The Ismaili Connection

Riaz Patel serves as an Executive Producer/Director in Los Angeles, specializing in transformative and perspective-shifting TV series and media projects. With two Emmy Award nominations and an NAACP Image Award, he creatively leads shows for major networks like NBC/Universal, Lifetime, Discovery, and others. Riaz's productions span 21 countries, distributed globally by A&E, MTV, Hulu, and Netflix. Notably, "The RAD Impact Awards," featuring renowned figures like Priyanka Chopra and Margot Robbie, garnered 138.4 million online impressions. Riaz is a board member of Odyssey/Impact (NYC) and The Jenesse Center (LA).   Connect with Riaz on LinkedIn Check out interview with Riaz here  

Zain A. Gulamali is a technology executive, corporate and business development leader, and venture capital / growth equity investor with nearly 20 years of experience in enterprise, consumer, and healthcare technology investing, as well as strategy, M&A, business development, and startup operations. He is currently Head of Amazon Catalytic Capital (fund-of-funds supporting underrepresented founders), an Investment Partner for the Amazon Alexa Fund (VC fund), and a leader in Amazon's Worldwide Business & Corporate Development group. Before Amazon, Zain worked in startups (Pocket Gems), private equity (Warburg Pincus and Monitor Clipper Partners), and investment banking (Goldman Sachs). He is a graduate of the Stanford Graduate School of Business and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Zain has volunteered continuously in community service and international development through the Jamati and Imamat Institutions since the age of 4. Zain's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/zgulamali/  

Shireen Abdullah is a foodie with a passion for problem-solving. Growing a culturally competent nutrition platform that connects individuals to dietitians. After spending most of her career as a project manager and management consultant, Shireen decided to change paths and pursue her passion to become a “nutri-prenuer.”  While managing her own illness, she realized the importance of cultural nutrition education paired with an empowering, patient-centered care model to close gaps in health equity for minorities. Her startup is called Yumlish, creating an AI-powered, culturally relevant nutrition therapy platform for minorities with diabetes that addresses socioeconomic barriers to dietary adherence.  https://www.linkedin.com/in/shireenabdullah/        https://yumlish.com/  

For almost a decade now, Sohail Zindani has helped companies build and sustain learning culture through his dynamic, result oriented and focused training and consulting interventions. With the mission of “promoting learning, no matter what”, Sohail is one of the Pakistan's most sought-after trainer, consultant, thought-leader and keynote speaker. He is arguably the most provocative, engaging and stimulating management consultant in business. In addition to his work in the business sector, Sohail has passion for learning and teaching in the social sectors, including education, healthcare, social ventures, and cause-driven non-profits. He has also authored “Passion Plus” & “Common Sense at Work”. Important links: Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sohailzindani/  Ashrei Tech website: https://ashreitech.com/   

Shelmina's life purpose is to advance gender and racial equality in leadership roles. She is an author,, board member, TedX speaker, former IBM V.P., angel investor and a distinguished alumni. Shelmina comes from humble beginnings in Tanzania. Driven by her desire to lift herself out of poverty, she left home at 15 to pursue higher education. Through many trials, tribulations and triumphs, she discovered strategies that transformed her career. She went from being the first in her family to graduate college to becoming one of the highest ranking women of color at IBM- while raising her two children as a single mother since they were 4 and 2. At the peak of her career, she left IBM to share her strategies with other women to accelerate their career success. Through mentoring thousands of women, speaking at corporations, colleges, and conferences globally, she realized that women are still struggling with the same challenges she faced during her career. They inspired her to write her book, Show your worth: 8 Intentional Strategies for Women to Emerge as Leaders At Work.   * Connect with Shelmina Abji on LinkedIn. * For more information please visit “Show Your Worth”: Intention and strategy to uplift women leaders and American Ismailis Partner to Build a Secondary School in Remote Tanzania Village *Listen to Shelmina's TED talk here * Visit Shemina's website at  www.shelmina.com  

Afzal Habib is a co-founder of a social enterprise named kidogo with his wife serving quality childcare in East Africa. Being an undergraduate from York University, Schulich School of Business, Afzal started working as a consultant with the Boston Consulting Group for 3.5 years. He is currently serving as a Strategy & Operations Manager with the Central Office for Poverty Elimination (COPE). His career spans around an interesting journey from consultancy (BCG) to entrepreneurship (kidogo) to managing community focused poverty programmes.   Important links: Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/2020-year-i-left-kidogo-afzal-habib/ https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/taking-leap-3-conversations-led-leaving-six-figure-consulting-habib/  Kidogo website: www.kidogo.co  

