Personal Journey

• Early influences and education: Zoya was born and raised on Long Island, New York, to a family of Pakistani origin. Her early influences include her mother, who encouraged her involvement in interfaith and community activities, and her mentor, Daisy Khan. She attended the Islamic Center of Long Island for Sunday school. She studied International Affairs and Communication Studies in Washington, D.C., and later got her MBA.

• Role of Islamic faith in career choices: Her faith has become more central to her career over time. She has sought guidance from spiritual teachers (shuyukh) in the Naqshbandi lineage. She sees her connection to lineage and story as a source of strength and feels that her path, while not always clear, is guided by Allah.

• Challenges faced as a Muslim professional: A primary challenge was the lack of visible role models, which made it difficult to envision a clear career path. She also discussed the journey of reclaiming and embracing her identity as a Muslim woman, including learning to set her own boundaries and feeling comfortable wearing traditional clothes in professional spaces. Early on, she didn’t know where she fit, especially with an interest in impact that led her from government/nonprofit to the corporate world.

• Key turning points and decisions: A key turning point was realizing that the corporate sector has a significant role to play in creating impact. This realization, combined with mentorship and intuition, led her to pursue an MBA and eventually to her unique role at Walmart, which she admits didn’t exist in most other companies.

Industry Deep Dive

• Current role and responsibilities: Zoya works in Public Affairs at Walmart, a role she describes as a bridge-builder and communicator between the corporation and the community. Her work focuses on trust-building and helping leadership navigate the complex interplay between business, societal issues, and community expectations.

• Corporate ethics discussion: The conversation covered how corporations are at an intersection where they must balance stakeholder interests, values, and the demand to take a stand on social issues. Zoya notes that while leadership often has good intentions, translating those intentions into action in a polarized world is a significant challenge.

• Specific cases of corporate misconduct in their field: This topic was not discussed in the transcript. The conversation remained at a general level about corporate challenges rather than citing specific examples of misconduct.

• How Muslim professionals can navigate ethical dilemmas: Zoya emphasized that presence, voice, intention, and prayer are a Muslim professional’s power. She advocated for leading by example through subtle actions, like a colleague who placed prayer mats in company quiet rooms. The focus should be on showing up as one’s best self, embodying Islamic values like respect and compassion non-verbally, and building community, rather than being loud or confrontational. The goal is to make spaces welcoming for oneself and others organically.

Resources and Advice Segment

• Essential resources for aspiring professionals: The conversation highlighted the importance of engaging with new technologies like AI to ensure Muslim voices and perspectives are represented in collective knowledge.

• Mentorship opportunities: Zoya is open to being contacted by the public and encourages persistence and patience when reaching out.

• Organizations supporting Muslim professionals: Zoya mentioned the American Society for Muslim Advancement (ASMA), where she interned for her mentor Daisy Khan in her early years.

• Practical advice for industry newcomers:

  • Don’t underestimate yourself or feel you don’t belong in certain rooms.

  • The biggest mistake is not embracing your authentic self; authenticity and vulnerability help people connect with you genuinely.

  • Dream big; Muslims belong in all spaces and can bring their multifaceted selves to them.

  • Communication is built on humility, kindness, and compassion (universal values). Entering interactions with an open heart and a willingness to learn is more important than knowing everything.

Accountability Focus

• Discussion of specific corporations with problematic records: This topic was not discussed. The conversation was focused on Zoya’s experience at Walmart and general corporate dynamics, not on criticizing other specific companies.

• Ways to advocate for corporate accountability: Zoya’s approach to accountability is indirect. Instead of “calling out” individuals, she advocates for “calling in” by focusing on the “disease” (the root issue) rather than the “person who is sick.” She advises focusing less on judging others and more on one’s own actions, respecting others, and finding common ground. She believes change happens by embodying the values you wish to see.

Closing Reflections

• Final advice from guest: Zoya’s final advice was to stay grateful (“Alhamdulillah”) and to remember the power of prayer for the entire Ummah, especially in difficult times. She encouraged listeners to focus on purifying their own hearts, as inner work manifests outwardly. She ended with a reminder that love is powerful and to always assume the best in others.

• Contact Information to reach guest speaker:

  • LinkedIn: Zoya Rukh Awan

  • Instagram: @zoya_theexplorer

  • YouTube: Zoya the Explorer

• Call to action for listeners: The host encouraged listeners to support Zoya by following her “Zoya the Explorer” channel. Zoya herself issued a call to action for listeners to engage with AI tools to ensure Muslim voices are represented and to subscribe to her YouTube channel for travel adventures.