UIF Community Podcast

In this episode of the UIF Community Podcast, we sit down with Farhan Ahmed, founder of Ihsan Coaching, an online coaching and therapy platform serving the Muslim community worldwide. https://ihsancoaching.com/

Farhan brings a unique blend of clinical training, practical tools, and faith-centered guidance to help individuals, couples, and families navigate life’s most meaningful challenges. Our conversation explores a wide range of topics — from relationship and family dynamics, to common marital struggles, early warning signs that can lead to divorce, and the value of addressing issues proactively.

Farhan also highli...

In this episode, we have the distinct privilege of chatting with Dr. Yaqub Mirza, a physicist, entrepreneur, author, and an insightful leader whose impactful work deserves broader recognition. Dr. Mirza’s co-founded the private equity firm Sterling Management Group, investing millions in business ventures globally, and making a significant mark on Islamic institutions through his generous support and philanthropic efforts. Besides serving on the Boards of AMANA Funds and UIF, Dr. Mirza has been a lifelong supporter of ISNA and many Muslim charities.

It is an honor to learn from Dr. Mirza, whose book "5 Pillars of Prosperity" an...

As-Salaam Alaykum Friends, in this episode, we have the distinct privilege of chatting with Dr. Yaqub Mirza, a physicist, entrepreneur, author, and an insightful leader whose impactful work deserves broader recognition. Dr. Mirza’s co-founded the private equity firm Sterling Management Group, investing millions in business ventures globally, and making a significant mark on Islamic institutions through his generous support and philanthropic efforts.

Besides serving on the Boards of AMANA Funds and UIF, Dr. Mirza has been a lifelong supporter of ISNA and many Muslim charities. It is an honor to learn from Dr. Mirza, who...

In this episode of the UIF Community Podcast, we chat with Dr. Saamer Siddiqi — a physician, entrepreneur, and founder of LIVEMED Telehealth, a fast-growing virtual healthcare company transforming how patients access care across the country.

Dr. Siddiqi shares his journey from long hospital shifts in Chicagoland to launching a tech-driven healthcare startup — and the mindset shifts, lessons, and risks that made it possible. He opens up about balancing a demanding medical career with entrepreneurship, building a team from scratch, and using innovation to solve real-world problems.

But this conversation isn’t just for...

In this episode of the UIF Community Podcast, our hosts discuss some lessons we can all learn from Chick-fil-A’s uber successful business model. Using insights from the book "Covert Cows and Chick-fil-A" and other resources, your hosts explore practical ideas on building a customer-first culture and creating long-term loyalty in a competitive market.

The conversation starts with Chick fil-A's early beginnings to its "Eat Mor Chikin" ad campaign and ends discussing how just $10,000 (initial fee) can make you a Chick fil-A franchisee someday.  

But first, the hosts dive into a quick...

In this episode of the UIF Community Podcast, we’re joined by two special guests; IL State Representative, Nabeela Syed & Community Activist Attorney, Faiyaz Hussain. If you want to learn how to impact our communities (politically speaking), this is must listen!

At the tender age of 22, Nabeela flipped one of the Republican districts in the IL State Senate race.  She comfortably beat a Republican incumbent in her first win, and then doubled the margin of victory in her reelection bid in 2024. 

As one of the youngest Muslim women ever elected to public office, Nabeela is rede...

How do you go from zero properties owned to managing over 320 units and $95 million in real estate assets—all while staying true to your values?

In Episode 16 of the UIF Community Podcast, we sit down with Sirai Farah, a rising real estate investor who shares her journey into the world of wholesaling, multifamily acquisitions, and building strong relationships with investors.

Whether you're just getting started or looking to scale your portfolio, this episode offers practical insights and a real-world look at what it takes to build generational wealth in real estate.

Please enjoy and...

In this episode of the UIF Community Podcast, we sit down with Julie Burzynski, President at UIF who brings a deep sense of purpose, empathy, and integrity to her work. Julie shares how she became part of UIF’s mission, what it means to serve a faith-based community, and how she approaches that responsibility with sincere care and humility.

With grace and professionalism, she addresses common misconceptions about UIF — including critiques from competitors — and talks about the importance of staying grounded in values while always taking the high road.

Julie also offers insights into team cultur...

On this podcast episode we are super excited to bring you a conversation with Br. Habeeb Quadri. 

Habeeb is an acclaimed educator and community leader recognized for his outstanding contributions both locally and internationally.  He was honored with the prestigious National Principal Award in 2019.  Habeeb has conducted over 1,000 seminars on topics such as ethical leadership, social-emotional intelligence, school culture and empowerment of educators and administrators. 

Habeeb is also an acclaimed author with multiple books to his credit and a member of Harvard University's School of Education Advisory Board. We are grateful that H...

What does it mean to be truly productive while staying grounded in faith? In this episode of the UIF Community Podcast, we sit down with Mohammed Faris, the founder of The Productive Muslim Company and one of the Top 500 Most Influential Muslims in the World. As an internationally recognized coach, speaker, and author, Mohammed has helped thousands of professionals, entrepreneurs, and students integrate Islamic principles with high performance to lead more meaningful and impactful lives. 

With Ramadan being a time of reflection, discipline, and personal growth, this episode comes at the perfect moment to help you stay produ...

We are excited to drop our newest podcast with a celebrity guest. In this episode, we’re thrilled to welcome an extraordinary human being whose story exemplifies resilience, courage, and the power of conviction - former NBA star Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf.

