Podcasts about parvez

Send me a Text Message hereFULL SHOW NOTES https://www.microsoftinnovationpodcast.com/652   Join Parvez Ghumra as he explores his journey as a Microsoft MVP from Leicester, UK. His passion for the Power Platform and Dynamics 365 CE development is shaped by strong family values, a love for travel—especially his mini pilgrimage to Mecca—and a spicy hobby of chili growing. Parvez reflects on the evolution of CRM deployment tools, from manual XML to modern no-code solutions like Azure DevOps and GitHub Actions, while acknowledging challenges with tools like Package Deployer. Alongside his insights, Mark also shares his own path to MVP recognition, emphasizing the power of community support in driving personal and professional growth. TAKEAWAYS• The role of family in professional development • Travel experiences influencing personal and professional growth • Transition from bespoke development to Dynamics 365 • Importance of Application Lifecycle Management in software delivery • Shift from SDK to low-code solutions in modern development • The value of community support in achieving the MVP statusThis year we're adding a new show to our line up - The AI Advantage. We'll discuss the skills you need to thrive in an AI-enabled world. DynamicsMinds is a world-class event in Slovenia that brings together Microsoft product managers, industry leaders, and dedicated users to explore the latest in Microsoft Dynamics 365, the Power Platform, and Copilot.Early bird tickets are on sale now and listeners of the Microsoft Innovation Podcast get 10% off with the code MIPVIP144bff https://www.dynamicsminds.com/register/?voucher=MIPVIP144bff Accelerate your Microsoft career with the 90 Day Mentoring Challenge We've helped 1,300+ people across 70+ countries establish successful careers in the Microsoft Power Platform and Dynamics 365 ecosystem.Benefit from expert guidance, a supportive community, and a clear career roadmap. A lot can change in 90 days, get started today!Support the showIf you want to get in touch with me, you can message me here on Linkedin.Thanks for listening

Parvez and Omar kick-off 2025 by finally dedicating an entire episode to a recurring and perennial conversation on the podcast: parenting challenges in today's climate. To help navigate this conversation, they are joined by Ali Bishop, an experienced mental health professional who works as a Mental Health Clinician at a local Bay Area public high school. Topics include the general challenges facing teens in high school today (e.g., mental health, academic and peer pressures, social media, etc.), how these challenges might uniquely affect Muslim youth, and what can parents do to better support their children in navigating these challenges. Ali Bishop also shares his personal faith journey resulting in his conversion to Islam in 1998.    About Ali (Mark) Bishop Ali Bishop is a dedicated mental health professional with over 17 years of experience in both clinical and educational settings. He earned his Master's degree in Social Work, with a focus on Community Mental Health. Following graduation, he became a licensed clinician in the state of California. He specializes in providing therapy to families impacted by physical abuse, grief and loss, drug addiction, and suicide prevention.  For the past 10 years, Ali has served as the Mental Health Clinician at a public high school in the San Francisco Bay Area. In this role, he works directly with students, providing individual and group support to navigate social, emotional, and behavioral challenges. He resides in Fremont, California with his wife, an educator at an area Islamic School, and their cat, Iggy. In his free time, Ali is passionate about supporting vulnerable populations, including children. He is an active member of Bikers Against Child Abuse (BACA), using his love of motorcycling as a way to make a positive impact for abused children.

To close out 2024 Parvez and Omar are joined by two Syrian-American guests to share their perspectives on the fall of Bashar al-Assad's regime, the potential implications and challenges facing post-Assad Syria, and how the Syrian-American community is responding to these events. Along the way the show's guests candidly (and humorously!) discuss their experiences growing up as children of Syrian immigrants. The show begins by dropping listeners in the midst of a "pre-podcast" conversation about the present challenges of professional life in Silicon Valley.    

Driving business growth often requires a fresh approach to workforce transformation and practical tools that create meaningful breakthroughs, helping organizations move to the next level of success. John Masud Parvez is a leading business transformation expert in Southeast Asia. His approach focuses on digital and workforce transformation to guide companies toward their next stage of growth. As the founder of VSHR Pro Academy, he has built an organization renowned for empowering businesses through a series of micro breakthroughs within their workforce. These breakthroughs help organizations advance from one level of success to the next. To achieve this, VSHR Pro Academy utilizes the Pro HR Flywheel Framework, enabling companies to construct a dynamic flywheel within their workforce. John is also the author of “100 x Business Workforce”, which is known as a toolbox for workforce transformation for HR leaders. In a wide-ranging discussion, John and I talked about: ✅ The significance of micro breakthroughs in workforce transformation. ✅ The impact of AI and the COVID-19 pandemic on business success. ✅ Advantages and challenges of adopting the Pro HR Flywheel. ✅ Tailored support from VSHR Pro Academy framework. ✅ Partnership opportunities through VSHR Pro Academy. ✅ Leveraging digital tools for transformation. ✅ And much more. Website: www.health-revolution.org LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/masudparvezpm For show notes and to see details of our previous guests, check out the podcast page here: www.GetMoreHRClients.com/Podcast HR BUSINESS GROWTH RESOURCES Get the new book - Grow A Successful HR Business Your Way Automated Lead-Generation Machine - On-Demand Masterclass & Workbook HR Business Planner - On-Demand Masterclass & Workbook Start Your HR Business - Coaching program Grow Your HR Business - Coaching program Consulting Services For HR Software And Consulting Firms: Consulting Services. VISIT GET MORE HR CLIENTS Want more clients for your HR-related consultancy or HR Tech business? Visit the Get More HR Clients website for articles, newsletters, podcasts, videos, resources, and more.  

Mere days aways from Election Day 2024, Parvez and Omar are rejoined by Civil Rights Attorney and Activist Zahra Billoo to discuss the Muslim vote and the 2024 Presidential Election. Are Muslims simply approaching who to vote for with the "lesser of two evils" calculus? Is there a long game and what are the short term consequences of playing the long game? All this and more for the show's special Election 2024 episode!     About Zahra Billoo Zahra Billoo serves as the Executive Director of the Council on American-Islamic Relations, San Francisco Bay Area (CAIR-SFBA) office, the oldest CAIR chapter office. Since joining in 2009, Zahra has led the organization through a period of six-fold growth. Today, she manages one of the largest CAIR offices in the country with a team of civil rights and social justice advocates dedicated to the empowerment of American Muslims through legal services, legislative advocacy, and community organizing. Under Zahra's leadership, CAIR-SFBA has filed lawsuits against the United States Department of Justice, Abercrombie & Fitch, and Southwest Airlines, representing American Muslims facing discriminatory treatment. CAIR-SFBA has also significantly expanded its capabilities to provide know-your-rights sessions on a nearly weekly basis to mosques and community members in the San Francisco Bay Area, while also providing direct legal representation to Bay Area residents facing numerous civil rights violations, including FBI interviews, employment discrimination, airport harassment, school bullying, and hate crimes. Zahra's advocacy has included media appearances in local and national media, including MSNBC, NPR, the San Francisco Chronicle, and even FOX News. Among her awards, she received the 2017 Human Rights Award from the Society of American Law Teachers and the 2018 Community Builder Award from People Acting in Community Together (PACT). She was also listed by the San Jose Mercury News as a “Woman to Watch” in March 2017 for Women's History Month, as well as by the Chronicle of Philanthropy in their January 2018 cover story on millennials who lead. She is currently a fellow with Levi Strauss Foundation Pioneers in Justice, a senior fellow with the American Leadership Forum's Silicon Valley Chapter and an alumna of Rockwood's Fellowship for a New California, LeaderSpring's Executive Directors Fellowship, and USC's American Muslim Civil Leadership Institute. Zahra earned her undergraduate degrees from the California State University, Long Beach, and her Juris Doctorate from the University of California, Hastings. She is licensed to practice law in California.    

