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Muslimahs in Motion: Professional Pursuits
Salaam and Welcome to "Muslimahs in Motion: Professional Pursuits," the podcast where we celebrate the achievements and journeys of young Muslim women making waves in tech, entrepreneurship, and beyond. Hosted by Hawa S., each episode dives deep into inspiring conversations with trailblazing Muslimahs who are driving innovation, leading startups, and breaking barriers in their respective fields.
From coding to founding, from startups to corporate ladders, we explore the diverse paths and impactful work of these remarkable women. Join us as we celebrate their achievements, share valuable insights, and empower the next generation of Muslimah professionals.
Whether you're seeking inspiration, guidance, or connection, "Muslimahs in Motion" is your go-to destination for uplifting career conversations. Let's embark on this journey of discovery, growth, and empowerment together.
Muslimahs in Motion: Professional Pursuits
Balancing Faith, Creativity, and Career: Nadia Smith's Inspiring Journey in Event Planning
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What does it take to balance faith, creativity, and a successful professional career? Meet Nadia Smith, an inspiring Muslimah event planner and henna artist, who shares her captivating journey from academia to the world of professional event planning. In this heartfelt episode, Nadia opens up about the challenges she faced and conquered, offering insightful advice for aspiring event planners and sharing the joy of her recent achievement—earning her master's degree. From organizing sisters iftars to hosting culturally rich Black iftar events, Nadia's story is a testament to the power of dedication and community spirit.
Creating a safe and inclusive environment for Muslim women is at the heart of Nadia's work. We delve into her motivations for organizing unique events like tea parties and sleepovers, which provide a halal space for women to connect, have fun, and support one another. Nadia emphasizes the importance of welcoming new converts and those returning to Islam, ensuring they find a non-judgmental and friendly community. Her efforts highlight the critical need for dedicated women’s spaces, especially for those who may not feel at home in traditional mosque settings.
Join us for a conversation brimming with practical tips, heartfelt stories, and a sprinkle of whimsy, all aimed at fostering a vibrant, supportive community.
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I think it also just came out of that desire to you know, just be close to people that I remember. And you know I do it because I also wish I had that growing up as well, because I also wish I had that growing up as well.
Speaker 2:Salaam everyone, and welcome to Muslimah's Emotion Professional Pursuits, where we celebrate the achievements of young Muslim women in tech, entrepreneurship and beyond. In this episode, we explore the inspiring career of Nadia Smith, a Muslimah event planner who skillfully balances her faith, creativity and a successful henna business. Discover her journey, the challenges she has overcome and the unique events she has crafted, from sisters iftars to the Black Eid events. Gain valuable insights and advice for aspiring event planners, and learn how she manages her professional and personal life with grace and purpose. All right, nadia. Well, salam alaikum. How are you today?
Speaker 1:Walaikum salam alaikum, how are you today? Alaikum salam very good. How about yourself?
Speaker 2:very good, alhamdulillah, you know, enjoying the nice weather. It's very nice finally getting away from that annoying hot versus cold thing.
Speaker 1:Definitely had that at the beginning of the week, so alhamdulillah the rest of week, or at least today, because it was also bad.
Speaker 2:Yeah, it was Alhamdulillah, though. You know Alhamdulillah, but yeah, so we have a new grad in our midst. You just got your master's Mashallah, Alhamdulillah. You know how does it feel.
Speaker 1:Alhamdulillah, I don't need to lie. Literally it is the sigh, you know, the sigh of relief, because definitely glad to be done with school. My dad is like oh, you don't want to. You know, go back for your PhD. You don't want to be a doctor. I'm like sir no, we just finished yeah, two weeks after I graduated, my parents was like, yeah, so any jobs yet what's happening? I'm like, huh, can we have?
Speaker 2:patience. Can I sleep in for right maybe three weeks or so? I just left the stage. Listen, you just went to graduation two weeks ago. It's okay. They're just doing it because they love us. You know they do.
Speaker 1:They want to make sure we're good yeah, they want to see your success firsthand, so they want to make sure you're on top of it. To see your success firsthand, so they want to make sure you're on top of it. I was like man guys, I just was on the stage two weeks ago like what's up? And I was just like you know, this is our job, we gotta stay on top of you.
Speaker 2:I'm like, okay, I'm doing yeah, I'm doing that, I want to protect them and preserve them. I mean, I mean I mean yeah, I mean I mean I mean yeah, all right, so let's see, let's see when can we begin. So, deserted island three things. What are you bringing with you On a deserted?
Speaker 1:island. Hmm, does it have to be anything specific or this is just anything?
