IPN Spotlight: Farzana Nayani (Professional Education Consultant, Diversity & Inclusion Trainer at Farzana Nayani, Consulting & Training)

Farzana Nayani is a recognized Diversity and Inclusion specialist, keynote speaker, trainer, and consultant. She has worked with Fortune 500 corporations, non-profit organizations, higher education institutions, and public agencies to help cultivate inclusion, belonging, and employee
engagement. Her extensive work with Employee Resource Groups (ERGs) has created a platform for programming and advocacy from the White House to Silicon Valley.
An expert on global community relations, her work has been engaged by institutions like the Smithsonian and the East-West Center. She is the mother of two young children and was an athlete at the Jubilee Games in Dubai.

What skills have helped you in your career?
Playing competitive sports from an early age has taught me that both winning and failing are equally a part of growth and development. The key is how you pick yourself up from a loss and get back in the game. This choice to continually face challenge is fundamental to having resilience, grit, and ultimate success. The other part of this formula is to aim for mastery and continued effort and dedication can lead you there.
Growing up in a multi-ethnic, multi-faith family with Filipino and Pakistani parents has offered me the understanding that there are different perspectives in the world, and we can honor all of them with respect and care. This truth has helped me reach and teach across different groups, modeling empathy and appreciation, in order to help people, find unity and cultivate community in and amongst the differences.

What do you do for continuing education and improvement?
I am involved in a coaching program and also coach and mentor others. I learn so much from talking with people from all backgrounds, ages, experiences – as everyone has a unique point of view. Reading books on the latest thought leadership related to my line of work keeps me current on impactful issues and approaches. I find attending conferences extremely inspiring and a way to connect with others who are interested in making a difference in a similar way. Lastly, I do a lot of reflection through dialogue and writing and that helps me crystallize all of these sources of information into deep learning that I can share with others.

What do you wish you had known or done differently throughout your career?
That I don’t have to follow a career path that others have done or that we think standard educational tracks or implicit cultural or gender norms will lead to. Instead, I can chart my own. That has been extremely empowering and rewarding.
No one has ever told me “no”, but the absence of visible leaders in my career with my identity may have made me think that it is not possible. I am here and openly telling young women of color and anyone else who feels limited, that *they* can choose the course of their own future, and actions toward that path can start NOW.

What is next for you in your career?
I am working on a book and am also going to publish videos and e-learning courses to help my message reach wider audiences. Please connect with me on social media and stay tuned for more!

Areas where you can help other Ismailis:
• Diversity, Equity, Inclusion initiatives
• Organizational Change for deep impact
• Inclusive Communications Strategy
• Understanding Identity & Cultivating Belonging

Please provide the link to your LinkedIn profile:
Farzana Nayani

Please provide your preferred email address so interested professionals can network with you:
[email protected]

Region:
Western Region- Los Angeles

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