In this heartfelt episode of Muslim Money Talk, host Areeb Siddiqui sits down with his father and Kestrl’s CFO, Ayaz Siddiqui, for an emotional and wide-ranging conversation about immigration, financial sacrifice, growing up in post-colonial societies, surviving personal loss, and the evolution of Islamic finance in the UK.

From humble beginnings in Pakistan to executive roles in global banks, Ayaz reflects on how faith, resilience, and mentorship shaped his journey — and why he ultimately chose to back his son’s fintech startup.

This podcast is hosted by Areeb Siddiqui, the founder and CEO of Kestrl, the app that helps people to grow their wealth without compromise

Find out more about our app here: https://kestrl.io/

And how we help banks here: https://business.kestrl.io/

Show Notes:

00:00 - Opening
04:35 - Childhood in Pakistan and Military Life

12:11 - Zambia Years and Moving to England

22:13 - Life-Changing Loss at Age 18

35:11 - Breaking into London's Financial World

52:30 - 9/11 and Muslim Identity Crisis

1:10:09 - Mentorship and Career Evolution

1:22:32 - The Birth of Kestrel Financial

1:35:56 - Islamic Finance: Progress and Disappointments

Interviewing My Dad: +40 Years in the UK, Career Advice, Being Muslim Post 9/11 | Ep 43 - Ayaz Siddiqui