Defiance Academy

Holding onto limiting ideas and beliefs while trying to break with social norms and standards can be challenging.  It's important for us to question and interrogate why we have these beliefs and examine how they limit us from expanding our horizons.  Join us at the Defiant Women's Leadership Conference on January 21, 2023 in Phoenix, Arizona ➡️ https://www.eventbrite.com/e/defiant-womens-leadership-conference-tickets-408409191887  Got questions on life and career goals? Submit them at the link below and tune into the Mentoring Moments segment for in-depth discussions. Mentoring Moments ➡️ https://www.defianceacademy.com/mentoring-moments  Interested in the Taking UP Space Course? Enroll Here ➡️ https://www.defianceacademy.com/sales-page-848de76c-8f94-4d8c-b7d4-7367e50050c9 

In the pursuit of careers, especially in the STEM fields, one of the biggest gaps in professional development is the lack of leadership training during the early parts of the journey.  While these skills are important in helping you to advance in your career, they're also relevant in helping you overcome obstacles, negotiate changes both at work and in your personal life, and prioritize your goals.  In this episode, we discuss this gap and the ways in which Defiance Academy is hoping to bridge it for the next generation.   Got questions on life and career goals? Submit them at the link below and tune into the Mentoring Moments segment for in-depth discussions. Mentoring Moments ➡️ https://www.defianceacademy.com/mentoring-moments  Interested in the Taking UP Space Course? Enroll Here ➡️ https://www.defianceacademy.com/sales-page-848de76c-8f94-4d8c-b7d4-7367e50050c9  Get on the email list to learn more about the Defiant Women's Leadership Conference ➡️ https://www.defianceacademy.com/defiantwomenconference

Deqa is a premed student passionate about pursuing surgery. She's a first-generation student who lost her father at a young age and was was raised by a single mother.  As a Black Muslim woman, she found it difficult to identify with the mentors she was presented with at networking events.  Now as an alumna of the Taking UP Space Course, Deqa's mindset is transformed. Listen as she shares her journey thus far and how a mindset shift impacted her ability to dream big.  Got questions on life and career goals? Submit them at the link below and tune into the Mentoring Moments segment for in-depth discussions. Mentoring Moments ➡️ https://www.defianceacademy.com/mentoring-moments  Interested in the Taking UP Space Course? Enroll Here ➡️ https://www.defianceacademy.com/sales-page-848de76c-8f94-4d8c-b7d4-7367e50050c9  Get on the email list to learn more about the Defiant Women's Leadership Conference ➡️ https://www.defianceacademy.com/defiantwomenconference 

In a society that teaches you to be risk averse, can taking calculated risks in your personal and career goals be the key to overcoming obstacles? In this episode, Dr. Sondos Al Sad and I dig deep into what it means to be a Muslim woman navigating life and career while maintaining your faith and values and how calculated risks pay off.  You can reach Dr. Al Sad on Twitter @SadSondos  Got questions on life and career goals? Submit them at the link below and tune into the Mentoring Moments segment for in-depth discussions. Mentoring Moments ➡️ https://www.defianceacademy.com/mentoring-moments  Interested in the Taking UP Space Course? Enroll Here ➡️ https://www.defianceacademy.com/sales-page-848de76c-8f94-4d8c-b7d4-7367e50050c9 Get on the email list to learn more about the Defiant Women's Leadership Conference ➡️ https://www.defianceacademy.com/defiantwomenconference

Our first Mentoring Moments segment! In this episode, I answer the question  "How do you become a surgeon?" I outline the process from high school, college, medical school, all the way to fellowship.   Got questions on life and career goals? Submit them at the link below and tune into the Mentoring Moments segment for in-depth discussions. Mentoring Moments ➡️ https://www.defianceacademy.com/mentoring-moments  Interested in the Taking UP Space Course? Enroll Here ➡️ https://www.defianceacademy.com/sales-page-848de76c-8f94-4d8c-b7d4-7367e50050c9 

