ENROLL NOW

You find yourself dreaming of being successful in a high-powered career but you’re tired of being reminded of how difficult, if not impossible, it will be for someone like you.

You’re ambitious and have a great work ethic but you’re sick and tired of being limited to gendered roles and stereotypes.

And despite your achievements, you’re tired of facing discrimination and not having any guidance on how to navigate these systems.

You want to break away from these stereotypes and chart your own path. You want to advance your career despite the obstacles in your way.

And most importantly, you want to do so without compromising your core values or your personal goals.

You’re so ready to Take UP Space and defy social norms.

It’s ALL possible for you and I'm here to help.

Introducing...

Lifetime access to the 5 module Taking UP Space Course

Bonus 1 - Taking UP Space Workbook

Bonus 2 - Quarterly Group Career Coaching

Bonus 3 - Support - Private Facebook Group

ENROLL NOW

Imagine being able to pursue your audacious goals without being affected by the naysayers.

Imagine having the tools to navigate whatever obstacles you face including racism, sexism, and other forms of discrimination.

Imagine having the confidence to bring your whole self to the table.

Imagine being able to advocate for yourself in your workplace.

Hi, I’m Dr. Qaali Hussein.

I was in high school the first time I was told that my dream of becoming a surgeon was impossible. That as long as I wanted to wear my hijab and have a family, being a surgeon was out of the question for me. And no matter how much I excelled academically, the only way I could get close to pursuing surgery was by compromising how I practice my faith and sacrificing the goal of having children.

“You gotta give up your hijab. You gotta give up on your fairy tale dream of having a big family and being a surgeon,” they said.

There was no other way. It was “impossible,” they said.

I felt discouraged and demoralized. Every time I met a goal I wasn’t supposed to meet, the goal post was moved. And I had no guidance in how to take the next steps to get there.

I burnt myself out trying to prove to everyone that I could do it all. In the end, I learned that I was navigating my personal and professional life playing by society’s rules.

But when I stopped playing by those rules, everything changed. I started to believe in myself and my abilities. I stopped looking to others for validation and approval. I stopped asking for permission. I learned to Take UP Space as myself. And I learned to negotiate the changes needed to accommodate me and those who look like me entering worlds and systems that were not designed with our needs in mind.

Today, I’m a full-time trauma surgeon, wife, mom of six, motivational speaker, Founder and CEO of Defiance Academy. Through my own journey, I’ve become inspired to teach others how to defy social norms and standards to Take UP Space and thrive as their authentic selves. I’m here to help you overcome whatever obstacles are getting in the way of your audacious goals.

"As a Somali pre-med student, I struggled to find someone with a similar background as me who has achieved their career goals while giving back and sharing their experience until I met Dr. Qaali. Her Taking UP Space course was just what I needed to open my eyes to the reality of the career I am hoping to pursue. She lays out the reality of what's ahead while at the same time teaching us valuable strategies to fight against systems that are non-inclusive. Taking this course gave me the confidence to be defiant in pursuing my goals while maintaining my values. I'm so glad I found this course."

Deqa Mohamed
Pre-Medical Student

"As a medical student, it can sometimes be challenging to navigate clinical settings where you often feel misheard, taken advantage of, or even harassed. Dr. Hussein's Taking UP Space course helped me stand up for myself and express my mind while remaining professional. I was able to make changes I felt were necessary and make myself more comfortable in stressful environments."

3rd Medical Student

"Dr. Hussein has offered much-needed guidance to women of color physicians via a series called Taking UP Space: A Masterclass on Defying Norms and Setting Your Own Standards. Through this personal and professional development platform, Dr. Hussein has offered valuable skills on how physician women of color need to defy the norm so that we can achieve our dreams and maintain our values in a field that expects people to sacrifice everything in service of their profession."

Sondos Al Sad, MD, MPH
Adjust Assistant Professor

Family Medicine