Tag: Public Service

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Spotlight

Riffat Manasia

IPN Spotlight: Riffat Manasia (Executive Director at American Ismaili Chamber of Commerce)

Riffat Manasia is the incoming Executive Director for the American Ismaili Chamber of Commerce (AICC). She is a seasoned professional and an action-oriented entrepreneur with over twelve years of experience in running organizations, leading teams, and managing complex projects in for- and non-profit sectors. Of note, Riffat founded and scaled MRA, a lead research and consulting organization with 600 plus staff nationwide and over $1M monthly turnover in Afghanistan. Raised in Dallas, Riffat has lived and worked in Switzerland, Kenya, Afghanistan, and Pakistan, and has led projects in Syria, India and Nepal. Beyond her native English, Riffat speaks Urdu, Hindi, Gujarati, and basic Dari.
Riffat holds a Bachelor of Science from Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and a multi-disciplinary Master in Planning and International Development from Harvard University (Harvard Business School, Kennedy School of Government and Urban Planning).

What skills have helped you in your career?
Grit & resilience.

What do you wish you had known or done differently throughout your career?
Consistently communicated with mentors and advisors throughout various chapters of life. Because of the broad spectrum I’ve worked on, my connections became choppy and my networks disconnected.

What is next for you in your career?
Executive Director, American Ismaili Chamber of Commerce (AICC).

What do you do for continuing education and improvement?
Entrepreneurship, Management, Leadership videos/online casts. Standard readings in journals/magazines. Plus, a healthy dose of regular introspection and self-awareness.

What advice would you offer to others?
Stay true to your passion. Never compromise on your principles. Work hard.

Areas where you can help other Ismailis:
Via Ismaili Chamber:
• Facilitate Business Connections
• Provide a platform to share pertinent knowledge/skills with the broader US Ismaili business community
As an individual:
• Consult/advise on application and integration of Quanti/Quali Research & Methods, Impact Assessments, and Metrics
• Sector expertise in poverty alleviation, security sector, international development, social entrepreneurship, conflict/post-conflict, applied social sciences
• Tough love

If you would like to nominate someone to be a part of the spotlight, click Here.

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Spotlight

Jamil N. Jaffer

IPN Spotlight: Jamil N. Jaffer (Vice President for Strategy & Business Development at IronNet Cybersecurity)

Jamil N. Jaffer is currently Vice President for Strategy & Business Development at IronNet Cybersecurity, a startup technology firm founded by former National Security Agency Director Gen. Keith Alexander (ret.) and former National Counterterrorism Center Director Matt Olsen. Jamil also currently serves as an Adjunct Professor of Law and Director of the Homeland and National Security Law Program at the George Mason University School of Law where he teaches classes on counter terrorism, intelligence, surveillance, cybersecurity, and other national security matters and is affiliated with Stanford University’s Center for International Security and Cooperation (CISAC).  Among other things, Jamil previously served as Chief Counsel and Senior Advisor to the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and as an Associate Counsel to the President in the White House.

What skills have helped you in your career?
While law school gave me strong analytical skills that I use every day, the real skills that have helped me succeed are the appreciation my family gave me for hard work, personal loyalty, and doing whatever needs to be done.

What do you wish you had known or done differently throughout your career?
I wish I had known what a critical and massive impact individual people can have on your life and how seemingly small decisions can have a huge impact on what happens next.  At every turn, I can point specifically at one person or event that has changed the course of my career.

What is next for you in your career?
To keep doing jobs that are fun and challenging and allow me try new things.

What do you do for continuing education and improvement?
I read a lot; although less online then you might think.  I’m old school – I like my books, magazines, and newspaper in print.  I also teach, which can be fun and a lot of work, so that helps keep my mind active.

What advice would you offer to others?
Try new things.  Don’t be afraid to fail.  You can get your dream job, but you may have to take a circuitous path to get there; don’t let that bother you – just do things that look fun, interesting, and rewarding and it’ll all work out.  Make your bosses look good, work late, and be willing to do anything; the best opportunities come when there’s no else around to help.

Areas where you can help other Ismailis:
• Help getting jobs in government, politics, national security, foreign policy, and technology
• Advice on switching careers
• Thoughts on how to accelerate progress in a given career progression

If you would like to nominate someone to be a part of the spotlight, click Here.

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Spotlight

Amyn Jan

IPN Spotlight: Amyn Jan (Technical Director with the US Government)

Amyn has spent over ten years with the US Government in various technical leadership roles working with diverse emerging technologies such as natural language processing, telematics & advanced cellular technologies. He is well-experienced in seeding several leading edge technical programs. Amyn has taught emerging technology classes in several US Government research forums as well as pioneered technical breakthroughs in this area. Prior to joining US Government, he spent ten years at private sector in applied research and product development.
Amyn holds a Master’s Degree in Electrical and Biomedical Engineering as well as an MBA.

What skills have helped you in your career?
• Critical thinking skills has served me well, in particular when you are dealing with complex ill-defined situations. Ability to evaluate and use multiple sources of information to effectively inform decisions and outcomes.
• Team work – I submit, the solution to complex problems are no longer possible in isolation. Instead more solutions are being derived through increased coordination across multi-disciplinary teams of knowledge workers who share common interests – thou make sure you bring added value/competency to the team.
• For a manager, two most critical skills – (i) Have competency is (in area) what you manage; and (ii) Empathy as how you manage your organization’s biggest asset – human capital.

What do you wish you had known or done differently throughout your career?
• Should have taken more risk, I am conservative in pursuing ideas. That said, we need to sometimes consider in the context of the rest of our lives. As a techie, working culture that embraces failure – silicon valley kind of an environment.
• I have tended to over compensate when it comes to “managing down” at the expense of “managing-up”, as it continues to be my challenge.