After a bit of a hiatus due to busy schedules, Parvez and Omar are honored to be joined by Imam Jihad Mustafa, Founder of the Qawwamun Retreat. This was a wide-ranging conversation with Imam Jihad discussing how socially conscious Hip-hop brought him to Islam, how today's Zeitgest and pop culture has engendered a crisis of defining and exemplifying masculinity to young men, and how the Qawwamun Retreat for young men seeks to address these challenges.  About Imam Jihad Mustafa  Jihad Mustafa was born JC Wren and converted to Islam shortly after returning home from serving in the US Army in Germany. He served as Imam at Masjid Tasbeeh in Oakland before it's closing and in his tenure there also opened one of the few Muslim transitional and temporary living facilities. He has a background in business, financial advisory, security and organization. Jihad is the founder of Al Qawamun, an organization formed to develop and maintain righteous manhood based on Quran; as well as some branches stemming from it; including The Young Lions Program, Muslim Incident Response Team and Muslim Town Hall. In addition to maintaining his responsibilities, he is currently developing The United Muslim Association, an effort to unite Muslim Americans in the areas that effect us all regardless of ethnicity, school of thought, leadership or  association.

Episode 278 of the #MVPbuzzChat interview series. Conversation between Microsoft Regional Director and MVP Christian Buckley (@buckleyplanet), and Business Applications MVP, Parvez Ghumra (@parvezghumra), a Power Platform, Dynamics 365 CE, and Azure Developer and Technical Consultant with XRM Solutions UK. You can also find this episode on the CollabTalk blog at https://buckleyplanet.com/2024/08/mvpbuzzchat-278-with-parvez-ghumra/

Closing out the blessed month of Muharram, Parvez and Omar are back for a timely and important discussion about Muharram, the Day of Āshūrā, and the events of Karbala from a Shi'i perspective. This is a deep dive into Shi'i readings of early Muslim history and the centrality of the Ahl-al Bayt (The Household/Progeny of the Prophet Muhammedﷺ) and specifically how the events of Karbala and the venerative rites and traditions of Muharram inform Shi'i devotional life.     About Ahmad Rashid Salim  Ahmad Rashid Salim (احمد راشد سليم) is a doctoral candidate and instructor at the Department of Middle Eastern Languages and Cultures at the University of California, Berkeley, in the fields of Islamic studies and Persian literature. His areas of scholarship include classical Persian literature - particularly mystical poetry, translation, Sufism, Qur'an interpretation, language and power, Persian literature in Afghanistan, the Kabuli dialect, Shi'i - Sunni polemics, and religious thought in Afghanistan. His dissertation is titled: The Harmony of Hayrat: Words, Wonder, and Worlds in Persian Mystical Poetry and Poetics. Salim is also the founder of Aleff Institute, a premier online instruction program for the Persian language, with a special emphasis on the Kabuli dialect. He is the author of Islam Explained, a best-selling book utilized in a number of university courses throughout the United States. He earned a bachelor's degree in Political Science with a focus on Islamic studies, and was awarded a master's degree by the Department of Middle Eastern Languages and Cultures at the University of California, Berkeley.

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A special discussion for the Haj and Eid-ul Adha season, Parvez and Omar are joined by returning guest Dr. Ali Ataie. The show dives deep into the Prophet Abraham(as) in the monotheistic scriptures/traditions, including Abraham's service of sacrifice, the innumerable blessings bestowed to Abraham and his covenant with God. The conversation then examines how the Biblical and Tanakhic traditions has been co-opted and distorted by Jewish and Christian Zionists alike as it relates to the modern state of Israel.  The goal was to release the show a couple of days after Eid so we are sorry for the delay!   About Dr. Ali Ataie  Dr. Ali Ataie is a scholar of biblical hermeneutics with field specialties in Sacred Languages, Comparative Theology, and Comparative Literature.  He received his BS in accounting from Cal Poly State University in 2000. In 2011, he received his MA in Biblical Studies from Pacific School of Religion, and in 2016, his PhD in Cultural and Historical Studies in Religion from the Graduate Theological Union. Dr. Ataie is a native Persian speaker. He can read and write Arabic, Hebrew, and Greek. Dr. Ataie joined the Zaytuna College faculty in 2012.  At Zaytuna College, Dr. Ataie has taught Arabic, Creedal Theology, Comparative Theology, Sciences of the Quran, Introduction to the Qur'an, and Seminal Ancient Texts.  

For the show's 150th episode Parvez & Omar are joined by the second guest ever to appear on the podcast, Zahra Billoo , Civil rights Attorney and Executive Director of the Council on American-Islamic Relations San Francisco Bay Area (CAIR-SFBA). Zahra brings her years of tireless Civil Rights work and activism to bear as she discusses the recent protests and encampments taking place across college campuses placing them within the broader Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions (BDS) movement and discussing their overall goals and objectives. The conversation also tackles the criticisms that such protests and encampments have garnered from voices outside of and within the Muslim community, as well as certain initiatives and organizations that some argue seek to normalize relations with the State of Israel and Zionism. About Zahra Billoo Zahra Billoo serves as the Executive Director of the Council on American-Islamic Relations, San Francisco Bay Area (CAIR-SFBA) office, the oldest CAIR chapter office. Since joining in 2009, Zahra has led the organization through a period of six-fold growth. Today, she manages one of the largest CAIR offices in the country with a team of civil rights and social justice advocates dedicated to the empowerment of American Muslims through legal services, legislative advocacy, and community organizing. Under Zahra's leadership, CAIR-SFBA has filed lawsuits against the United States Department of Justice, Abercrombie & Fitch, and Southwest Airlines, representing American Muslims facing discriminatory treatment. CAIR-SFBA has also significantly expanded its capabilities to provide know-your-rights sessions on a nearly weekly basis to mosques and community members in the San Francisco Bay Area, while also providing direct legal representation to Bay Area residents facing numerous civil rights violations, including FBI interviews, employment discrimination, airport harassment, school bullying, and hate crimes. Zahra's advocacy has included media appearances in local and national media, including MSNBC, NPR, the San Francisco Chronicle, and even FOX News. Among her awards, she received the 2017 Human Rights Award from the Society of American Law Teachers and the 2018 Community Builder Award from People Acting in Community Together (PACT). She was also listed by the San Jose Mercury News as a “Woman to Watch” in March 2017 for Women's History Month, as well as by the Chronicle of Philanthropy in their January 2018 cover story on millennials who lead. She is currently a fellow with Levi Strauss Foundation Pioneers in Justice, a senior fellow with the American Leadership Forum's Silicon Valley Chapter and an alumna of Rockwood's Fellowship for a New California, LeaderSpring's Executive Directors Fellowship, and USC's American Muslim Civil Leadership Institute. Zahra earned her undergraduate degrees from the California State University, Long Beach, and her Juris Doctorate from the University of California, Hastings. She is licensed to practice law in California.    

