A Journey of Becoming

I am the daughter of immigrants from Pakistan and Bangladesh, raised in America, navigating the complexities of two worlds. Born into a devout Muslim family, I grew up with privilege but always felt either invisible or hypervisible within my community. My turning point came in 2000, when, as a college junior, I unexpectedly became pregnant and was challenged with the reaction from my family and conservative community. With the support of my family, I chose to embrace motherhood without the father of my child. Then years later after 17 years in a difficult marriage to the same man, I chose myself and finally found the courage to leave. This started my journey to repair harm and rediscover myself as a single mother of four.

My healing began with writing, helping me dismantle the beliefs I once held about myself. What started as personal reflection evolved into a podcast focused on healing and spirituality. In 2022, I created Pain to Power, a talk series featuring stories of individuals who turned their pain into leadership, guiding others to reconnect with their true selves.

Alongside my creative journey, I built a career as an educator and expert in diversity, equity, and inclusion, driven by my belief in the power of identity and creating transformative spaces. Authenticity, honesty, and openness about our struggles and joys are how we heal and come home to ourselves. Through Brown Girl Interrupting LLC, I aim to elevate our stories, connect us through shared experiences, and build empathy by honoring our differences.