02/08/2025
IMA Professional Connect 2025 – What. A. Morning.
Heartfelt. Bold. Raw. Real. Uplifting.
The only complaint? “More people needed to hear this!”
Alhamdulillah, we’re still riding the high from an unforgettable morning last week. IMA Professional Connect brought together Muslim professionals, students, and leaders for a morning of courage, vulnerability, wisdom, and strength.
Here’s a glimpse of what made the day so powerful:
🔹 Abdallah Joudeh's Journey:
From forklift driver to Uber driver to fuel station attendant — 11 jobs in 4.5 years before finally landing his first role in his actual field. His message?
💬 “Orient yourself to Allah. Accept. Adapt. Act forward. Don’t be a victim. Hustle — and make duaa.”
Every setback was a setup for growth. His story reminded us that no job is beneath you, and every job builds you.
🔹 Faizan Afzal’s Struggle of Starting Over:
New country. New system. No shortcuts.
He shared his experience and how he went from an international student to a leader in one of the biggest mining companies, BHP.
🔹 The Hijabi Experience of Esma Kaya:
In certain industries where being a woman is already a challenge, being a Muslim woman is a whole different level. Esma spoke about her experience from comments we hear everyday to questions like, “How do you manage with that thing on your head?”
And yet — she didn’t shrink.
🔹 Shakila Khan’s Bold Career Pivot with no roadmap, only trust in Allah.
Her story reminded us that the best career moves are sometimes the scariest — but also the most soul-fulfilling.
🌟 A huge thank you to our incredible volunteers, speakers, and sponsors who made this event not just run — but flow beautifully. A special shout-out to Dana, who handled the event with grace and calm and made is so engaging !
📣 To those who attended — we hope you left feeling seen, heard, and uplifted. And to those who missed out: don't worry, we are just getting started!