Speaker 2:This is just anything that comes to mind, girl.
Speaker 1:Probably a journal and a pen, just so you can write. You know, if I want to write anything like any duos or you know, like you do our journaling, I need to get back to doing that, because you can draw, you can journal, you can make your duot journal. You know, if you're by yourself, play a little tic-tac-toe by yourself.
Speaker 2:I'm doing that yeah, so probably your journal.
Speaker 1:Can I bring unlimited water? Is that a thing?
Speaker 2:Well, I mean, I guess, since it's an island, you got the ocean. Maybe you can bring one of them filters you can?
Speaker 1:be that, though, if you drink seawater?
Speaker 2:Yeah, but like we can like, bring one of them setups. The reverse osmosis. Yeah, you know, then you technically do have unlimited water, okay. So with.
Speaker 1:How is advice? Reverse osmosis machine for the water?
Speaker 2:um, and then I don't know, I mean pen journal. Water, water. I need soap sorry okay, how about this? How about this? Let's, let's use the um the pen. Maybe you can repurpose the soap as a pen. Like you know, when people kind of burn stuff to kind of make a little charcoal, I don't know if you can do that with soap.
Speaker 1:Soap just melts I mean, if it's black soap, it kind of has pieces of charcoal in it a little bit sometimes Interesting, depending on if you get real black soap or not. Okay, well then.
Speaker 2:Yeah, get you some African black soap, use that to get a stick, put a little bit of soap on there, make a pen. You have your journal and your water system and you're good, and then we survive the best we can. Absolutely, inshallah, okay, cool, all right, nadia. So today, like I mentioned, we're going to be overviewing your wonderful career, your impressive career, mashallah tabarakallah. The career, the entrepreneurship endeavors that you encounter and face and you've been pursuing. You know, ever since I met you, mashallah, I've admired you because I always see you doing all these things and I'm like, how does she balance it all? So, yeah, we're gonna today, inshallah, we're gonna get a little insight into, like, what you do, why you do it and, uh, you know, if others were interested, inshallah, how they could.
Speaker 1:You know, begin as well so all right.
Speaker 2:So let's begin right. So you are a event planner, yes, kind of artist, mashallah masters, graduate, yep man, you do a lot and then you just started a new career venture, right?
Speaker 1:Yeah, I just started a new job. This was my first week and I'm working tomorrow too.
Speaker 2:Wow, and what is that job?
Speaker 1:if you don't mind me asking, so I am a program coordinator with program coordinator with EcoAction, with program coordinator with eco action, um. So eco action, they are a company or a non-profit, rather that um. We have a variety of different programs that we specialize in environmental sustainability and justice. So there's like the awln um summer youth program, which which I'm the coordinator for, and then we have Seesaw, reach and a few others as well. So just a variety of different programs that you know inspire the youth and others to you know, consider their environment and the way they interact with the world.
Speaker 1:inshallah so yeah.
Speaker 2:Well, man, I'll reward you for that. I mean, that takes a lot of effort and you're doing a good thing. It's a good initiative, right, because, whether we like it or not, this is the earth we live on, yeah, and climate change is a real issue right now, absolutely. And you know what better time to learn than to learn early, right?
Speaker 1:Yeah, I mean, and also, as well like you're providing education to the youth in the community, right? So even if the, you know, sometimes the parents of the youth don't even really know what's going on. So when their child learns it, it helps the family system and, you know, the family unit be educated as well. So great things we're doing.
Speaker 2:We're very excited so next week is orientation week, so mail on the kiddies, all right. So event coordinator yeah. Event planner yes. Get an artist.
Speaker 1:These things are like okay. So I've been in school for what? Two years for master's and then, prior to that it was undergraduate both at Georgia State University. Go blue and white, go Panthers.
Speaker 2:Yeah, go Panthers.
Speaker 1:I'm D-Less, so really I was focusing on school for a majority of that time, because you asked me like, oh, how does she balance it all? Sometimes I don't. I just I have to prioritize one. And then, um, of course, henna is very seasonal and in addition to event planning sometimes that's very seasonal, so that is kind of how I balance those things.
Speaker 1:But also, you know our circle, our girls, you know we're around different times in the year, so I also have to balance that as well, which is not something it's like. Oh, you have to balance. I'm very excited whenever we have our ideas, so I'm like huh, gotta be there, gotta make some time for that, absolutely. But yes, the the henna, I'm accepting new clients if you guys want to tap in.
