Born in Afghanistan, Fatima was the daughter of a Pakistan exile. Spending most of her childhood in Syria, Fatima ultimately returned to Pakistan experiencing all of the hostile environments, violence and politics that plagued such countries. Trauma was a prevalent part of Fatima’s upbringing, with several family members violently losing their lives, such as her father who was killed outside their house. Such events shaped Fatima into the person that she is today, utilising her own personal experiences to deliver knowledgeable motivational speeches of violence in politics.
Despite the tragic misfortunes of her childhood, Fatima has continually thrived and forged a respected reputation. She attended both the University of Columbia and the University of London, obtaining degrees in Middle Eastern and Asian Languages and Cultures and South Asian Studies. From a young age, Fatima began to author novels, releasing her first book when she was just 15 years of age. Whispers of The Desert hosts a collection of poems that Fatima wrote as a child, documenting her experience of separation and loneliness that plagued her young years.
Fatima has since written several other books. In 2005 she published her second book, titled 8:50 a.m. 8 October 2005, which documents several accounts of people greatly affected by the Kashmir earthquake of 2005. She later wrote Songs of Blood and Sword, a memoir of her family’s traumatic past, and Democracy. Her books The Shadow of Crescent Moon and The Runaways are both non-fiction, showing Fatima’s diversity as an author.
Fatima has continually gained recognition for her talents as an author and speaker. Top publications have featured her work, such as the likes of Vogue UK, The Guardian, The NewStatesman and The Financial Times. She has also been the recipient of countless awards, such as Human & Women Rights Speaker of the Year 2012, Inclusion Speaker of the Year 2016 and Middle East Affairs Speaker of the Year 2014. She has also been selected as Young Global Leader by the World Economic Forum, credited for her outstanding leadership and commitment.
Highly sought as a motivational speaker, Fatima utilises the trauma she has experienced throughout her life to encourage others to overcome adversity to become better people. The challenges of her life have also allowed her to build a great understanding of various topics, such including politics, violence, female leadership, female empowerment, challenges of democracy, the Middle East and South Asia. Fatima has previously spoken for a range of high-profile clients, such as Louis Vuitton, Airbnb, Flight Centre and Swedbank. Sought for her wisdom and personal experiences, Fatima is an insightful speaker guaranteed to leave a lasting impression on an audience of any size.
