Muslim Women in the Corporate Workplace

As part of International Women’s Day, the CMS Muslim Network, in collaboration with CMS Women’s Network, is hosting an event to discuss some common misconceptions Muslim women face in the corporate workplace. The panel will include external guest speakers, Samina Akram (Managing Partner, Samak Ethical Finance Ltd) and Usama Ehsan (Resident Sharia Scholar at United Bank Limited). The event will take place as a Q&A.  Topics for discussion will include Samina’s own journey and the obstacles she faced in becoming Managing Partner at Samak Ethical Finance Ltd.  Usama will address common misconceptions about Muslim women and will explain and advise on women’s rights in Islam. Sarah Ilyas (Associate and Co-Chair of the CMS Muslim Network) will be moderating the event and will also take questions from the audience for Samina and Usama. 

Guest speakers

Samina Akram | Managing Partner, Samak Ethical Finance & Founder, WIEFF

Samina Akram has a wealth of experience within the investment, private and commercial banking space. Previous organisations she has worked for include; Merrill Lynch International Bank (where she was heading up their Islamic finance wealth management business), Deutsche Bank, Barclays Bank, Toronto-Dominion Bank and National Bank of Dubai (Emirates NBD). 

Samina specialises in the field of Islamic and ethical finance, she has long-established working relations with governments, investment banks, corporate investors, trade organisations and senior industry executives.

Samina runs her own consultancy firm (Samak Ethical Finance) and is also founder of the Women in Islamic & Ethical finance forum (WIEFF) which has over 10,000 professional members from more than 30 counties. 

Samina has read Philosophy and holds a Masters degree in Psychology of Religion from Heythrop College, University of London.

Usama Ehsan | Resident Sharia Scholar at United Bank Limited

Teacher by passion and Shariah & ethical finance advisor by profession, Usama Ehsan has extensive experience in Shariah Compliance and Product Development in Islamic Banking & Finance. Currently, he serves as the Resident Shariah Scholar in the Islamic Product Department of one of the largest banks in Pakistan. Usama attended the world renowned Jamia Darul Uloom Karachi where he obtained his Masters in Arabic & Islamic studies. He went on to complete an intensive fatwa training under the supervision of Justice (retd.) Mufti Taqi Usmani. He has complemented his Islamic education with an MBA. To fulfil his passion he teaches Tafseer, Hadith, and Fiqh at Markaz Fahm-e-Deen and Tibyaan Institute. He also serves as a member of the Shariah Panel of Safwa Advisory.

If you have any questions or require any additional information, please contact: CMSMuslimNetwork@cms-cmno.com   or cmswomen@cms-cmno.com.