Muslim Women’s Leadership Summit

Welcome to the Muslim Women’s Leadership Summit! Join us for a day of professional and personal development through empowerment, inspiration, and networking.

This in-person event is designed to bring together Houston Muslim women from to learn more about and discuss leadership, career development, and community engagement.

Whether you're a student, professional, or community leader, this summit is for you if you are in positions of leadership or aspire to be.

Come network with like-minded individuals and gain valuable insights to help you thrive!
Your registration will include:

• Lunch and refreshments (vegetarian options included)
• Swag including for notetaking and more
• Lifetime access to Bayan resources and networks you build!

General Program:

• Tradition of Female Excellence and Involvement: Achieving Balance Inside and Beyond the Home | Dr. Tamara Gray
• Confidence with Competence, Humility, Inclusion, and Compassion | Ustadha Rukayat Yakub
• When You’re Working Hard, Make Ibaadah Work for You | Anse Heather Elsayed
• Navigating Self-Care and Success as Women Leaders | Zuhaira Razzack and Sadia Jalali

Anse Dr. Tamra Gray

Dr. Tamara Gray is the founder of Rabata, an organization promoting positive cultural change through creative education. She holds a doctorate in leadership, a master’s in Curriculum Theory and Instruction, and spent 20 years studying Islamic sciences in Damascus, Syria.

Dr. Gray worked in education for 25 years before transitioning to the non-profit sector, where she now serves as Executive Director and Chief Spirituality Officer of Rabata. She mentors women globally, teaches over ten subjects at Ribaat, and develops curricula.

An author and translator, Dr. Gray's works include Joy Jots: Exercises for a Happy Heart, Project Lina, and translations of sacred texts. She serves on the Fiqh Council of North America, teaches at the Islamic Seminary of America and United Theological Seminary, and is a Senior Fellow at Yaqeen Institute.

A mother, grandmother, and lover of cultures, coffee, and food, Dr. Gray balances her professional and personal passions with grace.

Anse Heather Elsayed

Anse Heather Elsayed serves as the spiritual advisor for Believe It App, a Muslim faith-based goal-setting app, and is an educator with over 15 years of experience developing wellness programs that focus on the mind, body, and soul. She holds a bachelor's degree in Business Administration Marketing with a minor in Women's Studies, along with certifications in personal training and spiritual life coaching.

Currently pursuing a master’s degree in Islamic Studies through Bayan Islamic Graduate School, Anse Heather is a published writer focusing on the Muslim narrative in America, an advocate for interfaith dialogue, and a researcher in Islamic history. She continues her studies under Anse Dr. Tamara Gray and the Anisaat of Ribaat.

Sadia Jalali, MA, LMFT-S

Sadia Jalali is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist-Supervisor (LMFT-S) with over 17 years of experience, specializing in relationships, premarital education, marriage enrichment, parenting, anger management, divorce recovery, and navigating life as a Muslim in America.

Active in the Houston Muslim community for over two decades, she has led workshops and speaking engagements for local and national Muslim organizations. As the founder of SOULACE Therapy, Sadia provides faith-based counseling tailored to individual needs. She also runs Muslim Bliss on social media, offering relationship insights, and holds a Master’s in Islamic Studies from Bayan Islamic Graduate School. In addition to her professional work, she is dedicated to raising seven children, alhamdulillah.

Chaplain Soraya Mohammed, MEd

Soraya Mohammed is a culturally attuned professional with over 12 years of teaching experience and 4+ years in pastoral care. Currently serving as a chaplain at Memorial Hermann Health System, Soraya provides compassionate, outcome-oriented spiritual and emotional support to a diverse population of patients, families, and staff. Recognized for her adaptability in managing pastoral crises, she excels in fostering connections, facilitating advanced directives, and contributing to interdisciplinary teams.

Dedicated to community service, Soraya has volunteered as a Certified Long-Term Care Ombudsman and worked as a Communication Consultant. She has also twice achieved the Distinguished Toastmaster Award. Having earned her Master in Education, she has taught the sciences for 18 years.

Fluent in English and conversational in Spanish, she is passionate about ongoing professional development and delivering personalized, empathetic care in challenging environments. Soraya has been studying for her Master of Divinity in Islamic Chaplaincy at Bayan Islamic Graduate School and is set to graduate in Spring 2025.

Zuhaira Razzack, MAT, MA

Zuhaira Razzack brings a wealth of experience and expertise to the education field, with a distinguished career as the former Superintendent of the Islamic Education Institute of Texas, Principal, Advisory Panel member, and founding member of ILM Academy in Houston, TX.

Having earned a Master of Arts degree in Teaching from Rice University, an undergraduate degree in Biology from Wellesley College, and a Masters degree in Islamic Education from Bayan Islamic Graduate School, Zuhaira has dedicated over two decades to enhancing the educational landscape of Islamic schools in Houston.

Beyond her role within schools, Zuhaira has made significant contributions to the community by serving on the Boards of Interfaith Ministries for Greater Houston and the Council of Islamic Schools of North America, as well as the Advisory Board of the Risala Foundation, and the ISNA Education Forum Planning Committee.

Basmah Salam, MA

Basmah Salam is the Director of Advancement at Bayan. She develops and operationalizes strategic plans for Bayan to fulfill its mission through financial sustainability and community support. She has been actively working in nonprofit advancement since 2011 in primary education and mental health and disability services and then began her service at Bayan in 2018.
She earned her Bachelor’s degree from the University of Houston, followed by her Master’s in Public Administration with a specialization in nonprofit management. She is now working on her second Master’s degree in Islamic Leadership from Bayan Islamic Graduate School.
Basmah volunteers with local Houston Islamic schools, mentors Muslim adolescents, and supports Muslim leaders to grow into their roles for the Muslim or broader American community. She is an advocate for addressing mental health issues, children's growth and identity development, and combatting abuses against women primarily.

Ustadha Rukayat Yakub

Ustadha Rukayat Yakub serves as an instructor at Ribaat Academic Institute. Ustadha Rukayat received her teaching certification in Montessori elementary education. She also earned her Master of Arts in Islamic Education at Bayan Islamic Graduate School and is currently enrolled there working on a Doctorate in Ministry to further her studies in belonging and community development.

An award-winning children’s author, educator, publisher, trainer, consultant, and school climate coach, Ustadha Rukayat has worked in education for 25 years. Her areas of expertise include Heartwork (addressing anti-blackness to build spaces of prophetic belonging), curriculum design, Islamic Studies and ethical wealth flow. She works with leaders to develop and implement best practices that infuse prophetic courage, kindness, and humility in community institutions. Ustadha Rukayat began teaching at Ribaat in 2019.

Event Venue & Nearby Stays

Turkish Center, 9301 West Bellfort Avenue, Houston, United States