About Jubilee Hospitality Association Canada
The Jubilee Hospitality Association Canada (JHAC) is a registered non-profit organization that represents a dynamic community of hoteliers across Canada. Our members have joined together to share best practices, develop relationships, build better business opportunities and source cost savings.
Inspired by His Highness the Aga Khan’s encouragement for businesses and organizations to work together in their respective sectors; JHAC works to benefit members through advocacy, collaboration, education and leveraging of the group’s capacity.
At the JHAC’s first meeting in Vancouver, BC on March 12, 2011, delegates expressed an interest in cost-efficient group buying opportunities and developing shared resources for IT and internet-based travel reservation systems to address influential sites such as Trip Advisor, Travelocity and Expedia.
Membership in the JHAC is an investment in your business and our community. Being a member provides numerous benefits: invaluable industry expertise, a network of support, cost-efficiencies, investment opportunities, networking opportunities, joint marketing initiatives and so much more.
Tap into your billion dollar advantage by joining the Jubilee Hospitality Association.
http://jhacanada.com/about-jhac
Ismaili Business and Professional Alliances
Ismaili Business and Professional Alliances
Last edited by kmaherali on Tue Oct 03, 2017 12:01 am, edited 1 time in total.
Alnoor Nanji appointed Chair of Jubilee Hospitality Association Canada
Alnoor Nanji – Calgary, Alberta Chair
Alnoor Nanji immigrated to Calgary, Alberta, Canada in 1974. After earning a Bachelor of Arts in hotel management from Michigan State University, Alnoor joined his father in the hospitality industry. Before buying his own properties, he worked as a general manager in a joint venture group and operated five hotels. In 1991, his family bought one of the independent hotels from the joint venture group and converted it into a Super 8.
Five years later, Alnoor was the first Asian to be awarded Manager of the Year for the Super 8 franchise in North America. Alnoor has opened his own investment and management company operating properties and has won numerous awards with Intercontinental Hotels Group including the Quality Excellence Award, Newcomer of the Year Award, Torchbearer Award and AHLA Housekeeping Award.
Source: JHAC Board of Directors 2015-16
https://ismailimail.wordpress.com/2016/ ... on-canada/
Alnoor Nanji – Calgary, Alberta Chair
Alnoor Nanji immigrated to Calgary, Alberta, Canada in 1974. After earning a Bachelor of Arts in hotel management from Michigan State University, Alnoor joined his father in the hospitality industry. Before buying his own properties, he worked as a general manager in a joint venture group and operated five hotels. In 1991, his family bought one of the independent hotels from the joint venture group and converted it into a Super 8.
Five years later, Alnoor was the first Asian to be awarded Manager of the Year for the Super 8 franchise in North America. Alnoor has opened his own investment and management company operating properties and has won numerous awards with Intercontinental Hotels Group including the Quality Excellence Award, Newcomer of the Year Award, Torchbearer Award and AHLA Housekeeping Award.
Source: JHAC Board of Directors 2015-16
https://ismailimail.wordpress.com/2016/ ... on-canada/
IGNITE SUMMIT 2017
ACC | Alliance Conference Canada
Launched in 2012, Alliance Conference Canada (ACC) began as a platform to facilitate strategic business and professional alliances. In these 5 years, ACC has grown beyond alliances into a highly anticipated, annual forum for Ismaili business leaders to leverage our community’s diverse social, intellectual and economic strengths.
To help realize Mawlana Hazar Imam’s priorities for the Diamond Jubilee year, we are especially challenged to think bigger and act bolder – to harness our knowledge capital, to shape our future and build for generations to come.
We are proud to introduce the IGNITE SUMMIT 2017 focused on catalyzing our professional and personal growth.
More...
https://allianceconference.ca/
ACC | Alliance Conference Canada
Launched in 2012, Alliance Conference Canada (ACC) began as a platform to facilitate strategic business and professional alliances. In these 5 years, ACC has grown beyond alliances into a highly anticipated, annual forum for Ismaili business leaders to leverage our community’s diverse social, intellectual and economic strengths.
To help realize Mawlana Hazar Imam’s priorities for the Diamond Jubilee year, we are especially challenged to think bigger and act bolder – to harness our knowledge capital, to shape our future and build for generations to come.
We are proud to introduce the IGNITE SUMMIT 2017 focused on catalyzing our professional and personal growth.
More...
https://allianceconference.ca/
Ignite Summit 2017
The weekend of October 27 - 29, 2017 saw the Ismaili business community coming together to learn, grow and be inspired. Here are some highlights!
https://storify.com/ignitesummitcan/ignite-summit-2017
The weekend of October 27 - 29, 2017 saw the Ismaili business community coming together to learn, grow and be inspired. Here are some highlights!
https://storify.com/ignitesummitcan/ignite-summit-2017
Interactive Knowledge Exchange with Talented Ismaili Professionals: Diamond Jubilee Alliances Conference USA
BY ISMAILIMAIL POSTED ON AUGUST 24, 2018
A two-and-a-half day conference to enable an interactive knowledge exchange with talented Ismaili professionals, the Diamond Jubilee Alliances Conference starts September 28-30, 2018 at Hyatt Regency DFW, Dallas, Texas. The conference will feature speakers’ lineup of industry leaders with various Ismaili alliance groups including Finance, Education, Media and Communications, Healthcare, Technology, Legal, Public Service, and Business. This Diamond Jubilee initiative is an excellent opportunity for the Jamat to build bridges, initiate dialogue and share knowledge.
https://ipnonline.net/djac/
https://www.facebook.com/events/1754567604633955/
BY ISMAILIMAIL POSTED ON AUGUST 24, 2018
A two-and-a-half day conference to enable an interactive knowledge exchange with talented Ismaili professionals, the Diamond Jubilee Alliances Conference starts September 28-30, 2018 at Hyatt Regency DFW, Dallas, Texas. The conference will feature speakers’ lineup of industry leaders with various Ismaili alliance groups including Finance, Education, Media and Communications, Healthcare, Technology, Legal, Public Service, and Business. This Diamond Jubilee initiative is an excellent opportunity for the Jamat to build bridges, initiate dialogue and share knowledge.
https://ipnonline.net/djac/
https://www.facebook.com/events/1754567604633955/
Track B of the #DJAC2018 will focus on service as the epicenter of our community. Various speakers will focus on how to amplify a global impact and further our reach through service. #KnowledgeSociety #OneJamat #Ismaili #AgaKhan
https://twitter.com/TheIsmailiUSA/statu ... 2070560768
https://twitter.com/TheIsmailiUSA/statu ... 2070560768
Our Power is in Our Peers
Your professional value is the sum total of your knowledge and your network. Siloed knowledge can only take you so far, but a deep and diverse network of alliances can propel you to new heights. Never before have we had so much professional prowess within our community, yet so few of our leaders and innovators are connected. How can we facilitate an intersection point to learn, collaborate and grow from our unique pool of talent?
Solution #1: Join an Ismaili Professional Alliance Group. The role of Alliances is to enhance the careers of Ismaili professionals by creating valuable connections to industry-specific organizations, events, and of course, to one another. Alliances have established management teams with a demonstrated commitment to career mobility, an engaged membership base, quarterly events that focus on a knowledge transfer of new trends, best practices, and a curated exchange of ideas. Additionally, we are working towards uniformly monitoring and evaluating frameworks that will track the efficacy of Alliances both meeting and superseding their objectives. Alliances don’t exist to solve a problem we have, but to achieve a vision of what could be.
Solution #2: Attend marquee events, such as the Diamond Jubilee Alliances Conference. DJAC is an energetic two-day conference to enable an interactive knowledge exchange among talented Ismaili professionals from our various Alliance groups including Technology, Finance, Professional Ventures, Public Service, and our cross-functional Women’s Alliance. Additionally, our sister organizations to Alliances include IHPA (Healthcare), IMCA (Media and Communications), IPEA (Education), AICC/NATA (Commerce and Trade for Small Businesses), and Legal. We are all facing many of the same headwinds -- why not come together and redirect the wind to our backs?
More...
https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/our-powe ... -padamsee/
Your professional value is the sum total of your knowledge and your network. Siloed knowledge can only take you so far, but a deep and diverse network of alliances can propel you to new heights. Never before have we had so much professional prowess within our community, yet so few of our leaders and innovators are connected. How can we facilitate an intersection point to learn, collaborate and grow from our unique pool of talent?
Solution #1: Join an Ismaili Professional Alliance Group. The role of Alliances is to enhance the careers of Ismaili professionals by creating valuable connections to industry-specific organizations, events, and of course, to one another. Alliances have established management teams with a demonstrated commitment to career mobility, an engaged membership base, quarterly events that focus on a knowledge transfer of new trends, best practices, and a curated exchange of ideas. Additionally, we are working towards uniformly monitoring and evaluating frameworks that will track the efficacy of Alliances both meeting and superseding their objectives. Alliances don’t exist to solve a problem we have, but to achieve a vision of what could be.
