Sunaina Khaylar: My story on International Women's Day

Paraplanner speaks out

clock • 3 min read

After paraplanner Sunaina Khaylar saw #mynameis trending on LinkedIn and after reading all the various posts from people with unique, non-anglicised names she said she had never read anything more relatable or felt more understood as a person. On International Women’s Day, with its #breakthebias theme, here she tells her story...

From as little as age three, I've been very aware of how ‘different' my name is to all my friends and the people around me. Except at that little age, I was very proud of my name, telling my nursery teacher, ‘My name isn't Sunaina, it's Sunaina Kaur Khaylar'. The sass. However, as I grew older, I began to notice how uncomfortable it was making me feel, anticipating people saying it wrong. Particularly at school when we would have a supply teacher, and the absolute dread that would come over me, thinking of them having to read my name out loud from the register, in front of the whole clas...

To continue reading this article...

Join Professional Adviser for free

  • Unlimited access to real-time news, industry insights and market intelligence
  • Stay ahead of the curve with spotlights on emerging trends and technologies
  • Receive breaking news stories straight to your inbox in the daily newsletters
  • Make smart business decisions with the latest developments in regulation, investing retirement and protection
  • Members-only access to the editor’s weekly Friday commentary
  • Be the first to hear about our events and awards programmes

Join

 

Already a Professional Adviser member?

Login

More on Your profession

OBR leak 'embarrassing' as Selby calls for pension stability after Autumn Budget

OBR leak 'embarrassing' as Selby calls for pension stability after Autumn Budget

AJ Bell’s Tom Selby joins Sahar Nazir in the studio to unpack the Budget

Sahar Nazir
clock 28 November 2025 • 1 min read
Andrew Goodwin: Advisers shouldn't have to be told to improve

Andrew Goodwin: Advisers shouldn't have to be told to improve

'The fact is that nobody stays ahead of the curve by standing still'

Andrew Goodwin
clock 28 November 2025 • 4 min read
Treasury Committee chair welcomes plan to replace Lifetime ISA

Treasury Committee chair welcomes plan to replace Lifetime ISA

LISA is ‘too complex'

Sahar Nazir
clock 28 November 2025 • 2 min read