How do you keep faith in yourself as a leader while balancing the high expectations and intense media scrutiny that come with being ‘first’? What do we mean by ‘systemic Islamophobia’ and where does it lead? Can we still find reasons to laugh, even when faced with hate and divisive rhetoric?

We spoke to Zara Mohammed - the first woman, first Scot and youngest leader to be elected Secretary General of the Muslim Council of Britain – about what leadership means to her, how she keeps faith in times of crisis, and her thoughts on the future of interfaith in the UK.

The Muslim Council of Britain is the umbrella body representing 500 Muslim member organisations across the UK. Find out more about their work here and read their latest reports and initiatives around Black Muslim identity in Britain, representation of Muslims in the media and analysing recent census data on the British Muslim community.

Follow the Muslim Council of Britain on Instagram, Twitter and LinkedIn.
Follow Zara on Twitter and LinkedIn.

This episode contains descriptions of hate crime. If you’re affected by the issues discussed in this episode then support is available, including from Tell MAMA and Stop Hate UK.

Keeping Faith: A How-To Guide is part of Women’s Interfaith Network's 2024 Keeping Faith Programme. Read more about the programme here and be the first to hear about upcoming events and ways to get involved by signing up to our newsletter. Views expressed on this podcast are the speaker’s own and may not reflect the views of Women’s Interfaith Network.

Hosted by Maeve Carlin

Produced by Maeve Carlin and Adam Brichto

Edited by Adam Brichto

Executive Produced by Lady Gilda Levy

Theme music composed by Jamie Payne

Logo and Artwork designed by Jasey Finesilver

Support from Tara Corry