Solution #2: Attend marquee events, such as the Diamond Jubilee Alliances Conference. DJAC is an energetic two-day conference to enable an interactive knowledge exchange among talented Ismaili professionals from our various Alliance groups including Technology, Finance, Professional Ventures, Public Service, and our cross-functional Women’s Alliance. Additionally, our sister organizations to Alliances include IHPA (Healthcare), IMCA (Media and Communications), IPEA (Education), AICC/NATA (Commerce and Trade for Small Businesses), and Legal. We are all facing many of the same headwinds -- why not come together and redirect the wind to our backs?
More...
https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/our-powe ... -padamsee/
DJAC 2018: Celebrate Inner Conflict
Excerpt:
This inner conflict is good for us. That’s right — conflict is good for us!
It can create an opportunity to connect and grow with others, if we allow it to.
This is the most profound learning that came out of the Diamond Jubilee Alliances Conference for me.
Over the past two and half days, I witnessed individuals setting aside the need to “keep it together” to open up and share the inner conflict they are facing in their lives.
I feel honored to have been on the receiving end of such genuine authenticity.
More...
https://sabrinalakhani.com/djac-2018-ce ... -conflict/
Excerpt:
This inner conflict is good for us. That’s right — conflict is good for us!
It can create an opportunity to connect and grow with others, if we allow it to.
This is the most profound learning that came out of the Diamond Jubilee Alliances Conference for me.
Over the past two and half days, I witnessed individuals setting aside the need to “keep it together” to open up and share the inner conflict they are facing in their lives.
I feel honored to have been on the receiving end of such genuine authenticity.
More...
https://sabrinalakhani.com/djac-2018-ce ... -conflict/
Diamond Jubilee Alliance Conference takes place in Dallas
“As a Jamat, we are fortunate to have access to the best education and opportunity to build for ourselves, and it’s now an opportunity to build for our children and our grandchildren...the themes of this conference are sharing knowledge, best practices, coming together, lifelong learning, and building for future generations. What is more befitting for the United States Jamat than to have this Conference as our last Diamond Jubilee initiative?” -Zahir Ladhani, Vice President, Council for USA
The Diamond Jubilee Alliance Conference (DJAC) was held in Dallas from September 28 to 30, 2018. It was perhaps the largest conference organized for the US Jamat, with the objective of encouraging knowledge-sharing among Ismaili professionals and entrepreneurs.
Zubair Talib, the Chairperson of the Ismaili Professional Network (IPN) and member for the Economic Planning Board for the USA, opened the weekend by highlighting the main objectives of DJAC, which include creating awareness, connectivity and knowledge exchange amongst high caliber industry leaders, and working together to catapult our community forward by strengthening the capacity of our professional and business alliances. He said, “We are fortunate to be able to have this as part of the Diamond Jubilee, to provide a rich setting for accomplished and diverse individuals to get together, to provide interesting topics for discussion and innovation, a forum to engage on our careers specifically, and for a community platform to help catalyze these alliances.”
More and photos:
https://the.ismaili/usa/diamond-jubilee ... ace-dallas
******
Video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HKJwzEErcaU
“As a Jamat, we are fortunate to have access to the best education and opportunity to build for ourselves, and it’s now an opportunity to build for our children and our grandchildren...the themes of this conference are sharing knowledge, best practices, coming together, lifelong learning, and building for future generations. What is more befitting for the United States Jamat than to have this Conference as our last Diamond Jubilee initiative?” -Zahir Ladhani, Vice President, Council for USA
The Diamond Jubilee Alliance Conference (DJAC) was held in Dallas from September 28 to 30, 2018. It was perhaps the largest conference organized for the US Jamat, with the objective of encouraging knowledge-sharing among Ismaili professionals and entrepreneurs.
Zubair Talib, the Chairperson of the Ismaili Professional Network (IPN) and member for the Economic Planning Board for the USA, opened the weekend by highlighting the main objectives of DJAC, which include creating awareness, connectivity and knowledge exchange amongst high caliber industry leaders, and working together to catapult our community forward by strengthening the capacity of our professional and business alliances. He said, “We are fortunate to be able to have this as part of the Diamond Jubilee, to provide a rich setting for accomplished and diverse individuals to get together, to provide interesting topics for discussion and innovation, a forum to engage on our careers specifically, and for a community platform to help catalyze these alliances.”
More and photos:
https://the.ismaili/usa/diamond-jubilee ... ace-dallas
******
Video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HKJwzEErcaU
Transforming, engaging, and inspiring: Ismaili Economic Forum hosted in Kenya
Over 500 delegates from the Jamats of Eastern, Central, and Southern Africa gathered for the launch of the Ismaili Economic Forum (IEF) held in Nairobi in April 2019. The Forum was organised to bring together Ismaili businesses, professionals, and entrepreneurs, to discuss and respond to rapid change in Africa and advancements in technology on the continent, and to build economic and knowledge capacity within the Jamat. The forum included workshops and sessions on the future of work, gender equality, innovation and creativity, strategy, succession planning, and more.
Forum delegates represented 20 nationalities, lending significant strength through their diverse socio-economic and cultural outlook, which greatly enhanced participation and overall contribution. In a bid to quench their thirst for knowledge, to network and to learn from some of the most renowned professionals and entrepreneurs in Africa and the world, delegates explored ways in which growing global complexity has and continues to affect businesses and professions, and how to innovate in response so as to stay relevant and prepare for change.
A key theme of the Forum was disruption. Although the term “disruption” connotes negativity, disruption, whether in industry or technologically, is a necessary and welcome process that drives innovation and creates fresh opportunities through new thinking and behaviour. We live in an increasingly dynamic global environment where changes in technology and culture are moulding consumer behaviour and creating new ways to market and sell. Mobile, cloud, and global networks are breaking down physical boundaries in favour of virtual communities. Concern for the environment and climate change is compelling even greater individual and corporate stewardship, and is requiring organisations to be ever more conscientious and climate resilient as they seek opportunities in a changing economy.
Months of meticulous planning by dedicated volunteers resulted in a well-organised and pioneering Forum which included a grand Expo comprising of exhibitors ranging from small cottage industries to large scale manufacturers, along with agencies of the Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN).
Keynote speakers included Asiff S. Hirji, former President and COO of Coinbase, a world-leading crypto currency company; and Timothy Oriedo, a Data Scientist certified by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Other speakers included Google’s Farzana Khubchandani, and BBC Africa’s Maya Hayakawa.
A series of inspiring presentations at the Forum included real life stories and experiences which demonstrated the importance of collaboration, engagement, investment, partnerships, and learning. Speakers described the various challenges they had faced, and shared how these were overcome. Sessions on leveraging social and financial capital, sourcing financial instruments, strategic business planning, accessing revolutionary platforms for marketing and selling, as well as the importance of self-appraisal were some of the themes that sought to inspire and transform the outlook of delegates.
The event was well-attended by members of the Jamat, especially young people, including recent university graduates and entrants into the job market.
In welcoming the delegates during the opening ceremony, Ismaili Council for Kenya President Nawaaz Gulam said, “We need to work to ensure that these young families are successful 10 – 20 years out. That we manage our financial and human resources well, that we remain relevant and at the top of our vocation, career or enterprise. That we have global mobility. That we connect. We have a worry, a concern; many face dwindling incomes, are unable to keep up with the cost of living for the desired quality of life, and many are trying to compete in a very competitive environment on their own.”
Networks were forged during the event, in-person and online, through the Forum’s mobile app. Job openings and career opportunities were widely posted on the app, while knowledge and information continues to be shared and industry alliances formed.
“As illustrated by the engagement through the Forum’s App, we have many, many talented, educated and qualified murids that are well employed but who are looking for opportunity, looking for investment and investors to be able to build enterprises,” continued President Nawaaz.
The Forum was met with much appreciation: “What a fantastic weekend! I’m completely blown away by the speakers, the attendance, the participation and the whole atmosphere. Not only do I feel honoured and proud to be a small part of this but I’ve thoroughly enjoyed it,” said Tehzeen Kantaria.
President Nawaaz expressed the need to excel in all areas, saying, “We have a couple of trump cards. We are in the right geography. We are in this geography with experience. If we combine the pursuit of knowledge, build economic resilience, rebuild our social capital, plan well and network, we will succeed. Importantly, we will contribute even more to making our countries ‘Countries of Opportunity.’ Add to that the main trump card. What we need to do for our children – educate them to the highest level, teach them how to learn. Teach them about diversity and tolerance and expose them to global culture. Give them mobility. Learn languages – at least two or more human languages and one machine language. You will today hopefully understand why and be firm in your faith and its teachings. Best practice will build the valuable partnerships needed.”