In this episode, we discuss how we can use our biggest strengths - our families and our communities - to our advantage in building the life and career we want.  Got questions on life and career goals? Submit them at the link below and tune into the Mentoring Moments segment for in-depth discussions. Mentoring Moments ➡️ https://www.defianceacademy.com/mentoring-moments  Interested in the Taking UP Space Course? Enroll Here ➡️ https://www.defianceacademy.com/sales-page-848de76c-8f94-4d8c-b7d4-7367e50050c9 

In this episode, Dr. Emma Wiley shares her path into medicine how the growth mindset impacted her journey the importance of maintaining faith her incredible work with the Muslim Women of Merton in advocating for Muslim women and combatting Islamophobia her work with the British Medical Association on hijab and bear-below-elbow policy for Muslim women working in the operating room (or operating theater as they call it in the UK!) To follow Dr. Wiley's work, follow her on Twitter @EmmaWiley16 Got questions on life and career goals? Submit them at the link below and tune into the Mentoring Moments segment for in-depth discussions. Mentoring Moments ➡️ https://www.defianceacademy.com/mentoring-moments  Interested in the Taking UP Space Course? Enroll Here ➡️ https://www.defianceacademy.com/sales-page-848de76c-8f94-4d8c-b7d4-7367e50050c9 

After you prove yourself and surpass all expectations, you're given the respect you deserve and opportunities to advance in your career, right? Sadly this expectation is inconsistent with the reality of the workplace, especially for the minoritized and underrepresented.  In this week's episode, we discuss the importance of developing a strategy early in your career and how you can take control of your career trajectory.  Got questions on life and career goals? Submit them at the link below and tune into the Mentoring Moments segment for in-depth discussions. Mentoring Moments ➡️ https://www.defianceacademy.com/mentoring-moments  Interested in the Taking UP Space Course? Enroll Here ➡️ https://www.defianceacademy.com/sales-page-848de76c-8f94-4d8c-b7d4-7367e50050c9 

Welcome to Season 2! We’re so excited to be back. We’re picking up right where we left off after a two-year pandemic break. Our personal and professional lives have significantly changed since the start of the pandemic. So in this season, we’ll be doing things a little differently. We’ll introduce the new format of the podcast, our respective roles, and new exciting segments and projects we have in store for you. Happy listening! Submit your questions on all things life and career goals below and tune into the Mentoring Moments segment for in-depth discussions. Mentoring Moments ➡️ https://www.defianceacademy.com/mentoring-moments   Interested in the Taking UP Space Course? Enroll Here ➡️ https://www.defianceacademy.com/sales-page-848de76c-8f94-4d8c-b7d4-7367e50050c9

Welcome back! The ladies of The Professional Muslim Women podcast sit down and catch up on all that 2020 has dropped into their lives. As front line healthcare workers in the pandemic, their personal lives have been deeply affected and they discuss what they have been up to in the intervening months. They also discuss the protests for racial justice and the ongoing struggle for racial equality, particularly through the lens of the healthcare system. They discuss the impact Covid19 has had bringing into stark relief the racial disparity in health outcomes.  . They give their take on the upcoming Election and discuss how voting is a powerful tool for progressive change.  We are not powerless and they offer some ideas on how to use our power to improve our lives and our communities.  For details on how and where to vote go to https://iwillvote.com/

Building wealth is not as hard as you think. The secrets have been out years ago. We just have to remind ourselves again and again and make a conscious effort to follow it. What comes to mind when you hear terms like the stock market, bonds, investment, and other financial jargon? It sounds intimidating and scary, right? And you feel like you’ll just lose money if you invest it, so you never really bothered. But it doesn’t have to be. After listening to this episode, you’ll learn useful financial information to get you moving towards building wealth!  Our guest is Saima Ali, a neurologist who has a  deep passion for finance and teaching others the financial skills they needed to improve their financial wellbeing. She shares important resources to manage your debt and make saving money easier.  Saima talks about the difference between halal and haram investments, and things you need to know about life insurance. She also speaks about what it means to live below your means and pay your future self first and how to set your mindset for financial success.  Her goals are to have every woman retire as a millionaire. She created a free introduction to the stock market training, which can be accessed below.   In this Episode, We Talk About: The story behind Saima’s finance projects Resources to improve your financial wellbeing Managing debt wisely Building your credit score What it means to live below your means Why finance is a mindset game Instant pleasure vs. delayed gratification How to make saving money easier The FIRE movement How to ensure your assets What you need to know about life insurance Halal vs. Haram investments   Where to reach Saima Ali Instagram @wealthymuslimwomen Facebook @WealthyMuslimWomen Wealthy Muslim Women - website Wealthy Muslim Women Podcast                      Resources: The Stock Market: mini-training   Want to hear more stories from amazing Muslim Women? Please subscribe on Apple Podcast, Stitcher or on your favorite podcast platform. Get notified so you never miss out! Let us know what you think and what part of the podcast conversation you enjoyed the most by leaving us a review and rating here! And don’t forget to join us on our Facebook group Professional Muslim Women to continue the conversation and connect with a community of Muslim women like you!