Summary Tech Nostalgia & Modern Mastery

Parvez and Omar are truly honored to host Dr. Mohammad Subeh who just returned from a five week medical mission to the Gaza Strip, specifically the Rafah Crossing to the south. Dr. Subeh shares his background born to a Palestinian refugee family living in Kuwait and then forced to flee overnight at the start of the First Persian Gulf War and invasion of Kuwait. Dr. Subeh shares in harrowing detail what he witnessed first-hand during his recent five week medical mission to the Gaza Strip in February and March 2024. It is a sobering listen as he recounts first hand the unprecedented devastation and humanitarian crisis unfolding before our very eyes as Israel continues its brutal military incursion into Gaza. In the midst of the brutality and horror he also beautifully details the unyielding faith and resilience of the Palestinian people. It is an absolute must listen for anyone dismayed by what is occurring in Palestine. Please give it a listen, share widely, and above all pray for an end to the suffering and the ultimate liberation of Palestine.          About Dr. Muhammad Subeh Dr. Mohammad Subeh is an emergency physician and traumatologist with a deep passion for innovation and discovery, both inside and outside of medicine. After completing his undergraduate degree (BA Human Biology) and graduate work (MA Sociology, MS Epidemiology/Biostatistics) at Stanford University, Mohammad took his first major dive into entrepreneurship. He founded HireLabs, an outcomes analytics company aimed at deciphering organizational data to reshape and guide how people are managed within these organizations. Since then, he has founded and advised several companies in the health tech space. More recently, his love for science and coffee led him to launch Kenz Coffee Roasters, a bay area-based specialty coffee roastery that sources high quality coffee microlots worldwide and featuring these unique coffees to coffee lovers across the globe. Dr Subeh received his MD from Oregon Health and Science University, and completed Emergency Medicine residency training at the University of Chicago and Ultrasound Fellowship at UC Irvine. Currently, he serves as Partner of Vituity and Assistant Medical Director of the El Camino Hospital Emergency Department in Mountain View, CA. Additionally, he practices emergency medicine at UC Irvine, Catalina Island Medical Center, Good Samaritan Hospital in San Jose, CA. He enjoys spending time with his family of four, deep sea fishing, and traveling to different countries to provide free medical care to underserved communities.     

It's not too often that you come across a Silicon Valley raised and Dar-ul-Uloom trained Imam but that's exactly who joins Parvez and Omar to kick-off the blessed month of Ramadan. Imam Tahir Anwar, Imam of the South Bay Islamic Association and Lecturer at Zaytuna College returns to the show! This time around the discussion includes a deep dive into his background, his religious education and training, in addition to having him impart precious gems of wisdom and advice for Ramadan. As always it's a far ranging discussion that we hope you enjoy and benefit from! Ramadan Mubarak!        About Imam Tahir Anwar   Imam Tahir Anwar is an American Muslim scholar and preacher. Born in London, England, he has lived in the San Francisco Bay Area since 1983. Imam Tahir is a scholar of Hanafi Fiqh with an ijaza to teach Fiqh, Hadith, Tafsir, and Usul al-Fiqh. Imam Tahir is a native Gujurati and Urdu speaker. He is also proficient in Arabic and Hindi. After completing his religious studies, Imam Tahir has served the Bay Area Muslim community since 2000 as an Imam of one of the area's oldest mosques, South Bay Islamic Association.   In addition, he is the founding board member of Averroes High School, the Bay Area's first Muslim high school. He is currently the chairman of the board of NISA, North-American Islamic Shelter for the Abused, an organization that works towards alleviating issues related to domestic violence. In the past he served on the Human Rights Commission for the City of San Jose for over 5 years and on the Human Relations Commission for the County of Santa Clara for one year. He also leads groups for Hajj & Umrah each year. Imam Tahir joined the faculty of Zaytuna College in 2010 where he teaches Islamic Law with an emphasis on the Hanafi School.    

Parvez and Omar are honored to be joined by Shaykh Jamaal Diwan, co-founder and Resident Scholar at The Majlis. This was a wide-ranging conversation with Shaykh Jamaal discussing his personal journey connecting with his faith, his studies at Al-Azhar University, and the principles underlying The Majlis. Beyond his personal journey the conversation touches on parenting, the challenges of nurturing a sense of community in the United States, a "cultural topography" of Southern California, and much more. This is an excellent companion episode to Episode 131 with his wife Shaykha Muslema Purmul, co-founder and Religious Director at The Majlis.       About Shaykh Jamaal Diwan Shaykh Jamaal Diwan was born and raised in Southern California to parents from Newfoundland and Pakistan. He accepted Islam in 2003 while at UCSD. After getting married and graduating from UCSD in Third World Studies, he and his wife moved to Egypt to study Arabic and Islamic Studies. He stayed there for the better part of the next seven years finishing an undergraduate degree in Sharia from al-Azhar. During that time he also completed two years of graduate work in Islamic Studies from the American University in Cairo. In addition to his formal studies he has also obtained ijazat (traditional licenses to transmit and teach) in various branches of Islamic Studies such as aqidah, fiqh, tazkiyah, and hadith. Upon returning from Egypt in 2011 he has served as a religious teacher and instructor in Southern California in various capacities such as Resident Scholar, University Chaplain, and Islamic Studies teacher. He cofounded The Majlis with his wife, Shaykha Muslema Purmul. The Majlis seeks to nurture safe community spaces where people can learn and live Islam, based on the traditional sources of understanding the faith, while acknowledging the particular challenges of the American context. It focuses its efforts on religious education, spiritual refinement, love, and service. He is a father of two, residing in Southern California with his family.  