AKFED Director Mr Sultan Alana also addresse delegates, and provided a perspective on the global trends that will impact future Jamats across Africa and the world. Mr Alana provided a comprehensive understanding of the impact that trends such as climate change, artificial intelligence, aging populations, and shifting economic powers will have largely in the growing populations of global cities.
The event was organised by the Ismaili Council for Kenya through the Aga Khan Economic Planning Board (EPB), whose mandate is to assist the Jamat to improve its economic standing by providing information, counselling, and advice, as well as forming alliances and associations.
The quality of content and engagement at the Forum have led to outcomes that have transcended the three-day conference. Representing some of the African Jamat’s best talent drawn from professional, entrepreneurial, corporate and industry sectors, Forum delegates have continued to collaborate and explore areas of mutual and community interest.
Positive developments include important collaborative efforts by businesses to further women’s empowerment and financial literacy that will include training programmes to prepare women for corporate board participation. Aspiring women entrepreneurs and existing business operators from the community are now participating in Diamond Trust Bank’s Inuka Financial Literacy Programme. For the youth, In Development is an entrepreneurship programme that will feature economic camps and enterprise development with young volunteers drawn from the Youth Coordinating Forum of the Council (YCF) as well as a proposed Innovation Hub, in conjunction with the Aga Khan Foundation. This together with the spike in registrations for the Kenya Chapter of the Ismaili Professionals Network, all illustrate a resounding commitment to transformation and service at every level.
Photos at:
https://the.ismaili/kenya/transforming- ... sted-kenya
Over 500 delegates from the Jamats of Eastern, Central, and Southern Africa gathered for the launch of the Ismaili Economic Forum (IEF) held in Nairobi in April 2019. The Forum was organised to bring together Ismaili businesses, professionals, and entrepreneurs, to discuss and respond to rapid change in Africa and advancements in technology on the continent, and to build economic and knowledge capacity within the Jamat. The forum included workshops and sessions on the future of work, gender equality, innovation and creativity, strategy, succession planning, and more.
Forum delegates represented 20 nationalities, lending significant strength through their diverse socio-economic and cultural outlook, which greatly enhanced participation and overall contribution. In a bid to quench their thirst for knowledge, to network and to learn from some of the most renowned professionals and entrepreneurs in Africa and the world, delegates explored ways in which growing global complexity has and continues to affect businesses and professions, and how to innovate in response so as to stay relevant and prepare for change.
A key theme of the Forum was disruption. Although the term “disruption” connotes negativity, disruption, whether in industry or technologically, is a necessary and welcome process that drives innovation and creates fresh opportunities through new thinking and behaviour. We live in an increasingly dynamic global environment where changes in technology and culture are moulding consumer behaviour and creating new ways to market and sell. Mobile, cloud, and global networks are breaking down physical boundaries in favour of virtual communities. Concern for the environment and climate change is compelling even greater individual and corporate stewardship, and is requiring organisations to be ever more conscientious and climate resilient as they seek opportunities in a changing economy.
Months of meticulous planning by dedicated volunteers resulted in a well-organised and pioneering Forum which included a grand Expo comprising of exhibitors ranging from small cottage industries to large scale manufacturers, along with agencies of the Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN).
Keynote speakers included Asiff S. Hirji, former President and COO of Coinbase, a world-leading crypto currency company; and Timothy Oriedo, a Data Scientist certified by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Other speakers included Google’s Farzana Khubchandani, and BBC Africa’s Maya Hayakawa.
A series of inspiring presentations at the Forum included real life stories and experiences which demonstrated the importance of collaboration, engagement, investment, partnerships, and learning. Speakers described the various challenges they had faced, and shared how these were overcome. Sessions on leveraging social and financial capital, sourcing financial instruments, strategic business planning, accessing revolutionary platforms for marketing and selling, as well as the importance of self-appraisal were some of the themes that sought to inspire and transform the outlook of delegates.
The event was well-attended by members of the Jamat, especially young people, including recent university graduates and entrants into the job market.
In welcoming the delegates during the opening ceremony, Ismaili Council for Kenya President Nawaaz Gulam said, “We need to work to ensure that these young families are successful 10 – 20 years out. That we manage our financial and human resources well, that we remain relevant and at the top of our vocation, career or enterprise. That we have global mobility. That we connect. We have a worry, a concern; many face dwindling incomes, are unable to keep up with the cost of living for the desired quality of life, and many are trying to compete in a very competitive environment on their own.”
Networks were forged during the event, in-person and online, through the Forum’s mobile app. Job openings and career opportunities were widely posted on the app, while knowledge and information continues to be shared and industry alliances formed.
“As illustrated by the engagement through the Forum’s App, we have many, many talented, educated and qualified murids that are well employed but who are looking for opportunity, looking for investment and investors to be able to build enterprises,” continued President Nawaaz.
The Forum was met with much appreciation: “What a fantastic weekend! I’m completely blown away by the speakers, the attendance, the participation and the whole atmosphere. Not only do I feel honoured and proud to be a small part of this but I’ve thoroughly enjoyed it,” said Tehzeen Kantaria.
President Nawaaz expressed the need to excel in all areas, saying, “We have a couple of trump cards. We are in the right geography. We are in this geography with experience. If we combine the pursuit of knowledge, build economic resilience, rebuild our social capital, plan well and network, we will succeed. Importantly, we will contribute even more to making our countries ‘Countries of Opportunity.’ Add to that the main trump card. What we need to do for our children – educate them to the highest level, teach them how to learn. Teach them about diversity and tolerance and expose them to global culture. Give them mobility. Learn languages – at least two or more human languages and one machine language. You will today hopefully understand why and be firm in your faith and its teachings. Best practice will build the valuable partnerships needed.”
AKFED Director Mr Sultan Alana also addresse delegates, and provided a perspective on the global trends that will impact future Jamats across Africa and the world. Mr Alana provided a comprehensive understanding of the impact that trends such as climate change, artificial intelligence, aging populations, and shifting economic powers will have largely in the growing populations of global cities.
The event was organised by the Ismaili Council for Kenya through the Aga Khan Economic Planning Board (EPB), whose mandate is to assist the Jamat to improve its economic standing by providing information, counselling, and advice, as well as forming alliances and associations.
The quality of content and engagement at the Forum have led to outcomes that have transcended the three-day conference. Representing some of the African Jamat’s best talent drawn from professional, entrepreneurial, corporate and industry sectors, Forum delegates have continued to collaborate and explore areas of mutual and community interest.
Positive developments include important collaborative efforts by businesses to further women’s empowerment and financial literacy that will include training programmes to prepare women for corporate board participation. Aspiring women entrepreneurs and existing business operators from the community are now participating in Diamond Trust Bank’s Inuka Financial Literacy Programme. For the youth, In Development is an entrepreneurship programme that will feature economic camps and enterprise development with young volunteers drawn from the Youth Coordinating Forum of the Council (YCF) as well as a proposed Innovation Hub, in conjunction with the Aga Khan Foundation. This together with the spike in registrations for the Kenya Chapter of the Ismaili Professionals Network, all illustrate a resounding commitment to transformation and service at every level.
Photos at:
https://the.ismaili/kenya/transforming- ... sted-kenya
Ignite a spark: Envisioning opportunities for young professionals
The annual Ignite Summit, organised by the Aga Khan Economic Planning Board in Canada, was held in Calgary earlier this year. Each instalment of the conference is hosted for entrepreneurs to meet, discuss themes of relevance, and exchange ideas. Farkhunda Niazi — an attendee and conference participant — wrote the following article, recounting her experiences at Ignite.
The 2019 Ignite Summit, themed ‘Adaptability and Resiliency,’ was an outstanding conference for me on a personal level. As a young professional, I found it empowering and informative, and I have no doubt that other young entrepreneurs who attended shared similar sentiments.
The weekend-long conference was a useful platform for many young professionals to learn, engage, and connect with skilled and experienced professionals from a diverse range of sectors. The conference gave us a rare opportunity to converse with some of the foremost industry leaders within our Jamat from across North America, and to learn about their personal journeys and success stories.
Two major topics discussed over the course of the weekend were the advancement of artificial intelligence and an entrepreneurial mindset, among many others relevant to our futures in a globalised world.
Among the invited speakers, Asiff Hirji, former President and COO of Coinbase, discussed the evolution of machine learning and virtual reality and its implications on professionals. He also shed light on the future of blockchain and its potential to change the way that financial institutions work.
During a breakout session, Lisa Caruso, founder of Toddler Monitor, advised aspiring entrepreneurs to be iterative and agile, build a network of experts, test their ideas, conduct market research, leverage e-commerce, and negotiate as much as possible.
