"This will be the first time I’ve spoken publicly about losing my mother—it’s a very deep and personal wound that I’ve carried since she passed," was one of the first things Sairan Aqwari wrote in an email to SHLTMM. I loved that she was willing to share her story, but didn't know if the conversation would be too emotional. Sairan said that her mother's "actions taught me the value of perseverance, integrity and grace under pressure.” Sairan's mother's name is Sadiqa, which translates from Arabic to English as "Friend." I cherished every minute of this conversation. As a Business Strategist, Sairan is offering a free 15 minute 1 on 1 consultation if you mention my name, Jackie Tantillo and my podcast Should Have Listened to my Mother. She is helping women and men reconfigure who they are and what they would like to achieve in life once the children are grown and on their way. You can reach my guest on Linkedin and Instagram and the information is below. "Obstacles can be overcome," reflects Sairan.
Sadiqa, my guest's mother, was fifteen years old when she became a mother for the first time as part of an arranged marriage in Baghdad, Iraq in 1955. She was a wonderful mother but Sairan thought a bit too cautious which is very common for a teenager to think. Having a more conservative husband, Sadiqa loved all of her children equally and would often do anything for them. She was more lenient that her husband. My guest was one of seven children, safely nestled in the middle of the large group of children.
With no formal education, she never did any professional training, she was beautiful, had a wonderful sense of humor and did everything for her children as her husband travelled frequently for business. In Sairan's mind, her mother "had seven PHD's because she raised seven wonderful children, each one unique.
Unfortunately, Sadiqua died unexpectedly at fifty-eight years old and Sairan wasn't able to introduce her first child to her mother in person.
Sairan is a Business Strategist and Engineer but she also is helping people unpack their hidden gem. Often, we think we are happy-working, taking care of the family, seeing friends, etc. But, Sairan, who was born in Bagdad and now an Iraqi American citizen, learned many life lessons at 26 years old when she came to the United States with her big American dreams.
Today, she's a mom, entrepreneur and very successful engineer, but she's come to appreciate the belif of making and impact in the workd and that obstacles can be overcome. "Voices of Truth" is a compilation of engaging speakers sharing their stories of impact. Sairan is on the the contributing authors.
As one can expect, being so far away from family, at such a young age, had it's challenges and heartbreak. And it was such an honor to hear Sairan share stories of her mother. Unfortunately, things didn't work out as planned back in 2002 but I'm grateful that Sairan felt comfortable opening up to me.
My guest has launched another career where she's helping middle aged women and men take their next steps in life to figure out who they are, what they want to do with their lives and what kind of impact they want to have on the world.
I received wonderful emails from Sairan including these wonderful tidbits about her mother. She wrote "my relationship with my mother has been both foundational and transformative. She was a woman of quiet strength and resilience, and while our bond wasn’t always expressed through words, her actions taught me the value of perseverance, integrity, and grace under pressure. She laid the groundwork for the woman I’ve become—both as an engineer and a business strategist—by modeling the power of showing up fully, even when the odds are stacked against you.
I was drawn to your podcast because I believe these stories matter. The influence of our mothers or female role models often shapes our identity in powerful, often subtle, ways. I wanted to share insights on how that influence—especially in midlife—can become a springboard for reinvention. For many women, midlife feels like a cross roads. But with the right mindset, it can be a launch pad. That’s a message I hope will inspire your audience to reflect on their own journeys and the women who helped shape them."
There are many wonderful stories that Sairan shared with me. I hope you enjoy this episode. And take a part of Saduqa with you where ever you go.
SOCIAL MEDIA:
LINKEDIN: Sairan Aqrawi, M.Sc.
INSTAGRAM: sairanaqrawi
Engineering Innovator | Leadership Strategist | Transformational Team Lead | Communication Specialist | Team Performance Expert
Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA)
The George Washington University - School of Engineering & Applied Science
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T AN IMPACT IN THE WORLD / AND THAT “OBSTACLES CAN BE OVERCOME”.