Speaker 2:Okay, cool. Well, we're going to actually dig into that. So first I do want to start with your event planning, because it takes a lot of effort and not a lot of girlies are doing it. What initially started your interest in that? Like what made you say hey, say hey, I'm gonna start creating events for girls like me. Kind of get together. Like when and how did you even come up with that?
Speaker 1:um, I don't know so long ago. It's like you forget the initial reason. You just know that, yeah, you want to engage your, your community, and then we'll see what's around. But it was something that I was trying to. There's a bigger initiative that I'm working towards. I'm not going to say what it is because it's you know, keep it under wraps until it's there, inshallah. But I was like you know what I'm going to do beneficial events in the community until I'm able to do that big thing that I'm really trying to do, so I can work up to that right. And then also, you get familiar with the ladies in the community, because I do a lot of events for Muslimas or young ladies in general, because a lot of my namas and girlfriends, they come too.
Speaker 1:And I encourage them to come out because I'm like, sis, have fun with us, like, come on, it's going to be fun, come on. Encouraging them to come out because I'm like sis, have fun with us, like, come on, like it's going to be fun, come on. So, yeah, I kind of like came with the idea of this is the goal and this is kind of how I'm trying to get to the goal, while still like enriching and giving back and working and building skills and, of course, funds, because everything is monetary. That's very true. So so that was the initial thought, or the idea of how you know plan events. And you know, I I do it because I also wish I had that growing up, exactly right, yeah, so I grew up in a community where, um, you know, people weren't really planning events for ladies. Only there was, unless you had, like a group of friends. They went over their house. It wasn't like, oh well, at least I never got invited to the events. I don't know what that was about, but okay.
Speaker 2:It's okay girl.
Speaker 1:But yeah, so it was never really a situation where you had sisters or lady only events to go to that were very nice, where you felt like, okay, you can escape and still be at, you know, at home, meet new friends, meet muslimas and actually enjoy yourself in a halal way. Right, like, absolutely, you know, we're not out here doing anything crazy, you're literally just out here. Hey, I'm at, I'm at a tea party.
Speaker 2:Right, and sometimes you just want to be at a tea party with your girl.
Speaker 1:Sometimes you just want to be at a tea party, you just want to have a sleepover, you just want to do like fun stuff that maybe you didn't really get to indulge in. Ever. Yeah, for some people, right, because you didn't have the community to do it, and then also.
Speaker 2:Yeah, to do it. And then also opportunity. Yeah, we live in, you know, a western society where, like, maybe people's um values and ideas of you know living and things don't really line up with ours, right? So obviously, like your parents raising you, they're not going to be like, oh, you can go to this person's house because they're a person's house right, because I wasn't allowed to go over.
Speaker 1:No, literally, absolutely no, exactly.
Speaker 2:And you know our parents were just trying to protect us, but, at the same, because they're our person's house, right, because I wasn't allowed to go over no, literally, absolutely, no, exactly. And you know our parents were just trying to protect us, but, at the same time, you know, there are experiences that we wish we had, and you know hamdallah, this is like a how do you say, a means to do so, right?
Speaker 1:which is really cool. Yeah, that's that's kind of the gist of it as well, like just trying to create spaces where everybody can feel comfortable and say you have, you know, a new convert. We have a few new converts in our circle, so I'm glad for them because they make me better too. But yeah, like it gives people an opportunity to see what the community is like and, you know, be engaged in the community and feel like they're a part of it. Right, some people don't have that community.
Speaker 1:That's why I mentioned our sisters who are converts and you know, even people who are coming back into the folds of Islam, like, hey, you want a space, right, absolutely.
Speaker 2:A space where you don't feel you know, especially for, like you said, people who are coming back to into the fold of islam or converse, reverts um, it's hard to be in spaces majority muslim spaces without having fear of being judged or being looked at as different. Or maybe you're thinking, oh, I'm not religious enough, oh, I'm not right. I just see my dean in a way you know, obviously you want to improve and mail out, make us all better, I mean, I mean, but at the same time there's steps to that. As fellow muslims we should respect that right. But you know, we're all human, some people, you know it is what it is right. But alhamdulillah, you're able to provide a space for people where you're not.
Speaker 2:You don't have that overarching fear of being judged, because sometimes that even pushes you back, because you feel like no matter what you're doing, definitely it's not enough right yeah but, alhamdulillah, when you have a supportive space, you have people who you know love you, support you. Whatever the case may be, I mean it's going to be easy for you to improve because you that pressure is almost taken off.
Speaker 1:You know what I mean and you know, sad to say, but for some people that safe space is not the masjid, right so um? Or the masjid that they in particularly frequent, right so um? Especially if you're a sister who is not comfortable being around some of the men in the community for whatever reason, you don't really have to worry about that, because this is a sister's only space, exactly, and it's not the message. And usually it's people that are not in your community per se, because it's people from all over that come out, right?
