by zaakirahnayyar | Jul 13, 2026 | Uncategorized
Reader, At Essence Fest over the holiday weekend, I moderated a panel, had a founder feature, and hosted a Soft Stories sensory session all in one day. In between, I kept noticing people wanted to be inclusive but almost nobody had a framework for actually doing it,...
by zaakirahnayyar | Jul 7, 2026 | Uncategorized
Reader, I just got back from Essence Festival — and I’m still processing. I spoke at two activations, both filled with people who showed up ready to listen and talk about disability, inclusion, and what it truly means to be empathetic to other communities. It was...
by zaakirahnayyar | Jun 29, 2026 | Uncategorized
Reader, I’m at Essence Festival this week — moderating a panel, doing a Soft Stories segment, and leading a workshop on inclusive entrepreneurship. Three activations in one day, which honestly is its own kind of access challenge nobody talks about: the cost of...
by zaakirahnayyar | Jun 22, 2026 | Uncategorized
Reader, ✨ BIG NEWS FIRST I’ll be speaking at Essence Festival of Culture 2026 in New Orleans on July 4th!I am my ancestor’s wildest dreams and my blessings come in two folds. I have not one but TWO activations: 🖤 We Love Us Marketplace Stage — I’ll be...
by zaakirahnayyar | Jun 15, 2026 | Uncategorized
Reader, Sometimes you’re planting seeds long before anyone notices the garden. Progress may feel slow. Success often takes longer than people expect. The Knicks won in five games. Ivory Coast won in the 90th minute. Neither of them was supposed to be the story...
by zaakirahnayyar | Jun 8, 2026 | Uncategorized
Reader, A disabled, Black, Muslim woman walked into some of the most talked-about rooms in global media and tech — and noticing, as I always do, exactly what was there and exactly what was missing, and the conversations nobody was having — until I walked in. I spent...
