of the Year and the Asian Women of Achievement Award, part of the Women of the Future Programme in the Media category. 

 

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For more information on the Women of the Future Programme and initiatives, please visit: www.womenofthefuture.co.uk