Introduction

Amaney Kazlak, the founder of Sacred Soulmates, began her career as a civil engineer. After seven years as a civil engineer, she transitioned to the non-profit sector, serving as a Resource Development Coordinator at ICNA Relief. After her time with ICNA Relief, she started her own company, Sacred Soulmates, which focuses on relationship coaching to help Muslims build strong, purposeful marriages that uplift the Ummah. (View the full interview on YouTube).

Personal Journey

• Early influences and education: Amaney was drawn to engineering in high school due to her aptitude for math. Unsure of the different engineering disciplines, she participated in a “shadow an engineer” program through her university, which helped her choose civil engineering. A key early influence was her father, who alleviated her fear of failure by emphasizing that her best effort was what mattered most.

• Role of Islamic faith in career choices: In her corporate engineering role, her faith’s influence was primarily personal, centered on maintaining her identity as a hijabi and finding space to pray. Her faith became a more direct driver in her career when she moved to ICNA Relief to work in a Muslim environment and later founded Sacred Soulmates, a business designed to serve the Muslim community.

• Challenges faced as a Muslim professional: As the first visibly Muslim woman (hijabi) many of her colleagues had seen, she faced initial curiosity and some talk behind her back. She also had to proactively address unprofessional behavior, like excessive cursing, by speaking to management. She noted a lack of a vibrant Muslim professional community, with some Muslim colleagues being “undercover” and not openly practicing.

• Key turning points and decisions: A major turning point was leaving the comfort and perceived security of corporate to pursue work that was more spiritually fulfilling, first at ICNA Relief and then as an entrepreneur. The decision to invest in herself and her vision for Sacred Soulmates was a significant leap of faith.

Industry Deep Dive

• Current role and responsibilities: As the founder of Sacred Soulmates, Amaney is a relationship coach and handles all aspects of her small business, from coaching clients and marketing to managing technical issues. Her goal is to help clients become visionary partners in strong marriages, not just to get married.

• Corporate ethics discussion: The core ethical principle she emphasizes is the constant awareness that Allah is a witness to all actions. This includes being honest in work hours and tasks, even when no one else is watching, to ensure blessings (barakah) in one’s provision.

• Specific cases of corporate misconduct in their field: While not citing a specific case of corporate misconduct in engineering, she highlighted the ethical dilemma of working for a company that might be involved in supporting conflicts or human rights violations, using the current genocide as a contemporary example.

• How Muslim professionals can navigate ethical dilemmas: Her primary advice is to “pick your battles.” If a company’s culture or ethical stance is hostile to your values, it is better to leave and find a more supportive environment rather than fight an uphill battle. She encourages seeking out companies with kind and accommodating people.

Resources and Advice Segment

• Essential resources for aspiring professionals: Amaney strongly advocates for investing in coaching to accelerate growth and avoid wasting time. She also recommends using free tools like Google Docs and ChatGPT to start organizing and acting on ideas.

• Mentorship opportunities: She mentions having various mentors and coaches who have helped her with confidence, sales, and business funnels.

• Organizations supporting Muslim professionals: She cited her positive experience with ICNA Relief as a Muslim organization with a visionary goal, such as aspiring to build a Muslim hospital in America.

• Practical advice for industry newcomers: The most critical advice is to take action. Instead of waiting for a perfect plan, start with the next logical step, no matter how small (e.g., writing down an idea, starting a WhatsApp group). She stresses that the only wrong move is inaction. For entrepreneurs, she advises believing in yourself enough to invest in your own vision.

Accountability Focus

• Discussion of specific corporations with problematic records: She did not name specific corporations but broadly referenced the Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions (BDS) movement and the complicity of American taxpayers and companies in supporting genocide through taxes and corporate contracts.

• Analysis of human rights violations or war crimes connections: She connected the dilemma to the ongoing genocide, acknowledging the difficulty of avoiding complicity while living in the US and paying taxes.

• Ways to advocate for corporate accountability: Her primary solution for effective change is entrepreneurship. By creating their own ethical businesses, Muslims can control their work and avoid supporting unethical corporations. She also suggests that if one has the inclination, they should “just go for it” and leave companies tied to unethical practices.

• Alternative ethical options within the industry: The main alternative proposed is to start one’s own business or venture that aligns with Islamic values and serves the community. This allows for greater autonomy and the ability to make a positive impact.

Closing Reflections

• Final advice from guest: Her final and most emphasized piece of advice is to take the next step and consistently take action. She reminds listeners that in Islam, actions are rewarded much more than intentions alone. Believing in the abilities Allah has given you and acting upon them is key to success.

• Contact Information to reach guest speaker: For professional advice, she can be reached on LinkedIn. For inquiries related to Sacred Soulmates, she is available on Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok. She also offers in-person workshops and can be contacted through social media to bring these programs to mosques.

• Call to action for listeners: She asks listeners to support her cause by sharing her content with single friends and family members. She also invites mosque leaders to get in touch with her to host marriage preparation workshops.