Speaker 1:So, you're going to meet some people that you never met before.
Speaker 2:Right exactly.
Speaker 1:So yeah, it definitely is that pressure is not going to be a thing unless you have social anxiety, because you know some people do, Some people do, and you know if you're coming out and you do have social anxiety, I welcome you Absolutely.
Speaker 2:Yeah.
Speaker 1:Like I promise you, we don't bite. It's hard, we hug too much, absolutely.
Speaker 2:And you know it is hard because you still don't know. You know like I can speak as somebody who does have anxiety. It's like you might. It's funny. You think for other people, oh, it's fine, it's fine, but for yourself you're always exception, yeah, but no, it's okay, we gotta get out of our heads.
Speaker 2:Yeah, you know, and it takes time, it takes therapy, I understand, but you know, inshallah, I mean let me get easy for everybody, because, but once you do take that step like, for example, when I did meet you guys, when I'm so grateful that allah gave me the strength that I met y'all at, uh, yeah, you know, I'm grateful because it's like you know you, you know, sometimes getting out of your comfort zone can be very rewarding. That's one thing I've learned in this life, like, the more I do it, it becomes easier, because you're rewarded with, you know, good experiences, good people, good opportunities.
Speaker 2:Yeah, you know, and Mel make it easy for all of us. I mean so those people, some people who they asked me okay, who all gonna be over there, don't worry about it, right, because everybody is cool, everybody's chills and I didn't worry about it right, if there is anything come to me, I promise I'm gonna wrap it up and dip it in the butt.
Speaker 2:So don't worry about it, please come yeah all right, so let's talk about a couple of events in particular that really interest me. So your sister's iftars, so, alhamdulillah, I had the wonderful opportunity a couple of years ago to attend one of your iftars and it was amazing.
Speaker 1:Mashallah tabarakallah.
Speaker 2:Food was great, vibes were great, location fantastic. Most importantly, the sisters there, sisters there, hamdallah. They were amazing it was a great time, and not only that.
Speaker 2:I just provided all of us an avenue to get closer to allah, subhanahu wa ta'ala, because you know you have a safe space, like you said, of like-minded muslim women and you're having a good old time and you're breaking your fast together, we're praying together, we're having formative islam, islamic discussions where people are learning and sharing their experiences. So let me ask you what inspired you to start organizing iftars, in particular?
Speaker 1:That's a really good question because I'm really trying to remember what was the initial desire behind trying to do yearly iftars, because I believe this is the second or third year. Is it second or third year? We've done the the sisters iftars. I I really am not remembering the initial desire behind doing it. I think it was one of those. I haven't seen my girls in a long time and I have the funds, so let's do a iftar. And sorry, I just wanted to be greedy with the barakah and I was like, yeah, don't bring nothing, I'm like provide all the food I was like I have all the things, just bring your beautiful face.
Speaker 1:So yeah, I think that was basically what it was. This was around COVID. So, yeah, I think it came out of the desire to kind of reconnect with you guys, and I had recently I think I had recently met you all, but then also some other people that I recently got connected with during that time.
Speaker 1:So I was like, hey, I think this will be an opportunity for my peeps from over I mean my other peeps from over here, and then we could all vibe together. So I think that was the initial desire, and then also, just again, let's have a safe space, a sister space.
Speaker 2:And a space to eat.
Speaker 1:Girl. I was cooking for like two days. It was really good though.
Speaker 2:May Allah reward you. It was really good. All the food was amazing.
Speaker 1:I think my mom, because she was like. I guess I'll help you. Nah I guess she's like I guess I'll help you she wanted to help it's okay, she did want to help. She's also one of those people who likes to be greedy with barakah when it comes to feeding people during Ramadan, yeah. Yeah, that's who I get it from, al um, but yeah, I think it also just came out of that um desire to you know, just be close to people during ramadan.
Speaker 2:It's a beautiful thing, honestly, I mean, I'll reward you because you know, like you said, we need that closeness. That's what ramadan is about, you know well, obviously, first and foremost, worshiping allah, subhanahu wa ta'ala, but then you know, being in a community that wants to do that, it just makes it all the more in my, my experience, right, it makes it easier Because you're only. It's like we're all inspiring and pushing each other to improve and do better, and obviously it's going to be very easy to worship him in a space where you get to do it all together. You know, whether it's reading the Quranran, whether it's, you know, making duas or just reflection, pondering over the quran, like right, doing it together. It's all opportunities, right. So it's a beautiful thing.