Zaria Parvez is Duolingo's Senior Global Social Media Manager where she is famed for scaling Duolingo's TikTok from 50K followers in September 2021 to 8M followers today. The Duolingo TikTok has 143 viral videos (view counts of 1M or higher) due to Zaria's creativity. What started as a test-and-learn initiative has become Duolingo's most successful social buzz and word-of-mouth initiative to date – all because of Zaria's insights, instincts, and expertise. In Today's Episode with Zaria Parvez: 1. From College Student to TikTok Star: How did Zaria make her way into the world of social media and Duolingo? When did Zaria realize the power of TikTok? What did she do as a first step? What does Zaria know now about growing on TikTok that she wishes she'd known when she started? 2. How to Create a Viral Video: What have been Zaria's biggest lessons in what it takes to create a viral video? What does Zaria mean when she says the best content is "medicine to candy"? What does the ideation process look like for new content ideas? How much budget should be set aside for new content? What does Zaria mean when she says Duolingo's TikTok needs to view like a "sitcom"? 3. How to Tie Success in Content Back to Hard Dollars: How is "success" in content measured at Duolingo? How fast does Zaria know if a video is a hit or not? What is the right cadence to post? How should companies determine whether content is ultimately successful or not? What is the single metric that Zaria is focused on today? 4. How to Build the Best Content Team: Why should companies not work with content agencies if they want the best results? Why does Zaria believe you have to hire troublemakers if you want success in content? What are the single biggest mistakes companies make w

Growth League Podcast: S3E20 - Zaria Parvez Senior Global Social Media Manager at Duolingo by Hook + Ladder Digital

Parvez and Omar had the pleasure of sitting with Dr. Ussama Makdisi, Professor of History at the University of California Berkeley for a detailed, highly enlightening and impassioned discussion of the history of the Palestinian struggle. Dr. Makdisi masterfully contextualizes what is happening right now in Palestine within the broader history of the Western colonialist, Zionist project that has dehumanized, brutalized, and ethnically cleansed the Palestinian people for over 75 years.    About Dr. Ussama Makdisi Dr. Ussama Makdisi is Professor of History and Chancellor's Chair at the University of California Berkeley. He was previously Professor of History and the first holder of the Arab-American Educational Foundation Chair of Arab Studies at Rice University in Houston.    

Next stop in Chicagoland takes us to Skokie where Parvez and Omar had the honor of sitting with author, educator and school administrator, Habeeb Quadri. We had an in-depth conversation about his experiences growing up in Chicago, what inspired him to become an educator, and his journey from teaching inner city schools in Detroit and Chicago to serving as Principal and Superintendent of a renowned Islamic school. It was also a great opportunity for Parvez and Habeeb, who have known each other for over 30 years to reconnect, reminisce about cutting their teeth as youth activist in the 90s with Muslim Youth of North America (MYNA) and the organization's resurgence in recent years.      About Habeeb Quadri Habeeb Quadri has served as principal of the Muslim Community Center Academy (MCCA) since 2002, where he has focused on changing school culture, financial turnaround, and transforming educational standards. He led MCCA to become one of the first Islamic parochial schools to receive national accreditation by implementing a comprehensive improvement plan that engaged stakeholders at all levels. Habeeb is on the principal advisory board and a part-time staffer at the Harvard Graduate School of Education's Principal Center and the founder of High Quality Educational Consulting. He was one of five private school leaders to be selected for the 2019 class of nationally distinguished principals by the National Association of Elementary School Principals. He has lectured throughout the United States, Canada and abroad on Islam, society, and social problems confronting Muslim youth and the community at large, including workshops for the U.S Department of State, weekend and full-time Islamic schools, public schools and universities.  Habeeb holds an M.Ed. in Educational Leadership from Wayne State University and a B.A. in the Teaching of History at the University of Illinois at Chicago and has pursued continued advanced studies with Harvard University's Professional Development Program.

Next stop on Parvez & Omar's Chicago sojourn is the beautiful CAIR offices on historic State Street in downtown where they had the privilege of sitting with Ahmed Rehab. Ahmed's ability to articulate a clear and convincing analysis of contemporary social and political issues while maintaining a fidelity to Islam's normative teachings and practices made for a wide ranging and thought-provoking interview.         About Ahmed Rehab Ahmed is Executive Director of the Chicago Office of the Council on American-Islamic Relations as well as CAIR's National Strategic Communications Director. CAIR is the nation's largest Muslim civil liberties and advocacy group. A prolific writer and lecturer on contemporary social issues including civil rights, media relations, and Islam-West relations, Ahmed lectures at various University campuses in Chicago and around the nation. Ahmed comments regularly as a guest on various local TV and cable news programs, as well as on radio stations. He has been interviewed by news publications such as the Chicago Tribune, the Chicago Sun-Times, the Daily Herald, the Washington Post, the Orlando Sentinel, the Economist, the Boston Globe, Crain's Business Magazine, Germany's Die Zeit, and many more. His Op-Ed's have been published in numerous newspapers around the country.

Parvez and Omar have the opportunity to sit with Shaykh Amin Kholwadia and learn about his lifelong journey towards Islamic scholarship, from childhood, schooling, coming to America, and ultimately, the establishment of Darul Qasim, an institute of traditional Islamic higher learning headquartered in the Glendale Heights suburb of Chicago. About Shaykh Mohammed Amin Kholwadia Shaykh Amin is continually engaged with a diverse following of mentees. His deep knowledge in the Islamic tradition and his aggressive engagement with contemporary issues facing everyday Muslims in the West has endeared him to young Islamic scholars and professionals all over.  Shaykh Mohammed Amin is a Muslim scholar, mentor, and the founder of Darul Qasim, an institute of traditional Islamic higher learning headquartered in the Glendale Heights suburb of Chicago. Shaykh Amin is an active advocate of the classical Sunni tradition of Islamic scholarship and a passionate promoter of traditional Islamic sciences and methodologies of teaching and learning. He is regarded internationally as an expert theologian and an authority in the fields of Islamic philosophy and theosophy.

