The Ismaili Connection

Ghalib Kassam is the chief information officer at the Los Angeles Times, where he’s responsible for leading the news organization’s digital, data, and technology transitions. His past is a remarkable one: He was born in Burundi, raised in Pakistan, and educated in London and the U.S. And when attending Grand Valley State University in Michigan, he left his career up to chance, choosing to major in data processing at the last minute when flipping through a catalog. Ghalib dives deep into his childhood, reminiscing about growing up in Pakistan with a large extended family and discovering himself through his teenage years in London. He also talks about the power of networking, how he landed his job while volunteering as security during Diamond Jubilee for His Highness the Aga Khan, the importance of giving back, and the struggles the media industry faces.

Ghalib Kassam is the chief information officer at the Los Angeles Times, where he’s responsible for leading the news organization’s digital, data, and technology transitions. His past is a remarkable one: He was born in Burundi, raised in Pakistan, and educated in London and the U.S. And when attending Grand Valley State University in Michigan, he left his career up to chance, choosing to major in data processing at the last minute when flipping through a catalog. Ghalib dives deep into his childhood, reminiscing about growing up in Pakistan with a large extended family and discovering himself through his teenage years in London. He also talks about the power of networking, how he landed his job while volunteering as security during Diamond Jubilee for His Highness the Aga Khan, the importance of giving back, and the struggles the media industry faces.

At 25 years old, Danish Dhamani is his own boss. He runs a startup tech company out of Philadelphia. He co-founded a public-speaking app called Orai about four years ago with his then Drexel University roommate, Paritosh Gupta. Orai has now landed deals with big businesses, including IBM and HP. The idea stemmed from a personal problem Danish had: He was scared of public speaking as a foreigner in the U.S. Born in Pakistan and raised in Tanzania, Danish shares about his life before coming to the U.S., including how his family would walk miles just to do groceries, and how those experiences informed his entrepreneurial spirit and taught him the importance of money and the power of helping others. 

Dr. Rozina Lakhani, a Seattle-based psychiatrist, speaker, and author, shares wellness techniques to help you cope with everyday stress and battle burnout, like filling our “emotional coping accounts” with joyful activities—whether that’s walking in a park or watching classic movies. Dr. Lakhani also opens up about a severe car accident that left her with screws in her right hand and how that experience was the catalyst for her calling in life.

Corporate media mogul by day and comedian by night, Shereen Kassam calls herself a “creative hustler.” That’s because the comedian is also an actress and runs her own podcast called the Creative Breakthrough, which highlights artists and other creative entrepreneurs.

She began her career in comedy under the disguise Funny Brown Girl, way before her parents found out about her side gig that turned into a major part of her identity. She talks about how she went from following her parents’ dreams of being a businesswoman to fulfilling her own passions and building a balanced life of stability and happiness.

She opens up about heated encounters as a Muslim comedian,  how her relationship with her parents went through shaky times, and how comparison on social media is the thief of joy.

The Ismaili Professionals Network presents its first podcast: The Ismaili Connection. We'll speak with professionals from all walks of life and across all industries to bring you compelling stories about their career journeys. We'll laugh. We'll learn. And we'll connect.

Episode 1 will be available in the coming weeks. If you have someone who you think should be interviewed by us, email us at ipnpodcast@ipnonline.net.

For more info about IPN, visit IPNOnline.net.