Ambassador Sofia Haq

I am so excited to announce that I have been selected to represent California as an Ambassador at the United State of Women (USOW)!

USOW is a national organization dedicated to connecting, convening, and amplifying voices in the movement for full gender equity. Through the Ambassador program, USOW magnifies the actions already being done in communities across the country. Ambassadors work alongside USOW to supply the tools and resources needed to tell the story of women’s collective power. 

For the past year and a half, I have been working on Muslim Women Professionals (MWP). MWP is an organization that uplifts, empowers, and educates Muslim women of all professional backgrounds. The idea behind MWP came from my own experiences as well as the experiences of so many of my friends. While attending networking events, I found that I was almost always the only Muslim woman. I always knew I wanted to pursue an MBA, but rarely met other Muslim women who were. When I did find women in the business sector, rarely did I receive any guidance. Since its inception, my team and I have created resources like our monthly newsletter, events like Coffee Chats and our upcoming Networking Event, and a community of Muslim women to continue discussions centered around our personal and professional journeys as Muslim American women. We are combatting traditional gender norms, getting swarmed with questions as to why we’re not married, all while striving to prioritize our mental health and excel in our careers. We are trying to find balance amidst a world targeting us for “still” not having it together.

Outside of MWP, I have worked with the Riordan Programs Alumni Association as a Board of Director where I am building engagement through our alumni network. I have partnered with organizations like Forté Foundation to promote more women in business spaces by providing them with tools they need to strengthen their core business skills.

Throughout all the work I have done, one thing remains constant—I am passionate about helping women reach their full potential. 

I believe that when women are given the tools we need to excel, so many incredible things can happen and I want to continue to create resources for ALL women.

In the past few years, I have met countless women who are passionate about causes that rarely get the coverage they should. In speaking with them, I realize that my identity is what gives me leverage to understand diverse communities. As a multi-ethnic Muslim woman, I can understand struggles of so many communities just from my point-of-view and I see how so many of the struggles women in these communities face actually intersect.

I want to continue to promote representation for my communities while also building bridges with other communities so we can engage in dialogue and advocate for one another. I believe this is how we will reach gender equity. 

As an Ambassador, I have the opportunity to bring awareness to so many causes. I am so excited to bring the Muslim woman identity to center stage so that others can understand the unique experiences so many of us face. In doing so, I also hope to initiate dialogue with other communities so that we can join forces to promote gender equity.

I am so honored to be an Ambassador. This is an opportunity I do not take likely and I look forward to sharing my experiences with all of you. Vamos!