Besides just an extravagant bouquet of roses. Well here are six seductive gestures that most people find irresistible. So which gestures will you try out? Have you ever found these gestures irresistible? Or maybe you didn't realize all along. Share with us in the comments down below! Writer: Michal Mitchell Script Editor & Manager: Kelly Soong VO: Brandon (new voice over) Animator: Zyan Méndez (@tomboiclub) YouTube Manager: Cindy Cheong #relationship References: Broucaret, F. (2015, October 6). Seduction: 10 Gestures and what they reveal. Marie France Asia, women's magazine. www.mariefranceasia.com/lifelove/decoding/les-10-gestes-seduction-du-desir-59008.html# item=2. Navarro, J. (2010, January 20). Body Language of the Hands. Psychology Today. www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/spycatcher/201001/body-language-the-hands. Ellwood, B. (2020, August 13). Tilting your head can affect judgments of your attractiveness and dominance, study finds. PsyPost. www.psypost.org/2020/08/tilting-your-head-can-affect-judgments-of-your-attractiveness-and-dominance-study-finds-57281. Parvez, H., & ParvezHi, H. (2020, July 6). Body language: Head and neck gestures. PsychMechanics. www.psychmechanics.com/body-language-gestures-of-head-and-neck/#:~:text=The%20head%20tilt,interested%20in%20the%20ongoing%20conversation.

Parvez and Omar are joined by Umair Haseeb.  They discuss his family background, growing up in Chicagoland, the spark that led to his spiritual awakening, and his studies towards Islamic scholarship abroad. Umair Haseeb Umair Haseeb formally studied Arabic, the basics of Islam, and Quran in Chicago, which lead him to move to Morocco and Sahara to pursue a full time study of Arabic and Islamic Law. He received his 'Shahada', or degree as well licenses directly from their Scholars, after studying at The Qarawiyyin in Fes, Morocco. He holds licenses in Legal Theory (Usul), Maliki Law, Grammar, Theology, and the Prophetic biography. He currently serves as the Imam of the “Sayyida Fatima Project at CIC”, under the auspices teacher Shaykh Muhammad el Emam, serving the South West Side of Chicago, as well as doing post graduate work at al Azhar University- Cairo

Parvez and Omar visited the Stanford University campus to sit with Professor Adnan Zulfiqar to discuss his journey and his work in the fields of law, history and religion, as well as some of the research he is currently doing in the areas of criminal law & procedure, Islamic jurisprudence, and rule of law in the Global South.  We found Adnan's experiences to be extraordinary and his insights to be enlightening, and we think you'll really enjoy the discussion!   About Adnan Zulfiqar Adnan Zulfiqar is an interdisciplinary scholar in the fields of law, history and religion whose research focuses on critically examining the frameworks underlying legal discourses in both domestic and global contexts. His primary fields of inquiry are criminal law & procedure, Islamic jurisprudence, and rule of law in the Global South. His most recent work centers on studying how Muslim jurists conceive of and utilize legal obligations, particularly in the context of revolution and war; rethinking approaches to the diffusion of human rights norms; and, exploring questions relating to police discretion in the United States. His scholarship has appeared in a number of publications, including the Yale Journal of International Law, Journal of Comparative Law (U.K.), West Virginia Law Review, NYU Journal of International Law & Politics and the Journal of Islamic Law [Harvard]. Professor Zulfiqar is a Regional Scholar at the University of Pennsylvania's Middle East Center, Editor at Harvard Law School's SHARIASource and faculty affiliate at the Rutgers Center for Transnational Law and the Center for Security, Race & Rights.  During the 2022-23 academic year, Professor Zulfiqar was an External Faculty Fellow in residence at the Stanford Humanities Center. He earned his J.D. (law), M.A. and Ph.D. (Near Eastern Languages & Civilizations) from the University of Pennsylvania, his M.L.S. (International Affairs) from Georgetown University and a B.A. (Religion and Anthropology) from Emory University. He is proficient in multiple languages and has spent over a decade in the Middle East, sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia.

I interviewed Khurram Parvez in Srinagar, Kashmir in February 2011. When I returned to India that September to follow up on reporting on the mass graves in Kashmir, I was denied entry by the Indian government. I've been banned from India ever since. Sadly, this interview is still relevant. Since August 2019 the Hindu nationalist regime ruling India has imposed even harsher conditions on Kashmiris and eliminated what little autonomy they had. This story needs to be told. But the G20 won't hear it. Its tourism officials are visiting Kashmir in late May in what will be an orchestrated photo-op extolling the valley's natural beauties and comparing Kashmir to paradise. Kashmir is off the media radar screen. India has carefully controlled the narrative. Interview by David Barsamian.

Parvez and Omar return from a short post-Ramadan hiatus and meet with Shaykh Jabir Tarin to discuss his path as a young man to scholarship, his work in the growing and important field of Muslim mental health and counseling, as well his involvement with the Halal Food Standards Alliance of America (HFSAA). About Shaykh Jabir Tarin Shaykh Jabir Tarin is a registered associate marriage and family therapist. He has served as a teacher at several Islamic institutions, including Dua Seminary, where he teaches the Islamic Sciences, and Nur Institute. Shaykh Jabir has previously served as a therapist and spiritual and religious leader through the Muslim Mental Health Initiative at UC Berkeley and served the greater community through the Khalil Center. Currently, he passionately maintains similar roles through Wasilah Connections. Shaykh Jabir's professional interests include providing mental health and spiritual training to the City of Fremont, integrating Islamic spirituality with mental wellness, and teaching Islamic theology to young adults and college students.

New from Spoken Label (Spoken Word / Author / Poet Podcast) features Aqeel Parvez. Aqeel Parvez is a poet who lives in Leeds, UK. He is the author of numerous chapbooks including "The Streetlights Are Beckoning Nirvana" (Analog Submission Press). His work has been published among other places in 16 Pages Press, Sludge Lit, Horror Sleaze Trash, Back Patio Press, Saturday Night Bombers and is also one of the committee members of Bone Down, the literary affinity group. He can be found on as Instagram @ap.writer, & twitter @aqeelparvez

Zaria Parvez, global social media manager at Duolingo, joins PodCatalyst host and IABC Executive Director Peter Finn to share her outstanding journey on TikTok. With her creative and interactive approach, Zaria has made Duolingo a prominent figure in the TikTok community, particularly among Gen Z and with over 6.7 million followers and counting. This episode explores how creative freedom and trust have been instrumental in Duolingo's success, as Zaira's ability to connect with the platform's younger audience has propelled her to new heights and made her a role model for others. Parvez will lead the session “Keep it Simple Stupid: Duolingo's Guide to Calculated Risk on Social” at IABC World Conference 2023, 4-7 June in Toronto. Tune in today for a preview of this can't-miss discussion. LINKS *Mentioned in this episode* https://www.tiktok.com/@duolingo?lang=en | https://twitter.com/adage/status/1518762052596162563 | https://wc.iabc.com/ *Social Media* https://www.linkedin.com/in/zaria-parvez-645983140/ | https://twitter.com/iabc | https://www.linkedin.com/company/iabc/| https://www.facebook.com/IABCWorld | https://www.youtube.com/user/IABClive | https://www.instagram.com/iabcgram/ *IABC Websites* https://www.iabc.com/| https://catalyst.iabc.com/ --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/iabc/message

You know the saying, “Put your own oxygen mask on first,” in the context of an airplane, but you've probably heard it in relation to self-care too. Parvez Khan, a business & personal coach is on the podcast today to dive deeper into this. I have known Parvez for a while and knew that he was the one I wanted on the show to talk about the topic of taking care of ourselves first before prioritizing our work and our clients. He's sharing his personal journey with learning to put his self-care routines and rituals first and how this changed now only how he feels, but the success of his business, too. If you're on the verge of burnout and looking for another way to do business, this episode is for you.  Visit this episode's show notes page here. - The Prosperous Empath Podcast is produced by Heart Centered Podcasting.