Mahmoud’s journey is nothing short of remarkable. From growing up in a rough neighborhood in Mississippi, to becoming a standout college basketball player and achieving stardom in the NBA, he’s overcome countless obstacles, including Tourette Syndrome & societal challenges. Through it all, Mahmoud has remained steadfast in his principles, demonstrating what it truly means to lead with f...

As-Salaam Alaikum & Happy New Year Friends! We are excited to launch the 11th episode of our UIF Community Podcast. In this episode we chat with a very successful attorney & community activist, Furqan Mohammed.  Our goal is to interview and learn from interesting community members who can add value to our lives.  Furqan definitely checks these boxes for us!  After covering Furqan's journey from a school teacher to a prominent attorney, we discuss how to protect assets & families with proper estate planning techniques. We then talk about some high-profile cases Furqan is working on, including the case of Sania Khan, a soc...

Have you ever wondered what separates great leaders from the rest? Why do some people naturally inspire trust, influence others effortlessly, and lead teams to extraordinary achievements? Well wonder no more... on this episode of our podcast, we review the book "21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership" a NY time bestseller from the famed author John Maxwell.

You too can become a very effective leader by applying some of the principles discussed in this book. However, before we dive into the book our hosts discuss their favorite travel destinations in light of Br. Aijaz's recent trip to t...

We are excited to launch our newest podcast episode based on one of our favorite books of all time, Delivering Happiness.  The book discusses how to build a successful business, provide world class service, and create a culture that is admired by customers and competitors alike.  The speakers share their personal experiences as they go through the book's main points and how UIF has incorporated many of the book's lessons to deliver happiness to our customers and gain success over time.

This book is also a personal life story of Tony Hsieh (founder of Zappos).  Tony...

We are excited to announce the launch of our newest podcast episode, The Future of Money.  In this episode we discussed the main ideas from the highly acclaimed, best-selling book, The Future of Money by Cornell University Professor and finance Guru, Eswar Prasad. 

We also invited Ali Hassan, a crypto-currency Hedge Fund Manager to share his thoughts on this topic.  We covered a wide range of issues from the US dollar losing its world #1 reserve currency status to Government efforts to compete in the new fintech arena and how to best prepare for the monetary changes ahead. 

...

We are excited to launch our newest podcast episode based on one of the BEST books on Leadership and Business strategies. The book is Good to Great. This book hopes to answer one question... Why some companies make a leap from Good to Great while many others in the same industry don't? The principles and best ideas from this book are examined in this episode using practical examples and case studies.

Whether you are an entrepreneur, manager or hope to be a future business leader, this book discussion will impact your life greatly.

On this episode we speak to Farrah Ali, an author, business coach and highly successful Real Estate investor.  Her story will be an inspiration to all as she shares her life journey from a divorced mother of two kids (with $80,000 in debt), to now a successful investor owning over 50 properties in less than 10 years.

Farrah shares some of her success tactics and wisdom on how she has built a mini real estate empire against all odds.  

Whether you are considering buying your first property or a starting a career in real estate investing, this podcast is...

On this episode we review the New York Times best-selling book "Richer, Wiser, Happier. How the world's greatest investors win in markets and in life." 

Join our hosts as they discuss not only investing and success strategies from this book, but also life experiences that can bring you joy and fulfillment. At the end of the day, we all want to be Richer, Wiser and Happier... why not start today by listening and implementing some of the ideas discussed. 

In episode 4 of the UIF Community Podcast, we discuss the NY Times Best Selling Book Atomic Habits.  Please listen and share as this podcast could impact your life in a very meaningful way if some of its ideas & wisdom can be implemented soon.  The hosts discuss why good or harmful habits play a significant role in shaping the trajectory of our lives. 

Practical tips are shared that can make you a high performer both in your personal and business life. Whether it is for self-improvement, improving relationships or making a positive impact on our community, the...

In Episode 3 of the UIF Community Podcast, we conduct a comprehensive analysis of Lululemon Athletica.  We discuss the humble beginnings of Lululemon as a women's yoga pants retailer to a global lifestyle brand today! Studying successful businesses helps us become better entrepreneurs ourselves. By analyzing Lululemon’s business strategy, we gain valuable insight into what it takes to launch, grow and lead a business to success in a competitive retail market.    Additionally, we also discuss the recent National Association of Realtors (NAR) class action lawsuit.  This groundbreaking settlement (soon to be finalized), will change the real estate industry landscape going forwar...

In this insightful episode of the UIF Community Podcast, we first discuss the impact of the recent FTC ruling banning Employee Non-Compete agreements. 

We then dive into Morgan Housel's acclaimed book, The Psychology of Money. Join us as we unravel the nuances of financial success, exploring the critical differences between the skillset required to make money versus the discipline needed to keep it. We also discuss the delicate balance between luck and risk, and how understanding both can profoundly impact your financial decisions.

Tune in for a deep dive into the psychology of investing and p...

We are excited to share with you the launch of our new podcast that we believe will benefit you greatly! We are calling it the UIF Community Podcast.

Our goal is to educate you on topics related to Islamic finance, Economic conditions, Real Estate markets, self-development, and beyond.

Meet Your Hosts:

Aijaz Hussain - Executive VP Sales & Director 

Omer Subhani - Regional Manager

Farah Zeaitir - Relationship Manager 

What to Expect in Future Episodes:

1. In-Depth Conversations

2. Current Market Trends