This Women's History Month, we want to highlight and appreciate Azima Dhanjee. She is a Co-founder at ConnectHear (The Google Translate for Sign Language), recipient of the Diana Award, World Summit Award, Standard Chartered Women in Tech Award, P@SHA ICT Award, Forbes, and Pioneer Post and Board Member at SEWF Social Enterprise World Forum C.I.C. As a 19-year-old, she started a Facebook page to teach Pakistani Sign Language (PSL) and today it has turned into the largest Deaf accessibility service provider in South Asia with a major focus on technology.  Important links: Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/azimadhanjee/ ConnectHear website: https://www.connecthear.org/  

Dr. Ali Asani is Murray A. Albertson Professor of Middle Eastern Studies and Professor of Indo-Muslim and Islamic Religion and Cultures at Harvard University. He has also served as the Chair of the Department of Near Eastern Languages and Civilizations and Director of the Prince Alwaleed Islamic Studies Program. A specialist on Muslim traditions and communities in South Asia, Professor Asani's research focuses on Shia and Sufi devotional traditions in the region. He has been particularly active post-Sept 11 in improving the understanding of Islam and its role in Muslim societies by emphasizing the role of the arts aspedagogic bridges to foster a better understandings of Islam and Muslim cultures globally.The author of many articles and several books, he has been a recipient of awards foroutstanding teaching. In 2020 he was recognized as Faculty of the Year by the Harvard Foundation and also appointed to the Board of Governors of the Institute of Ismaili Studies.

Sanah Jivani is the founder and CEO of the Love Your Natural Self Foundation, a nonprofit organization dedicated to improving self-esteem with a focus on empowering individuals through events, movements and hands-on sessions. She was inspired to help others after losing all her hair to Alopecia in the 7th grade and subsequently struggling with her own low self-worth. Since then, her foundation has reached over 30,000 students in 100 schools and 28 countries through a curriculum that focuses on the social and emotional wellness of young people. In this podcast, she talks about her personal struggles with alopecia, overcoming social stigma and loving her natural self. *Connect with Sanah Jivani on Linkedin *For more information visit her non-profit's website http://www.loveyournaturalself.org *Watch her TEDx talk https://tedxtamu.org/sanah-jivani

Sonya Keshwani is the Founder and CEO of StyleEsteem. Her company designs and provides fashionable head wraps to people coping with hair loss. She is a breast cancer survivor and her hair loss journey has sparked her motivation to help others live with dignity and in comfort when facing disease. Sonya is also a Strategic Communication Faculty and an ex-employee of the United States Department of Justice. In this podcast, she talks about her cancer journey and the cultural stigma around it, the importance of regular health checks, and her motivations for service.  * Connect with Sonya Keshwani on Instagram. * For more information about fashion turbans and StyleEsteem wardrobe please visit https://styleesteemshop.com * To learn more about breast cancer, visit the CDC's website https://www.cdc.gov/cancer/breast/index.htm

Shelmina's passion is to help women achieve success in their careers and emerge as leaders at work. Her goal is to help create gender equality in leadership and representation in every room where decisions are made. She is an author, gender equality advocate, board member, TedX speaker, former IBM V.P., angel investor and a distinguished alumni. Shelmina comes from humble beginnings in Tanzania. Driven by her desire to lift herself out of poverty, she left home at 15 to pursue higher education. Through many trials, tribulations and triumphs, she discovered strategies that transformed her career. She went from being the first in her family to graduate college to becoming one of the highest ranking women of color at IBM- while raising her two children as a single mother since they were 4 and 2. At the peak of her career, she left IBM to share her strategies with other women to accelerate their career success. Through mentoring thousands of women, speaking at corporations, colleges, and conferences globally, she realized that women are still struggling with the same challenges she faced during her career. They inspired her to write her book, Show your worth: 8 Intentional Strategies for Women to Emerge as Leaders At Work.   Connect with Shelmina Abji on LinkedIn. For more information please visit “Show Your Worth”: Intention and strategy to uplift women leaders and American Ismailis Partner to Build a Secondary School in Remote Tanzania Village Listen to Shelmina's TED talk here Visit Shemina's website at  www.shelmina.com

Galeeb Kachra is a senior environmental protection specialist at the US Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) who has more than two decades of experience working on a number of environmental initiatives, including helping salmon and orcas with climate change to helping communities in northern Pakistan with natural disaster relief. He considers himself a steward in life, looking after the people and living things on this planet. In this episode, Galeeb talks about his identity–from growing up in Kenya to immigrating to the US for an education. He also shares stories about his time as juror in a wrongful death case, how he lost his hearing in one ear, and the importance of diving in to find your niche. 

