From attending my first Create & Cultivate event to becoming the CEO.
It’s Oct 16, 2021. Terrified and overwhelmed with imposter syndrome, I walk into my first Create & Cultivate event. I sit down in the front row excited to be in the presence of all the amazing entrepreneurs on stage.
Ten pages of notes 📝 later, I write my most ambitious business goal to date – “Speak at a Create & Cultivate event.” 🎤
That following year, I traveled around the country attending every event C&C offered – learning, growing, and pushing past my comfort zone. One year later that ambitious goal was achieved. I was invited to speak at C&C NYC in the fall of 2022.
📆Fast forward another year.
Jaclyn Johnson and I, already business partners, acquire Create & Cultivate. With me becoming its new CEO.
As we move into this next phase of Create & Cultivate, it’s time for a new ambitious goal.
But first, let’s talk about the importance of opportunity.
I think a lot about the reason why my parents brought me here from Egypt when I was 8.
And this is why.
It’s to be able to have an opportunity like this.
But my path to get here has not been the easiest.
During our first couple of years in the U.S., we moved around a lot. Staying with family and friends until we were able to get a place of our own. As an immigrant child, who barely spoke English, I was bullied throughout most of my teenage years. I then found myself a single mom at age 23.
Despite all of my setbacks, I managed to build a strong career for myself. First in the corporate world, working with some of the most prolific brands in the world carrying different roles at Yahoo! and Tumblr. To then betting on myself as an entrepreneur where I helped other women build their confidence, personal brands, and ultimately their business.
I have been afforded many opportunities since I was that little girl. Most of these opportunities have come from other women willing to hold the door open for me.
Many of those women I met through Create & Cultivate.
One woman in particular – Jaclyn Johnson – who made it her life’s work to build a community to help women like me step into opportunities like this. An opportunity that many women, especially women of color get overlooked for.
I come into this new role as C&C’s CEO grateful and honored, but most importantly, motivated. The Create & Cultivate community of women is everything to me and I commit to doing everything in my power to support each woman in both their personal and professional journey.
Together we will amplify the voices of all women – creating a more equitable environment where diverse voices are not just heard but actively sought, valued, and celebrated. Something that Create & Cultivate has always done well.
We are committed to helping every woman in our community navigate her journey from business launch to legacy, from ideation to exit.
So, here’s my new ambitious goal: Ensure that Create & Cultivate remains the most important platform for women at every stage of their personal and professional paths, offering guidance, inspiration, and community every step of the way.
I look forward to building alongside all of you and cannot wait to meet every single one of you in person!
Your biggest cheerleader,
