What led you to the language industry and your current position?

My journey into the language industry began out of necessity. When I arrived in the US as a refugee, knowing that my medical degree from Iraq wouldn’t be immediately transferable, I needed a way to sustain myself while I navigated this new reality. My background in medicine and strong English skills naturally led me to a job as a medical interpreter. That experience opened my eyes to the critical role language plays in healthcare access, especially for non-English speakers. Over time, I saw how my unique perspective — as both a doctor and a refugee — could make a real difference. I knew then that I had found my new purpose. Eventually, I pursued a master’s degree in health administration to better understand the US healthcare system and joined MasterWord where I could leverage my experience and passion on a larger scale as a Strategic Solutions Executive. My journey wasn’t planned, but every step has felt like a natural progression towards a field where I can contribute to improving lives through language access.

What do you enjoy most about your work?

What I enjoy most is the chance to create meaningful change in people’s lives. My work gives me the opportunity to help non-English speakers navigate critical services like healthcare and education. It’s incredibly fulfilling to know that I’m making a difference, especially for refugees who, as I have done, are trying to rebuild their lives in a new country. My position also allows me flexibility to volunteer directly with other community impact organizations. Through my role on the board of the Partnership for the Advancement and Immersion of Refugees (PAIR) Houston, I’ve been privileged to support Houston’s refugee students towards reaching their academic potential and becoming community leaders. I was also honored to be chosen to lead multiple translation projects for Ideas Beyond Borders, to bring seminal works by authors like Steven Pinker on critical thinking to Arabic-speaking audiences in regions where access to such materials is limited. My work allows me to meet with various community leaders and impact makers within our community, and I get to bring these connections together as a network so that we can use the different resources we have available to us to meaningfully serve our common community.