Humans of Fuzia is proud to feature Mo Kanjilal, founder of Edge of Difference, a diversity and inclusion leader dedicated to building more equitable and inclusive workplaces. From navigating leadership roles in global organizations to founding her own company, Mo’s journey reflects courage, resilience, and a commitment to creating opportunities for underrepresented voices. Her story inspires our global community of over 5 million members who are working toward meaningful impact, united by a shared mission of supporting women through He for She and She for She.
Can you share your background and what shaped your journey?
I’m the child of immigrants from India who moved to England, and my family strongly expected me to become a doctor like my father. But I wanted to do something different. I studied English literature and eventually found myself working in marketing at a technology company — something I never planned.
Over time, I built a career in technology, sales, and marketing, working in complex sectors including healthcare. I progressed into senior leadership roles in large global organizations, managing international teams and traveling extensively.
However, the journey was challenging because I often felt very different from others in leadership positions. I had to fight for my place, and those experiences led me to work in diversity and inclusion so others would not face the same barriers.
Tell us about your company and how it creates impact.
After leaving my corporate career, I began mentoring girls through charities and became involved in women-in-tech networks. During the pandemic, I co-founded a diversity and inclusion company, and later I founded Edge of Difference.
We work primarily with technology and gaming companies to develop diversity, equity, and inclusion programs. We help leaders build inclusive environments and support employees in progressing their careers through training and talent development programs.
There’s also a strong business case for inclusion. If companies want to create products that serve diverse audiences, they need diverse teams. Research consistently shows that diverse teams perform better and deliver stronger business results.
What does being a founder mean to you?
Being a founder is both brilliant and challenging. While I had experience in budgeting and commercial strategy from my corporate career, there were many new areas to learn, such as taxes, accounting, and operations.
You lose the safety net of working for an organization, and you must take responsibility for every aspect of the business. There’s a lot to learn, and it requires courage and adaptability.
Support networks and founder communities are incredibly helpful, but entrepreneurship also demands significant effort in areas like sales and marketing — responsibilities many people don’t initially consider.
What early challenges helped shape your entrepreneurial mindset?
Because I had always chosen a different path from what was expected of me, I became comfortable trying new things and learning continuously. That mindset helped me adapt to new challenges, technologies, and business processes.
Entrepreneurship requires experimenting, accepting failure, and trying different approaches. You also need to be willing to connect with people, reach out, and communicate confidently — something many people find difficult but is essential for growth.
What are your thoughts on women’s empowerment in entrepreneurship?
I believe women entrepreneurs often receive coaching around confidence or imposter syndrome, while men are more frequently offered investment and opportunities. In reality, women are fully capable of leading and building businesses — the expectations placed on them are simply different.
It’s important for women to stand their ground, trust their expertise, and pursue their goals confidently. Building strong networks and connecting with other entrepreneurs helps create support systems that encourage growth.
Women may face more criticism and barriers, but persistence and courage make progress possible.
What advice would you give to aspiring entrepreneurs?
Entrepreneurship is much harder than it appears. Many people start businesses without fully understanding the work involved.
I recommend joining startup programs and connecting with other founders to learn about running a business. It’s also important to respect others’ time and conduct your own research.
Most importantly, validate your idea before investing significant time and effort. Make sure there is genuine demand for what you’re building.
“Be brave, keep learning, and make sure your ideas truly solve real problems — meaningful impact follows when you create value for others.”
Connect with Mo Kanjilal
https://www.linkedin.com/in/mokanjilal
https://edgeofdifference.com
https://www.instagram.com/mokanjilalwilliams/
https://www.youtube.com/@EdgeOfDifference
Want to be featured?
If you’d like to be featured in the Humans of Fuzia series, email us at fuziatalent@fuzia.com.
