Originally from Pakistan, Kay Habib’s first inspiration was her own mother, who would repurpose things for the household. From an early age Kay was highly motivated, which is essential for thriving against the daily struggles of being a woman in Pakistan.

She completed a post graduate degree in interior design and fashion, an MBA in Australia -where she was reunited and married with her high-school sweetheart-, before moving to Canada in 2006.

After a lay-off in 2008, Kay decided it was time to focus on her creative skills. She upgraded her certifications and started working at a non-profit social enterprise incubator. This is where Kay developed an intrigue for establishing business models with purpose.

In 2014 while settled in London, Kay started her first home-staging and decorating business. This organization grew quickly and by 2018 the business was creating custom decorative pillows, utilizing fabric samples collected from furniture and drapery stores.

As the demand grew for the pillows, Kay was always on the lookout for individuals skilled with sewing. After the success of her first business, Kay wanted to build on her idea of doing business while delivering social value. She was speaking to business coaches in her network, who introduced her to the Cross-Cultural Learners Center where she met her future team for Skilled Accents.

Kay truly related to the struggles of the Middle Eastern women she met. She saw an opportunity to employ this marginalized part of the community, without the need for an English language certification. Today, Skilled Accents is gaining popularity among local businesses for their recycling efforts, reducing waste from the landfills and helping new Canadians, kick start careers.