Speaker 1:I may all reward you, I mean, and I think that year, the year that you were talking about with the the airbnb that we rented um. We even had Tata Wee because I invited one of my girlfriends who she's half-Hith or half-Hitha right. So I was like sis, just let us do for our cuts, like just let us do something quick I do remember that.
Speaker 1:So some people you know engaged in that and other people were gonna go to the mesh it and and do mine because I want to do more. So I was like, okay I'll do your thing.
Speaker 2:So yeah, that was uh a highlight too a hamdallah, though, like see, that's amazing right, like just providing a space, an avenue, a platform for, you know again, people to worship allah, subhanahu wa ta'ala at his, you know, at the most right. It's a beautiful thing and I pray you get rewarded for that. I mean, yeah, because it's not easy, and yeah, it can be a lot, absolutely so, you know, let's talk about it. How do you even begin, like, when you have an idea? Let's say, for example, you want to do an iftar, what's your first thing like? Do you think about the food? Do you think about the cost? You think about venue? What is it the first?
Speaker 1:thing is going to be where the funds coming from, because I can't purchase any food without any funds.
Speaker 2:This is true.
Speaker 1:I can't secure a venue without any funds. So the funds, and how much, right? So, like, well, how much am I looking to spend? Like what's my budget? Like, well, how much am I looking to spend? Like what's my budget? Or find the venue, then create the budget, because you know it's probably going to be half and half depending on how many people you're inviting. So if you're, if you're a venue, it's like $500, for instance, you know that it's probably going to be another $400, $500 for food and for cutlery paper, all of the utensils that you're going to be using. So what if we're going to decorate?
Speaker 1:right, absolutely that too so you just have to kind of like organize yourself, make a list of how you know how many things, how you want to go about things, if they're going to be activities even right, because I swear for life me, I always have activities planned well, we never deal with them yeah, because the conversations end up being so good. I promise you the conversations. Granted, we do some games, that's true. Yeah, yeah, we do some games, but I'm gonna tell y'all, y'all don't know this, but we did spoons.
Speaker 2:That was a dangerous game oh yeah, that's a dangerous game. People were oh yeah, that was a dangerous game of spoons.
Speaker 1:People were losing fingers.
Speaker 2:The rings.
Speaker 1:I think somebody's nail like literally somebody got cut Somebody got cut Listen. She was like I broke my wulu guys. I bled on the car.
Speaker 2:It's a game over I was like ah, Somebody just didn't want to lose it's okay, rightly so, though Rightly so during that time too.
Speaker 1:So it was a lot of fun. But, yeah, we never get to the the full activities, because I usually have like three or four activities planned by the time we get together and our friends and our greater circle gets together.
Speaker 2:Yeah, the games are not getting played no, because we always like, and that's the majority of the time right, because it's like it's not out of boredom, it's literally simply because we're enjoying each other's presence so much, having so many good conversations, just engaging in each other.
Speaker 1:It's like next thing you know it's midnight or whatever, and literally by that time we probably had two or three and a half debates, absolutely yeah, that part, all the conversation, the conversation cards and everything.
Speaker 2:Yeah, definitely.
Speaker 1:Somebody brings up something and we're like I don't know, check that, I haven't heard that. I did that. Yeah, we definitely get into our little scholarship as well. And then verifying information, definitely verifying information, and it's like an opportunity for everyone to learn Right.
Speaker 2:Because you go in thinking one thing. Next thing, you know, you left a gathering realizing oh, maybe this wasn't, maybe I didn't have the whole story right, maybe it wasn't 100 correct, but hundala, because of this right, I know now.
Speaker 1:I know, now it is correct yeah, you know um, it wasn't that particular um event, but I remember recently we even because you know you talk about things that are applicable to you- so so it's like african-american women we have to consider um.
Speaker 2:You know our hair right, so remember the conversation we were talking about hustle and if it's permissible to do braids right, you're also with the braids and, depending on, what your hair texture is like.
Speaker 1:Right, absolutely. So for the category four people like myself and the rest of our girlfriends, absolutely, I don't know, right it was a conversation we had to have and then we were like let's, let's, fact check this.
Speaker 2:Let's be honest, yeah, it's a whole process. You know, having type four hair is already enough as is, but you know allah, subhanahu wa ta'ala, he doesn't want us to suffer well, like he knows his creation.
Speaker 1:You don't, yeah, I don't. It's not gonna be a situation where I think it's held against us, because this is the way we're created right, but you still have to make every effort to do what, absolutely what you need to do yeah, and may Allah make it easy for us obviously like just a disclaimer.
