Professionally:

After a career as a Junior Executive in Engineering at a $12B Manufacturing Company, I took the plunge into entrepreneurship. I wanted more autonomy and impact. At the time, I didn’t have the funds to acquire on my own. So I raised capital from investors, acquired Acorn Legal Solutions in 2017, operated as its CEO. But, I wanted full ownership over what I was operating. So I exited profitably in 2023 after successfully navigating COVID marketplace challenges.

Surprisingly, selling my business was a bit of a rollercoaster for me - maybe for many reasons with which you can empathize. I felt responsible for my employees’ livelihoods and for my clients’ service continuity. Early on, they had all believed in me and I felt guilty for abandoning the hard work we had put in over the years. My identity was intertwined with my business — and I felt nervous about how someone else would treat an organization that represented a decade of my life. I was anxious about the unfamiliar and the uncertain. But, ultimately, I concluded that I was doing a disservice to those same people by giving them a leader who was no longer fully invested. I was conscientious about who I sold to. And I am happy with the choice to have sold my business.

Post-sale, my team has had opportunities with a growing organization with fresh energy. And I have been free to reflect on my life’s priorities. And I was surprised how supportive everyone came to be with my decision.

Personally:

I am the middle child and only daughter of a Pakistani cardiologist who fell in love with an American nurse and stayed in the States. My parents made the brave decision to move across the country to California on their own, start a family alongside, and raise three kids alongside founding and running a medical practice. Like my parents (and my brothers, too), I ultimately chose to forge my own path in a new location.

Although my path first took me to Cleveland (a city I love), I’ve spent time in Chicago regularly since 2013. I became a full time resident in 2017 with my dog, Cooper. Over time, Chicago has become home. I appreciate the lake, the access the airports grant me, and Chicago’s unique mix of Midwestern nice and big city possibility. At this point, I can’t imagine living anywhere else.

I have an Electrical Engineering degree and a Math degree from Case Western Reserve University; and an MBA from Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University. More info can be found on my LinkedIn Profile.