Last week I got the chance to sit with Momina Naushab, an inspiring student I’ve gotten to know this year. Having moved from Pakistan to the United States when she was 8 years old, her global perspective was refreshing and something I deemed important to highlight in this interview.
Momina, first tell me about yourself.
“I’m currently a sophomore at UW, pursuing a degree in Finance and Accounting. I intern for the financial branch of the Seattle Department of Transportation. I’m also involved in a few organizations on campus. I’m the Vice-President of the Pakistani Student Association, on the Education Committee of the UW Finance Association, and a member of the Consulting Association and Investment Banking Accelerator club. In my free time, I enjoy spending time with my friends and family and going outdoors.
Sounds like you’re a very busy person! What motivates you to take on so many projects?
“Every club I join caters to different aspects of my personality/life. Obviously, the Pakistani Student Association keeps me connected to my culture while the other academic organizations I’m a part of help me in my career aspirations. I enjoy being busy, it motivates me to do my best work and I’m a huge proponent of learning outside of the classroom. I feel that is the true college experience. Joining organizations is also a great way to meet new people.”
Tell me more about your involvement in the Pakistani Student Association.
“Yeah! I initially joined to find a smaller community of students that have had similar experiences to me growing up within the school. I decided I wanted to be more actively involved so I applied to be Vice-President. We organize events like our Urdu Nights where we teach the language and play Kahoot, we host fundraisers like the one right now for the floods in Pakistan, and we share cultural dishes like biryani!”
What was your experience like moving to the states?
“Coming to the United States was a huge culture shock for me. School was especially shocking, seeing how kids would interact with each other, the clothes everyone wore, and the food that came out of everyone’s lunchboxes in the cafeteria.
However, I’m extremely grateful for being an immigrant because it has given me an empathetic perspective to everything I do in life. I know what it feels like to be ostracized and be the one that doesn’t fit in. So I think it’s important to understand where people are coming from because I felt like I was in a position where people didn’t understand where I came from.
What is the best business advice you’ve ever received?
“Generally speaking, ‘fake it till you make it’ in regards to confidence has been the most true to me. When I decided to pursue business, I wasn’t initially as confident as I am now. I really felt that as a person who wasn’t represented as often in business, people would have a hard time believing in me and seeing my potential. What really helped me believe I could be a successful businesswoman in the United States was joining the clubs I am now a part of. Being successful in business is really about always improving yourself. You’re as successful as the amount of effort you put in.”
And finally, what advice would you give to someone just starting out their college journey?
“I would say to reach out to more people than you think you should and take time to get to know them. I’ve met so many inspiring people and hearing their stories has added value to my life. No class can compare with what I’ve learned from the people that inspire me or give me a new perspective. Having a cosmopolitan mindset is an advantage in life.”
It was a pleasure speaking to you Momina and I can’t wait to see what you do next!