Parvez and Omar are joined by Ustadha Hosai Mojaddidi, as they discuss the challenges (and joys) of raising Muslim children.  She shares some of her own experiences growing up in the San Francisco Bay Area and also offers insights about how to instill a love of the Deen and a strong Muslim identity in our children. About Ustadha Hosai Mojaddidi  Hosai Mojaddidi has been serving the Muslim community for over 25 years as a teacher, public speaker, author/writer, spiritual counselor, and mental health advocate. She began her Islamic studies over 20 years ago at Zaytuna Institute in the Bay Area California where for several years she served as the lead female organizer and studied aqeeda, seerah, Hanafi fiqh, tazkiyyah an-nafs, tajweed, hadith, Arabic, and other sacred subjects with several resident and visiting scholars. She offers talks throughout the year locally and internationally on a range of topics including spirituality, self-development, seerah, women's issues, family/marriage, youth issues, social media literacy/safety, and mental health advocacy. She teaches weekly and monthly spiritual development classes (tazkiyyah) for adults and youth for multiple local and international organizations and via social media. She also currently teaches Seerah, Qur'an, logical and critical thinking, as well as Islamic studies in her local area. She is a mental health advocate and uses both her social media platforms to promote emotional and spiritual well-being and offers workshops on social-emotional learning for students & educators throughout the year. She's a wife and mother of two and resides in California with her family.

Parvez and Omar are joined by Shaykha Muslema Purmul, co-founder and Religious Director at The Majlis.  They discuss her family's journey from Afghanistan to Southern California, as well as her travels to Egypt, where she pursued religious scholarship for a number of years, and the work she is doing today as Religious Director at The Majlis. ABOUT SHAYKHA MUSLEMA PURMUL Muslema Purmul was born in Raleigh, North Carolina and raised in San Diego, California. She graduated from the University of California, San Diego with a double major in Religious Studies and Middle Eastern Studies. During these years she served a number of different roles at her local MSA at UCSD as well as MSA West. After graduating she left to study in Egypt where she spent the better part of the next 7 years. She completed the Bachelors program in Sharia from al-Azhar University in Cairo and also completed almost two years of graduate work at the American University in Cairo in Islamic Studies. She also attended the International Union of Muslim Scholars “Future Scholars Program” while she was studying in Cairo. Upon her return to America, she served the Southern California community in various capacities including religious instruction, directing youth and young adult programs, university chaplaincy, and offering community pastoral care at and with local masjids and organizations. She has taught classes and spoken nationally and internationally about issues related to Islamic law and ethics in an array of educational settings including conferences, retreats, universities, libraries, and mosques. Currently she serves as Religious Director at The Majlis, a community organization she and her husband co-founded together seeking to nurture safe community spaces where people can learn and live Islam, based on the traditional sources of understanding the faith, while acknowledging the particular challenges of the American context. She is a mother of two and resides with her family in Southern California.  

Parvez and Omar are joined by Shahan Mufti, author of American Caliph, The True Story of a Muslim Mystic, a Hollywood Epic, and the 1977 Siege of Washington, DC.  The new book is the first full account of the largest ever hostage taking on American soil and of the tormented man who masterminded it. Informed by extensive archival research and access to hundreds of declassified FBI files, American Caliph is a riveting true-crime story that sheds new light on the disarray of the 1970s and its ongoing reverberations. About Shahan Mufti Shahan Mufti is the chair of the Department of Journalism at the University of Richmond and a former daily news reporter for the Christian Science Monitor. His work has been published in Harper's, Wired, The New York Times Magazine, Bloomberg Businessweek, The Wall Street Journal, The Atlantic, and many others. He is the author of The Faithful Scribe: A Story of Islam, Pakistan, Family, and War. His second book, American Caliph: The True Story of a Muslim Mystic, a Hollywood Epic, and the 1977 Siege of Washington, DC won the J. Anthony Lukas Work-in-Progress Award in 2020. Shahan holds a master's degree in Journalism and Near Eastern Studies from New York University and an undergraduate degree from Middlebury College. He was awarded a Fulbright scholarship to India in 2004. He lives with his wife and children in Richmond, Virginia.

If you're on TikTok, you have seen the hysterical (and sometimes unhinged) Duolingo posts. And if you were interested in learning a language (like my husband was, actually), you probably converted into a Duolingo user because of the prevalence of Duo the owl on TikTok. I was stunned to find out that all 6m of us Duo stans were actually following a fresh-out-of-college Pakistani American, Zaria Parvez (@photos_zap). In two short years and with a marketing budget of 0 dollars, Zaria built a cult around the language learning app. The Duolingo account has 121.6m likes, including some from a video from just yesterday with 2m views (a figure 300,000 north of the entire population of Bahrain). Listen to Zaria's incredible story. This journey is especially cool because she is early in her career, but has already been recognized as a marketing genius. Experience doesn't always equate to stature or seniority, and Zaria's story is a testament to that reality. Follow Zaria on TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@zariaparvez?lang=en Follow Zaria on IG https://www.instagram.com/photos_zap/?hl=en Check out Duolingo's TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@duolingo?lang=en --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/laylool/message

S4, E2: In September 2021, Duolingo, the world's most popular language-learning platform, had 50,000 TikTok followers. As of late January of this year, it had 5.7 million. That increase is due in large part to Zaria Parvez, Duolingo's global social media manager and one of Forbes' 30 Under 30 in social media last year. Zaria is this year's closing keynote at NCMPR Under the Sun. She shares how she achieved that monumental goal. Hint: You can't achieve it if you don't trust your audience. And it doesn't hurt if the face of your brand is an unhinged owl. -- A New Job Comes to the College Cabinet: Chief Experience Officer (The Chronicle of Higher Education)

Parvez and Omar sit down with Yousuf Azhar for an important conversation about the dangers of cult mentality, spiritual manipulation and abuse, and his own personal experiences joining and then leaving a Muslim cult. About Yousuf Azhar Yousuf Azhar was born in India and migrated to the USA at the age of two.  He studied Arabic at the University of Damascus for one year and has studied general Islamic sciences with various scholars throughout his life.  He now resides in the San Francisco Bay Area with his wife and three children.  Yousuf is a software testing lead at a Silicon Valley tech company.  