Quitting your job to start your own business is probably one of the riskiest paths you’d ever take. It’s full of uncertainties. What if you fail? You will surely scratch your knees along the way but once you get past the trying times, the results are going to be gratifying!  Join us in this episode as Samira Ali shares her inspiring journey of entrepreneurship and how she left her secured employee position to start her own company. She shares her experience being in the field of HR and how it is like to do volunteer work for a charitable organization. We also touch the topic of self-worth and how you can stand up for yourself. Find out what compelled Samira to leave her secured work and follow the risky path of being an entrepreneur.   In this Episode, We Talk About: How Samira got into the field of HR Volunteering for a charitable organization Samira’s journey to entrepreneurship What the star method all about Self-worth   Want to hear more stories from amazing Muslim Women? Please subscribe on Apple Podcast, Stitcher or on your favorite podcast platform. Get notified so you never miss out! Let us know what you think and what part of the podcast conversation you enjoyed the most by leaving us a review and rating here! And don’t forget to join us on our Facebook group Professional Muslim Women to continue the conversation and connect with a community of Muslim women like you!  

Science and faith are often in conflict but our guest for today has integrated both science and faith into her own life that created the synergy to accomplish her aspirations. Join us in this episode as we discuss the rich tradition of faith and science in Islam with Oncology Hospitalist Marium Husain! She is a hematology-oncology at The Ohio State University. She actively works on community service projects and has volunteered with the WHO on nutrition-related projects. Religion is the opposite of scientific principles, but Marium will educate us about the impact of Islam and the contributions of Muslim scientists to medicine and science in general. Marium also talks about the importance of finding your talents and pursuing a career that you love to enjoy life and fulfill your purpose! In this Episode, We Talk About: What led Marium to the field of hematology-oncology Marium’s experience working in international medicine and abroad Sustainability, science, and faith The role of Islam in relationship to Medicine and Science Finding your talents and pursuing a career that you love   Where to reach Marium Husain Facebook Twitter Instagram LinkedIn YouTube   Resources: IMANA Science Jummah   Want to hear more stories from amazing Muslim Women? Please subscribe on Apple Podcast, Stitcher or on your favorite podcast platform. Get notified so you never miss out! Let us know what you think and what part of the podcast conversation you enjoyed the most by leaving us a review and rating here! And don’t forget to join us on our Facebook group Professional Muslim Women  to continue the conversation and connect with a community of Muslim women like you!

Know that you will fail. Know that you will scrape your knees but you will be okay and you’ll be so much stronger. ⁠— Deqa Gelle To get to where you need to be, you must take the initiative and take action to get there. You won’t learn how to run unless you learn how to walk. In this episode, we explore Deqa’s journey in finding her path and how she started One Stone HR. Deqa is an experienced Recruitment Manager with 10 years of experience in the recruitment industry. She helped build successful and harmonious teams for corporate organizations and she currently helps individuals and corporations in cultivating their brand. She talks about how taking action - big or small helps her show up every day for herself and others. Find out how Deqa overcame her adversaries and what motivates her to push through and take continuous action. In this Episode, We Talk About: Deqa’s journey to HR Recruitment What drives Deqa to keep pushing on Making the leap and getting over self-doubt The stigma around divorce Action, action, action Where to reach Deqa Gelle Instagram Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Deqa Gelle YouTube Channel One Stone HR Website Want to hear more stories from amazing Muslim Women? Please subscribe on Apple Podcast, Stitcher or on your favorite podcast platform. Get notified so you never miss out! Let us know what you think and what part of the podcast conversation you enjoyed the most by leaving us a review and rating here! And don’t forget to join us on our Facebook group Professional Muslim Women  to continue the conversation and connect with a community of Muslim women like you!