What is next for you in your career?
Seeking more responsible and potential overseas assignments.

What do you do for continuing education and improvement?
• Seeking knowledge is a condition that is continuous and critical. Have humility to recognize it as humility compels careful and necessary reflection. Learning is the minimum requirement for success in any field.
• One of the best offerings on your base pay is the training opportunity your organization offers – ask if your employer can offer paying for graduate school, etc.
• Personally, I get bored working in monotonic areas. Reflection I worked in diverse industry sectors, government research and policy, semiconductor, telecommunication and biomedical industries.

What advice would you offer to others?
• Build professional relationships, whether it means playing golf helps (or not) is a separate debate. The network of your former colleagues is as important than those within your organization.
• Work at a start-up or a small company in your career (if you can) – early the better.
• Embrace failure and learn quickly.

Areas where you can help other Ismailis:
• Career advice
• Working in the government sector

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Spotlight

Dilafruz Khonikboyeva

IPN Spotlight: Dilafruz Khonikboyeva (Deputy Director of the U.S. Agency for International Development’s Center for International Disaster Information)

Dilafruz is currently the Deputy Director of the U.S. Agency for International Development’s Center for International Disaster Information (USAID CIDI). The organization engages in programming, policy, and outreach in partnership with the general public and diaspora groups in disaster relief and international humanitarian assistance. Dilafruz has been with USAID CIDI since 2008, serving in many roles including Chief of Media Relations. Previously, she worked with CNN, the Pentagon, and the Atlanta-based 48 Hour Film Project. She obtained her B.A. in Conflict Analysis and Global Studies and MS in International Conflict Analysis and Resolution with a focus on the civil war and post-conflict reconstruction from George Mason University. Born in Khorog, Tajikistan, Dilafruz moved to the U.S. with her family in 1995. She currently serves on the National Conciliation and Arbitration Board (CAB).

What skills have helped you in your career?
More than anything, a good work ethic and positive attitude has distinguished me from the crowd. At one point I had two internships, was taking 21 credits in undergraduate studies, and was slated to graduate a year early. It was undoubtedly difficult, but it taught me patience and prioritization. It also showed that I was willing to go above and beyond to gain experience and break into a field.

What do you wish you had known or done differently throughout your career?
I think there is always more I could have done to be better and it can be dangerous to live in the past as one cannot be certain how life would have been different. I’ve also found that failing has been the best teacher in personal and professional growth.

What is next for you in your career?
I would like to bring my programming and policy experience to the ongoing debate about immigration and refugees in the E.U. and the U.S. It holds a special place in my heart as I am an immigrant and the sheer number of forced migrations today are already testing international law, local infrastructure, and fear of change.

What do you do for continuing education and improvement?
Being in DC allows me to attend conferences, brown bags, and lectures several times a month to dive into a specific subject. I love to read. I also audit classes at local universities as well as attending trainings through the USAID University.

What advice would you offer to others?
Work hard – no job title is too lowly, and engage in self-discovery through action: internships, volunteering, and various jobs. Don’t be afraid to fail.

Areas where you can help other Ismailis:
• Disaster relief, humanitarian assistance and policy guidance of the U.S. agencies and UN systems
• Media and social media branding, strategy, and scaling
• Mediation, conflict analysis and resolution
• Program design, management, and review

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Spotlight

Dr. Henna Budhwani

IPN Spotlight: Dr. Henna Budhwani (Assistant Professor & Deputy Director, University of Alabama at Birmingham)

Dr. Henna Budhwani, Assistant Professor in the Department of Health Care Organization and Policy and Deputy Director of the UAB Sparkman Center for Global Health (School of Public Health), holds a Ph.D. in Medical Sociology and an M.P.H. in Health Care Organization and Policy from the University of Alabama at Birmingham. Dr. Budhwani works closely with community partners in the United States and abroad that are interested in improving health outcomesof vulnerable populations through public health practice. Dr. Budhwani’s research interests include health disparities, with an emphasis on immigrant and minority health, and international health, in the areas of reproductive health and infectious disease.

What skills have helped you in your career?
My first job out of college was with a sales and marketing firm. There I learned to gracefully take no for an answer and to accept that not all rejection was personal. I learned perseverance, which is particularly important in academia. I often tell my students (who are interested in careers in international development) to learn to be likable or quirky or both. Global work is built upon relationships, so if a potential partner, such as a Ministry of Health, doesn’t like you or doesn’t find you compelling, they’re not going to work with you. However, if the partner likes you, they’re typically willing to assist in any way possible. Personal dynamics matter.

What do you wish you had known or done differently throughout your career?
Not a thing. It’s been a great ride so far.

What is next for you in your career?
Keep doing what I’m doing – build a research portfolio, continue to teach, and work as a public health practitioner collaborating with community partners.

What do you do for continuing education and improvement?
Since I’m working in the Dominican Republic, I’ll probably have to learn Spanish. Since, I’m constantly running research studies, I have to stay up-to-date on the current literature. I’ve also started running my work by an external colleague for feedback. What comes back may be ego-crushing, but inevitably leads to a better product.

What advice would you offer to others?
Say yes. I’ve had opportunities that I felt I was slightly less than qualified for, but I always said yes. After acceptance, I made sure I wouldn’t disappoint. Someone took a chance on me; thus, it became my responsibility to ensure I lived up to his or her expectations.

Additionally, regardless of your professional accomplishments and personal commitments, always serve the Jamat – always. Your success is not only yours; it is critical to the upward trajectory of the community, and service is also good for your personal development. Seva will make you a better person. Always give back, and do so with grace, humility, and a touch of humor.

Areas where you can help other Ismailis:
• Guidance on careers in academia
• Assistance with doctoral applications
• Possibly engaging masters or doctoral students on select studies