Muslim Money Talk – Détails, épisodes et analyse

This podcast episode explores the journey of Fahan Ibrahim Hashi, founder of Nisa Invest, a financial platform tailored for Muslim women navigating personal finance in alignment with Islamic values. Fahan discusses her transition from investment banking to entrepreneurship and the challenges faced by Muslim women in finance.

This podcast is powered by Kestrl. 

Kestrl is an app that helps Muslim to grow their wealth without compromising their beliefs 

Kestrl - The Muslim Money App 

https://kestrl.io/

TIMESTAMPS: 

00:00 - Intro 

 02:11 – Fahan’s career story and her decision to transition from banking to financial planning.

 03:34 – Education background and early career in investment banking.

 06:12 – Fahan describes investment competitions in university.

08:10 – Explanation of her decision to pursue personal finance content creation.

11:04 – Participation in a boot camp for software development as preparation for Nisa Invest.

13:11 – The moment Fahan decided to focus on financial literacy for Muslim women.

16:13 – Early validation of Nisa Invest’s concept through community events.

19:20 – Fahan’s interest in modest fashion and its parallels with Islamic finance.

24:08 – Encounter with a modest fashion client sparks thoughts on entrepreneurship.

26:54 – Decision to fully commit to Nisa Invest and family’s support.

29:21 – Discussion on financial planning challenges for Muslim women.

30:49 – Explanation of Nisa Invest’s vision and services.

32:42 – Audience feedback and financial literacy tools provided by Nisa Invest.

34:23 – Description of Nisa Invest as a life-stage-focused financial planning platform.

38:30 – Importance of financial planning and breaking down taboos around money.

42:29 – Biggest challenges faced by Muslim women in finance.

51:01 – Simple starting advice for financial planning.

56:50 – Personal anecdotes and strategies for financial literacy.

1:02:16 – Fahan’s future goals for Nisa Invest and her current development work.

1:04:56 – Rapid-fire questions covering Fahan’s favorite books, influencers, and inspiration.

1:08:10 – Closing remarks and where to follow Fahan’s work with Nisa Invest.

Meet Mudassar Chaudhry, creator of the LARGEST professional Muslim Community in the World at EY. We delved into his journey from a school leaver to becoming a key figure his company. Mudassar discusses the value of personal branding, community building, and navigating corporate life while maintaining his faith and identity.

This podcast is powered by Kestrl. 

Kestrl is an app that helps Muslim to grow their wealth without compromising their beliefs 

Kestrl - The Muslim Money App 

https://kestrl.io/

TIMESTAMPS: 

00:00 - Introduction

03:09 - Early years and influences 

06:04 - Finding the EY internship and School Leavers programme 

11:47 - the benefits of EY vs University 

15:09 - Family reactions to leaving University 

21:27 - A natural born leader?

24:05 - Identifying the problem for Muslims in EY

29:01 - Becoming the chair for EY’s Muslim Community

32:51 - What was the mission?

36:20 - The impact and value of Personal Brand

38:18 - Getting EY’s CEO in the Ramadan Video 

43:35 - The ‘fast for a day’ Ramadan challenge

45:13 - What made the community so successful?

50:19 - Succession planning 

52:10 - Fighting Islamophobia and creating a safe space for Muslims

1:00:26 - Personal Finance views and challenges 

1:04:46 - Muslims’ misconceptions about money and career

1:10:07 - Why Muslims need communities at work

In this episode of Muslim Money Talk, host Areeb Siddiqui engages in a candid conversation with the founding team of Kestrl, discussing the journey of building a startup during COVID, the challenges they faced, and the lessons learned along the way. They reflect on the importance of perseverance, the role of family support, and the excitement of growing both the company and the team.

This podcast is powered by Kestrl. 

Kestrl is an app that helps Muslim to grow their wealth without compromising their beliefs 

Kestrl - The Muslim Money App 

https://kestrl.io/

Timestamp Breakdown:

00:00 - Intro

01:30 - Reflecting on the idea of starting a podcast and the initial resistance.

03:50 - Founding Kestrel during the peak of COVID.

08:15 - The realities of being a startup founder.

11:40 - Early conversations and the idea for Kestrel.

19:00 - Challenges of Islamic finance and the digital banking space.

28:30 - Forming the founding team and the importance of technical expertise.

33:00 - The journey of raising funds and facing rejections.

41:15 - The transition from a consumer app to B2B services.

47:00 - Early struggles and learning from past failures.

