Hi! I'm Zaakirah (zaa-key-ra) I help you Go from where you are (stuck, stagnant, scared) and where you want to go in your business and life (freedom). I provide Black and Indigenous creatives with strategies that empower them to achieve their goals through branding and storytelling, and marketing.For the last 20 years, I've been storytelling by any creative means necessary; photography, writing, film, and podcasting.I check all the Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility boxes.I’m a visually impaired, hard of hearing, cancer survivor, chronically ill Muslim Woman. Knowing your history helps you propel and prepare for your future. Entrepreneurship is ownership, and flexibility is key. Sign up for my semi-weekly newsletter!
96 hours in London. Here's what I learned
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Reader, A disabled, Black, Muslim woman walked into some of the most talked-about rooms in global media and tech — and noticing, as I always do, exactly what was there and exactly what was missing, and the conversations nobody was having — until I walked in. I spent time in London attending SXSW and Muslim Tech Fest. Here's what I brought home. The need for marginalized voices hasn't gone anywhereThere is still a profound gap when it comes to fully acknowledging all disabilities. Not just the visible ones. Not just the ones that are easy to accommodate. All of them. The people who feel that gap the most are the ones who were never meant to be in the room in the first place. I was there anyway. And I found my people — the way I always do, intentionally and in small doses. Five meaningful connections per event. Quality over quantity, always. When energy is a finite resource, intentional connections matter more than collecting business cards and LinkedIn Connections. I left both events feeling like I had found people thinking about technology, media, storytelling, faith, inclusion, and the future. People asking bigger questions about who gets to participate and who gets left behind. The media conversation everyone needs to hear and talk aboutOne of the clearest threads running through both events: content ownership. YouTube is having a moment — a real, sustained one — as the platform where creators build lasting libraries of work. But the conversation I kept hearing underneath that was this: own what you build. Because algorithms change. The creators who endure are the ones who have ownership over their work, their archives, and their communities. If a platform goes dark tomorrow — and we've watched platforms disappear, get acquired, get restricted — what do you have? Your email list. Your website. Your community. Build there first, amplify everywhere else. The networking moment that looked different for meMore than once, someone I connected with assumed I had already moved to London. Not visiting — living there. When I told them I was there for 96 hours, the surprise on their faces was something. Maybe that's manifestation at work. People saw me in that space and assumed I belonged there. As I adjust back to home in the U.S. (Maryland, to be specific), and resume building something big for Essence Fest, New Orleans I'm carrying questions with me: What would our conferences look like if accessibility was built in instead of added on? What would our media landscape look like if disabled creators were funded at the same level as everyone else? What would happen if we designed spaces assuming disabled people would be in the room from the beginning? What's one accessibility feature that makes it easier for you to participate in work, travel, or events that you did not realize was built with disabilities in mind? Book an accessible strategy, AI brand clarity, TEDx speaking career, or partnerships session with me by clicking on this link. Come ready to do real work.
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Your Branding and Marketing Therapist
Hi! I'm Zaakirah (zaa-key-ra) I help you Go from where you are (stuck, stagnant, scared) and where you want to go in your business and life (freedom). I provide Black and Indigenous creatives with strategies that empower them to achieve their goals through branding and storytelling, and marketing.For the last 20 years, I've been storytelling by any creative means necessary; photography, writing, film, and podcasting.I check all the Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility boxes.I’m a visually impaired, hard of hearing, cancer survivor, chronically ill Muslim Woman. Knowing your history helps you propel and prepare for your future. Entrepreneurship is ownership, and flexibility is key. Sign up for my semi-weekly newsletter!
Reader, At Essence Fest over the holiday weekend, I moderated a panel, had a founder feature, and hosted a Soft Stories sensory session all in one day. In between, I kept noticing people wanted to be inclusive but almost nobody had a framework for actually doing it, especially in their content. Most of the attendees I spoke with, particularly other New Voices founders, admitted they hadn't considered captions or image descriptions yet, but they were very appreciative of the insight. That's...
Reader, I just got back from Essence Festival — and I’m still processing. I spoke at two activations, both filled with people who showed up ready to listen and talk about disability, inclusion, and what it truly means to be empathetic to other communities. It was powerful. And in both rooms, I kept hearing the same thought echo in my mind: we need more of this. We need spaces to belong, to rediscover ourselves, and to feel empowered to keep going. Here is the link to watch the 3 minute recap:...
Reader, I'm at Essence Festival this week — moderating a panel, doing a Soft Stories segment, and leading a workshop on inclusive entrepreneurship. Three activations in one day, which honestly is its own kind of access challenge nobody talks about: the cost of showing up fully in spaces that weren't designed for how your body or brain works. I'll have more to say about that next week. Social Media Day is June 30th — a reminder that the platforms we've built our voices, speaking opportunities,...