One of the most inspirational speakers to me was 15-year-old technopreneur Zaynah Bhanji, who stated that the Ignite Summit was the best conference she has ever participated in, having already attended over 40 such conferences around the world.
Zaynah shared stories of her visits to developing countries and talked about the future potential of Artificial Intelligence (AI) to help with improving quality of life in these parts of the world. She discussed possible uses of AI in classrooms, where it can be harnessed to administer and monitor lessons when teachers are not available.
For me, the women in leadership panel discussion ‘Breaking down barriers’ was one of the most empowering sessions of the conference. The speakers consistently focused their discussion on the importance and the need for women leaders to come forward, and for women to not be afraid of balancing family responsibility with serving in leadership roles or aspiring to progress along a chosen career path.
Manjit Minhas, a judge from CBC’s Dragons Den, shared an inspiring story of how she built a successful business from the ground up. Meanwhile, Karima Ramji, a certified advanced Cultural Intelligence professional, discussed the importance of cultural intelligence and how it enables us to understand one another, and work together towards building a stronger community.
Communications expert Ryan Townend discussed the significance of personal branding and its importance in entrepreneurship and leadership, while Mayor of Calgary Naheed Nenshi addressed the importance of closing the gender pay gap, and developing an enhanced sense of community.
During a Startup Showcase, experienced judges emphasised the key qualities of entrepreneurs they take into consideration before making an investment. These include drive, resilience, coach-ability, technical expertise, and an entrepreneur’s confidence to enact positive change in the world.
As a recent university graduate, I learned about the importance of building a network - not only to augment my personal career goals, but also to contribute towards the development of civil society in Canada and further afield.
Throughout the conference, many of the speakers called upon community members to facilitate and offer mentorship to the young professionals present. Their encouragement prompted me to reach out to some of the speakers and attendees for help and advice.
I eagerly look forward to beginning my professional journey in Canada and I am immensely grateful to the volunteers for organising and facilitating a world class conference in Calgary, the city I call home.
Photos at:
https://the.ismaili/our-stories/ignite- ... fessionals
The annual Ignite Summit, organised by the Aga Khan Economic Planning Board in Canada, was held in Calgary earlier this year. Each instalment of the conference is hosted for entrepreneurs to meet, discuss themes of relevance, and exchange ideas. Farkhunda Niazi — an attendee and conference participant — wrote the following article, recounting her experiences at Ignite.
The 2019 Ignite Summit, themed ‘Adaptability and Resiliency,’ was an outstanding conference for me on a personal level. As a young professional, I found it empowering and informative, and I have no doubt that other young entrepreneurs who attended shared similar sentiments.
The weekend-long conference was a useful platform for many young professionals to learn, engage, and connect with skilled and experienced professionals from a diverse range of sectors. The conference gave us a rare opportunity to converse with some of the foremost industry leaders within our Jamat from across North America, and to learn about their personal journeys and success stories.
Two major topics discussed over the course of the weekend were the advancement of artificial intelligence and an entrepreneurial mindset, among many others relevant to our futures in a globalised world.
Among the invited speakers, Asiff Hirji, former President and COO of Coinbase, discussed the evolution of machine learning and virtual reality and its implications on professionals. He also shed light on the future of blockchain and its potential to change the way that financial institutions work.
During a breakout session, Lisa Caruso, founder of Toddler Monitor, advised aspiring entrepreneurs to be iterative and agile, build a network of experts, test their ideas, conduct market research, leverage e-commerce, and negotiate as much as possible.
One of the most inspirational speakers to me was 15-year-old technopreneur Zaynah Bhanji, who stated that the Ignite Summit was the best conference she has ever participated in, having already attended over 40 such conferences around the world.
Zaynah shared stories of her visits to developing countries and talked about the future potential of Artificial Intelligence (AI) to help with improving quality of life in these parts of the world. She discussed possible uses of AI in classrooms, where it can be harnessed to administer and monitor lessons when teachers are not available.
For me, the women in leadership panel discussion ‘Breaking down barriers’ was one of the most empowering sessions of the conference. The speakers consistently focused their discussion on the importance and the need for women leaders to come forward, and for women to not be afraid of balancing family responsibility with serving in leadership roles or aspiring to progress along a chosen career path.
Manjit Minhas, a judge from CBC’s Dragons Den, shared an inspiring story of how she built a successful business from the ground up. Meanwhile, Karima Ramji, a certified advanced Cultural Intelligence professional, discussed the importance of cultural intelligence and how it enables us to understand one another, and work together towards building a stronger community.
Communications expert Ryan Townend discussed the significance of personal branding and its importance in entrepreneurship and leadership, while Mayor of Calgary Naheed Nenshi addressed the importance of closing the gender pay gap, and developing an enhanced sense of community.
During a Startup Showcase, experienced judges emphasised the key qualities of entrepreneurs they take into consideration before making an investment. These include drive, resilience, coach-ability, technical expertise, and an entrepreneur’s confidence to enact positive change in the world.
As a recent university graduate, I learned about the importance of building a network - not only to augment my personal career goals, but also to contribute towards the development of civil society in Canada and further afield.
Throughout the conference, many of the speakers called upon community members to facilitate and offer mentorship to the young professionals present. Their encouragement prompted me to reach out to some of the speakers and attendees for help and advice.
I eagerly look forward to beginning my professional journey in Canada and I am immensely grateful to the volunteers for organising and facilitating a world class conference in Calgary, the city I call home.
Photos at:
https://the.ismaili/our-stories/ignite- ... fessionals
Online Article in the Ismaili USA magazine
Expanding Business Alliances in India
Diamond Jubilee Alliance Conference
http://emag.theismailiusa.org/html5/rea ... f9ea70fce4
Expanding Business Alliances in India
Diamond Jubilee Alliance Conference
http://emag.theismailiusa.org/html5/rea ... f9ea70fce4
Accelerate Prosperity organises a conference on Economic Opportunities in Northern Pakistan
Islamabad, Pakistan, 28-29 September 2019 - Accelerate Prosperity (AP), an initiative of the Aga Khan Foundation (AKF) and Industrial Promotion Services (IPS), organised one of the largest impact investment conferences in Pakistan, APImpactInvest Conference 2019.
The conference highlighted economic opportunities in the mountainous region of northern Pakistan and showcased 78 entrepreneurs from Gilgit-Baltistan and Chitral. The entrepreneurs shared their stories, products and services, which represented a diversity of sectors, including agro-processing, education, health, technology, hospitality, adventure sports, logistics and warehousing. More than 150 successful entrepreneurs, business executives, impact investors and institutional representatives from Pakistan, along with 50 overseas Pakistanis, participated in the event.
In his speech as the Chief Guest of the opening session, Zubair Gillani, Chairman of the Board of Investments (BOI), Pakistan, praised AP’s initiative and the overall work of the Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN) in Pakistan. He emphasised the need for the Government and the private sector to unlock the potential of the country, specifically the untapped regions like Gilgit-Baltistan and Chitral.
The session was also attended by Ambassadors and representatives of diplomatic missions of Canada, United States, Norway, Italy, France, Mauritius, Switzerland, Japan, Kyrgyzstan, representatives of the Federal and Gilgit-Baltistan Government and its subsidiaries such as Ignite, senior executives from the development sector including ADB, IFC, UNDP, UNICEF, PPAF, Market Development Facility of the Palladium Group, AKDN agencies in Pakistan, and representatives of the private sector including Arif Habib Group, The Indus Entrepreneurs, Izhar Constructions, financial institutions and others.
A number of panel discussions on entrepreneurship and impact investing took place over the two days. The concluding session focused on discussions related to the new initiative of the Aga Khan Foundation @Work on the future of work and included topics such as “@Work: Promoting Freelancing Business Intermediaries for Youth.”
In her closing remarks, Guest of Honour, Marguax McDonald, highlighted the importance of promoting business activities in Pakistan and the contribution of the Government of Canada towards this goal. She also praised the role of AKDN and its partnership with the High Commission of Canada in improving the quality of life specifically in northern Pakistan and enabling the youth to benefit from economic opportunities.
Imran Shams, Country Manager, Accelerate Prosperity Pakistan, provided a summation of the conference and highlighted the national vision of AP for Pakistan, along with its plans to work closely with the Government, the private sector and the Pakistani diaspora overseas.
APImpactInvest Conference 2019 reinforced AKDN’s commitment to the development of Pakistan and the realisation of the country’s economic potential.
For more information, please contact:
Imran Shams
Country Manager, Pakistan
https://www.akdn.org/press-release/acce ... n-pakistan
Islamabad, Pakistan, 28-29 September 2019 - Accelerate Prosperity (AP), an initiative of the Aga Khan Foundation (AKF) and Industrial Promotion Services (IPS), organised one of the largest impact investment conferences in Pakistan, APImpactInvest Conference 2019.