54:30 - The pivotal moment of securing investment to avoid bankruptcy.

01:03:45 - The importance of team dynamics and hiring unconventional candidates.

01:12:00 - Reflections on family support and cultural differences.

01:20:00 - Looking ahead: ambitions for Kestrel and beyond.

01:26:50 - Final thoughts and closing remarks.

In this podcast episode, Areeb Siddiqui speaks with Niaz Azad, the founder of Millennial Money UK, about his journey from a legal career to launching a peer-to-peer learning platform for millennials and Gen Zs to better manage their finances. They discuss the intersection of entrepreneurship, faith, and financial literacy, touching on the challenges of making money more Sharia-compliant and the importance of understanding and avoiding Riba.

This podcast is powered by Kestrl. 

Kestrl is an app that helps Muslim to grow their wealth without compromising their beliefs 

Kestrl - The Muslim Money App 

https://kestrl.io/

Timestamp Breakdown:

00:00 - Intro

01:36 - Niaz talks about his background and journey into entrepreneurship.

02:40 - Discussion on family influence and entrepreneurship.•

05:34 - The inception of Millennial Money UK and peer-to-peer learning.

08:46 - The “anti-guru” approach and summary of Millennial Money UK.

10:02 - The challenges of starting a business with friends.

13:32 - Early days of Millennial Money UK and initial success.

15:19 - Discussion on unfair advantages and education in business.

19:17 - Transition to commercialization and revenue streams.

22:29 - Evolution and challenges of the brand, including working full-time.

26:00 - Niaz’s thoughts on going full-time with Millennial Money.

32:54 - Impact of entrepreneurship on personal life and challenges.

40:38 - Discussion on the biggest financial challenges in the Muslim community.

45:08 - The complexities and challenges of Islamic finance.

48:46 - Global issues tied to Riba and financial exploitation.

54:15 - The importance of educating Muslims about ethical financial practices.

58:47 - The potential impact of Islamic finance on global problems.

1:02:36 - Encouragement to build generational wealth with ethical financial practices.

1:09:37 - Final thoughts on managing wealth versus income.

1:10:35 - Book and podcast recommendations for financial education.

1:13:16 - Where to find more information about Niaz and Millennial Money UK.

In this episode of Muslim Money Talk, Areeb Siddiqui speaks with Umer Suleman, Chief Risk Officer at Wahid, about the complexities and evolving landscape of Islamic finance. Umer shares his journey from conventional banking to Islamic fintech, highlighting the challenges, ethical considerations, and the future potential for Islamic financial services.

This podcast is powered by Kestrl. 

Kestrl is an app that helps Muslim to grow their wealth without compromising their beliefs 

Kestrl - The Muslim Money App 

https://kestrl.io/

00:00 - Intro

02:25 - Reflecting on the initial idea of Kestrel and challenges faced.

03:24 - Discussing the ethical dilemmas in financial partnerships.

04:16 - Omar’s early interest in finance and Islamic finance’s emergence.

05:55 - Insights from Omar’s career in public and private sectors, including EY and HSBC.

07:38 - Involvement with UK IFC and mentorship from Omar Sheikha.

10:46 - Vision for Wahed and its growth journey.

12:24 - Challenges and ethics in Islamic finance products.

14:42 - Historical financial challenges faced by the Muslim community in the UK.

16:43 - Financial illiteracy and its generational impact on the Muslim community.

18:00 - Investment behaviour and susceptibility to financial scams in the community.

22:07 - Transition from initial Islamic finance products to more ethical innovations.

24:11 - Commodity Murabaha and its contentious nature.

26:29 - Discussion on the permissibility and context of Islamic finance products.

30:07 - Importance of disruption and innovation in Islamic finance.

34:36 - Strategies to ensure economic autonomy and avoid oppression.

38:15 - Addressing the global response to Gaza and the role of ethics.

41:36 - Broader impact of finance and ethics in societal change.

45:16 - Encouraging young Muslims to unlock their potential and make a difference.

48:19 - The importance of saving and avoiding debt.

51:41 - Developing Islamic finance with an ethical and community-focused approach.

57:45 - The future of Islamic fintech and supporting each other.

1:02:44 - Investing in people and creating high-performing teams.

1:07:08 - Islamic finance as a universal solution for ethical finance.

1:11:00 - Discussion on IOFI and ethical considerations in Sharia standards.

1:15:30 - The broader impact of boycotts and financial ethics.