Adiba works at Aga Khan National Conciliation and Arbitration Board for the USA. In this episode, she briefly talks about what CAB is and her role within CAB. She also talks about her past work with UNICEF and HOPE and how it ties into her motivation to help people improve their quality of life. Adiba discusses her growing up years in Tajikistan, her family and the unrest situation in the early 1990s and her move to the United States. She expresses her gratitude to Hazar Imam for the help provided to murids in Tajikistan in terms of food supply when there was a shortage. She talks about her education in the United States and the novelties she experienced when she moved to the US coming from a small town in Tajikistan (eg: automatic sliding doors were things that she had never seen before). She hopes to inspire other  immigrants to stay motivated and ask for help from Jamati members and institutions when they face the challenges of settlement in a new country. * Connect with Adiba Karimi on LinkedIn. * For more information about the Aga Khan National Conciliation and Arbitration Board for the USA please visit https://the.ismaili/cab

Alnoor Maherali is a former Canadian diplomat, certified mediator, and co-founder of VennMediation, which helps people have difficult conversations and resolve conflicts in a more equitable way. Before starting his company during the height of the pandemic, Alnoor spent about a decade in public service, first working as a diplomat for the Canadian Foreign Services and then later working for the Aga Khan Development Network. His career journey has led him to Afghanistan, Bangladesh, and Kenya. He's helped governments shape their policies and helped during stressful moments such as hostage situations. In this episode, Alnoor breaks down his career, shares several life and career lessons, and gives tips on how people can be better negotiators.    Connect with Alnoor Maherali on LinkedIn. Check out VennMediation for your mediation needs.

Nabeel Gillani is a postdoctoral associate at the MIT Center for Constructive Communication in Boston, Massachusetts. Nabeel focuses on analyzing and designing communications technologies to foster connections that help reduce barriers to educational, economic, and social opportunities. In Fall 2022, Nabeel will start a joint appointment as an Assistant Professor of Design and Data between the D'Amore-McKim School of Business and College of Arts, Media and Design at Northeastern University. Prior stops in Nabeel's career journey include product management at Khan Academy and co-founder of CourSolve -- an online platform designed to connect learners and organizations to collectively tackle real-world challenges. In this episode, hear from Nabeel about lessons learned in his journey, how data and technology can help solve some of the world's biggest problems, and more.    Connect with Nabeel Gillani on LinkedIn.  Visit Nabeel's website to learn more about his projects. Learn more about the MIT Media Lab here. Check out Nabeel's book recommendations: The Forty Rules of Love: A Novel of Rumi by Elif Shafak and Einstein: His Life and Universe by Walter Isaacson.  Read Barack Obama's interview with Humans of New York: - When is the time you felt most broken? - Who has influenced you the most in your life?

Jazzmin Jiwa is an international journalist and documentary filmmaker. She is also the founder of Stories of Survival, an independent online project that shares the stories of survivors from all over the world. Jazzmin, who originally hails from the U.K. and now resides in California, dove into the journalism field after realizing that was her passion rather than artificial intelligence which she studied in university. Her decades-long career in both print and broadcast journalism has allowed her to travel the world, particularly reporting in war-torn countries in the Middle East and Africa. In this episode, Jazzmin shares the skills and lessons that helped her in her career, tips on breaking into journalism, mental health, and life-defining moments.   Connect with Jazzmin Jiwa on LinkedIn. Support Stories of Survival here. Read Jazzmin's piece in The New Humanitarian.  Check out The Artist's Way here.

Amira Valliani is the CEO and founder of Glow, a company that helps podcasters make money. The company was acquired by Libsyn--a big name in the podcasting world--for $1.2 million in April 2021. Prior to finding success with Glow, Amira built a few other businesses, including a start-up that offered people home-cooked meals from their neighborhoods. But building businesses is just one half of Amira's overall purpose in life, which is to create change in communities. Amira also spent time in the federal government working for the Obama administration.On this episode, Amira dives into key insights for building a company and tips for finding success in podcasting. She also shares the skills and actions that have helped her reach goals, and reveals a funny moment with former President Barack Obama.    Connect with Amira Valliani on LinkedIn. Check out Glow.fm. Listen to Backyard Cambridge here. Learn more about Zomida here.