The conference highlighted economic opportunities in the mountainous region of northern Pakistan and showcased 78 entrepreneurs from Gilgit-Baltistan and Chitral. The entrepreneurs shared their stories, products and services, which represented a diversity of sectors, including agro-processing, education, health, technology, hospitality, adventure sports, logistics and warehousing. More than 150 successful entrepreneurs, business executives, impact investors and institutional representatives from Pakistan, along with 50 overseas Pakistanis, participated in the event.
In his speech as the Chief Guest of the opening session, Zubair Gillani, Chairman of the Board of Investments (BOI), Pakistan, praised AP’s initiative and the overall work of the Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN) in Pakistan. He emphasised the need for the Government and the private sector to unlock the potential of the country, specifically the untapped regions like Gilgit-Baltistan and Chitral.
The session was also attended by Ambassadors and representatives of diplomatic missions of Canada, United States, Norway, Italy, France, Mauritius, Switzerland, Japan, Kyrgyzstan, representatives of the Federal and Gilgit-Baltistan Government and its subsidiaries such as Ignite, senior executives from the development sector including ADB, IFC, UNDP, UNICEF, PPAF, Market Development Facility of the Palladium Group, AKDN agencies in Pakistan, and representatives of the private sector including Arif Habib Group, The Indus Entrepreneurs, Izhar Constructions, financial institutions and others.
A number of panel discussions on entrepreneurship and impact investing took place over the two days. The concluding session focused on discussions related to the new initiative of the Aga Khan Foundation @Work on the future of work and included topics such as “@Work: Promoting Freelancing Business Intermediaries for Youth.”
In her closing remarks, Guest of Honour, Marguax McDonald, highlighted the importance of promoting business activities in Pakistan and the contribution of the Government of Canada towards this goal. She also praised the role of AKDN and its partnership with the High Commission of Canada in improving the quality of life specifically in northern Pakistan and enabling the youth to benefit from economic opportunities.
Imran Shams, Country Manager, Accelerate Prosperity Pakistan, provided a summation of the conference and highlighted the national vision of AP for Pakistan, along with its plans to work closely with the Government, the private sector and the Pakistani diaspora overseas.
APImpactInvest Conference 2019 reinforced AKDN’s commitment to the development of Pakistan and the realisation of the country’s economic potential.
For more information, please contact:
Imran Shams
Country Manager, Pakistan
https://www.akdn.org/press-release/acce ... n-pakistan
Sweet success: The story of India’s United Bakers Alliance
The United Bakers Co-operative Society Limited (UBCL) whipped up a record-breaking 940 kg cake to commemorate Mawlana Hazar Imam’s Diamond Jubilee visit to Hyderabad.
For nearly two decades, the United Bakers Co-operative Society Limited has been aggregating the interests and aspirations of local Jamati bakeries in Hyderabad. From centralised procurement to training and development, the alliance’s story illustrates that bonds of trust and collaboration can catalyse economic development. We take a look at the recipe behind their sweet story of success.
On 26 February 2018, India’s bakers alliance made history. The United Bakers Co-operative Society Limited (UBCL) whipped up a record-breaking 940 kg cake to commemorate Mawlana Hazar Imam’s Diamond Jubilee visit to Hyderabad. Featured prominently in the official film of the India visit, the commemorative cake made UBCL a familiar name in many Ismaili households. But it isn’t only the cake or the record that makes UBCL special. The UBCL story is an archetypal example of how working together can create pathways to economic prosperity for everyone.
Created with a loan of 10,000 Rupees, 57 members, and a dollop of visionary thinking, the UBCL — now 20 years in the making — has become one of the most successful alliances housed under the aegis of the Aga Khan Economic Planning Board (AKEPB) for India. As the name suggests, the alliance brings together Ismaili-owned bakeries in Hyderabad, under the umbrella of this structure which seeks to aggregate and promote their collective business interests.
While the alliance began in the year 2000, it has been able to firmly consolidate into a robust and sustainable organisation over the last decade. UBCL now counts a total of 316 members. The year 2011 marked the opening of its central purchasing unit (CPU), a designated space managed by the UBCL, which acts as a one-stop shop for all its members. Starting from 1,400 square feet and moving to a 3,500 square feet space with 15 salaried employees and two delivery vans in just nine years, the CPU is at the heart of UBCL’s success.
“It is the power of bulk buying,” said Rafiq Umani, a director on the board of UBCL, as he reflected on the principles behind the alliance’s success. The alliance leverages its sizable network of Ismaili bakery owners to seek discounts and deals from major multinational consumer goods companies including Coca Cola, Cadbury, Nestle, Britannia, ITC, and Parle. This strength of numbers allows them to negotiate agreements at sizable discounts, giving these bakeries a competitive edge in the market. With discounts ranging from 15-20%, the benefits that a member can get because of their affiliation to UBCL are significant.
Notwithstanding the monetary benefits that UBCL brings to its members, it is the underlying belief in this establishment as a trustworthy and representative body that is the core of its success.
Hussain Ravani, a bakery owner in Chiragali, Hyderabad and a member of UBCL, concurs.
“Buying in bulk from an outside vendor is a risky business. There is a persistent fear that one is being cheated. However, with UBCL, all I need to do is place an order for products on the phone. I know I can completely trust the alliance with their delivery; and even if a problem arises, I know I will be heard and an exchange will be initiated,” Ravani said.
This sense of trust in UBCL’s mandate runs deep and the work of the alliance has helped to build this over time. UBCL assists new members in identifying locations for bakeries, in recognising possible partnerships between different members of the Jamat, and in setting up machinery and quality guidelines. Its CPU becomes the natural destination to procure products for new bakeries. Additionally, a monthly scheme with a major multi-national ensures a fixed basic income from the very first month of operations, accompanied with a series of other discounts that enable UBCL-affiliated bakery owners to sharpen their competitive edge in the market.
UBCL also holds regular business development and other industry-related educational initiatives for its members to enhance their business acumen. Nadir Jindani, a bakery owner who relocated from Porbandar, Gujarat to Hyderabad, credits these recurring initiatives as being practical and useful.
Central to UBCL’s growth and its ability to create value for its members has been its strong and silent financial partner: the Ismailia Co-Operative Credit Society (CCS), a financial partner since the early days of the alliance’s inception. This partnership is one of the quintessential examples of institutions coming together to create a lasting and far-reaching impact on the lives of our Jamat.
The story of Azad Khoja, a 29-year-old bakery owner from Silvassa — a small town in the union territory of Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu, bordering the state of Gujarat in India — is uniquely illustrative of the life-altering impact of the collaborative partnership between UBCL and the CCS. Azad came to Hyderabad at the age of 26 in search of a source of income and a better quality of life. From working as a salaried employee, he has now been able to become a partner in that bakery, whilst still working as a full-time employee of his own bakery. It all began with a single loan of INR 1,00,000 from the CCS, the trust of a local guarantor, and personalised mentorship and support. Azad is now in the process of relocating his family to Hyderabad as his bakery enterprise grows.
The close collaboration and shared vision of the UBCL and the CCS has created sweet stories of success for many of UBCL’s members. Along with the credit that the CCS provides to several UBCL members, it aims to be a financial partner to help refurbish, enhance, and reinvigorate smaller or worn-out bakeries into spaces that comply with modern standards of the business.
"There is no doubt in my mind that the future will be won on the basis of the alliances," said Farah Bhanji, chairperson of the AKEPB. "Increased competitive pressure, new regulations, evolving customer demands, and new technologies are creating unprecedented change. UBCL has created an example in India of the strength of an alliance and we hope in future to leverage this across alliances and geographies in the Jamat," she said.
Steering UBCL towards this wider best practice agenda has been the Aga Khan Economic Planning Board for the USA. As a silent but sound mentor, AKEPB USA has worked with UBCL over the last three years on a number of initiatives. The two organisations have discussed strategies to negotiate more lucrative deals with companies and ways to compete with big-box stores and subsequently a highly competitive online food market.
As always, the road ahead is equally long as the road that has been travelled so far. The current successes of UBCL are only the first step in a long road to innovation, development, and growth. The CPU has been a rewarding achievement, however, UBCL’s imminent goal is to open a central manufacturing unit. The fundamental aim and vision, however, remains the same: to voice the evolving needs of the bakers in Hyderabad to become bigger and better, together.
https://the.ismaili/our-stories/sweet-s ... -173435533
The United Bakers Co-operative Society Limited (UBCL) whipped up a record-breaking 940 kg cake to commemorate Mawlana Hazar Imam’s Diamond Jubilee visit to Hyderabad.
For nearly two decades, the United Bakers Co-operative Society Limited has been aggregating the interests and aspirations of local Jamati bakeries in Hyderabad. From centralised procurement to training and development, the alliance’s story illustrates that bonds of trust and collaboration can catalyse economic development. We take a look at the recipe behind their sweet story of success.