“Make your mark and don’t be afraid.”  -Dr. Samira Hassan   Dr. Hassan, General Practitioner, Family Medicine Specialist and vice president of the British Somali Medical Association shares with us her unconventional path to medicine.  On this episode, we explore Dr. Hassan’s journey of finding her self through the culture shock of being transplanted in the Somali community as a teenager, her meandering path to solidifying her interest in medicine including turning down an offer of admission to medical school, and dealing with the agony of rejection after re-application and how she learned the importance of seeking feedback in the face of it. She also shares her passion for community outreach in addressing health awareness and literacy including mental health awareness as well as creating career fairs for the youth. She has certainly made a mark and has influenced Somali youth globally with the spread of her Careers Fair platform on a global scale.    In this Episode, We Talk About: Dr. Samira’s journey to medicine The value of listening to your inner voice  The value of finding yourself and what your true passion really is Community outreach Hidden blessings   Where to reach Dr. Samira Hassan Twitter LinkedIn   Want to hear more stories from amazing Muslim Women? Please subscribe on Apple Podcast, Stitcher or on your favorite podcast platform. Get notified so you never miss out! Let us know what you think and what part of the podcast conversation you enjoyed the most by leaving us a review and rating here! And don’t forget to join us on our Facebook group Professional Muslim Women  to continue the conversation and connect with a community of Muslim women like you!

It’s never easy being a mom and having a full-time job. Balancing work and home is always a very challenging feat but is it really impossible to become successful at both? Recently, the Harvard Business Review published an article that talks about women, being an ideal worker or a perfect mom. The article was demeaning as it deems that women have to choose between motherhood and career if they want to excel and meet society’s high standards. Join us in this episode as we break that narrative that society continues to throw at us. We will also tackle the issue of pregnancy and breastfeeding in the workplace as well as debate on why the article written by Harvard is wrong in many ways.   In this Episode, We Talk About: Pregnancy and breastfeeding in the workplace Why there is nobody who’s an ideal worker and a perfect parent Filtering out people who aren’t good candidates for you to work for or work with How to advocate for yourself   Want to hear more stories from amazing Muslim Women? Please subscribe on Apple Podcast, Stitcher or on your favorite podcast platform. Get notified so you never miss out! Let us know what you think and what part of the podcast conversation you enjoyed the most by leaving us a review and rating here! And don’t forget to join us on our Facebook group Professional Muslim Women  to continue the conversation and connect with a community of Muslim women like you!   Resources: Ideal Worker of Perfect Mom? From Harvard Business Review

