The Ismaili Connection

Rasool Verjee, originally from Kenya, has gone through many ups and downs and different journeys throughout his life.  Having to learn to be independent early on in his education years and discover what career path he wanted to pursue through university, there have been many roadblocks as well as triumphs of success. In Rasool’s later years he was blindsided by a medical emergency. Through this time, he was inspired to write his book “Nugget Road.” He talks about people he has met through his journey and inspirational stories that helped discover his Ikigai. * Connect with Rasool on LinkedIn  

Aahil and Zohran are the founders and owners of Safekids.ai, an open source that  intercepts inappropriate content and teaches children how to make safer choices. During COVID Zohran and Aahil had noticed alot of their peers consuming more of their time on their phones and on the web. They wanted to create a platform that would make the internet a safer place to use. Still being in school the two brothers have successfully balanced their education and their business at the same time.  SafeKids website: https://safekids.ai/ Watch their Presentation today: https://youtu.be/E7vhpFryVAc?feature=shared

Ashraf is the founder and owner of the Heritage Collection, a South Asian fashion brand she started 17 years ago. In 2022, she became one of the first Ismaili fashion designers to display her work at New York Fashion Week. The event happens semi-annually and gives designers from around the world an opportunity to showcase their latest designs and work. Growing up in Pakistan, Ashraf found that happiness and celebrations were her key inspiration for her designs, going as far as designing outfits for her Barbies that matched her own. That sentiment shifted slightly when she immigrated to Virginia. Ashraf’s website: https://myheritagecollection.com Connect with Ashraf on LinkedIn  

Ashraf is the founder and owner of the Heritage Collection, a South Asian fashion brand she started 17 years ago. In 2022, she became one of the first Ismaili fashion designers to display her work at New York Fashion Week. The event happens semi-annually and gives designers from around the world an opportunity to showcase their latest designs and work. Growing up in Pakistan, Ashraf found that happiness and celebrations were her key inspiration for her designs, going as far as designing outfits for her Barbies that matched her own. That sentiment shifted slightly when she immigrated to Virginia. Ashraf’s website: https://myheritagecollection.com Connect with Ashraf on LinkedIn  

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

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

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

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

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

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