Fatima Abbas Bokhari

I would say my faith has been the foundation of my success. If I had to pick one thing that has carried me through all the ups and downs of my career journey, from moving between San Francisco, Pakistan, and New York, to navigating grad school at Columbia, to landing roles at major companies like Netflix and YouTube, and even now as I face the challenges of unemployment and career transition, it's my faith that keeps me grounded and resilient. My faith gives me the strength to stay positive and keep moving forward no matter what external circumstances I'm facing.

The best career advice I've ever received is to keep building your network, because your net worth is your network. This advice has honestly stayed with me throughout my entire career journey. It's guided me as I've moved from San Francisco to New York, through my time at Columbia building connections in the city, and it's especially relevant now as I navigate my job search and career transition. I truly believe that the relationships and connections you build are invaluable assets that open doors and create opportunities throughout your professional life.

My advice to young women entering this industry would be to make the most out of networking in a populated city like New York, San Francisco, or Chicago. Being in a major city gives you access to so many opportunities, events, and connections that can really accelerate your career. The networking opportunities in these urban centers are invaluable, and you should take full advantage of them to build relationships, learn from others, and open doors for yourself. Don't underestimate the power of being in the right place and actively engaging with the professional community around you.

The biggest challenge and opportunity in my field right now is definitely the whole AI wave. It's been incredibly helpful, even during my grad school at Columbia, but in the almost 8 months since I graduated, I've seen such rapid advancement in AI that it's honestly both exciting and concerning. The challenge is that AI is moving so fast that you have to get with it very quickly or you'll fall behind. I'm on the cusp of Millennial and Gen Z, and I find that it takes people in my generation a bit longer to adapt compared to younger people in high school or elementary school who are already learning about this at a faster rate. AI can be an impediment in the sense that it's creating this pressure to constantly upskill and adapt at an unprecedented pace. But it's also a huge opportunity if you can harness it effectively in your work.

The values that are most important to me in both my work and personal life are diligence, accountability, consistency, and reliability. These principles guide how I approach everything I do, from my professional projects to my personal relationships. I believe in working hard and being thorough in whatever I take on, holding myself accountable for my commitments, showing up consistently even when things get tough, and being someone that others can count on. These values have helped me navigate the challenges of working across different cities and industries, and they continue to anchor me as I build my career.