We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Kalima. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with kalima below.

Kalima, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Are you happier as a business owner? Do you sometimes think about what it would be like to just have a regular job?

I actually think about this often and have had conversations with my friends and family members about the stability of a regular job versus continuing to tread this entrepreneur journey. What I have realized is that after eight years of paying my rent and having the highest of highs and lowest of lows, I don’t regret the risk because without risk there is no reward. And yes, I would have security with a regular job, but I would be helping someone achieve their dreams and always wondering what if.

Kalima, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

Born into a world where the weight of expectations matched the depth of opportunities, I embody the adage, “To whom much is given, much is expected.” Raised in the South as a Black Muslim woman, I navigated predominantly white spaces with resilience and purpose, determined to carve out a lane that felt authentic to who I am.

My father’s journey from high school dropout to millionaire entrepreneur lit a fire in me early on. I knew my story wouldn’t be ordinary, and I’ve spent every season of my life pursuing paths that align with purpose, creativity, and community.

I began my career in journalism, earning a Bachelor’s degree from the University of South Florida St. Petersburg. My first foray into media was as a red carpet host, which evolved into reporting for Fox TV Tampa Bay and modeling live on the Home Shopping Network for Tyra Banks. Despite those successes, I quickly noticed the industry’s deep lack of diversity, especially for someone with my background.

At 25, with just $3,000 and an unshakable sense of purpose, I moved to Los Angeles. Within three years, I became SAG-eligible and landed roles on projects by ABC, Paramount, and Warner Bros. I made history as the first African American Muslim woman to front national campaigns for brands like Uber, Adult Swim, and TikTok—without an agent or manager. My motto? “Your network is your net worth.”

Today, I lead MuzMarketing, my digital marketing consultancy that helps Muslim-owned and values-based brands scale through storytelling and strategy. But perhaps my most personal project is Nikah & Chill—the first and only Muslim relationships podcast. Ranked #12 by FeedSpot on its list of top Muslim podcasts, it’s a platform where we talk real love, faith, and identity. That podcast gave birth to Nikah & Spill, a card game created to spark deeper, more intentional conversations among young Muslims—whether they’re dating, married, or just getting to know themselves.

In 2023, I became the first Black Muslim woman to emcee the Ai4 Convention in Las Vegas, another moment that underscored the importance of representation in every space.

My work is about more than visuals and brands—it’s about reclaiming narratives, creating joy, and making sure our people feel seen. I’m building a legacy rooted in community, creativity, and unapologetic authenticity. I’m not just catching up—I’m catching fire, and bringing others with me.

Can you share one of your favorite marketing or sales stories?

Over the pandemic, I like many people started my Muslim relationships podcast and knew that the niche would be under saturated, but didn’t realize that this was a double edge sword because it is a taboo conversation in my community, although much needed. Decided to use my red carpet interviewing skills, and create more fun ways to have conversations like interview games. Through those experiences, I birthed the first Muslim group dating game: Nikah & Spill, which some have compared to cards against humanity. I realize that Marketing is all about taking risks and yes, making large investments. I learned that digital marketing is such a incredible space to tap into, especially for millennials and single people in my generation. The only marketing experience I ever had was Event marketing in Los Angeles, which I grew my network through and was able to additionally birth, a talent consulting and branding company called MuzMarketing Mindset – here I offer resources on how to grow your brand via strategy and Ai! I now offer mentorship and online branding courses to help boost my clients brands!

We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.

I think resilience is not always just about bouncing back, it’s about being wise enough to make the right decisions that actually feed the soul. We rarely listen to what the soul is telling us because the ego wants us to focus on the end goal and the bigger picture. But the picture is not always exactly how we want it to be painted. Sometimes the picture can change in an instant, and we have to be honest enough and transparent enough with our ourselves to recognize, and except that a small pivot can reshape our mentality and overall business. For me, this has happened several times in my life when I was 25 and decided to pack a suitcase and move to Los Angeles not knowing I would remain there for eight years, I didn’t have the answers. I didn’t perfect a mathematical equation for survival. I just knew it was time. And it was.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://linktr.ee/NikahAndChill
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nikahandchill
• Linkedin: http://linkedin.com/kalimawisdoment
• Youtube: https://youtube.com/shorts/H8NU5UeLVcQ?si=jahlZnB-13o5FORm
• Other: www.instagram.com/muzmarketingofficial
  www.tiktok.com/nikahandchill
  www.tiktok.com/muzmarketingmindset