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!
Speaking Engagements, My NBA All-Star Experience, Ramadan & Lent Reflections
|
Reader, I just got back from my first-ever NBA All-Star experience in Los Angeles! There’s a part in my book, Seeing Life Through a Different Lens, where I share my love for basketball and how Space Jam (the original with Michael Jordan) was one of my first favorite movies. It was incredible to visit the Forum and take it all in live! I had the chance to switch to ADA Accessible seating. While the Audio Listening Device didn’t work properly, the overhead audio was loud enough, and the seating had LED lights that reacted to every play—changing speeds when someone scored or missed. The holy month of Ramadan started for me and nearly 2 billion others around the world. It’s also the start of Lent and the Lunar New Year—a season of intentional spiritual renewal for so many. Ramadan is the equivalent of Lent in the Muslim faith. It’s a month of fasting from sunrise to sunset, requiring patience, discipline, and focus. But, like any spiritual practice, it can be a challenge to stay consistent and nurture that connection to God (Allah). There are exceptions to fasting—if you’re on your menstrual cycle, pregnant, breastfeeding, or have an autoimmune or neurological condition, you’re not required to fast. Instead, you can study the Quran (holy book) or contribute through charity, which is my personal way of character building. Sometimes, blessings come in pairs, and I’m thrilled to share TWO upcoming speaking engagements you’re invited to! 🎉 Speaking Engagement #1: Strategic partnerships can help you unlock growth faster than going solo. This panel will explore how to find aligned partners, structure win-win collaborations, and manage partnerships that expand reach, revenue, and impact—all without overextending your resources. MKTRHUB is a marketer’s playground, packed with workshops, keynotes, speed networking, and more. You’ll leave with new ideas and connections, surrounded by marketing pros, brand strategists, advertisers, and entrepreneurs who are ready to turn inspiration into action. Special Discount Code: FRIENDS15 Learn more and register here: MKTRHUB Info Speaking Engagement #2: Travel has the power to transform how we see ourselves and connect with others—but not all creators or audiences experience the world the same way. I will share what's too often overlooked in travel media and the simple, practical shifts that make videos, photos, storytelling, and platforms more accessible to disabled, neurodivergent, and visually impaired audiences, broadening content's reach and impact. The WITS Travel Creator Summit is the largest gathering of women travel creators in the world and the premier event for travel's top marketing talent. Creators, influencers, destinations, and brands come together to explore what’s next in travel, build meaningful partnerships, and strengthen a global community of women and gender-diverse leaders. I used to live in Chattanooga and my dad is from a small town an hour away, so I hope to see you there! https://witsummit.com/wits-chattanooga Thank you for allowing me to share these reflections, updates, and invitations with you. I hope this season brings growth, strength, abundance, and renewal for you too.
|
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...