Change comes from within: Dr Bavna Kallan

As part of International Women’s Day 2026, leaders in Greater Birmingham share their thoughts on the power of reciprocity and support following this year’s theme of ‘Give to Gain’.

The concept of change is often connected to big policy level decisions that doesn’t include the day today activities.

But for Dr Bavna Kallan, clinical director and co-founder of Complete Clinical Care, it starts with small amounts of courage and honesty in everyday conversations.

She explains how careers for women aren’t linear and how healthcare professionals should learn to take care of themselves first.

What changes would you like to see for women in business in Greater Birmingham?

I would like to see more women confidently stepping into senior leadership and decision-making roles across Birmingham's business community.

While progress has been made, there are still invisible ceilings that can limit how far women feel able to progress.

Equally important is recognising that many women balance professional ambition with family responsibilities.

Organisations that embrace flexible, supportive working environments will unlock an enormous amount of talent, experience and leadership potential.

Greater Birmingham has an incredibly vibrant and diverse business ecosytem. Ensuring women are fully represented within it will only strengthen the region's innovation and growth.

What is one action you could take to challenge gender bias or stereotypes?: 

The most important action is to call it out.

Bias and stereotypes often persist because people feel uncomfortable challenging them. When individuals are confident enough to question assumptions and speak up, it creates a culture where fairness and respect become the expectation.

Change does not always come from large policies; sometimes it starts with small amounts of courage and honesty in everyday conversations.

What is the biggest challenge you have faced as a woman in business and how did you overcome it?

One of the challenges many women face is balancing career progression with family life. Early in my career I prioritised raising my family, which meant delaying opportunities to pursue leadership roles at that stage.

As my children became older, I was able to re-engage with those opportunities and expand my work into leadership and innovation, including co-founding Complete Clinical Care.

That journey reinforced something important to me: careers are rarely linear. With perseverance, confidence and the right support around you, it is possible to create new opportunities and continue growing professionally.

This year’s IWD theme is Give to Gain. How will you give back to either your organisation or community to help drive more change?

At Complete Clinical Care our mission is rooted in empowerment through better understanding of health and wellbeing. We believe that when people have the right knowledge and support, they are able to make better decisions about their health and their lives.

We regularly engage with local groups, women's networks and community organisations to deliver talks and discussions on topics such as preventative health, menopause, wellbeing and lifestyle medicine.

Many women experience symptoms that are overlooked or dismissed, particularly in areas such as hormonal health.

By creating safe spaces where women feel listened to, respected, and informed, we can help them feel more confident in advocating for their own health and wellbeing.

What’s one piece of advice you would give to women looking to succeed in your industry?

Believe in your expertise and persevere. Healthcare can be demanding and leadership roles require resilience, but confidence in your knowledge and values will carry you through challenges.

At the same time, never forget to prioritise your own wellbeing. Healthcare professionals spend their lives caring for others, but it is just as important to look after yourself.

When you do that, you are able to bring your best energy and perspective to the people that you serve.

How has being part of GBCC helped support your business or career?

Being part of the Greater Birmingham Chamber of Commerce has been incredibly valuable for connecting with a vibrant network of businesses across the region. The events and opportunities to engage with other leaders have helped build meaningful relationships and collaborations.

It has also strengthened confidence in sharing our vision for Complete Clinical Care and the work we are doing to improve access to personalised healthcare.

Engaging with the wider business community reminds you that there are many people working towards the same goal: creating healthier, stronger communities in Birmingham and beyond.