Join us in this episode as we sit with Dr. Anjabeen Ashraf to talk about trauma, depression, mental health, and social justice activism.  Dr. Anjabeen is a mental health expert, speaker, researcher, educator, and social justice activist. Her work is mainly centered on exploring the experience of American Muslims and South Asian Americans.  In this conversation, Dr. Anjabeen explains what vicarious trauma is all about and how one can heal from traumatic experiences. She also shares some of her findings on vicarious trauma from her research study. Moreover, we also tackle the issue of postpartum depression and what you can do about it.    Talking about your struggles is another way to heal, and so Dr. Anjabeen elaborates on the importance of honoring your mental, reaching out for help, and the role of a community in helping others heal. She offers tools you can apply to yourself and your community to cope with stress, depression, and trauma. Lastly, we talk about boundaries, how to set up healthy boundaries in the workplace and Dr. Anjabeen’s social justice work as part of the hate crime law implementation committee in Oregon. In this Episode, We Talk About: What is ‘vicarious trauma’? What Dr. Anjabeens research study reveals about vicarious trauma Honoring your mental health Healing through community Coping with your stress and trauma through ‘grounding’ What to do when you have symptoms of postpartum depression Boundary work and why it matters Setting boundaries in the workplace Dr. Anjabeen’s social justice work on the hate crime law implementation committee in Oregon Dr. Anjabeen’s advice to young Muslim women who are thinking of a career in counseling, psychotherapy, mental health, and psychology Where to reach Dr. Anjabeen Ashraf: Facebook Twitter Instagram   Dr. Anjabeen Ashraf Bio:   Dr. Anjabeen Ashraf holds a doctorate in Counselor Education and a Master’s degree in Counseling. Her work has focused on vicarious trauma in American Muslims, mental health counseling, and anti-oppression work. She has presented on a number of topics including working with Muslim clients, social justice issues, mental health issues, and courtship/marriage. Dr. Ashraf is currently serving on the Hate Crime law implementation committee in Oregon. This groundbreaking legislation passed in Oregon in 2019 and amends the criminality of hate crimes and expands the state’s tracking of hate crimes and hate incidents. Dr. Ashraf’s work on the steering committee focuses on trauma-informed practices and support for survivors of hate crimes. Dr. Ashraf firmly believes in the power of counseling and personal growth work. Her online presence is focused on destigmatizing mental health and wellness in South Asian and Muslim communities. Engaging with the public outside the siloes of academia is important in Dr. Ashraf’s anti-oppression framework.   Want to hear more stories from amazing Muslim Women?   Please subscribe on Apple Podcast, Stitcher or on your favorite podcast platform. Get notified so you never miss out!   Let us know what you think and what part of the podcast conversation you enjoyed the most by leaving us a review and rating here! And don’t forget to join us on our Facebook group Professional Muslim Women  to continue the conversation and connect with a community of Muslim women like you!   Resources: Revolution Counseling, LLC

"For the little girl that didn't know a word of English or French, then to graduate in University with both official languages, I felt victorious."  -Rahma Mohamed  Literature has always been a passion of Rahma's.  Having to forego pursuing her college studies in literature to satisfy her immigrant parents' need for security in choosing a career, Rahma found her way back to her passion unexpectedly.  Having never read a children's book herself, Rahma became fascinated with the value and legacy in nurturing and sharing this childhood experience with her own children. As she tried to create this experience with her children, she realized the scarcity of diversity and representation in children's literature.  Because of the lack of diversity in the market for Muslim Children’s Book, she decided to self-publish children’s books to encourage kids to be proud of their uniqueness, spread awareness, and celebrate diversity. Join us in this episode as we talk about diversity in literature, storybooks and parenting with Rahma Mohamed, a children’s storybook author. In this Episode, We Talk About: Rahma’s early school and career experience What made Rahma walk the path of being a Children’s Storybook Author What it feels like to be the only child of color in your class How to raise your child so that they have self-confidence within themselves Why literature representation for people of color is important The role of diversity in literature Where to reach Rahma Mohamed: Instagram Rahma Rodaah   Rahma Mohamed's Bio: Rahma Mohamed was born and raised in Hargeisa, Somalia. At the age of eight, her family immigrated to Quebec, Canada where she attended her first formal school in French. She mastered both French and English and became the first to graduate from University in her family. She didn’t learn to read until she was at the age of ten. When she learned to read, a new world opened up to her. And she read all kinds of stories. But sadly, she never found herself in any of them. Once she became a mother, she set out to self-publish children’s books to encourage youth to be proud of their uniqueness by celebrating diversity.  Fueled by her struggles and life experience, she became determined to offer books centered on characters that are Muslim and with African roots. She firmly believes that children need to be able to identify themselves in the book they read to enhance their self-confidence as well as bolster their sense of pride. She writes under the pen name Rahma Rodaah which is her first name and middle name combined. Mentioned from this episode: Muhiima’s Quest by Rahma Little Brother for Sale by Rahma Pebbles that Build Mountains by Rahma Mohamed | TEDx Want to hear more stories from amazing Muslim Women? Please subscribe on Apple Podcast, Stitcher or on your favorite podcast platform. Get notified so you never miss out! Let us know what you think and what part of the podcast conversation you enjoyed the most by leaving us a review and rating here! And don’t forget to join us on our Facebook group Professional Muslim Women to continue the conversation and connect with a community of Muslim women like you!