On 26 February 2018, India’s bakers alliance made history. The United Bakers Co-operative Society Limited (UBCL) whipped up a record-breaking 940 kg cake to commemorate Mawlana Hazar Imam’s Diamond Jubilee visit to Hyderabad. Featured prominently in the official film of the India visit, the commemorative cake made UBCL a familiar name in many Ismaili households. But it isn’t only the cake or the record that makes UBCL special. The UBCL story is an archetypal example of how working together can create pathways to economic prosperity for everyone.
Created with a loan of 10,000 Rupees, 57 members, and a dollop of visionary thinking, the UBCL — now 20 years in the making — has become one of the most successful alliances housed under the aegis of the Aga Khan Economic Planning Board (AKEPB) for India. As the name suggests, the alliance brings together Ismaili-owned bakeries in Hyderabad, under the umbrella of this structure which seeks to aggregate and promote their collective business interests.
While the alliance began in the year 2000, it has been able to firmly consolidate into a robust and sustainable organisation over the last decade. UBCL now counts a total of 316 members. The year 2011 marked the opening of its central purchasing unit (CPU), a designated space managed by the UBCL, which acts as a one-stop shop for all its members. Starting from 1,400 square feet and moving to a 3,500 square feet space with 15 salaried employees and two delivery vans in just nine years, the CPU is at the heart of UBCL’s success.
“It is the power of bulk buying,” said Rafiq Umani, a director on the board of UBCL, as he reflected on the principles behind the alliance’s success. The alliance leverages its sizable network of Ismaili bakery owners to seek discounts and deals from major multinational consumer goods companies including Coca Cola, Cadbury, Nestle, Britannia, ITC, and Parle. This strength of numbers allows them to negotiate agreements at sizable discounts, giving these bakeries a competitive edge in the market. With discounts ranging from 15-20%, the benefits that a member can get because of their affiliation to UBCL are significant.
Notwithstanding the monetary benefits that UBCL brings to its members, it is the underlying belief in this establishment as a trustworthy and representative body that is the core of its success.
Hussain Ravani, a bakery owner in Chiragali, Hyderabad and a member of UBCL, concurs.
“Buying in bulk from an outside vendor is a risky business. There is a persistent fear that one is being cheated. However, with UBCL, all I need to do is place an order for products on the phone. I know I can completely trust the alliance with their delivery; and even if a problem arises, I know I will be heard and an exchange will be initiated,” Ravani said.
This sense of trust in UBCL’s mandate runs deep and the work of the alliance has helped to build this over time. UBCL assists new members in identifying locations for bakeries, in recognising possible partnerships between different members of the Jamat, and in setting up machinery and quality guidelines. Its CPU becomes the natural destination to procure products for new bakeries. Additionally, a monthly scheme with a major multi-national ensures a fixed basic income from the very first month of operations, accompanied with a series of other discounts that enable UBCL-affiliated bakery owners to sharpen their competitive edge in the market.
UBCL also holds regular business development and other industry-related educational initiatives for its members to enhance their business acumen. Nadir Jindani, a bakery owner who relocated from Porbandar, Gujarat to Hyderabad, credits these recurring initiatives as being practical and useful.
Central to UBCL’s growth and its ability to create value for its members has been its strong and silent financial partner: the Ismailia Co-Operative Credit Society (CCS), a financial partner since the early days of the alliance’s inception. This partnership is one of the quintessential examples of institutions coming together to create a lasting and far-reaching impact on the lives of our Jamat.
The story of Azad Khoja, a 29-year-old bakery owner from Silvassa — a small town in the union territory of Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu, bordering the state of Gujarat in India — is uniquely illustrative of the life-altering impact of the collaborative partnership between UBCL and the CCS. Azad came to Hyderabad at the age of 26 in search of a source of income and a better quality of life. From working as a salaried employee, he has now been able to become a partner in that bakery, whilst still working as a full-time employee of his own bakery. It all began with a single loan of INR 1,00,000 from the CCS, the trust of a local guarantor, and personalised mentorship and support. Azad is now in the process of relocating his family to Hyderabad as his bakery enterprise grows.
The close collaboration and shared vision of the UBCL and the CCS has created sweet stories of success for many of UBCL’s members. Along with the credit that the CCS provides to several UBCL members, it aims to be a financial partner to help refurbish, enhance, and reinvigorate smaller or worn-out bakeries into spaces that comply with modern standards of the business.
"There is no doubt in my mind that the future will be won on the basis of the alliances," said Farah Bhanji, chairperson of the AKEPB. "Increased competitive pressure, new regulations, evolving customer demands, and new technologies are creating unprecedented change. UBCL has created an example in India of the strength of an alliance and we hope in future to leverage this across alliances and geographies in the Jamat," she said.
Steering UBCL towards this wider best practice agenda has been the Aga Khan Economic Planning Board for the USA. As a silent but sound mentor, AKEPB USA has worked with UBCL over the last three years on a number of initiatives. The two organisations have discussed strategies to negotiate more lucrative deals with companies and ways to compete with big-box stores and subsequently a highly competitive online food market.
As always, the road ahead is equally long as the road that has been travelled so far. The current successes of UBCL are only the first step in a long road to innovation, development, and growth. The CPU has been a rewarding achievement, however, UBCL’s imminent goal is to open a central manufacturing unit. The fundamental aim and vision, however, remains the same: to voice the evolving needs of the bakers in Hyderabad to become bigger and better, together.
https://the.ismaili/our-stories/sweet-s ... -173435533
Ismaili Health Professionals Conference | 2020
The Ismaili Health Professionals Conference (IHPC), will be held on June 5-7, 2020 in Edmonton, Alberta. The opening ceremony will take place at the Aga Khan Garden followed by a 1.5 day conference at the Renaissance Edmonton Airport Hotel.
This conference will bring together healthcare practitioners including allied health professionals, healthcare leaders, and relevant small business owners across a myriad of healthcare disciplines, approaches and sectors from across North America to participate in discussions around the theme of resilience, faith, and healthcare.
Conference Topics
The 2020 Ismaili Health Professionals conference centers around "Exploring Resilience as an Ismaili Health Care Professional" and will bring together colleagues from across North America to learn, network, and share best practices on contemporary issues facing the health and allied health sectors.
The conference will kick off with a session on understanding the healthcare needs of the Canadian Jamat followed by interactive working groups to discuss ideas and solutions.
The above session will be followed by concurrent sessions on identified topics of interest which may include, but are not limited to: starting a small business, complementary & alternative medicine, mentorship opportunities, living with disabilities, joining and starting a healthcare alliance, social determinants of health and women’s’ health.
The conference will feature keynotes that will address both local and international global health experiences and opportunities as well as explore the intersection between medicine and faith. Potential topics include MAID, cannabis, organ donation, artificial intelligence and much more!
Stay tuned for a more detailed agenda featuring speakers in the near future.
Registration
Early bird Conference ticket price includes Friday opening event at the Aga Khan Garden, Saturday & Sunday conference days, and Gala event. An option for those who would like to attend only the Gala event on Saturday night is also available.
Please fill out the form below to register for the conference.
https://www.iicanada.org/ihpc
The Ismaili Health Professionals Conference (IHPC), will be held on June 5-7, 2020 in Edmonton, Alberta. The opening ceremony will take place at the Aga Khan Garden followed by a 1.5 day conference at the Renaissance Edmonton Airport Hotel.
This conference will bring together healthcare practitioners including allied health professionals, healthcare leaders, and relevant small business owners across a myriad of healthcare disciplines, approaches and sectors from across North America to participate in discussions around the theme of resilience, faith, and healthcare.
Conference Topics
The 2020 Ismaili Health Professionals conference centers around "Exploring Resilience as an Ismaili Health Care Professional" and will bring together colleagues from across North America to learn, network, and share best practices on contemporary issues facing the health and allied health sectors.
The conference will kick off with a session on understanding the healthcare needs of the Canadian Jamat followed by interactive working groups to discuss ideas and solutions.
The above session will be followed by concurrent sessions on identified topics of interest which may include, but are not limited to: starting a small business, complementary & alternative medicine, mentorship opportunities, living with disabilities, joining and starting a healthcare alliance, social determinants of health and women’s’ health.
The conference will feature keynotes that will address both local and international global health experiences and opportunities as well as explore the intersection between medicine and faith. Potential topics include MAID, cannabis, organ donation, artificial intelligence and much more!
Stay tuned for a more detailed agenda featuring speakers in the near future.
Registration
Early bird Conference ticket price includes Friday opening event at the Aga Khan Garden, Saturday & Sunday conference days, and Gala event. An option for those who would like to attend only the Gala event on Saturday night is also available.
