For me, leadership has been always been “self-leadership”, i.e. challenging myself to achieve more than the norm. Leadership has also been in the form of a “backseat” leader: I helped co-found and support several organizations, especially those helping women and girls achieve greater role and recognition in society, here and abroad. So when my son’s father-in-law Javaid Syed informed me that the Pakistani Civic Association of Staten Island chose me to be recognized, I accepted. It gave me an opportunity to reflect back on my life and step back to see who I have really been!
I did not deliver the talk below even though it helped me come up with 6 values important to me, and instead did a fun and short presentation on the 6 values with mine and Fauzia Syed’s grandkids! I share it below with some additional thoughts:
Salam aleikum, greetings of peace to all and a special thanks to the organizers, members and sponsors of the Pakistani Civic Association of Staten Island for organizing this impressive annual event, especially Javaid and Fauzia Syed (also my samdhis), Dr. Khalid, Sarah Malik, etc. Can I just say that I love the name “Civic”? I just think we live in an era where being civil and civic is more important than ever! Thank you so very much for recognizing my work as an activist in women’s issues, although other social justice issues such as interfaith, immigration, are very important to me, but to be able to stop and share some thoughts is so appreciated.
- Be yourself
- We all are unique and have a purpose in life- Keep discovering yourself – what values are important to you, what are you great at, what do you enjoy the most and what do you feel you cannot not be or do?
- Keep Learning
- Like water, we stagnate if we do not continue to learn and develop! I started out wanting to be a nuclear engineer, ended up being a computer scientist first, then a change consultant and now a “champion” grandmother, according to my dear friends! My passion for knowledge started with watching my role models, my parents Akhtar and Mohammed Farooq, my uncle Dr. Abdul Raouf- a world-wide authority and scholar in industrial engineering, my aunts Rashida Aryne and Khurshid Viqar- trailblazers in education, my grandfather’s brother A.S. Muslim, my uncle Nisar Aryne, my aunt Hafiz Rizwani- a famous woman athlete in Karachi- and so many other teachers, mentors along the way from the different countries I lived in: my German teachers like Herr Oehlerich, Herr Ruhle, etc. They all had a child-like quality for learning, for new ideas and for adventure, and were trailblazers with many accomplishments!
- Focus on the good
- We are so lucky to live in free society and as far as I can tell, America is great and a beacon for all immigrants still! Let’s focus and build on the good we have done and continue to do; and let us conquer our demons of the past, like racism, and not use violence to solve problems here and abroad! Let’s appreciate the good in all peoples, let’s be inclusive and let’s be compassionate!
- Drive Change
- I was lucky to be born in family of refugees (my grandparents) and emigrants/immigrants, where women were educated and empowered…I carried on that tradition in my education, in my work, etc. Naturally, I wanted to pay it forward especially to women and girls, here and abroad. I had the honor of working with the Women’s Funding Network and the Women’s Fund of NJ to gather funds to help women and girls. In Muslim majority countries, women continue to struggle for rights promised in the Quran 1400 years ago and reject backward ancient customs, such as early marriage, honor killings, autonomy in marriage, divorce law protection, etc. At a Muslim women leader conference in Istanbul that I co-led with my friend Daisy Khan, who founded WISE (Women in Spirtuality and Equity), I met an African woman leader who had built a women’s village so any woman that was beaten by her husband- which was common in their tribe at least- could come and live there. As the luckier ones, we cannot forget them and must help them always!
- Give Back
- Last week I paid my second visit to a 19 year old Hispanic girl in prison who was picked up by immigration police at a deli. She is obviously sad and scared. She asked me to read from a Bible in Spanish, which I arranged for her. She is praying that a lawyer can help her. She thanked me for coming to visit her, even though she is the one who has lost her freedom. So just one small act can make a difference to a stranger, and giving back can come in all shapes or forms! The Quran and indeed all faith traditions teach us to give back of our wealth, our time and our resources as a way of thanking God.
- Have Fun
- I met my husband, Shahid Akhtar, at a political demonstration, so right away we had two values in common: giving back and having fun. His two mottos are to always help others and two, there must be a party every weekend! I used to worry about my four kids: Mona, Reza, Sheema and Sonia but thank God they excelled in educating themselves and seeking excellence, as are their spouses: Arif, Amna and Eric! So, when I think of our upcoming 44th wedding anniversary, it seems that life has been one long non-stop party! I am immensely grateful to God to my loving family here and abroad, and thank all our friends, some of whom are here, for creating and sustaining a great community of love, fun, giving and sharing which makes life so meaningful and enjoyable…so thank you again for this opportunity! Peace, Mino
Well done, my friend, and well said.
Mino you did a good job. Salim and I share the same values be yourself ,focus on god , keep learning and give back. .