Parvez and Omar sit down with Yousuf Azhar to hear about the danger of cult mentality, based on his own experiences. About Yousuf Azhar Yousuf Azhar was born in India and migrated to the USA at the age of two.  He studied Arabic at the University of Damascus for one year and has studied general Islamic sciences with various scholars throughout his life.  Yousuf now resides in the San Francisco Bay Area with his wife and three children and works as a software testing lead at a Silicon Valley tech company.  He is also the host of The Day Of The Thing Podcast - PODash.

Parvez and Omar take a visit to Souther California to sit down in person with Sue Obeidi and Evelyn Alsultany to discuss the state of Muslims in the media. Sue Obeidi is the Director of the Hollywood Bureau for the Muslim Public Affairs Council (MPAC). Obeidi ensures that MPAC's Hollywood Bureau is a partner with the entertainment industry. Evelyn Alsultany is a leading expert on the history of representations of Arabs and Muslims in the U.S. media and on forms of anti-Arab and anti-Muslim racism. Alsultany is an Associate Professor in the Department of American Studies and Ethnicity at the University of Southern California in Los Angeles. Evelyn Alsultany – Scholar of contemporary Arab and Muslim American cultural politics and popular culture

Parvez and Omar are joined by a fellow podcaster, Ahmed Khan.  They sit down at Zaytuna College in Berkeley to discuss the power of storytelling, and the inspiration behind some of their respective work in the world of podcasts. ABOUT THE CREATIVE MINORITY PODCAST The Creative Minority seeks to engage with contemporary intellectual issues ranging from but not included to politics, philosophy, theology, sociology, metaphysics, ethics, history, medicine and others. Our speakers include world class academics, theologians, scientists, professors, and celebrities who are at the forefront of shaping academia and culture. The Creative Minority on Apple Podcasts

In this special podcast, we are collaborating with prominent Muslim podcast, Diffused Congruence, on a discussion on the importance of storytelling. We discuss Ahmed's journey to resolving his identity crisis, Parvez and Omar's dedication to narrating the remarkable stories of our pioneers and analyzing the current discourse surrounding Muslim podcasts today.

Parvez and Omar sit down with returning guest Shadi Hamid to discuss the midterm elections and his new book, "The Problem of Democracy: America, the Middle East, and the Rise and Fall of an Idea".   In The Problem of Democracy, Shadi Hamid reimagines the ongoing debate on democracy's merits and proposes an ambitious agenda for reviving the lost art of democracy promotion in the world's most undemocratic regions.  What happens when democracy produces "bad" outcomes? Is democracy good because of its outcomes or despite them?  About Shadi Hamid Shadi Hamid is a senior fellow at the Brookings Institution and an assistant research professor of Islamic studies at Fuller Seminary. He is also a contributing writer at The Atlantic, where he writes a monthly essay on culture and politics. His new book is The Problem of Democracy: America, the Middle East, and the Rise and Fall of an Idea (Oxford University Press). His previous book, Islamic Exceptionalism: How the Struggle Over Islam is Reshaping the World, was shortlisted for the 2017 Lionel Gelber Prize for best book on foreign affairs. Hamid's first book, Temptations of Power: Islamists and Illiberal Democracy in a New Middle East was named a Foreign Affairs Best Book of 2014.  He is also the co-editor of Rethinking Political Islam with Will McCants.

Zaki Hasan, co-founder of the show, returns to catch up with Omar and Parvez.  They discuss the impacts of social media on the polarized state of politics, Muslim Twitter and much more! About Zaki Hasan Zaki Hasan has been a media scholar and critic for more than twenty years. His film reviews and analyses have appeared in The San Francisco Chronicle, HuffPost, and The Philadelphia Weekly, and in 2015 he was inducted into the prestigious San Francisco Film Critics Circle. He also co-wrote Geek Wisdom: The Sacred Teachings of Nerd Culture, contributed to books on the Star Wars, Star Trek, Planet of the Apes, and Blade Runner franchises, and has appeared as an expert panelist on HuffPost Live and Al Jazeera America's The Stream.

Parvez and Omar make a trek down to Orange County to sit with a pioneer in the American Muslim experience, Dr. Muzammil H. Siddiqi and learn about his life's journey from India to Madinah to United States and to discuss his legacy and impact on the American Muslim community. About Dr. Muzammil H. Siddiqi Dr. Muzammil H. Siddiqi is the imam and religious director of the Islamic Society of Orange County, Garden Grove; he also chairs the Fiqh Council of North America and the Islamic Shura Council of Southern California. Siddiqi has previously led the Religious Affairs Committee of the Muslim Students Association, Department of Religious Affairs at the Muslim World League Office to the UN and the United States, Islamic Center of Washington, D.C., and Islamic Society of North America. He is also a founding member of the World Economic Forum's Community of West and Islam Dialogue (C-100). Siddiqi is a frequent participant in interfaith events, authors commentary and issues fatwas through the internet hub IslamOnline.net, and lectures widely on Islamic law. Siddiqi was one of the signatories in October 2007 of A Common Word Between Us and You. He is a graduate of the Islamic University of Medina, Birmingham University, and Harvard University.

Parvez and Omar sit down with Michael Wolfe to discuss his journey to Islam, his pilgrimages to Mecca, and his work with Unity Productions Foundation (UPF). About Michael Wolfe Michael B. Wolfe is an American poet, author, and the President and Co-Executive Producer of Unity Productions Foundation. A secular American born in Cincinnati, Ohio to a Christian mother and a Jewish father, Wolfe converted to Islam at 40 and has been a frequent lecturer on Islamic issues at universities across the United States including Harvard, Georgetown, Stanford, SUNY Buffalo, and Princeton. He holds a degree in Classics from Wesleyan University.

Parvez and Omar are joined by Mona Haydar and Sebastian Robins to discuss their upcoming PBS Documentary, "The Great Muslim American Road Trip". About "The Great Muslim American Road Trip" Follow a millennial Muslim American couple on a cross-country journey along historic Route 66. As they meet new friends and explore more than a dozen stops, Mona and Sebastian weave a colorful story about what it means to be Muslim in America today. About Mona Haydar and Sebastian Robins Mona Haydar is a Syrian American Muslim born in Flint, Michigan. Her husband Sebastian Robins is an educator and convert to Islam. Both are passionate advocates for civil rights and inclusivity. In 2015, in the wake of extremist attacks in Paris and San Bernardino, the couple gained international attention for their "Talk to a Muslim" project — an impromptu stand they set up in Cambridge, Massachusetts to "replace trauma with love" by offering coffee, free donuts and flowers in exchange for questions and dialogue. An English major and a poet, Mona Haydar holds an M.A. in Christian Ethics from the Union Theological Seminary in New York. In 2016 she turned her talents to rap music. When her debut song "Wrap my Hijab" went viral, Billboard Magazine placed it among "The 20 Best Protest Songs of 2017" and named it one of the "Top 25 Feminist Anthems." Sebastian Robins has served as both coordinator and CEO of the Lama Foundation. He has also worked as an elementary school teacher, vice principal, and assistant professor. As an advocate for sustainable agriculture, he has helped establish and maintain farms across the country. Sebastian is Mona Haydar's music manager. Together, the couple have been featured on NPR, CNN, CBS, BBC, The New York Times, The Washington Post, People Magazine, BuzzFeed, HuffPost, Mic, Marie Claire, Glamour, Refinery 29 and other publications. Their work was showcased in a 2017 episode of the Peabody and Emmy-nominated short documentary series "The Secret Life of Muslims".    

