Powerful Conversations Rooted in Faith, Equity, and Defiance
You have the power to be the change.
That’s not just a phrase on a banner — it’s the truth I live by.
Whether I’m in the trauma bay, raising my six children, or standing behind a microphone, that message guides everything I do.
As a trauma surgeon, mother of six, and founder of Defiance Academy, I don’t just talk about burnout, work-life balance, or leadership.
I speak from lived experience — navigating all of it inside some of the most high-pressure, exclusionary spaces in the world.
Through my keynotes and workshops, I help audiences uncover the deeper systems that keep women — especially Muslim women — stuck:
The silent expectations.
The invisible barriers.
The rules that tell us we must sacrifice who we are in order to succeed.
I teach a new way forward — one rooted in faith, purpose, and the power we already have.
Here’s how I help audiences reclaim that power…
My Signature Speaking Topics Include:
The Defiant Career Strategy™
How Muslim women can reclaim their careers without compromise — and why traditional career advice is keeping them stuck and burned out
Burnout Recovery for Women of Faith
A faith-aligned, values-driven approach to overcoming professional burnout that actually addresses the root causes — not just the symptoms
The Hidden Cost of Assimilation
What happens when women — especially women of faith — are told they must tone down their values to move up? And how can we build systems where they no longer have to?
Leading Without Sacrificing Your Life
How to step into leadership with impact, purpose, and legacy — without leaving behind the parts of yourself that matter most
Audiences I Speak To:
✓ Professional Muslim Women and Leadership Groups
✓ DEI and workplace equity audiences
✓ Healthcare and high-performance teams
✓ Women navigating burnout and life transitions
✓ Faith-based leadership and empowerment events
What Audiences Say…
“Our community members were amazed at Dr. Hussein's expertise and eloquence. I personally loved hearing the Somali references throughout the conference, and being in the space with a habaryar that has persevered! Jazakallah Khairan for giving us the opportunity to have you here with us."
Sumaya
MSO Event Host
"One of the most impactful speakers was Qaali Hussein, a trauma surgeon, mother of six and founder of Defiance Academy, a program dedciated to empowering Muslim women in the workforce. Her lectures on navigating faith as a Muslim woman in an American society were incredibly inspiring. Throughout the conference, Hussein stressed staying true to your faith and allowing God's plan to pan out for you."
Maya Bensaoud
Writer, The ManEater
