Born in Montana to immigrant parents and shaped by a global perspective, Hassan Akmal is more than an author and executive, he's a visionary in the world of career and life design. From competing as a Division I tennis player at UCLA to reimagining career services at Columbia, UCLA, and now UC San Diego, Hassan’s path is rooted in purpose, resilience, and reinvention.

Hassan shares how he’s leveraging the power of AI and human potential to design a more inclusive future, one where clarity is the true wealth and institutions don’t just create talent, but nurture identities that reshape the world. His message of synchronicity, when inner purpose meets divine timing is a call to action for every immigrant, dreamer, and leader navigating today’s uncertainty.

In today's episode of Zaka Presents My Journey, we sit down with Jessica Wedge, a People & Culture leader whose career spans DEI strategy, HR transformation, and global impact. Raised in the heart of Queens by Honduran immigrant parents, Jessica reflects on how her upbringing, grit, and cultural pride shaped her path in corporate America.

From navigating college as a young mom to driving enterprise-wide change at major organizations, Jessica opens up about imposter syndrome, building inclusive teams, and finding her voice in spaces where few looked like her. She shares the pivotal life lessons from her parents resilience, education, and kindness that have guided her through every twist in her journey.

We sit down with Adja Dior Cisse, founder of Dad Financial Pathway and a proud Senegalese-American, as she shares her powerful journey from Dakar to the U.S. With honesty and heart, Adja opens up about the financial challenges she faced as a young immigrant, navigating legal status, working 17 different jobs, supporting her family, and eventually finding her calling in financial empowerment. Whether you're new to the country or seeking to rebuild your path, this episode offers real talk, hard-earned lessons, and encouragement to take control of your finances and career. Tune in and discover how culture, faith, and community can fuel resilience and why building your legacy starts today.

Princess Jolie Charles, a fearless Haitian-American advocate, community strategist, and Co-Founder of FEWGI talks about what it really means to lead, to belong, and to fight for your voice. Raised in Brooklyn by her grandmother who spoke only Haitian Creole, Princess shares how navigating identity, faith, and adversity shaped her into “The Speaker of Humanity.” With raw honesty, she reflects on unsafe rooms, unspoken trauma, and unwavering faith offering testimony on resilience, God’s grace, and the power of knowing who you are and whose you are. From walking through Crown Heights with spiritual armor to coaching TEDx speakers at Harvard, Princess brings light to the struggles and strength of immigrant women everywhere. Princess reminds us: you are worthy, you are called, and you are never alone.

In this powerful episode, we sit down with Valeria Feliciano, a proud Puerto Rican filmmaker, model, and storyteller, whose mission is to dismantle stereotypes and elevate the voices of Latinas in media. Valeria opens up about the struggles she faced embracing her natural curls in an industry that often celebrates narrow beauty standards. She recounts the emotional moment when a young woman of color told her, “You are the reason I participated,” and how that became a life-changing affirmation of her purpose. From rejecting roles that reduce Latinas to stereotypes to celebrating the beauty of bilingualism, Valeria challenges the status quo while inspiring others to own their identity unapologetically.

As an immigrant Latina navigating entertainment, Valeria shares her journey of persistence from being overlooked to co-hosting an event with Vanilla Ice after a cold outreach. She speaks candidly about the importance of seeing Latinas as leaders, not just background characters, and how her upcoming podcast aims to spotlight the women who are breaking barriers behind the scenes. Valeria’s leadership is rooted in authenticity, representation, and the power of visibility. Her story is a reminder that even when the world says no, your truth can still open doors for you and for those watching.

In this compelling episode, we sit down with Vivian Otabor, a seasoned career coach, business consultant, and founder of Resilient Immigrant to explore the often-overlooked challenges skilled immigrants face when starting over in the United States. Vivian opens up about the emotional and professional hurdles she encountered after leaving a successful career in Nigeria, only to find her qualifications questioned and doors closed.

Now a Harvard-certified leader and Career Strategist for Agile Career Consulting, Vivian has transformed personal setbacks into platforms for systemic change. Through her nonprofit, she has helped hundreds of immigrants gain access to workforce opportunities and develop future-ready skills. With a unique blend of strategy, empathy, and storytelling, she shares what it takes to not only survive but rise and thrive in a new country.

In this heartfelt episode, we sit down with Guadalupe Gonzalez, an Argentine-born accountant turned emotional intelligence and leadership coach, whose immigrant journey is a blueprint in adaptability, purpose, and inner strength. Guadalupe reflects on her transition to the U.S., the weight of working in a demanding analytical field, and how emotional intelligence became not just a leadership tool but a life-saving compass.

She shares how she's intentionally using emotional intelligence to prepare her children to navigate the social and academic pressures of school, and how she herself learned to manage the emotional toll of a numbers-driven profession. Guadalupe defines emotional intelligence as “the ability to respond to unexpected situations,” and unpacks how this mindset has helped her show up more fully at work, at home, and in every space where belonging isn’t always guaranteed.

In this episode, we sit down with Sherece Brown, the visionary founder of Dr. Pabs Pineapple is a Berry. Born to Jamaican immigrant parents and a proud Howard University graduate, Sherece shares her powerful journey from a 16-year career in corporate America to launching a purpose-driven wellness brand. Motivated by her passion for health, wellness, and community impact, Sherece created Dr. Pabs to deliver high-quality, plant-based vitamins designed for children’s growth and well-being. Tune in as she opens up about embracing her immigrant roots, navigating major career transitions, and building a brand that stands for inclusion, resilience, and true purpose.