As a Muslim, how should we approach parenting? Raising a child is no walk in the park. It’s confusing and daunting, especially that as a parent you’re expected to do a perfect job. But it is also rewarding at the same time, especially when your child grows into a fine, responsible, and loving adult. What should we do as parents to raise our kids properly while still keeping with the principles of Islam? Join us in this episode as we talk about parenting in the Islam perspective with Gulnaz Ahsan, the editor of Halal Parenting. Halal Parenting is a magazine that offers parenting techniques that work. It provides a delicate balance of fresh, modern parenting content that incorporates Islamic principles to help you make the best decisions for your children and family. In this conversation, Gulnaz shares why she decided to become an entrepreneur and why she founded Halal Parenting. She also talks about parenting from the perspective of Islam and how parenting is likened to an on-the-job training. She also addresses the misconception that women automatically know how to take care of and raise a child. Gulnaz explains why entrepreneurship is the ideal career for women and moms who want to stay at home and take care of their children. For our Professional Muslim Women listeners, we’re offering you a 15% discount off the annual subscription to Halal Parenting magazine! Use our exclusive coupon code PMW15 when you purchase! In this Episode, We Talk About: Gulnaz’ early career experience From finance to entrepreneurship Parenting from the perspective of Islam What to do when your child is throwing a tantrum Staying consistent as a parent Why entrepreneurship is a good career choice for women Where to reach Gulnaz Ahsan: LinkedIn   Gulnaz Ahsan's Bio: Gulnaz Ahsan the editor of Halal Parenting magazine. She studied International Business Finance in the UK and later took Business Software Applications in Northern California. She works as a licensed investment advisor with a focus on managing clients for a few and then later on married and moved to Milwaukee Wisconsin. She continues to work for project outsourcing companies that serve large financial institutions throughout the country. Mentioned from this episode: Halal Parenting Halal Parenting - Facebook Hala Parenting - FB Group Want to hear more stories from amazing Muslim Women? Please subscribe on Apple Podcast, Stitcher or on your favorite podcast platform. Get notified so you never miss out! Let us know what you think and what part of the podcast conversation you enjoyed the most by leaving us a review and rating here! And don’t forget to join us on our Facebook group Professional Muslim Women to continue the conversation and connect with a community of Muslim women like you!

Choosing a career is hard enough. Having a mentor to guide and help you with your chosen career makes all the difference and keeps you right on track. Today, our guest is Dr. Uzma Syed who is a true Muslimah trailblazer.  She is the President of Align Us, a not-for-profit organization that offers unique mentorship opportunities to help foster career development for high school students. Align Us is an after school program which helps students bridge classroom to real-world experiences. Join us in this episode as Dr. Uzma Syed shares her experience in becoming a public figure and trailblazer in her community.  She tells us about the difficult road of pursuing her doctorate career without a mentor and how that experience inspired her non profit. Her ultimate goal is to bridge cultural and societal gaps so that all American citizens have an active role in their community at hand. In this Episode, We Talk About: Her activism in having Islamic Holidays recognized state wide The huge benefits of mentorship to young students Advise for blazing your career Getting the right resources   Where to reach Dr. Uzma Syed: Instagram @uzmasworld Twitter @druzmasyed Linkedin @uzma-syed   Where to reach Align Us:   Website Email: info@align-us.org Facebook Twitter   Dr. Uzma Syed’s Bio: Dr. Uzma Syed is a board-certified infectious disease specialist, an education leader and a political activist. She cares a lot about education, from directing a nonprofit called Align Us that provides mentorship and career development to serving on school board committees as an advisor. She's a rising Muslim civic figure in Nassau community politics, she co-founded the eighth-holiday coalition, served on the commissioner's community council, and is recognized by the legislature as a female trailblazer. She also ran as a school board trustee candidate in 2018 all while being a proud and visible Hijab Muslim woman. Mentioned from this episode: Dr. Uzma Syed a Woman of Substance Want to hear more stories from amazing Muslim Women? Please subscribe on Apple Podcast, Stitcher or on your favorite podcast platform. Get notified so you never miss out! Let us know what you think and what part of the podcast conversation you enjoyed the most by leaving us a review and rating here! And don’t forget to join us on our Facebook group Professional Muslim Women to continue the conversation and connect with a community of Muslim women like you!