How I Integrate My Faith with My Business, with Soumaya Khalifa, Khalifa Consulting
Soumaya Khalifa: [00:00:00] I think each and every one of us has a moral compass. And that moral compass is the faith tradition that we adhere to, right. And whether we realize it or not, it kind of helps us navigate through things. For instance, holding true to your word, keeping the individual, valuing the customer, valuing yourself, telling the truth. And I don’t think this is just to Islam, but I think it’s many faith tradition, treating people with dignity and respect, not cheating people, et cetera, et cetera. And again, this is in Islam, as well, I’m sure, as Christianity, and Judaism, and other faith traditions as well. So, it is my moral compass. It’s probably unconscious, but it’s there. It’s how I’m kind of wired. And again, I believe that that’s not just particular to me, but it’s to everyone else.
Soumaya Khalifa, Khalifa Consulting, Inc.
Soumaya Khalifa founded Khalifa Consulting, a strategic intercultural and leadership consulting firm, in 2007. Her career spans more than 25 years in human resources, management, business management and ownership, non-profit and entrepreneurship. Khalifa Consulting specializes in helping executives and organizations succeed when doing business across cultures by providing them the most relevant, practical and up to date cross cultural coaching and training. In addition, Khalifa Consulting offers training and coaching on global virtual teams. Soumaya and team apply this work to a broad range of clients, from large established national and global organizations to startups.
Prior to founding Khalifa Consulting, Soumaya served in several leadership roles in U.S.-based Fortune 100 companies in human resources, leadership development and diversity and inclusion. An alumnus of the University of Houston and Georgia State University, Soumaya is a board member of the Society of Intercultural Education, Training and Research (SIETAR) and the Atlanta Interfaith Broadcasters (AIB). She is also an adjunct professor at Emory University Center for Continuing Education and at the Federal Executive Institute. Soumaya is the author of Diversophy Egypt and has contributed to several publications.
Along with a group of Atlantans, Soumaya launched the Islamic Speakers Bureau (ISB) of Atlanta in August 2001. As the current Executive Director of ISB, she serves the Muslim and wider community by building bridges of understanding, creating interfaith partnerships, developing community leaders, and creating spaces for mutual understating and respect. Under Soumaya’s leadership, the ISB has developed its core programming and launched other key initiatives, including ISB Leadership Institute (ISBLI), 100 Influential Georgia Muslims, and 40 Under 40 Georgia Muslims. In 2017, Soumaya created a partnership with the Atlanta Mayor’s Office to host the ISB’s first ever Ramadan Iftar hosted at Atlanta’s City Hall and in 2018, the second Atlanta Mayor’s Iftar was attended by over 250 people.
Soumaya has received many awards and recognitions for her work with the ISB, including:
- 2019 Academy of Women Achievers, YWCA
- 2018 Arab American High Achiever Award, Alif Institute
- 2017 City of Atlanta Phoenix Award, presented by Mayor Kasim Reed
- 2012 FBI’s Community Leadership Award
- Citizen Diplomat for the U.S. State Department
- 2012 Invited to the annual White House Iftar hosted by President Barak Obama
- 2015 Inducted into the College of Ministers and Laity
To learn more on Khalifa Consulting, follow this link.
Listen to the complete Decision Vision interview with Soumaya’s here.
The “One Minute Interview” series is produced by John Ray and in the North Fulton studio of Business RadioX® in Alpharetta. You can find the full archive of shows by following this link.
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