From Entrepreneurship to Academia

In 2024, I was honored to be invited as the sole guest speaker for Incarnate Word Academy’s Leadership Live series, addressing the entire student body and faculty. Incarnate Word Academy is a highly regarded private, all-girls college-preparatory school in Houston known for its rigorous academics and leadership-focused education. Speaking to young audiences at moments of formation carries a particular responsibility, and I approached this invitation with deep gratitude and used the occasion to reflect on my nonlinear journey, from founding and leading a global e-commerce business to building a career as a historian and educator specializing in South Asian history, Persianate worlds, and Islamicate visual and manuscript traditions. Sharing this trajectory allowed me to articulate how entrepreneurship sharpened my discipline, resilience, and curiosity, ultimately catalyzing my transition into academia rather than standing apart from it.

What made this experience especially meaningful was the realization that my work as an instructor and scholar is not confined to university classrooms or archival spaces, but is meant to be shared across generations and communities. At Incarnate Word Academy, I emphasized the importance of intellectual courage, mentorship, and adaptability, encouraging students to create paths where none seem visible, to rely on networks of support, and to understand how forgiveness and reflection can transform obstacles into growth. Engaging such a thoughtful young audience reaffirmed my commitment to public-facing scholarship and education by bringing the histories, art, and intellectual traditions of South Asia and the Persianate world into conversation with contemporary leadership, curiosity, and global citizenship.