Introduction

Personal Journey

• Early Influences and Education: As a child, Suha was driven by creative expressions like photography and dance. Her experience as an Indian Muslim, witnessing cultural artistry in daily life (e.g., handmade meals, embellishments on saris), and the diversity of being a child of immigrants in New York shaped her aspirations.

• Role of Islamic Faith in Career Choices: While not explicitly stated as a direct driver, her faith and identity are integral to her perspective. She began wearing hijab in 2019, which influences how she navigates professional spaces.

• Challenges Faced as a Muslim Professional: She notes that creative labor is often dismissed in South Asian and Muslim immigrant communities as not a “real job” compared to medicine, engineering, or finance. As a visibly Muslim woman, she faces ignorant questions from adults (e.g., “Can you change the color of your scarf?”) and notes a lack of visibility for hijabi photographers. She also faces surprise from some Muslim community members about her ability to talk to people professionally.

• Key Turning Points and Decisions: A key decision was continuing to pursue creative work despite family and community pressure. Another is her recent choice to refuse brand deals (e.g., from Garnier) after researching their support for the IDF.

Industry Deep Dive

• Current Role and Responsibilities: Suha works in retail while building her photography business. Her typical week involves seeking photography bookings, diversifying her portfolio (portraits, wildlife, birding), attending Muslim community events (galas, fundraisers, 5Ks), and leveraging the good weather for shoots.

• Corporate Ethics Discussion: She emphasizes leading with empathy and “stepping into someone’s shoes” (quoting To Kill a Mockingbird). She critiques unethical journalism, particularly citing the New York Times and New York Post for their coverage of the Gaza genocide, noting that failing to call a genocide by its name is a disservice to affected communities.

• Specific Cases of Corporate Misconduct in Their Field: She explicitly calls out mainstream publications for sensationalizing hate crimes (e.g., the San Diego mosque shooting) and failing to acknowledge genocide. She also criticizes corporations that send care packages to the IDF while lining drugstore shelves in America.

• How Muslim Professionals Can Navigate Ethical Dilemmas: She advises asking yourself if you can tell your future children that you witnessed atrocities and stayed for “X, Y, Z reason.” She advocates getting good at saying no to losing checks and opportunities that conflict with your values, viewing such rejection as not a loss but a path to better opportunities.

Resources and Advice Segment

• Essential Resources for Aspiring Professionals: She recommends using databases like disoccupied and reverse canary mission to check if brands, celebrities, or politicians are BDS or Palestine-compliant.

• Mentorship Opportunities: She values asking fellow Muslim creatives about their experiences with specific brands or organizations.

• Organizations Supporting Muslim Professionals: She highlights YM (Young Muslims) , a branch of ICNA, for weekly halaqas, youth trips, and sisterly camaraderie that balances worldly topics with Islamic learning without being judgmental. For activism, she recommends PCRF (Palestine Children’s Relief Fund) and UNRWA.

• Practical Advice for Industry Newcomers: Show up to events (coffee shop crawls, open mic nights) with an intention to connect with people as humans first, not as networking contacts. Professional titles become an afterthought to genuine friendship.

Accountability Focus

• Discussion of Specific Corporations with Problematic Records: She names the New York Times and New York Post for unethical genocide coverage. She also mentions Garnier and other mainstream drugstore companies that have sent care packages to the IDF.

• Analysis of Human Rights Violations or War Crimes Connections: She directly refers to the genocide of Gaza and bloodshed and bludgeoning across Sudan, criticizing corporations that align with the IDF and have direct or indirect connections with human rights violations around the world.

• Ways to Advocate for Corporate Accountability: Posting a black square is insufficient; professionals should refuse partnerships, lose checks, and avoid aligning their name with unethical corporations.

• Alternative Ethical Options Within the Industry: She implies working with community-run events, PCRF, UNRWA, and YM as ethical alternatives.

Closing Reflections

• Final advice from guest: In recognition of May as Mental Health Awareness Month and AAPI Month, she encourages seeking therapy to address generational trauma. Every step taken for yourself is a step in the right direction: “Go for it.”