Naina Noorani is an aerospace engineer at NASA Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas. Naina grew up as a quiet kid who loved sports and school. She knew at a young age that she wanted to help the world and improve society in some way. A math and science lover at heart, Naina fell into aerospace after taking a chance on applying for the Pathways Program at NASA. She eventually got in and spent one year rotating through three different internships at NASA before completing her final year at Rice University. On this episode, Naina pulls back the curtain on projects she's worked on and shares tips for acing an interview. She also explores life lessons she's learned along the way--from the power of curiosity to not being afraid of taking risks.  Connect with Naina Noorani on LinkedIn.  Learn about the NASA Pathways Program here.  Read the transcript here. Join the Ismaili Professional Network here or send us an email at IPNPodcast@IPNOnline.net and we'll be happy to direct you to the right area.

Where did the idea for the Ismaili Connection come from? How are the episodes put together? Who makes up the podcast team? Hear about these answers and more, as special host Farhan Manjiyani chats with Sony Kassam, Kais Ali, and Sameen Jiwani about their involvement, how they balance their day jobs with volunteering, and lessons learned.    Email us at IPNPodcast@IPNOnline.net. Connect with Sony Kassam on LinkedIn, Instagram, or Twitter. Connect with Farhan Manjiyani on LinkedIn. Connect with Kais Ali on LinkedIn. Connect with Sameen Jiwani on LinkedIn or Instagram.

Shereen Ladha is a dancer and choreographer who has performed all over the world, including Portugal, Dubai, and Australia. She began attending dance classes at the age of 4 years old. Since then, Shereen has performed on international stages, in Hollywood movies and TV shows, and in videos for her YouTube channel, which has amassed over 130,000 subscribers and more than 27 million views. Shereen says dancing is the lens through which she sees the world, and it's also the way she deals with her spirituality. When she's not dancing, Shereen is a brand strategist at an advertising firm. On this episode, Shereen shares what it was like to choreograph performances for the Jubilee Games in Dubai, detailed her audition experience for her first Hollywood movie, and much more.    Connect with Shereen Ladha on LinkedIn. Find Shereen on YouTube at DanceWithSL. Watch Shereen's most viewed dance to Ayyat here. Watch Shereen's group performance to a Bollywood remix of Justin Bieber's Sorry here. Learn more about Shereen by checking out her website. Read the transcript here.

Anar Amin is a regional academic lead for ITREB who oversees 20 Jamat Khanas in the U.S and has spent over a decade in the Secondary Teacher Education Program (STEP). She went into the STEP system after a personal tragedy put her on a path of rediscovering her faith. On this episode, we learn more about Anar's childhood and upbringing, her travels teaching in different cities and countries—from Los Angeles to Germany, and her advice for aspiring educators.  Connect with Anar Amin on LinkedIn Learn more about STEP For those interested in learning more about Muslim Societies and Civilizations or aspiring to be STEP educators, you can pick up any of the Secondary Curriculums published by The Institute of Ismaili Studies here. STEP educators also teach these modules in Religious Education Classes worldwide.  Daughters of Abraham book club Read the transcript here. Books Mentioned:  The Power of Now by Eckhart Tolle Braving the Wilderness by Brené Brown No God But God by Reza Aslan A Short History of Ismailis by Dr. Farhad Daftry The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho  

Anar Amin is a regional academic lead for ITREB who oversees 20 Jamat Khanas in the U.S and has spent over a decade in the Secondary Teacher Education Program (STEP). While empowering people and inspiring minds has always been Anar's purpose, her decision to go into STEP hinged on a faith-shattering moment. At 19 years old, Anar lost her father to a sudden and unfortunate crime. On this episode, Anar dives into her STEP journey, how she rediscovered her faith, and the things that bring her joy both in and out of the classroom. She also talks about self-care and how she finds balance between seva and her full-time responsibilities. Connect with Anar Amin on LinkedIn Learn more about STEP

Latif Nasser is a storyteller who is always curious about the world around him. He's a science journalist, a podcaster, host of Radiolab, and hosts his own traveling science show on Netflix called Connected. On this episode, Latif takes us through the journey that led him to where he is today, from growing up in Canada, attending boarding school at 16, and studying at Ivy Leagues in the U.S. He also details the challenges and opportunities that he encountered on the way, and shares advice for those looking to pursue journalism. How to Find Stories via Latif Nasser  The Other Latif Podcast Connected On Netflix Radiolab Podcast Transcript