Please fill out the form below to register for the conference.
https://www.iicanada.org/ihpc
Propelling Ismaili Professionals Forward
The immense horsepower in the Ismaili Professionals Network (IPN) engine is accelerating our community forward. With more than 100 fully dedicated team members across regional and national initiatives actively engaging almost 10,000 Ismaili professionals, IPN strives every day to fulfill its three pillars: contribution, collaboration, and career advancement.
IPN takes a committed group, with an arsenal of deep subject-matter expertise, to create and maintain the success of initiatives such as IPN Connect, LaunchPad, IPNOnline, IPNBuild, Industry Alliances, Career Support, and large-scale national conferences. Three stellar individuals who serve in the highest professional capacity are featured here.
With IPN service hours rivaling those spent at their day jobs, Farhan Manjiyani (National Member Strategy Lead), Mehreen Kassam (National Service Lead), and Mumtaz Husani (National Placement Support Program Manager), share what drives them to serve.
For Farhan Manjiyani, it all began when he was interviewing for an internship at PwC. Unaware of IPN, he searched for an Ismaili network. Within two weeks of engaging with IPN, he spoke to four different people at each of The Big Four Accounting firms and scored the internship. After recognizing the power of connectivity within our community, he decided to pay it forward, and at only 20 years old, was leading a team of seven in the burgeoning IPN Connect to create a process and structure, to automate previously manual processes, and even more broadly, to migrate the entirety of IPN into more streamlined communication software to fulfill the sheer number of asks and offers.
Mehreen Kassam has always had an intrinsic motivation to serve, originating from her family, who she says, “showed love to each other through acts of service. It was never a question of ‘Should I volunteer?’ Rather, it was ‘How, where, and in what capacity should I volunteer?’” Similarly, Mumtaz’s heart is aligned with service as a core ethic of our faith, as she acknowledges, “the Imam’s guidance is that we have the responsibility of serving competently and effectively. The contentment of knowing that we’re enhancing careers, and improving the quality of life for the whole family brings me great satisfaction.”
Throughout IPN, Farhan is known as The SuperConnector. “While most of us sit and stare at our phones or computers, over-analyzing our emails and texts before sending them out, Farhan has already made multiple connections,” says Afroze Ali, National IPN Co-Lead. Farhan was instrumental in building IPN Connect into what it is today: the facilitation of 1000 professional introductions thus far, resulting in resume reviews, interview preparation, job offers, and inside knowledge of companies and career tracks. Since Farhan’s involvement, his team has doubled the case resolution rate to 85 percent. “Developing strategy, managing and driving execution, understanding team dynamics, motivation, and recruitment at scale—I would have never gotten these had it not been for IPN, and it would have taken my peers years to understand. This organization takes care of me and it encourages me to pour all my time, energy, and effort into it in return. It is the ultimate outlet for me,” says Farhan.
Farhan, Mehreen, and countless other prominent IPN leaders mobilized hundreds of volunteers in about four months to pull off the Diamond Jubilee Alliances Conference (DJAC), the largest conference that enabled an interactive knowledge exchange amongst senior-level Ismaili professionals, a first of its kind. Former IPN Chairman, Zubair Talib, notes: “Mehreen led the design and implementation of DJAC with remarkably short timelines, substantial complexity, and numerous stakeholders, including National Council and 11 Alliances. She exhibited an amazing ability to recruit and lead a talented core team that led to over 1000 applicants, 650 attendees, and 50 speakers in over 25 sessions.”
The DJAC platform facilitated the introduction of three C-suite executives of multi-billion dollar companies who didn’t know each other and hadn’t met prior to DJAC, after which they have stayed in close contact and have fully realized the caliber and prowess within our community.
In order to reach the upper echelons of one’s career, we need persevering volunteers like Mumtaz Husani for guidance along the way. For almost ten years, Mumtaz and her team have successfully led 500 industry career coaching sessions for everyone from immigrants to advanced professionals seeking a critical eye and fresh perspective.
Beginning her role in the aftermath of the Global Financial Crisis, former IPN Chairman Karim Budhwani recounts, “Given the state of the economy and the unemployment rate, the pressure and intensity on the [Career and Professional Development] team was palpable. When National Program Manager Mumtaz took the helm, one of the first things she did was bring an extraordinary calm to this storm.” Countless candidates’ emails poured into her inbox thanking her for landing not one, but multiple, jobs after the resume revamp. For job-seekers today, Mumtaz notes that resumes aren’t one-size-fits-all and emphasizes the importance of customizing the verbiage according to job postings to reflect what the employer values.
What makes Farhan, Mehreen, and Mumtaz exemplary volunteers is that they challenge the status quo and scale initiatives from the ground up to continuously enhance the quality of both the volunteer experience and the impact IPN has on the global Jamat. “You first have to envision what the program looks like five years from now. You don’t ever want to create something that’s not sustainable,” says Mehreen. Farhan reminds his team constantly: “Never say that we’re just volunteers.” This pervasive professional attitude is what establishes the caliber of IPN and what propels our community to new heights.
https://the.ismaili/usa/propelling-isma ... ls-forward
The immense horsepower in the Ismaili Professionals Network (IPN) engine is accelerating our community forward. With more than 100 fully dedicated team members across regional and national initiatives actively engaging almost 10,000 Ismaili professionals, IPN strives every day to fulfill its three pillars: contribution, collaboration, and career advancement.
IPN takes a committed group, with an arsenal of deep subject-matter expertise, to create and maintain the success of initiatives such as IPN Connect, LaunchPad, IPNOnline, IPNBuild, Industry Alliances, Career Support, and large-scale national conferences. Three stellar individuals who serve in the highest professional capacity are featured here.
With IPN service hours rivaling those spent at their day jobs, Farhan Manjiyani (National Member Strategy Lead), Mehreen Kassam (National Service Lead), and Mumtaz Husani (National Placement Support Program Manager), share what drives them to serve.
For Farhan Manjiyani, it all began when he was interviewing for an internship at PwC. Unaware of IPN, he searched for an Ismaili network. Within two weeks of engaging with IPN, he spoke to four different people at each of The Big Four Accounting firms and scored the internship. After recognizing the power of connectivity within our community, he decided to pay it forward, and at only 20 years old, was leading a team of seven in the burgeoning IPN Connect to create a process and structure, to automate previously manual processes, and even more broadly, to migrate the entirety of IPN into more streamlined communication software to fulfill the sheer number of asks and offers.
Mehreen Kassam has always had an intrinsic motivation to serve, originating from her family, who she says, “showed love to each other through acts of service. It was never a question of ‘Should I volunteer?’ Rather, it was ‘How, where, and in what capacity should I volunteer?’” Similarly, Mumtaz’s heart is aligned with service as a core ethic of our faith, as she acknowledges, “the Imam’s guidance is that we have the responsibility of serving competently and effectively. The contentment of knowing that we’re enhancing careers, and improving the quality of life for the whole family brings me great satisfaction.”
Throughout IPN, Farhan is known as The SuperConnector. “While most of us sit and stare at our phones or computers, over-analyzing our emails and texts before sending them out, Farhan has already made multiple connections,” says Afroze Ali, National IPN Co-Lead. Farhan was instrumental in building IPN Connect into what it is today: the facilitation of 1000 professional introductions thus far, resulting in resume reviews, interview preparation, job offers, and inside knowledge of companies and career tracks. Since Farhan’s involvement, his team has doubled the case resolution rate to 85 percent. “Developing strategy, managing and driving execution, understanding team dynamics, motivation, and recruitment at scale—I would have never gotten these had it not been for IPN, and it would have taken my peers years to understand. This organization takes care of me and it encourages me to pour all my time, energy, and effort into it in return. It is the ultimate outlet for me,” says Farhan.
Farhan, Mehreen, and countless other prominent IPN leaders mobilized hundreds of volunteers in about four months to pull off the Diamond Jubilee Alliances Conference (DJAC), the largest conference that enabled an interactive knowledge exchange amongst senior-level Ismaili professionals, a first of its kind. Former IPN Chairman, Zubair Talib, notes: “Mehreen led the design and implementation of DJAC with remarkably short timelines, substantial complexity, and numerous stakeholders, including National Council and 11 Alliances. She exhibited an amazing ability to recruit and lead a talented core team that led to over 1000 applicants, 650 attendees, and 50 speakers in over 25 sessions.”
The DJAC platform facilitated the introduction of three C-suite executives of multi-billion dollar companies who didn’t know each other and hadn’t met prior to DJAC, after which they have stayed in close contact and have fully realized the caliber and prowess within our community.
In order to reach the upper echelons of one’s career, we need persevering volunteers like Mumtaz Husani for guidance along the way. For almost ten years, Mumtaz and her team have successfully led 500 industry career coaching sessions for everyone from immigrants to advanced professionals seeking a critical eye and fresh perspective.
