Zoia is one of the three founders at The Girls Company and this month is her birthday (Nov. 21st, mark your calendars!). In honor of her birth month, we are highlighting Zoia so we can all get to know her a little better. Feel free to leave more questions you have for our founders in the comments below!
Q: Tell us a little about your background, where did you grow up?
A: I grew up in the Dallas area. My parents immigrated to this country from Pakistan to give their kids a chance at a better life. I have a younger sister. My family is the most important part of my life and my best friends truly. I am so grateful for them and grateful to be a blend of both Eastern and Western culture, values, and expectations.
Q: What is your favorite part about where you live?
A: I'm a hardcore Texas girl. I love living in the Dallas area. It's home. My favorite people are here. I love the vibe and feeling here. Not to mention the best part, FOOD. The quality is so good, the variety is insane, you can never get bored and it's simply just the best. Every time before I would come home, I would make a list of the places I had to eat at before I went back to college.
Q: What are some of your favorite things to do?
A: I love spending time with family. I love spending time with friends. I love music, especially Punjabi music YAS. I love to play tennis. I LOVE LOVE Marvel movies. I also believe doing comedy and making people laugh is a full time job and my passion haha, as well as eating. Pasta, fries, chocolate, and my mom's biryani. Hell yeah.
Q: Time to brag, what would you say is something you’re really good at?
A: Wow where do I even begin... haha jk :)
I've always been someone who never gives up and is relentless when it comes to my goals or anything I set my mind to. I'm optimistic and hopeful in the face of any obstacles or challenges. There's never been a problem that I haven't been able to solve or figure out. When things do get tough, and it can be hard to see a way out, I look back at what I've been able to overcome in the past and it gives me a fresh perspective and hope.
Q: What made you want to be an entrepreneur?
A: My dad is an entrepreneur. Growing up, he would always take me to meetings with him, tell me about the projects he was working on and read me business books instead of fairy tales. I saw his lifestyle and loved how he was in charge of his own time, working in a fast-paced environment, and how rewarding it could be. I knew from a young age that I wanted to be an entrepreneur because of him and because it aligned so much with my strengths and my ideal lifestyle. I'm so grateful that I accomplished that goal and I am so grateful to be where I am today. In so many ways, it's been how I thought it would be but in many other ways, it's been very unexpected. I love every single second of it though. I could never imagine working for somebody else or doing anything else.
Q: What has been your favorite part about working on The Girls?
A: So much. I love this company. I love the mission and bigger picture of what we're trying to achieve. I love working with Taimi and Abby who are honestly my best friends and the greatest co-founders ever, they make everything more fun. I love being challenged and stretched to learn new skills, try different strategies and gain more knowledge. I love that I've learned to be okay with being outside my comfort zone. I love that every day is a new day with a new set of problems to solve and I love how things are always shifting. I'm so proud of us for how far we've come from where we began. I'm so grateful that every day we're trying to do something that can help millions of people. It's just the best.
Q: What makes you the most excited for the future?
A: My greatest hope is to make a sustainable impact for others. I'm so excited to see how I accomplish that in my future. I have no clue what that looks like right now but I can't wait to find out. I'm also so excited for the future of this company and where this journey takes us.
Q: What has been the most memorable moment of your last year?
A: Even though my official graduation ceremony got cancelled, the day I got my diploma was very memorable. That one piece of paper symbolized 4 years of hard work, sacrifices, persistence, a lifetime of knowledge, and meaningful connections. It was a proud moment for sure.
Q: The pandemic, and 2020 in general, has been hard for everyone. What has been the hardest part about it for you? What have you learned from this?
A: The hardest part has been the uncertainty and fear about how this will affect our future. This is something we never saw coming and completely derailed all of our lives. It's heartbreaking to see how others are suffering during this time. I've learned to be grateful for the small moments of happiness and joy in our daily lives. I'm grateful for the extra time I've been able to spend with my family that has made us even closer.
Q: What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever received?
A: Just keep going. Don't stop. Of course there will be hard moments, tough days, and difficult challenges. That's life. But if you have determination, grit and resilience, you can get through the dark days to get to the brighter ones. Learn to be okay with being outside your comfort zone because that is where you will see the most growth in your life. Don't give up.
Q: Anything else you’d like to say?
A: Hey you, yes you. That dream or goal you have, just go for it. I truly believe that everyone has a purpose and a role to play in this world. Don't let anyone tell you no. I believe in you. You just need to believe in yourself.
We are so grateful to have Zoia at The Girls Company! She is always making us laugh and reminding us that we can do anything. Thank you Zoia!