"Working hard and hoping someone notices is not enough." 💎

Sara Hosseini is a Product Manager at IBM, a leader at MAX, and a graduate of the world-renowned Waterloo Software Engineering program. But her journey to the top of Big Tech wasn't just about code—it was about surviving a "rigorous" culture, overcoming the "quota" myth, and refusing to compromise her Muslim identity in the boardroom.

In this episode, Shaheen deconstructs Sara’s "Resilience Playbook" for the modern professional. Whether you’re a student aiming for Tesla and Cisco or a senior leader looking to give back, this conversation is a masterclass in intentionality and purpose.

In this episode, we deconstruct:
🚀 The "Hard Work" Lie: Why grinding in silence is failing you (and what to do instead).
💻 The Strategic Pivot: How Sara moved from Software Dev to Product Management.
⚖️ The Pyramid Method: Sara’s secret to balancing a high-stakes career and community passion.
🛡️ Identity as a Power: Why "refusing to assimilate" became Sara’s greatest competitive advantage.
✨ The Art of Becoming Her: Why we need more Muslim women in leadership roles.

Sara’s story is a call to action for every Muslim professional to look beyond the paycheck and lead with excellence. 🤲✨

❣️ Help us amplify Muslim voices:
Fostering a sense of unity and pride starts with stories like Sara’s. Support the show here:
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Website: www.muslimgamechangers.org

▶️ Links from this episode:
Join the International Women's Day 2026 Event: https://onemax.org/
Connect with MAX Aspire: https://aspire.onemax.org/

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