Expert interview with Mumtaz Parker, proud Muslim, leader, mother and author.
Mumtaz Parker is a proud Muslim woman, leader, and mother who grew up in apartheid South Africa, before moving to New Zealand in her 20s. She recently published her first book, Betting on a Hijabi.
As a visibly Muslim woman, she has spent her career navigating rooms where people think they know her before she’s said anything – thankfully, she’s used those experiences to be a better leader.
💡 Belonging is something you build: Don’t wait for people to come to you, introduce yourself first. When you’re the new person in a country, a workplace, or a room, everyone else is just getting on with their day. A simple conversation moves someone from stranger to friend faster than you’d expect.
💡 From ‘prove’ to ‘contribute’: Earlier in her career, Mumtaz walked into rooms asking ‘how do I prove myself here?’ At some point she changed it to: ‘what can I contribute?’ It sounds small, but it shifts your mindset from defending your place in the room to doing something useful in it.
💡 The leaders who shape us most: After a manager who left her feeling small, Mumtaz got curious about what good leadership actually looked like. Now she asks one question about everyone on her team: when they leave my team, will they be better?
‘Sometimes the leaders who shape us most aren’t the ones we want to become. They’re the ones who show us who we never want to be.’
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"I really enjoyed this, listened for my morning pep talk. I’m in a new job and challenged myself to start this Monday as if its my first day - I’m trying. Its a better (second chance) first day than the original and your guidance and challenge in here is very welcome."