Speaker 2:Go ahead and fact check it, because I know each school of thought is different it's a little different, yeah but, um, you know, it was found that you can make your gosu in the braids as long as, like the braids, your scalp is saturated. Right, you know, but of course you know, like the hair itself, the scalp it's still water needed to touch it right but, of course you know, fact check this. May Allah you know forgive us and guide us.
Speaker 2:If we're incorrect, obviously I'll try to attach in the show notes like the um, the ruling, the ruling, yeah. So just to verify and if it, you know, for whatever reason, if I find anything that's just like, I will definitely go back and correct this for sure. But may Allah make it easy for us. But yeah, exactly that's an like I will definitely go back and correct this for sure.
Speaker 2:But man, let me make it easy for us. But yeah, exactly, that's an example, right, and people learned oh, I don't have to take out my braids and then saturate my whole head and then do my whole wash routine, yeah, Wow, we had a couple of girlfriends because they were like, yeah, that's what I do, like I have to remove my braids.
Speaker 1:I was like sis, the way my hair performance is scheduled, I have to keep this up, Just spread it, I'm going to be honest yeah man.
Speaker 2:Cornrows, you're just going to have to cut it.
Speaker 1:I just have to spread the cornrow and then just pull it up a little bit and make sure I get in there to the best of my abilities, may.
Speaker 2:Allah make it easy for us. But yeah, exactly, you know, it's an opportunity for people to learn too, so, alhamdulillah, that's a really good thing. So this past Ramadan you had the Eid sweet yes. I heard you know that was definitely you know something, alhamdulillah. Unfortunately, I couldn't do it because I was an itikaf.
Speaker 1:Yes, you weren't I was making dua for you. I was an intercalf. Yes, you were an intercalf, I was making du'a for you. I was like oh man, I want to make you a good thing.
Speaker 2:Reward everyone involved.
Speaker 1:But yeah.
Speaker 2:I was thinking about you, but you know how was it. It was pretty good.
Speaker 1:It was not as deep as we thought it was going to be. I think it was the reason behind that was because we chose the date change. We had a date change last minute, um, so a lot of people were like oh, it's not, I'm not able to come anymore because it's on a different day now and I already made plans for um the next day.
Speaker 1:Um so, and also it was lehletul qadr expected. You know, we never know, but people, some people, were observing lehletul qadr on that night. So it being Iftar, of course it's going to be at night so you can't really. You know, if I'm going to go to Laila al-Tukadir or an Iftar or Eid sweet, what am I going to choose?
Speaker 2:what am I going to choose? That's fair that's fair.
Speaker 1:so next Eid or the next Ramadan, next Ramadan, rather, we're just going to have to make sure we get our dates and stick to our dates.
Speaker 2:But yeah, hamnila, I have some pictures I haven't posted yet, so I probably will get those out of there, but Hamnila, it was a great event. Are there any lessons you learned from that event Besides the?
Speaker 1:dates. Besides the dates yeah, definitely don't do a date change last minute. And secondly, make sure your venue is secure. Yeah, we had a few issues with the venue going into the week, so, hum de la, we got the venue secure. But make sure you get your venue secured ahead of time, right, two weeks, not really ahead of time, maybe three weeks or a month, right, yeah. So yeah, I have to remind myself like let me start early. So people are asking me already like, um, what are we doing for the greater e?
Speaker 1:I'm like um crickets, because it is for um, because I started a new job, so I'm not sure if I'm gonna do anything for this coming Eid, but we'll see.
Speaker 2:I might do something small.
Speaker 1:Alhamdulillah, inshallah, but maybe, maybe I'll do something small, perhaps, perhaps. Okay, definitely loading Loading.
Speaker 2:You're funny, all right. So you had the Eid suite and you also had Black Eid, so tell me about that.
Speaker 1:Yeah, black Ifid, so tell me about that. Yeah, black Iftar, so Black Iftar Atlanta. We combined the two events. That was you know kind of how the day change happened. So Eid Street Atlanta was combined with Black Iftar Atlanta. So we had the event at Morehouse College and we were downstairs and then Black F Char was upstairs. So yeah, it kind of worked together like that. It was great. It was great for what we were given, it was great. I think people really enjoyed themselves.
Speaker 2:That's cool. So at these types of events do you usually have like vendors?