In this podcast episode of "Muslim Money Talk," host Areeb Siddiqui is joined by Saalim Chowdhury, a renowned VC investor and former director of Techstars London. They discuss Saalim's journey from a small village in Wales to his success in venture capital, emphasising the importance of building businesses based on lived experiences and solving real problems. They also touch on the challenges and opportunities for minority and Muslim founders in the entrepreneurial world.

This podcast is powered by Kestrl. 

Kestrl is an app that helps Muslim to grow their wealth without compromising their beliefs 

Kestrl - The Muslim Money App 

https://kestrl.io/

00:00 - Intro

02:46 - Recounting the application process to Techstars.

03:10 - Screening process for Kestrl and initial misinterpretation.

04:02 - Discussion on the lack of awareness and understanding of Islamic fintech.

04:27 - Importance of diverse founders with lived experiences.

05:54 - Saalim's diverse investment portfolio and focus on lived experiences.

07:08 - Saalim's background and upbringing with a scarcity mindset.

08:00 - Importance of abundance mindset for minority founders.

08:56 - Reflection on Kestrl's mission and empathy in product development.

09:40 - Money as a reflection of value creation.

10:53 - Building institutions to cater to Muslims without guilt or exploitation.

12:05 - Challenges of Islamic banks and legacy systems.

13:18 - Influence of Saalim's father and the importance of community.

15:39 - Saalim's admiration for his father's forward-thinking mindset.

17:20 - Growing up in a Welsh village and community respect.

18:58 - Encouragement from Saalim's father to take risks wisely.

20:55 - Value of diverse opinions and healthy team dynamics.

21:21 - Strengths and insecurities of immigrant founders.

27:34 - Saalim's admiration for Areeb’s dedication during challenging times.

28:43 - Differences between UK and US VCs' backgrounds and risk appetites.

31:07 - Cultural and structural differences in early-stage investments.

34:12 - Professional investors vs. founder investors and their risk assessment.

39:37 - Saalim's framework for selecting companies in an accelerator.

41:08 - Team dynamics as a critical factor in startup success.

42:27 - Advice on co-founders and conflict resolution.

46:00 - Saalim's reflections on being a founder vs. a VC.

48:50 - Importance of finding one's calling and the influence of Salim's father.

Saalim Chowdhury:
 https://www.linkedin.com/in/saalimc/

In this episode of Muslim Money Talk, Areeb Siddiqui interviews Alia Mahmud, a compliance expert who shares her career journey from working in large financial institutions to fintech startups. Alia discusses her transition from criminal law to financial compliance, the importance of compliance in fintech, and the personal challenges she faced balancing work and family responsibilities.

This podcast is powered by Kestrl. 

Kestrl is an app that helps Muslim to grow their wealth without compromising their beliefs 

Kestrl - The Muslim Money App 

https://kestrl.io/

Timestamp Breakdown:

00:00 - Intro
03:25 - Leaving Med School in Pakistan for Law in the UK
03:50 - Alia’s experience moving to the UK for her law degree.
07:13 - Shifting from criminal law to traditional banking
10:39 - Transition to Qatar National Bank and regulatory responsibilities.
15:14 - Move to Oak North and challenges with interest-based products.
16:43 - Revolut's hiring process and responsibilities
19:10 - Importance of compliance in fintech and Revolut’s approach.
20:41 - Crypto and blockchain technology.
21:55 - Balance between work and personal responsibilities.
25:02 - Discussion on the perception of compliance as a business enabler.
28:27 - Challenges faced as a female and ethnic minority in compliance.
31:04 - Conclusions and connections 

Alia Mahmud: 
https://www.linkedin.com/in/alia-m-10431322/

In this episode of Muslim Money Talk, host Areeb Siddiqui interviews Nahim Bassa Group Head of Strategy & Transformation @ Bank Aljazira. Nahim shares his invaluable insights from over two decades of designing, building, and operationalising new businesses and brands in the Financial Services industry globally. 

This podcast is powered by Kestrl. 

