News

 

 

Hear from Jahanara about her journey, the challenges they faced, and how her cultural background has influenced her personal and professional life. 

 

Q: Can you share a bit about your heritage and the journey your ancestors took to bring you to where you are today?

 

A: My father came to the UK in 1961 as an 18-year-old. He came as part of the drive to rebuild Great Britain. His father and brothers went without to save the money for the flight tickets as well as invest in his education so that he could come to the UK.

 

There were many jobs in warehouses across the country. My father decided that he didn’t want to work in the industrial factories in the Midlands, as many others did. He chose to stay in London and tried his hand at many trades before settling as a worker in the food industry. He faced a lot of racism and discrimination, as many others did. He told me about how up to 20 young men shared a room and each slept in shifts, as there were very few housing options for them. Life was hard for many during the 1960s and 1970s.

 

I came to the UK in 1982 with my mom and sister. All four of us slept in one room in a shared house in Tower Hamlets until we were moved to a B&B in Putney while we waited for “council” housing. We shared a bathroom with four other families on our floor. I loved the English breakfast we got served every morning.

 

We finally got a property in Hackney at the end of 1983. That’s where I grew up and fell in love with the East End of London.

 

My sister and I got used to being called names as we walked to and from school every day. I think at one point it just became the norm.

 

Things feel so much different now. There is more to change, but the harsh realities of my father’s time in the 1960s and ours in the 1980s are not as prevalent.

 

Q: As we celebrate Black History Month, are there any family traditions or stories passed down from your ancestors that you'd like to share?

 

A: Food is a big part of our culture. My mom cooked the best curries, and each of us siblings got the curry we loved the most on our birthdays.

 

My mom told us stories about how, as a newly married 16-year-old, during the war between East and West Pakistan, she used to hide in the fields with my paternal grandmother to escape the West Pakistan militia, which did regular raids in the villages.

 

Q: How has your cultural background influenced your role as the Director of Customer Services?

 

A: I think my culture and the history of my family’s experience in the UK have helped to make me resilient, and I don’t give up easily. When I reflect on how hard it has been for people before me to get a basic job, I am even more determined to make the most of the opportunities I have to reach my full potential.

 

Q: Are there particular women of colour in your lineage who have left a lasting impact on you? Can you share their stories with us?

 

A: My maternal grandmother was an amazing matriarch. Her husband used to be a judge in Bangladesh, and his work took him away from home for several weeks at a time. She raised six children by herself in a remote part of the village, where her house was in a valley with the nearest neighbour at least a mile away. She never complained and just got on with her job as a wife and mother.

 

Q: Throughout history, women of colour have made significant contributions in various fields. Who are some of the inspirational women of colour that you look up to and why?

 

A: There are so many women who have fought the race battle as well as sex discrimination. Sometimes I think it is the women who have lived their lives despite the challenges who are the most inspirational to me. If I had to say one woman, it would be Maya Angelo. It is her wisdom that is relevant for everyone and that I think is very inspirational.

 

Q: How do you feel the achievements and struggles of women of colour from the past have paved the way for your own successes and challenges?

 

A: I think it is all the women who have fought hard for basic rights who have paved the way for all of us. Being a black woman in the past would have been incredibly hard.

 

Q: In the spirit of Black History Month, what message would you like to share with young women of colour who aspire to leadership roles like yours?

 

A: Believe in yourself, set a goal, and do everything in your power to achieve it. Sometimes the journey to the end goal is the most rewarding.

 

Q: How do you celebrate and honour your heritage in your day-to-day life and work?

 

A: I try to remain grateful for all I have been able to achieve. I try to honour my culture with small daily rituals like the food I cook for my family. The jokes that we share that only we understand.

 

Q: Are there any books or films about women of colour that have inspired you or that you'd recommend for others to experience?

 

A: Elif Shafak is the current writer that I absolutely love. Before that, I would recommend everyone read The Joy Luck Club and The Colour Purple. Both books are about the experience of women and them finding their feet.

 

Q: How do you envision the future for women of colour in leadership roles, and what advice would you give to the next generation?

 

A: I hope that all the talented women out there feel confident and forge ahead to achieve their personal goals.