Speaker 1:enjoy themselves. That's cool. So at these types of events, do you usually have, like, vendors too? Yeah, so the e-suit Atlanta is, um, an event where, ladies, we get them prepped for the eid, right, so we invite vendors. We might have some small entertainment as well as activities and slight refreshments, um, but in this case, this year, we have food vendors as well, right? Um, so we have different vendors, everything from henna to clothes, to if you want to get your nails done, if you're, you know, not praying or anything like that, or you know you want any like, you know, the little cute like nail attachments, yeah I the little, I think some people wear selling nose as well that's amazing, um.
Speaker 1:And then I think this year we had um, um, a charcuterie board like bar. So the lady she came with like mini charcuteries, you can choose what you wanted. It was kind of cute, yeah, so kind of ready to invite her back. I think she also had mocktails as well, so there was like a variety of different things, of course, any clothes that you need for the eat. The only thing that we didn't have this year was a shoe vendor, because y'all go buy your shoes where y'all like to buy your shoes.
Speaker 2:That's fair. Yeah, I don't play with the shoes. Yeah.
Speaker 1:And then jewelry um and candles, shea butter scrubs.
Speaker 2:That's amazing. So you just have a variety of Muslim businesses.
Speaker 1:Yep, a variety of Muslim vendors, and then we vibe and have activities.
Speaker 2:That's amazing.
Speaker 1:So it's basically you're getting yourself ready for the Eid. But this year I kind of wanted to make a point of yes, we're like Ramadan is leaving, but don't forget, we're still in Ramadan, right, absolutely yes. So the events or the, the program that I had um kind of together in my mind was to have some um a speaker, come out and kind of give a lecture on you know. You know this is the final stretch, right for Ramadan, so make the most of it. But we didn't have enough time to do that this year.
Speaker 2:So inshallah, next year, inshallah, we shall have it together for you guys. Don't worry, Inshallah, I mean that's amazing. I mean Tamdila, you're able to provide not just a platform for people to get together, Muslims to get together muslims to get together. You're providing a platform for all of these like muslim businesses to I don't know just find patrons, just find customers. And it's an amazing thing like I don't think you'd realize how much your?
Speaker 2:community, excuse me um contributing to the community, right? I mean, may allah reward you truly and you're so humble about it because you acting like I mean, I myself think like anybody can do it.
Speaker 1:I just don't think much goes into it except for you having you know, a clear idea of how you want to do things, absolutely, um, it's just about how you go about it and how much you want this initiative to happen, right, um, so I just feel like myself I have the initiative and the time. Some people just they literally don't have the that's true, the luxury of time to do these things, so they work nine to five. Sometimes they work maybe 60 hour weeks, like some people don't have the actual time.
Speaker 1:So, me having the luxury of being a student for a very long time, I had an opportunity to make the use of my time.
Speaker 2:So and that's amazing because you know, um, you know, I've talked about this before you know, sometimes these luxuries, they're just as hardship is a test, so is luxury right, right, a lot, you know, gives you the test of having the luxury so much time he's asking you what are you gonna do at that time? Right, you're gonna fool around tomfoolery, are you gonna? You know, serve me, do something that benefits your community.
Speaker 1:Hamdallah I mean you're doing such an amazing job, mashallah I appreciate it, I'm glad you all feel that way and you know, feel that you know the events have been beneficial to your events are great and your development, your growth and everything like that. So I'm gonna do that, of course of course.
Speaker 2:Yeah, it's an amazing thing. So it's so clear that you had so many memorable, incredible events. You know, 10 out of 10 yelp 10 out of 10 for yelp. Can you share a particularly memorable event that you had planned and what made it so special?
Speaker 1:Let's think about it. I think the second annual E-Suite Atlanta, because this year, I think, is the third year, so the second one. We had it in the west side of atlanta. The venue was great. It was airbnb, really really nice, um, like upstairs and downstairs okay, yeah, really swanky man, it was really nice, um and everybody. Still, this is prior to covid, mind you.
Speaker 1:So this is 2019, right before covid, so we kind of had like a gap how we were not planning any events, of course, because of covid um, but once we got into the back, the swing of things. That's why this year or this past ramadan, we were doing things but, the best year, I think was prior to COVID in 2019, the second time we did this, so it just was a great event, like we had so many vendors come out, so many people from the community came out. I myself met a lot of people that year.
Speaker 2:That's amazing.
Speaker 1:And some people. I'm like you know how you have those conversations where people are like, oh well, how did we meet again? And I'm like I don't remember have those conversations where people are like, oh well, how did we meet again? And I'm like I don't remember. Then there's like, oh, we met at your thing, remember? And I was like, oh yeah, oh, perfect, yeah, so alhamdulillah, a lot of people were met, a lot of connections were made and I think the vendors enjoyed themselves as well.