Kestrl is an app that helps Muslim to grow their wealth without compromising their beliefs 

Kestrl - The Muslim Money App 

https://kestrl.io/

TIMESTAMPS: 

00:00 - Intro 
01:49 - Difference between Riyadh and London Financial Landscape 
06:09 - Saudi 2030 Vision 
11:36 - The change of narrative for the female workforce in Saudi Arabia 
16:12 - Challenges with transforming a legacy bank Bank Al Jazeera 
19:13 - Discussion around traditional banks wanting to digitise 
26:21 - Harmonising commercial and sharia compliant financial regulations 
30:43 - Foreign islamic banks partnering with UK fintechs 
35:32 - The concept of Islamic banking itself 
40:44  - Core metrics for Bank Al Jazeera (for the next 500 years) 
48:19 - Why the role of CEO is tough 
51:13 - One takeaway you could give to a CEO
55:01 - What made Nahim move to Saudi?
01:05:50 - The gap in financial literacy 
01:09:12 - How does Saudi fit your personal and commercial mission ?
01:12:43 - Tips for balancing personal and work life as a CEO 

Nahim Bassa: 
https://www.linkedin.com/in/nahimbassa/

Bank AlJazira:
https://www.linkedin.com/company/bankaljazira/

In this episode of Muslim Money Talk, host Areeb Siddiqui interviews Muazzam Mohamed, the CEO of Bank Islam, Malaysia's largest and oldest Islamic bank. Muazzam shares insights on his journey to becoming CEO, his strategies for digital transformation within the bank, and advice for navigating bureaucracy and implementing meaningful change in large organisations.

This podcast is powered by Kestrl. 

Kestrl is an app that helps Muslim to grow their wealth without compromising their beliefs 

Kestrl - The Muslim Money App 

https://kestrl.io/

00:00 - Intro 

01:24 - Muazzam expresses his hopes for the podcast and discusses his career achievements.

01:51 - Muazzam talks about his determination and career journey.

02:40 - Experiences and philosophies on career setbacks and achievements.

04:20 - Muazzam's unexpected career advancements and perspectives on his achievements.

09:12 - Discussion on challenges and opportunities at Bank Islam.

11:18 - Handling crisis moments and leadership challenges at Bank Islam.

17:46 - Launch of Malaysia's first digital Islamic bank, BU.

18:30 - Collaboration with external fintech partners like Kestrel.

19:22 - Merging traditional and digital banking services at Bank Islam.

20:38 - Collaboration with fintechs and the importance of technology in banking.

25:14 - Addressing credit access and support for gig economy workers.

36:38 - Balancing family life with a demanding career.

40:49 - Managing self-doubt and the importance of faith.

43:57 - Prioritising family and maintaining a work-life balance.

46:42 - Reflecting on career choices and satisfaction with the journey.

48:49 - Final advice for young professionals and entrepreneurs.

Muazzam Mohamed 

https://www.linkedin.com/in/muazzam-mohamed-06b327159/

Bank Islam 

https://www.linkedin.com/in/bank-islam-malaysia-berhad-299aa415b/

In this episode of Muslim Money Talk, host Areeb Siddiqui speaks with Khalid Howlader, a decentralised finance (DeFi) evangelist and chairman of Marhaba Network. They explore the origins and future potential of decentralised finance and Bitcoin within the framework of halal finance, discussing how cryptocurrency can offer a fairer, Sharia-compliant alternative to traditional centralised banking systems, especially in light of the flaws exposed by fiat currency and financial crises.

This podcast is powered by Kestrl. 

Kestrl is an app that helps Muslim to grow their wealth without compromising their beliefs 

Kestrl - The Muslim Money App 

https://kestrl.io/

TIMESTAMPS: 

00:00 - Intro

02:44 – Khaled explains decentralised finance (DeFi) and its benefits over centralised banking.

05:19 – Discussion on Khaled’s career shift from centralised finance to DeFi and Bitcoin.

08:00 – How Islamic finance aligns with decentralised technology and Bitcoin.

09:59 – How Bitcoin and decentralised systems represent an alternative to traditional banking.

12:16 – Explanation of Bitcoin’s uniqueness and comparison with other cryptocurrencies.

17:28 – History of fiat currency and the end of the gold standard.

20:05 – Inflation and monetary debasement after the breakdown of the gold standard.

25:08 – How decentralised finance and crypto offer a different economic model.

35:42 – Possibilities for countries like Pakistan to adopt Bitcoin as a currency.

41:06 – Risks and potential issues of central bank digital currencies (CBDCs).

50:01 – Khaled’s experience with the Marhaba project and its Sharia-compliant offerings.

59:24 – Explanation of Marhaba’s wallet, its decentralised features, and Sharia-compliance.

1:04:11 – Discussion on mass adoption of decentralised finance and potential roadblocks.

1:09:07 – Potential role of Islamic insurance in accelerating decentralised finance adoption.

1:16:00 – Conclusion and how Islamic banks could innovate using decentralised finance.