Her Story
About Khadijah
Khadijah Raheem is the founder of Khadija Rahim Coaching and Consulting in Piscataway, New Jersey. She brings more than 25 years of executive leadership experience, most recently as Director of Employee Experience in healthcare and pharmaceutical organizations, to her current work as an executive coach, keynote speaker, and consultant. Raheem holds a master's degree in industrial psychology and a bachelor's degree in psychology, and she has been a certified professional life coach for over 15 years, supplemented by numerous leadership trainings. Her coaching and consulting practice centers on accomplished Muslim women and women of faith, helping them reclaim their authentic voice, strengthen their visibility, and show up fully in professional environments without code switching or minimizing parts of themselves. She attributes her own success to supportive leaders who looked beyond stereotypes associated with her identity as a Muslim woman who wears hijab, combined with her faith, which enabled her to develop confidence. Raheem emphasizes values of kindness and trust in her work, and she advises taking action to build confidence and overcoming fear of judgment to reach full potential.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Khadijah
01What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute part of my success to having great leaders who looked beyond stereotypes because I am a Muslim woman who wears hijab. They gave me opportunities and invested in my learning and education. Combined with my faith, this helped me blossom into a confident woman. I wish I had someone to help navigate that journey earlier, which is why I now help other women.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
The best career advice I received was to take action. A former VP told me that even if I don't feel ready, I need to take action because the more I do it, the more comfortable I will feel. Taking action is the first step to overcoming anxiety and building confidence, even if it's never perfect.
03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
I would tell my younger self not to worry so much about what other people think. Fear of judgment is one of the top reasons people do not achieve their goals. Eradicating that fear allows you to reach your fullest potential, tap into your true purpose, and share your gifts with the world.
04What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
The biggest challenge is helping organizations and society see Muslim women differently, beyond stereotypes that they are oppressed or lack leadership skills. In reality, Muslim women are some of the most educated, innovative, smart, and creative women who should be in top leadership roles.
05What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
Kindness is one of the strongest values for me - being kind, thoughtful, caring, and concerned about how we engage with people, especially in a world where technology and AI can minimize our humanity. Trust is also very important because people trust me to hold space for them to be vulnerable and share private moments.
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