Latif Nasser is a storyteller who is always curious about the world around him. He's a science journalist, a podcaster, host of Radiolab, and hosts his own traveling science show on Netflix called Connected. On the show, he's on a mission to make science accessible, and showcase the connections in our everyday lives that span across the globe, from poop to dust to clouds. In this episode of the Ismaili Connection, Latif takes us on his journey through filming Connected, including his adventures from the Sahara Desert to the Amazon Rainforest, the behind-the-scenes effort of the entire production team, and experiencing once-in-a-lifetime moments. Latif also shares his experience working on a podcast series called The Other Latif, where he followed the story of a Guantanamo Bay detainee who shares his name. On the homefront, Latif discusses how his mixed-faith family upholds their connected values while balancing everyday parenting. How to Find Stories via Latif Nasser  The Other Latif Podcast Connected On Netflix Radiolab Podcast Transcript  

The Ismaili Connection podcast is going on a short hiatus during this holiday season and through the start of the new year. We're taking a quick breather to recharge after this tumultuous year, find more compelling stories, and work on some new and exciting episode formats. In the meantime, stay tuned by following the Ismaili Professionals Network on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook. We'll be back before you know it.

Shawn Lopez wears many hats. He's a father, an ice hockey coach, a stem cell researcher at UCLA, and a joint mobility specialist who just started his own company during the Covid-19 pandemic. But his roles and responsibilities don't stop there. He also helps out with a youth program through the LA Kings, has partnerships in the works with Netflix and Hulu,  and volunteers to help seniors within his community. He credits his mom for teaching him to practice visualization and make his goals a reality, chats about how he started his business without prior experience, and expands on how he created opportunities for himself. 

Ghalib Kassam is the chief information officer at the Los Angeles Times, where he's responsible for leading the news organization's digital, data, and technology transitions. His past is a remarkable one: He was born in Burundi, raised in Pakistan, and educated in London and the U.S. And when attending Grand Valley State University in Michigan, he left his career up to chance, choosing to major in data processing at the last minute when flipping through a catalog. Ghalib dives deep into his childhood, reminiscing about growing up in Pakistan with a large extended family and discovering himself through his teenage years in London. He also talks about the power of networking, how he landed his job while volunteering as security during Diamond Jubilee for His Highness the Aga Khan, the importance of giving back, and the struggles the media industry faces.

Ghalib Kassam is the chief information officer at the Los Angeles Times, where he's responsible for leading the news organization's digital, data, and technology transitions. His past is a remarkable one: He was born in Burundi, raised in Pakistan, and educated in London and the U.S. And when attending Grand Valley State University in Michigan, he left his career up to chance, choosing to major in data processing at the last minute when flipping through a catalog. Ghalib dives deep into his childhood, reminiscing about growing up in Pakistan with a large extended family and discovering himself through his teenage years in London. He also talks about the power of networking, how he landed his job while volunteering as security during Diamond Jubilee for His Highness the Aga Khan, the importance of giving back, and the struggles the media industry faces.

At 25 years old, Danish Dhamani is his own boss. He runs a startup tech company out of Philadelphia. He co-founded a public-speaking app called Orai about four years ago with his then Drexel University roommate, Paritosh Gupta. Orai has now landed deals with big businesses, including IBM and HP. The idea stemmed from a personal problem Danish had: He was scared of public speaking as a foreigner in the U.S. Born in Pakistan and raised in Tanzania, Danish shares about his life before coming to the U.S., including how his family would walk miles just to do groceries, and how those experiences informed his entrepreneurial spirit and taught him the importance of money and the power of helping others. 

Dr. Rozina Lakhani, a Seattle-based psychiatrist, speaker, and author, shares wellness techniques to help you cope with everyday stress and battle burnout, like filling our “emotional coping accounts” with joyful activities—whether that's walking in a park or watching classic movies. Dr. Lakhani also opens up about a severe car accident that left her with screws in her right hand and how that experience was the catalyst for her calling in life.

Corporate media mogul by day and comedian by night, Shereen Kassam calls herself a “creative hustler.” That's because the comedian is also an actress and runs her own podcast called the Creative Breakthrough, which highlights artists and other creative entrepreneurs.   She began her career in comedy under the disguise Funny Brown Girl, way before her parents found out about her side gig that turned into a major part of her identity. She talks about how she went from following her parents' dreams of being a businesswoman to fulfilling her own passions and building a balanced life of stability and happiness.   She opens up about heated encounters as a Muslim comedian,  how her relationship with her parents went through shaky times, and how comparison on social media is the thief of joy.

The Ismaili Professionals Network presents its first podcast: The Ismaili Connection. We'll speak with professionals from all walks of life and across all industries to bring you compelling stories about their career journeys. We'll laugh. We'll learn. And we'll connect. Episode 1 will be available in the coming weeks. If you have someone who you think should be interviewed by us, email us at ipnpodcast@ipnonline.net. For more info about IPN, visit IPNOnline.net.