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!
My Behind the Scenes Experience at Super Bowl 60
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Greetings, There are moments in life that feel surreal while you’re living them — and working as a stagehand on the field team for Bad Bunny’s Super Bowl 60 halftime show was one of them. I’ve been watching halftime performances since Destiny’s Child made a surprise appearance on the stage. To go from watching on television to being inside the stadium, responsible for a moving piece of the production — that was a full-circle moment. My all-women cart team was responsible for one of the palm trees during the performance of “Nuevayol.” What you didn’t see on TV is that those palm trees had to be lifted manually by pulling a rope lever all within the six minute set up time frame of the entire set. Precision mattered. Timing mattered. Teamwork mattered. It felt like one of those quiet confirmations that I was exactly where I was supposed to be. Mega-events look glamorous on screen. What you don’t see is the quiet labor, production at just the right second, the coordination, the trust. From being a fan through the TV screen to helping roll a palm tree onto the field — this was a dream realized. This experience carried even deeper meaning for me. My maternal uncle played a season with the Seattle Seahawks in the ’70s. My mom is from New York City. My maternal grandfather is from the Virgin Islands. I was born in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. And there I was — part of a cultural moment that blended New York, the Caribbean, Latinidad, football, and music on one of the biggest stages in the world. The production itself was mesmerizing. The LED lights synced perfectly with the beat of the music. As someone with hearing loss, I often rely on visual cues. Watching the lights pulse in harmony with the orchestra’s notes was impressive and it was immersive. Add to that the inclusion of sign language interpreters this year, it felt like accessibility was finally being treated as part of the spectacle. What made the event even more meaningful was the team I worked with. My cart number was 22. My cart team was made up entirely of women. They were considerate of my hearing loss and created an environment where I felt supported, respected, and included. I wasn’t the only Muslim woman in the room, I was not the only Black woman in the room. It felt good to be seen and heard. When it comes to setting your goals, set the intention, take action when guided to do so, let it go and it will come in divine timing. This kind of role is great if you’re interested in live events, sports operations, festivals, or production — especially if you want to understand how things run behind the scenes. I'll be releasing a YouTube video on how I found out about the opportunity and what the process was like. Be sure to subscribe by searching for See Life Different with Zaakirah Nayyar on YouTube. On to the next one in Los Angeles.
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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!
Greetings, As I prepare to leave Ghana, I’ve been reflecting on how this trip began — and how it’s ending — and I’m realizing something powerful: This journey has resurfaced the urgent need for media. I started this trip attending a photography symposium in partnership with NYU. I’m ending it attending a community film screening at the University of Ghana. Still images to moving stories, the entire experience has reminded me how important it is that we document our narratives, our...
Greetings Reader, The only thing that is constant is change. People change. Experiences change people. Even the places we carry in our memories change. I was reminded of that recently. I arrived in Ghana again for the first time since 2011. Fourteen years is a long time. And if I’m honest… nothing looks the same. The roads feel different. There's more unfinished roads and highways. The buildings feel different. There are even more buildings being built. The energy of the city feels different....
Greetings Reader, I'm typing this from near Atlanta, Georgia — but I'm preparing to head to Ghana soon, where my mother is now based. This trip carries a lot of weight. New chapter energy. Diaspora homecoming. Media correspondent work with Focus Black Oklahoma (NPR Affiliate). Yes — I'm already thinking about what stories need to be told from that side of the ocean for my own YouTube and Documentary Series. More on that soon. But let me know what you want to see. Facebook memories reminded me...