Be part of our community by joining our Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/thoughtbehindthings In tonight's conversation with our special guest, Parvez Abbasi. What has Parvez's journey been like? Why did he move to London, and how did it go? What was his first job like? Parvez's first investment. What was life like in London during the 70s? Initially, what was his role at British Telecom & how did it progress? Why did he switch? What caused his relocation to Pakistan? How did he figure out what he needed to do here? Joining Mobilink and what was his experience working there? Why was he laid off? What happened after? How did he end up starting his own company? What was next for him? What projects did he work on? Why did they move back to London and then come back? The thought behind National Incubation Center? How are they growing? How do they fund it? What partners do they have? Why wasn't it working out? Would they think about altering the model right now? How many startups do they incubate? Has there been any evolution? What is an incubation center? How can people explore the NIC? How does he envision the Pakistan of 2050? Catch this and much more in tonight's episode. Do not forget to subscribe and press the bell icon to catch on to some amazing conversations coming your way! Connect with us: • https://www.instagram.com/thoughtbehindthings • https://www.instagram.com/muzamilhasan Parvez's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/parvezabbasi/ One8nine Media: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC6akyz6EpkwyzBmKh0L2rSQ --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/syed-muzamil-hasan-zaidi3/support

Parvez and Omar are joined by Dr. Sofia Ghani to discuss health and wellness in this holy month of Ramadan. Dr. Sofia Ghani started her career as a clinical pharmacist managing patients' drug therapy at Baylor Medical Center in Dallas. Being around very sick people on a laundry list of medications was an everyday norm for her. It never failed to surprise her how many medications one human can be on at the same time. In 2010 something shifted. It started with an idea of her doing a weight loss challenge with a couple of friends. By the time her friends asked some of their friends, word spread and 35 women joined this challenge! 12 weeks later, 35 lives were changed for the better and this was the start of Sofia's journey in health and wellness. Her passion was and still is helping women get healthier, stronger and more confident in their body. Since then Sofia has worked with 100s of women individually and in group settings. She now practices as a Health & Wellness Coach, is a NASM (Nat'l Assoc. of Sports Med personal trainer and is on her way to becoming a certified Jay Shetty Life Coach. She is passionate about helping women get healthy and strong at any age. “The best part of my job is seeing women start believing in themself, radiating confidence, loving themself and knowing that they CAN get healthy and lead a well-balanced life”.

Parvez and Omar are joined again by Aaron Sellers and dive deep into his path as a Muslim convert, his move from the east coast to the west, to work at Zaytuna Institute, and Zaytuna's transition into a college.  This is the second episode of a 2 part conversation. This is a continuation from episode 119, where we talked to Aaron about his early years, his conversion and his early experiences as a Muslim. About Aaron “Haroon” Sellers Aaron “Haroon” Sellars was born in Washington, D.C. and attended Virginia Commonwealth University, where he majored in graphic arts and developed a special interest in film, photography and music. After converting to Islam in 1994, he sought out ways to serve the Muslim community with his multi-media knowledge and interests. This drive inspired his move with his wife and daughters to the California Bay Area in the Summer of 2001 to serve the audiovisual needs of Zaytuna Institute and other Islamic organizations and institutions in the local Muslim community. Currently, Aaron is the Audiovisual Manager and longest serving employee at Zaytuna College -America's first accredited Muslim liberal arts college where he has taken thousands of photographs and recorded hundreds of hours of lectures, classes, and other events using a variety of digital media to document and share the college's historic contributions to Islam in America and the world, alhamdulillah.

Parvez and Omar are joined by Aaron "Haroon" Sellers and dive deep into his early years, his conversion and his early experiences as a Muslim, in part 1 of a 2 part conversation. About Aaron “Haroon” Sellers Aaron “Haroon” Sellars was born in Washington, D.C. and attended Virginia Commonwealth University, where he majored in graphic arts and developed a special interest in film, photography and music. After converting to Islam in 1994, he sought out ways to serve the Muslim community with his multi-media knowledge and interests. This drive inspired his move with his wife and daughters to the California Bay Area in the Summer of 2001 to serve the audiovisual needs of Zaytuna Institute and other Islamic organizations and institutions in the local Muslim community. Currently, Aaron is the Audiovisual Manager and longest serving employee at Zaytuna College -America's first accredited Muslim liberal arts college where he has taken thousands of photographs and recorded hundreds of hours of lectures, classes, and other events using a variety of digital media to document and share the college's historic contributions to Islam in America and the world, alhamdulillah.

If you're a TikTok user, chances are you've scrolled past a crazy green owl. That's the work of our latest guest, Zaria Parvez, social media coordinator at Duolingo. In this episode, we uncover the secrets behind Zaria's rapid success on TikTok and how she learned from trial, error, and taking some major risks to gain 2.8 million followers. Zaria shares why she chose Duolingo for her first job out of college and how her lack of experience in the industry has been part of her advantage. You've read it everywhere, but we as marketers have a whole lot to learn from Gen Z – and Zaria is a quintessential example of that. Take a listen to learn some new social media tips and get a peek behind the curtain at how one of the most successful brands on TikTok today found their niche. Guest BioZaria Parvez, social media coordinator at Duolingo, is a recent graduate of the advertising program at the University of Oregon. At just 23 years old, she's turned Duolingo into one of the most recognized brands on TikTok. Zaria brings a fresh perspective to the creative space, leaning into risk taking and the idea of rejection. She sources inspiration from some unlikely places, and believes in the idea of keeping your ideas simple. This is just the beginning for Zaria and we're excited to see what she accomplishes next! Key Takeaways:What's the secret behind success on TikTok? Zaria shares some of her tried and true methods as well as lessons she has learned along the way.We learn the differences between being a creator, influencer, and a brand on social media.Zaria shares her thoughts on representation and diversity in advertising. We discuss the importance of being fully yourself in the pursuit of finding a job.