Speaker 2:And everybody enjoyed themselves.
Speaker 1:So that was the best event that I feel like I planned, of course, going forward we have more on the table, but it's just about again the time the time to do these things, but of course y'all, you all have to let me know what you would like to see as well I know I always ask this question, but like hey, like me suggestions send me your wildest fanciful tea like your fantasies, like I will try my best to make it a reality, right, just because I like doing these type of things for the community, for myself, like I just love to entertain.
Speaker 1:So yeah, let me know.
Speaker 2:All right, well, speaking of the future, right, let's talk about what's next. Do you have anything? I know you did mention Toposki this year. All right, well, speaking of the future, right, let's talk about what's next. Okay, do you have anything? I know you did mention Toposki. This year might be a little tight. Yeah, toposki, I don't know about.
Speaker 1:Yeah, we shall see. Inshallah, because I really should have already started the planning right. Because this is June 1.
Speaker 2:But you have a lot on your plate. Yeah, you know, and it's okay.
Speaker 1:You know, you know, and it's okay, you know I'll allow you to scale, maybe get a little committee going. I mean, you know I'm recruiting, so inshallah, we'll get it together but like going forward, um, of course, we have, like our annual e-suites for both eads. Um, something that I've also wanted to do not in light of bridgeton or anything, because I wasn't gonna do it like in their theme or anything um, I wanted to do a tea party as well so some people's mind instantly went to like an english type of bridgerton themed tea party, because bridgerton was and has been a thing in recent years.
Speaker 1:But my mind kind of switched towards alice in wonderland as a theme for the the tea party.
Speaker 1:So I like that you all let me know what you would like we might have to do a little poll yeah, we will definitely have to do a poll, or even another option was um arabian themed tea party as well. Arabian night yeah, you know, know, amazing. So just let me know. Wow, I like to be creative. I just didn't want to make a regular tea party because we've all been to those right. Absolutely. Well, with our stuffed animals, yeah, yeah, at home in our bedrooms.
Speaker 2:Right.
Speaker 1:Not to you know. Bash anybody or anything. But like you know, let's do something different, right? Let's diversify what we do in the community Absolutely, because a lot of times people are tired of the same old things. Yeah, you know, I'm not trying to be harsh or anything, but that's just. You find, people stop coming to events because we always have pool parties or we always have sleepovers, or we always have lock-ins, or you know these sort of things.
Speaker 2:You want something to be a little bit different.
Speaker 1:Absolutely Right, have lock-ins, or you know yeah you want something to be a little bit different, absolutely right, so like, let's do a new twist on the old things if that's gonna absolutely absolutely okay.
Speaker 2:Yeah, well, it was a pleasure speaking with you. One last thing for you what is your favorite ayat and how does it inspire or influence your approach to business leadership and whatever you do?
Speaker 1:I think my favorite ayat at the moment, because it's always changing, because you know the life and things are always, ever changing. But now would be know which are the favorites of your Lord, would you or will you deny? And if anybody knows me, they follow me on Instagram. That's I posted under my graduation photo. So yeah, you guys follow me, but Alhamdulillah, it's it. It gives me, you know, the, the sense of, or the reminder, often like which of the favorites of your Lord will you deny? Are you going to be grateful for what I've given you? Are you utilizing what I've given you to do what you need to do? Like, if you're grateful, allah is going to give you more. But like, just keep it in your mind right, don't be an ungrateful person.
Speaker 2:No matter how or where you look around, there's going to be something. I mean even us walking on this earth having mouth to taste delicious food, to look at the food yeah to smell the food. These are all small blessings they add up. You know, life is hard. I will never deny that. You know we all go through hardship. Sometimes it's really tough, but a lot of things and the one thing that really always pulls me through is just gratitude. Yeah, well, like yeah, absolutely yeah for sure.
Speaker 1:yeah, that is basically it gratitude, and I think saboteur will take very, very far. Even if you don't think that it will take you far, it will definitely propel you through your life and through the hardships that you're facing at the moment and in the future. So definitely, Beautiful answer.
Speaker 2:All right, Nadia. So where can we find you?
Speaker 1:You can find me on Instagram at Nadia underscore Smitty and that is N-A-D-I underscore S-M-I-T-Y and that's my personal page. My handle page is Anique underscore designs. So you can find that at a n I q underscore designs with an s so, yeah, all right.
Speaker 2:Well, guys, make sure you find her. Stay tuned to the for the next events, or, if you need henna, let me know absolutely we are accepting new clientele. Inshallah, all right, nadia.
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