Explore how genuine influence stems from authentic intention rather than visibility or wealth. Discover why everyone possesses the power to create meaningful impact through their unique voice and purpose.
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Influential Woman · Author
Malak Abaroui
Author
Queens, NY 11427
1Article published
Her Story
About Malak
Malak Abaroui is an accomplished young author, aspiring attorney, and community advocate from Queens, New York, whose work reflects a strong commitment to education, advocacy, and the empowerment of others. She began writing during middle school amid the COVID-19 pandemic, using storytelling as a means of exploring identity, resilience, faith, and social issues. In March 2025, she published her first book, Salaam Means Peace, a contemporary coming-of-age novel that follows a young protagonist confronting Islamophobia through nonprofit advocacy. Her writing demonstrates her passion for using the written word to inspire meaningful dialogue and encourage readers to persevere through adversity. Alongside her development as an author, Malak has built a diverse foundation of leadership, service, and professional experience. Through organizations including We Belong Here, Charity Week, the Muslim Interscholastic Tournament, and Hillside Islamic Center, she has remained actively engaged in community service and advocacy. Her experiences have strengthened her skills in writing, communication, leadership, organization, and public engagement while reinforcing her commitment to supporting others. Malak is currently pursuing a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and Government at Baruch College and is considering further study in international affairs. Following graduation, she plans to attend law school and pursue a career that brings together her interests in law, government, international affairs, and public service, while continuing to develop her career as an author. She is committed to using both her legal aspirations and creative voice to amplify underrepresented perspectives and expand access to knowledge and opportunity. Guided by the values of maintaining healthy personal boundaries and remaining true to her identity, Malak approaches her academic, professional, and creative pursuits with authenticity, purpose, and determination.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Malak
01What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
The best career advice I’ve ever received is, “Why can’t it be you?” I believe in being my own inspiration and becoming the change I want to see in the world rather than waiting for outside validation. This mindset has encouraged me to trust my abilities, take ownership of my goals, and confidently pursue opportunities that align with my vision and purpose.
02What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
The best advice I would give to young women entering my industry is to recognize that having an idea is only the beginning. Everyone has ideas, but you become an author when you take that idea, develop it with intention, and turn it into a completed manuscript. Believe in your voice, commit to your vision, and have the discipline to bring your ideas to life.
03What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
The values that are most important to me in both my work and personal life are maintaining healthy boundaries and staying true to who I am. I believe in honoring my identity, principles, and priorities while remaining authentic in every environment. These values help me make thoughtful decisions, build meaningful relationships, and pursue success without compromising who I am.
Her Content Hub
Articles by Malak
Who Gets to Be Influential?
Redefining Influence: How Authenticity and Intention Matter More Than Numbers
Who Gets to Be Influential?
Society tends to associate influence with power and wealth. In a world where it often seems that the media gets to decide who has influence, it is important to realize that individuals can decide for themselves the kind of impact they want to have. Influence is not always found at the largest charity gala or in the hands of a New York Times bestselling author. Sometimes, it can be as small as a bake sale raising money for education or a few sentences written with intention.
Change is what we make of it. Instead of waiting for inspiration or for someone else to enter the field we aspire to be a part of, we should become the inspiration we once sought. We should create the impact we longed to see.
In the age of social media, people have become obsessed with numbers. How many likes? How many views? How many comments? Influence has increasingly become synonymous with visibility, and authenticity can often be sacrificed in the pursuit of appealing to the greatest audience possible while simultaneously avoiding the relentless wrath of cancel culture.
But people are only influential because we allow them to be. We decide whose voices to listen to, whose ideas to share, and whose messages to amplify. We, too, can have influence if we choose to. In order to do so, however, it is important to shift our perspective from the audience we want to gain to the message we want to share.
Everyone has their own outlet, whether it be the written word, live performance, art, or public speaking. Anyone is capable of expressing themselves in the way that feels most natural to them. Once that outlet is found, it is only a matter of how it is used. It must be used to project the ideas we feel are most important.
When your work is authentic and built with intention, you will attract an audience that genuinely believes in you as a person, not the persona you are attempting to morph into. As women, we can't afford to be obstacles to our own potential, especially since society has so many obstacles already set in place for us. Stereotypes of women being emotional, incapable, dramatic, or unintelligible have persisted for centuries and are still found in the folds of modern-day life. We already have to work twice as hard to attain even half the success of our male counterparts, so we can't underestimate our capabilities, our impact, or our diligence.
When asked who gets to be influential, it is important to first think about the definition of influence. Every single one of us is subconsciously influencing others on a daily basis, whether it is through our tenacious work ethic, our philanthropic endeavors, or our academic pursuits. The value of influence is not dependent on its size, but on its intention.
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