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Conversations with the Inspiring Zakiyyah Ali

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Today we’d like to introduce you to Zakiyyah Ali.

Zakiyyah, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
My name is Zakiyyah Ali, I am 28 years old, and the founder of A Woman’s Werk, LLC. A Woman’s Werk was created by a woman with a dream to inspire other women to live out their dreams!… Cliché, I know! Let me explain why this desire to inspire others to dream became a way of life for me. Around two years ago, I was working a 9-5 job that required me to work late nights, which were quite stressful. I also started graduate school and had a recent loss in my family. I was commuting roughly 4 hrs a day for school & work, was suffering from medical issues, and overall was just overwhelmed with life. I sat down one day and reflected on my current situation. That day, I became so overwhelmed that I started to have a panic attack. I realized that moment onward, something in my life HAD to change. I thought to myself “why do I put so much pressure on myself?”.

I also pondered the thought behind societal norms… hear me out! Have you ever wondered why the world is the way that it is? For example, why is it ok for us to burn ourselves out every day? Why is that considered an accomplishment? Why is it ok to work until you are too old and tired to live out your best years? Why isn’t time with family, hobbies, passion projects a priority? Why do we make this life so complicated and just accept it for the way that it is? Why aren’t we questioning these societal norms and encouraging others to pursue the things that genuinely make them happy? A lot of “Whys'” right? Not to mention the thought of my biological clock ticking and pressure to start a family and balance a career while simultaneously finding profound happiness and clarity regarding who I am as a woman. I thought I was NUTS! After talking to a lot of women around my age, I realized that I was not alone in my thinking. I then decided to take back control of my life. I left my job for another job that was closer to home and I also started a few passion projects. I took back total control of my life and it was freeing! I wanted to share the revelation with other women who might be feeling the same way! I started to do things that inspired me and one of those things was to start group meetings to help women to narrow down their goals. Group meetings turned into workshops, and that is how A Woman’s Werk came to life!

Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
A Woman’s Werk was a joy to create. However, there were several financial roadblocks and a lot of time and planning behind starting a business that I was not necessarily prepared for. If I could give any advice, it would be to not let obstacles stop you from your passions. I even found myself stepping away from A Woman’s Werk because I became discouraged. I never wanted to lose motivation towards something that I worked so hard to create. I find it healthy to take a break to collect your thoughts and regain motivation. I like to call it “rebranding”. Taking a step back to find a different approach. In my opinion, picking it back up is the best thing that you can do. It will either tell you that you want to continue or possibly “rebrand” and explore other options. It is ok to take a break. Listen to what your heart is telling you. Finding sponsorships, collaboration, and gaining an audience can take time. It can be stressful, but the outcome when you find success is definitely worth it!

what should we know about A Woman’s Werk? What do you guys do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
A Woman’s Werk assists with all of your professional needs through our products and services. One popular service that we provide are our “WERK”shops! During our “WERK”shops, we narrow down your ideas and set goals for potential business development! It takes place in a group setting where other women can collaborate their ideas and give feedback to one another. Additionally, you can enjoy a brunch with mimosas (because who doesn’t like mimosas?!) and we provide you with professional headshots to take home with you to assist with your professional development. In the near future, we plan to provide online course packages that will touch on specific (popular) topics such as money, legal business development, and business model development. This will include a “WERK”book that is interactive with the online courses and will provide you with the knowledge of what it takes to start a business.

As a business, it is our priority to promote a movement where we change the views of what it means to be a successful woman in business. By redefining the social norms, we strive to help women find a profession that fits the lifestyle that they choose to live (within reason). Whether it is to travel, getting a promotion within a current company, starting a business, starting a family, or simply enjoying family time, we are here to validate your vision of success and guide you through actionable steps in achieving those goals. We are firm believers in the idea that “empowered women, empower women”. Any opportunity that is presented to assist women in achieving their professional goals, we are here to motivate, visualize their future, and elevate their current situation.

Looking back on your childhood, what experiences do you feel played an important role in shaping the person you grew up to be?
I have to give absolute credit to my parents for encouraging my creativity and love of learning. Without them providing me with opportunities to find myself and my passions, I don’t think I would be the person that I am today. Whether it was piano lessons, dance classes, band, Japanese lessons, or art classes, they have always supported me. At a very young age, I attended a Montessori school which helped me to develop natural interests rather than formal teaching methods influencing my decisions regarding learning. I believe I carry this Montessori mindset with me to this day.

My natural interests leaned towards event planning and bringing joy to others. I found over the years that I enjoy creating memorable experiences for those who I come into contact with. As a child, my mother would always plan parties and I admired her for creating experiences that would last a lifetime. I still think of those parties and I like to remember how I felt after the party was over. All I could think was, “I can’t wait until the next one!”. I hope to be able to create those experiences through A Woman’s Werk where those who attend look forward to coming to the next event full of collaboration, good vibes, and constructive goal setting.

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Image Credit:
Jessie Dore

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