Amina Shams

I attribute my success to a strong sense of duty as a human and as a global citizen - a deep belief that it is my responsibility to leave the world better than I found it. I feel compelled to do my part and make an effort to create better experiences for others that I'm sharing this planet with. This sense of duty drives everything I do, from the work at BLOOM Charity to my coaching practice. It's not just about achieving personal success, but about fulfilling my obligation to make a meaningful difference in the lives of others, especially the most vulnerable children around the world.

The best career advice I've ever received is not to get in my own way. I've learned to believe in myself as well as my mission, and to trust in my capabilities. Instead of letting self-doubt hold me back, I focus on putting one foot in front of the other and keep moving towards my goals. This advice has been transformative for me, especially when building BLOOM Charity from the ground up. It's taught me that the biggest obstacle is often ourselves, and when we get out of our own way and trust in our purpose, we can accomplish far more than we ever imagined.

My advice to young women entering the nonprofit sector is to be hungry for knowledge and understanding, and to work collaboratively with others. Don't try to reinvent the wheel or figure everything out on your own. There are so many great organizations out there and so many inspiring people doing amazing work. Be someone who is a coalition builder, who builds ecosystems and partnerships and works hand-in-hand with others, because collectively we can make a much bigger impact than we can make in silos and individually. Surround yourself with others who inspire you and who you can learn from. The power of collaboration and community cannot be overstated in this field.

One of the greatest challenges I'm seeing as the founder of a nonprofit organization is that the world seems to have so much despair in it right now, and it's hard for people to feel like they can actually make a difference. This creates a sense of hopelessness, and people tend to sometimes freeze and collapse under the overwhelming weight of the world. They ask themselves, can I really make a difference? Can little old me really make an impact in this world? But I challenge that thinking when I'm talking to people. My strong belief, which my faith teaches me, is that saving one life is as though you've saved humanity. Even if you positively impact just one life, even if you save just one life, that matters profoundly. We have to look at it in that way to not feel overwhelmed by the despair in the world. We all need to do our little part, and we need to do it as well as we can, and collectively that will make a huge difference in the world.

The values most important to me are being someone who is empathetic and curious, able to think outside of myself and my own experiences and really embody what it means to be a global citizen. I strive to be trustworthy, honest, and full of integrity in everything I do. Dignity is also a core value of mine - maintaining dignity for the people that I serve in my work, as well as the people that work with me and around me, my partners, investors, and donors. I believe in having an approach that honors the dignity of each human, regardless of what role or way I'm touching them through my work and through my organization. These values guide every decision I make, both professionally and personally.