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Home Introduction Role Models America America Affinis Labs PeaceTech Diniyat center Hack the hood TechWomen Open SV Kapoor Center Workplaces in Silicon Valley Pakistan Pakistan Caramal Tech Studios Venture Dive PITB NIC Epiphany NUST WeCreate KITE Habib The Nest UAE UAE AstroLabs YouthHub Zileej/Salam Sisters DTEC About Arfah

Impact driven. Creator. Diversity personified.

America

Affinis Labs

PeaceTech

Diniyat center

Kapoor Center

Open SV

Hack the Hood

TechWomen

Workplaces

I wrote a blog post with my colleague Dilwoar about how we started the #MuslimsatGDS community. Link in bio.

I started at @gdsteam about 5 months ago. l joined the civil service as a community development manager for the product management and delivery management communities. It's a job I feel finally plays on my strength. my job is to basically to work with the PM/DM community to facilitate and bring initiatives to life

As someone who always saw herself as a bit of a shapeshifter that could do a bit of everything, I've really learned over time that actually one thing that I'm good at is bringing people together and community. Communities are a massive passion of mine and even before we set up @muslamicmakers in my school days I was always on the school council or involved in some youth project or another.
So when I joined GDS and saw there was no Muslim Community especially as I joined just before Ramadan, I felt I wanted to use my God-given gift and try and pull people together to try start something, or to be honest maybe this was jusr my way of making friends lol.
When I spoke to other Muslims at GDS to understand why a community like this didn’t exist already, there was a lot of fear as people don't like to highlight their Muslim identity. I've learned with the work I do with @muslamicmakers and now just speaking to others we are fearful due to the current climate and like to hide and not to draw attention.
Embracing your identity and faith takes time. We are all on a personal journey. For people like myself who are unapologetically Muslim, we need to make the first move and create spaces to allow people to build confidence.

Since the blog post went out, I've had someone else in government say it's been inspiring and she hopes to do something in her department and that itself means we are winning.

The blog post covers some practical steps on how you can create a community in your workplace and things to consider when working with a Muslim employee. I hope it's beneficial. Link in bio.
PS: I may have purposely posed in a Kurta for the blog picture. #embraceyouridentity #muslimsatgds #muslamicmakers #inclusivegov #gds

Friendship: I've been thinking alot recently about friends and catching up. It's no secret the last 6 months have been massive changes for me in terms of life changes and finding time to stay in touch with friends has naturally got harder. However it's so important to maintain individual friendships beyond the one you have with your spouse.
I live on the outskirts of London now so after work catchups long life out a bit so I've been trying to squeeze friends between things. Life has mainly been family, work and @muslamicmakers and alhumdilliah for it.

I've also realised there are times when I'm like "I need to drop her a text" and days go by and I still haven't! Why is that? Sometimes the time just feels inappropriate but I've realised it's best to just text that person and go "hey.. I'm going to bed but lets catchup soon" so it's out there and doesn't keep getting delayed.
To all the people I said lets catchup soon as we work nearby. If i haven't got in touch with you yet.. please message me and lets schedule that lunchtime catchup or you'll hear for me soon. Summer is here (despite the rainy day today) so lets step away from our desks and re-connect.

I've always been someone that gets energized with 1:1 meetups, I come across as an extrovert but big social gatherings tire me out but I find these are the quickest ways to just keep in touch superficially but I want to maintain those special bonds so taking time out for friends individually is just as important.

It's not how it used to be when I was single, we might not be able to hang out all day or all evening but an hour with a friend even if it's just over facetime can sd much for you.
How do you keep in touch with friends despite being busy?
Yes its another set of pics from the wedding by @justmebreathing but these pictures really capture friendship.
Massive shout-out to everyone that has played a role in my life. I see you. I appericate you.
#alhumdilliah #friendship

Happy Birthday to my rather awesome husband Hamza. You ain't on Instagram but I'll share this post on Facebook and tag you and embarrass you because that is what I do! Thank you for being amazing, kind, loving and supportive. It's hard to put it into words what you mean to me but everyday I am grateful to God for blessing me with you. Here is to many more birthdays together inshallah and to many more crazy activities like parasailing! Love you xxx #alhumdilliah #arfahamza

Arfah

Away day for product managers at GDS that I organised alhumdilliah went well. Lots learned! #ProductPeople https://t.co/9FVJENFUrR
Jul 5, 2019, 6:40 PM