Beginning her role in the aftermath of the Global Financial Crisis, former IPN Chairman Karim Budhwani recounts, “Given the state of the economy and the unemployment rate, the pressure and intensity on the [Career and Professional Development] team was palpable. When National Program Manager Mumtaz took the helm, one of the first things she did was bring an extraordinary calm to this storm.” Countless candidates’ emails poured into her inbox thanking her for landing not one, but multiple, jobs after the resume revamp. For job-seekers today, Mumtaz notes that resumes aren’t one-size-fits-all and emphasizes the importance of customizing the verbiage according to job postings to reflect what the employer values.
What makes Farhan, Mehreen, and Mumtaz exemplary volunteers is that they challenge the status quo and scale initiatives from the ground up to continuously enhance the quality of both the volunteer experience and the impact IPN has on the global Jamat. “You first have to envision what the program looks like five years from now. You don’t ever want to create something that’s not sustainable,” says Mehreen. Farhan reminds his team constantly: “Never say that we’re just volunteers.” This pervasive professional attitude is what establishes the caliber of IPN and what propels our community to new heights.
https://the.ismaili/usa/propelling-isma ... ls-forward
IPN USA: Invitation to IPN Summit
Video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yMGIJdwsF_I
IPN USA Special video invitation from US National Council President Al-Karim Alidina to the virtual IPN Alliance Summit happening August 7, 2021.
Register today at www.ipnsummit.com!
Video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yMGIJdwsF_I
IPN USA Special video invitation from US National Council President Al-Karim Alidina to the virtual IPN Alliance Summit happening August 7, 2021.
Register today at www.ipnsummit.com!
Maro Vyaapar Maari Pragati 2.0 Session 6
Video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Sov89f0Tx0
This session explains the importance of networking and forming alliances. It particularly emphasises how crucial community building is and its role in strengthening businesses worldwide.
The session also includes our newly launched program IBGN Connect.
http://india.ibngconnect.com/
IBGN Connect is essentially a platform that aims to give a digital presence to our Ismaili businesses and service providers to widen their reach to the National and International Jamats. Visit the link above to know more about the program.
If you enjoyed the session and want to be a part of Maaro Vyaapar, Maari Pragati 2.0 (MVMP 2.0), you can register for the upcoming sessions at the link below
https://forms.gle/izxzfHHFdhkJoRVc6
Sessions are held in Hindi and Gujrati, every alternate Sunday.
Video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Sov89f0Tx0
This session explains the importance of networking and forming alliances. It particularly emphasises how crucial community building is and its role in strengthening businesses worldwide.
The session also includes our newly launched program IBGN Connect.
http://india.ibngconnect.com/
IBGN Connect is essentially a platform that aims to give a digital presence to our Ismaili businesses and service providers to widen their reach to the National and International Jamats. Visit the link above to know more about the program.
If you enjoyed the session and want to be a part of Maaro Vyaapar, Maari Pragati 2.0 (MVMP 2.0), you can register for the upcoming sessions at the link below
https://forms.gle/izxzfHHFdhkJoRVc6
Sessions are held in Hindi and Gujrati, every alternate Sunday.
Re: Ismaili Business and Professional Alliances
Forming partnerships and growing networks
The IgniteDigital interactive conference was delivered via an immersive platform that allowed speakers and participants to connect in real-time like never before.
Building on the success of previous Ignite conferences, last year’s IgniteDigital conference assembled world-class speakers to present on current topics of interest in connection with business and the economy. Sessions from the conference are now available to stream on The Ismail TV On Demand https://tv.ismaili/on-demand .
Over the past decade, the Aga Khan Economic Planning Board in Canada has brought together exceptional speakers and ambitious participants as part of the Ignite Conferences, an initiative of Alliances Canada.
Participants have typically included a broad section of the Jamat from different backgrounds, including students, career professionals, entrepreneurs, and life-long learners. In the past, delegates from around the country eagerly gathered in one city to build partnerships, grow networks, and share memorable experiences. However, 2020 and 2021 were very different.
Twenty months after the Covid-19 pandemic began, networkers were yearning for deeper connections, were ready to expand their professional circles, and to gain knowledge from industry leaders on trends, opportunities, and risks.
In keeping with the goal of sharing insights in an engaging way, the 2021 IgniteDigital Conference featured world-class speakers presenting on topics such as the so-called great resignation, the housing crisis, and the future of work; as part of the conference’s overarching theme of “Reimagining the Future: Emerging Stronger.”
Ignite2
The result was an interactive conference delivered via an immersive platform that allowed speakers and participants to connect in real-time like never before. The online platform was also designed to showcase AKDN projects and to share with participants the history, architecture, and impact of these beautiful sites.
“IgniteDigital 2021 brought the community together to build bonds virtually, that we typically only build in-person,” said conference lead Fareen Madhani. “The breadth of session topics, the interactive and engaging platform and the relationships formed made the conference a successful, inspiring, and thought provoking event.”
Real-time networking was facilitated by randomised matchmaking, photobooths, mentorship sessions, as well as live discussions with speakers and panel members. IgniteDigital sponsoring partners had virtual booths where attendees could meet one another, download resources, and set up future meetings. This was not just another zoom meeting!
Through two days of engaging and informative talks, more than 40 speakers shared their knowledge, wisdom, and insights to help the Jamat re-imagine the future.
Delegates heard from futurist Ian Khan who shared emerging technology trends with insights on the Art of Future Readiness. Participants also joined a panel discussion on The Great Resignation in Canada and heard from inspiring Women entrepreneurs who shared stories about their paths to thriving entrepreneurial success.
After the conference, participants were able to continue interacting on IgniteExchange, Alliances Canada’s online community platform, which brings professionals and business owners together in one place to network, join various Alliances across Canada, share knowledge, and grow.
The knowledge and wisdom captured at the 2021 IgniteDigital conference is now available for all to enjoy on The Ismaili TV On Demand https://tv.ismaili/on-demand .
https://the.ismaili/global/news/communi ... g-networks
The IgniteDigital interactive conference was delivered via an immersive platform that allowed speakers and participants to connect in real-time like never before.
Building on the success of previous Ignite conferences, last year’s IgniteDigital conference assembled world-class speakers to present on current topics of interest in connection with business and the economy. Sessions from the conference are now available to stream on The Ismail TV On Demand https://tv.ismaili/on-demand .
Over the past decade, the Aga Khan Economic Planning Board in Canada has brought together exceptional speakers and ambitious participants as part of the Ignite Conferences, an initiative of Alliances Canada.
Participants have typically included a broad section of the Jamat from different backgrounds, including students, career professionals, entrepreneurs, and life-long learners. In the past, delegates from around the country eagerly gathered in one city to build partnerships, grow networks, and share memorable experiences. However, 2020 and 2021 were very different.
Twenty months after the Covid-19 pandemic began, networkers were yearning for deeper connections, were ready to expand their professional circles, and to gain knowledge from industry leaders on trends, opportunities, and risks.
In keeping with the goal of sharing insights in an engaging way, the 2021 IgniteDigital Conference featured world-class speakers presenting on topics such as the so-called great resignation, the housing crisis, and the future of work; as part of the conference’s overarching theme of “Reimagining the Future: Emerging Stronger.”
Ignite2
The result was an interactive conference delivered via an immersive platform that allowed speakers and participants to connect in real-time like never before. The online platform was also designed to showcase AKDN projects and to share with participants the history, architecture, and impact of these beautiful sites.
“IgniteDigital 2021 brought the community together to build bonds virtually, that we typically only build in-person,” said conference lead Fareen Madhani. “The breadth of session topics, the interactive and engaging platform and the relationships formed made the conference a successful, inspiring, and thought provoking event.”
Real-time networking was facilitated by randomised matchmaking, photobooths, mentorship sessions, as well as live discussions with speakers and panel members. IgniteDigital sponsoring partners had virtual booths where attendees could meet one another, download resources, and set up future meetings. This was not just another zoom meeting!
Through two days of engaging and informative talks, more than 40 speakers shared their knowledge, wisdom, and insights to help the Jamat re-imagine the future.
Delegates heard from futurist Ian Khan who shared emerging technology trends with insights on the Art of Future Readiness. Participants also joined a panel discussion on The Great Resignation in Canada and heard from inspiring Women entrepreneurs who shared stories about their paths to thriving entrepreneurial success.
After the conference, participants were able to continue interacting on IgniteExchange, Alliances Canada’s online community platform, which brings professionals and business owners together in one place to network, join various Alliances across Canada, share knowledge, and grow.
The knowledge and wisdom captured at the 2021 IgniteDigital conference is now available for all to enjoy on The Ismaili TV On Demand https://tv.ismaili/on-demand .
https://the.ismaili/global/news/communi ... g-networks