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Taskeen Hamidullah-Bahl – Banking and Nonprofit

Taskeen Hamidullah-Bahl – Banking and Nonprofit

  • Taskeen Hamidullah-Bahl – Banking and Nonprofit

Taskeen Hamidullah-Bahl – Banking and Nonprofit

Introduction

In this episode of the Treaded Path podcast, host Salman Hasan speaks with Taskeen Hamidullah-Bahl, who retired from the workforce in 2024. She now volunteers for nonprofits including Stop the Traffic and Hearts and Homes for Refugees, and serves on the board of Nushoor Institute. Previously, she worked on Wall Street at Barclays, HSBC, and JP Morgan Chase in technology, operations, and data, focusing on financial crimes. Earlier in her career, she was a reporter and co-anchor for CNN and Global Television Network.(View the full interview on YouTube).

Personal Journey

  • Early influences and education: She was initially drawn to journalism to tell stories of disenfranchised and disempowered people. After working in media, she moved to microfinance (inspired by the Grameen Bank in Bangladesh) but found nonprofits lacked business efficiency. She earned an MBA from Wharton and an MA in International Relations from Johns Hopkins, then went to Wall Street to learn business discipline.

  • Role of Islamic faith in career choices: Faith deepened over 20 years on Wall Street. She constantly felt like an imposter and would remind herself that “Allah gives us only what we can bear.” She turned to prayer and belief that her path was meant for her. She wore hijab later in life but says Islam was always in her heart and guided her decisions.

  • Challenges faced as a Muslim professional: She experienced imposter syndrome in boardrooms where she was often the only woman of color, younger than others, and surrounded by older white men. She overcame this by reminding herself that none of those people are her ultimate judge—only Allah is.

  • Key turning points and decisions: Her pivot from journalism to microfinance came when she realized she wanted to act, not just tell stories. A key turning point to retire early was her husband asking, “What are you going to do to make this part of your life count?” She left at the peak of her career as a COO to return to her passion for nonprofit and human rights work.

Industry Deep Dive

  • Current role and responsibilities: Retired, working pro bono across organizations focused on (1) anti-human trafficking and forced labor, and (2) human rights, including refugee resettlement and helping people in conflict zones.

  • Corporate ethics discussion: She found Wall Street fulfilling because financial crimes work (anti-money laundering, terrorist financing prevention, fraud prevention) allowed her to help protect society and partner with law enforcement. She notes that all organizations have good and bad, and she has nothing bad to say about Wall Street overall.

  • Specific cases of corporate misconduct in their field: None provided. She discusses financial crimes generally (breaking up criminal rings, preventing money laundering) but does not name specific cases of misconduct by her employers.

  • How Muslim professionals can navigate ethical dilemmas: She emphasizes surrounding yourself with people better and smarter than you, taking stretch assignments that are “messy and complicated,” and being unafraid to ask questions. She advises not hiding mistakes but owning them quickly.

Resources and Advice Segment

  • Essential resources for aspiring professionals: Go beyond company websites; watch interviews and social media clips of leaders to see how they react when challenged. Read annual reports to see if companies “put their money where their mouth is” (e.g., DEI committees vs. actual leadership diversity).

  • Mentorship opportunities: Not specifically mentioned, but she describes learning from mentors including a COO who told her, “You run towards fires.”

  • Practical advice for industry newcomers: Be flexible (don’t insist on the exact job/company/location). Prioritize the people you’ll work with—avoid jerks. Seek bosses with high bars who push you to grow. Surround yourself with people smarter than you. Take stretch assignments that make you uncomfortable.

Accountability Focus

  • Discussion of specific corporations with problematic records: None named. She does not cite specific corporations with problematic records or human rights violations.

  • Ways to advocate for corporate accountability: Leaders should model accountability by admitting mistakes publicly (e.g., sending emails that start with “I made a mistake”). Create environments where people feel safe speaking up and saying unpopular things if they are right. Avoid “sunk cost” fallacy—don’t perpetuate a wrong decision just because you started it.

  • Alternative ethical options within the industry: She suggests using public data (annual reports, leadership demographics, leader interviews) to assess whether a company’s values are real. If leadership lacks diversity despite DEI programs, that is a red flag.

Closing Reflections

  • Final advice from guest: Success is not financial metrics but: how many people you gave jobs to, how many you helped elevate, how many you helped through personal struggles, and whether you left behind a management team that can do better than you. She wants to be remembered as a good and nice person, not a jerk. She urges listeners to educate themselves on human trafficking (which happens everywhere, including the US), and to give back—even one hour a week. “Charity begins at home”: take care of family, neighbors, and local community first.

  • Call to action for listeners: Educate yourself on signs of trafficking (especially during large events like the World Cup and Super Bowl). Support refugees and people in conflict zones through organizations like Nusro. Remember that in the Akhira, money, houses, and degrees won’t count—only ongoing charity (Sadaqah Jariyah) and good deeds will.