Faith, Family, and Career Out of Balance?

Assalamu Alaikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh,

I’m Dr. Qaali Hussein — a double board-certified trauma surgeon, mom of six, and founder of Defiance Academy.

Like many Muslim women, I was told I had to choose between my career and my family.

But I couldn’t.

Throughout surgical training — while raising six children — I refused to follow rules that demanded sacrifice in order to succeed.

Yet even after doing “everything right,” I entered a workforce that questioned my competence, dismissed my faith, and penalized my family priorities.

That’s when I realized:
The system isn’t broken. It was built this way — without us in mind.

And that’s exactly why I created the Defiant Career Strategy™.

Why Defiance Academy Exists

The Defiant Career Strategy™ wasn’t born out of theory.
It came from necessity — forged through lived experience, spiritual resilience, and a refusal to shrink myself to fit into systems not built for me.

It’s now the foundation of Defiance Academy — the only career coaching platform created specifically for Muslim women who are tired of being unseen, unsupported, and stretched thin.

We teach women how to:

✓ Take UP Space — as your authentic self, with purpose and pride

✓ Dominate Your Space — by advancing without apology or burnout

✓ Own Your Space — by leading with impact, rooted in faith and legacy

This work isn’t about fitting in. It’s about rewriting the rules — so your career, your faith, and your family no longer compete.

My Mission

At Defiance Academy, we help professional Muslim women reclaim their careers, energy, and sense of purpose — without compromising their deen or their dignity.

Because you were never meant to just survive the workplace.

You were meant to lead.

Let me show you how…