Today we’d like to introduce you to Saiful Islam.
Hi Saiful, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
Oooof, where do we begin?! Having South Asian parents, I only had three options; be a doctor, engineer, or lawyer. Being useless at science and math not really being my forte, I tried my hand at law (although I think my mum definitely incepted my mind at a young age by giving me a gavel as my first toy!). But during a placement in my undergrad years, I really didn’t enjoy things. I realised I didn’t want to be 40 years old (if I get there) and look back on life, thinking, “did I just waste my life doing something I didn’t really want to?”
So, I had to come up with a backup plan – whilst remaining in University I then turned to eCommerce, buying and selling jewelry on eBay that eventually turned into my first real business – a fashion brand utilising what we call “influencers” today. It gave me more money than sense and at 23 I became really unhappy despite having things most 23 years old’s would dream of.
Something was missing in my life. And that’s then where, through a friend with a super cool beard who’d just been joking with me about things completely inappropriate then said, “do you want to go pray?”
My life completely changed. From financially being in the best position in my life I closed everything down so I could simply do work that gave me meaning in life.
After a year in a dead-end corp role, I managed to fluke my way to a senior marketing role working for a humanitarian organisation, being able to use my skills to help those in need around the world.
They were the best three years of my employed life, not only being able to directly travel to the likes of Bangladesh during the height of the Rohingya crisis, refugee camps helping displaced Syrians in Lebanon to so much more.
Our team also scaled donations from a few hundred thousand to a few million whilst I had the honour of being there.
But once again the cycle of the feeling of unfulfillment, needing to do more still existed.
But thankfully I met my current business partner there and we co-created the world’s leading Muslim influencer network, helping empower influencers today to better the society of tomorrow, and acquired the digital publication Mvslim that today has over half a million social media followers as well as changing stereotypes of people around Islam every day and since then creating a group of companies that have worked with the likes of the NHS, Canva, Kayak – billion pound organisations – to use their influence to recognise the power of difference can unite, not divide.
Life. What a journey.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Sounding like Kermit the frog in one of our first ever pitches – with Facebook! Losing investment offers in the 11th hour.
A £1ooK deal because of COVID.
Having to get rid of team members you genuinely love.
Feeling quite lonely when no one sees your struggles.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
Mvslim – Helping young Muslims be empowered by their faith and changing stereotypes around Islam. Creed & Culture – An inclusion and equity agency helping global organisations how being more equitable can help them grow.
MIN – The world’s first Muslim Influencer Network connecting brands with the Muslim market through creatives.
Pricing:
- Our packages start from £25,000 but I’m available to speak to via LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/simply-saif/
Contact Info:
- Website: www.creedandculture.xyz
