Meet Dr Ruha Shadab, The Young Muslim Woman Driving Change Among Her Community

Summary

The speaker reflects on her journey from aspiring doctor to public health advocate, inspired by the impact of preventive medicine. She discusses the lack of representation of Muslim women in leadership roles and her initiative, 'Led By,' a leadership lab aimed at empowering Indian Muslim women to achieve professional success and increase their presence in the private sector. The summary also touches on the importance of agency, access, and avenues for these women to realize their potential and contribute to society.

Takeaways

• 👩‍⚕️ The speaker initially aspired to be a doctor due to the noble nature and social impact of the profession.
• 🌟 The transition from clinical medicine to public health was inspired by the subject of preventive and social medicine during medical college.
• 🎓 The speaker pursued a Master's in Public Policy at Harvard, which was facilitated by male mentors, sparking a curiosity about the absence of Muslim women mentors.
• 🤔 The speaker questioned the visibility and representation of Muslim women, noting their underrepresentation in the workforce despite making up 8% of the population.
• 💡 The idea for 'Led By' was conceived during the speaker's time at Harvard, with a focus on empowering Indian Muslim women through leadership development.
• 📈 'Led By' aims to increase the representation of Indian Muslim women in the private sector to be proportional to their population percentage.
• 🛠️ The organization provides professional training and development to amplify the impact of Indian Muslim women as future professionals.
• 💡 'Led By' also serves as an incubator for startup ideas, encouraging more Muslim women to become founders.
• 📚 The speaker emphasizes the importance of education, reflecting on the Right to Education Act and the need for accessible college education and support.
• 🔑 The three 'A's identified as crucial for Muslim women are avenues for visibility, access to networks and opportunities, and agency to believe in their potential for success.
• 🌈 The Shaheen Bagh protest demonstrated solidarity across religious lines, inspiring the speaker and reinforcing the mission of 'Led By'.
• 💖 The speaker encourages dreaming big and being ambitious, acknowledging the challenges but also the support and opportunities available for creating change.

Q & A

Why did the speaker initially want to become a doctor?

The speaker initially wanted to become a doctor because they thought it was a noble profession with great social impact.

What subject during medical college particularly intrigued the speaker?

The subject of 'Preventive and Social Medicine' intrigued the speaker and led to an interest in system change.

How did the speaker's journey shift from clinical medicine to public health?

The speaker's journey shifted after being drawn towards system change during their study of 'Preventive and Social Medicine' and subsequently working at an international health NGO and then at Nithya Yoga.

What motivated the speaker to apply to Harvard for a master's in public policy?

The speaker was motivated to apply to Harvard due to the influence of their mentors, despite noticing the lack of representation among Muslim women mentors.

What issue did the speaker identify regarding the representation of Muslim women in India?

The speaker identified that Muslim women make up 8% of the population but are only 1% represented in the private sector, workforce, and corporate India.

What is the main goal of the leadership lab 'Led By'?

The main goal of 'Led By' is to increase the representation of Indian Muslim women in the private sector to be proportionate to their population percentage.

How does 'Led By' aim to support Indian Muslim women in their professional development?

'Led By' aims to provide professional training and development to amplify the impact of Indian Muslim women as professionals and also incubate startup ideas to increase the percentage of Muslim women founders.

What are the 'three A's' the speaker mentions as necessary for Indian Muslim women to succeed?

The 'three A's are avenues, access, and agency, which refer to platforms for visibility, networks and opportunities, and a belief in their ability to achieve intended results.

How does the speaker connect the Shaheen Bagh protest to the mission of 'Led By'?

The speaker connects the protest by highlighting the unity and support from various religious communities for Muslim lives, which inspired and added to the mission of empowering and creating agency within the Muslim community.

What does the speaker suggest about the perception of identity in movements?

The speaker suggests that it's not about asserting one's identity but knowing that whichever identity one chooses to express will be welcomed and accepted.

What advice does the speaker give regarding dreaming big and taking action?

The speaker advises that while dreaming big is important, it's also crucial to consider the context and challenges one might face, and to be ambitious while thinking about creating change beyond oneself.