Muslim Money Talk Battling Islamophobia In Silicon Valley: Abdul Haseeb Basit (and Mystery Guest?!) Ep. 50
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Jul 14, 2025 
Abdul Haseeb Basit, cofounder of Madinah Angels and expert in ethical fintech, joins the conversation alongside Omar Khalil, founder of the Muslim CEOs Collective. They discuss the challenges of Islamophobia in Silicon Valley and how Muslim entrepreneurs can build supportive networks. The growth of Madinah Angels and the importance of community in fostering collaboration are key topics. They emphasize the unique advantages of Islamic fintech, tackle branding issues, and share insights from the Muslim CEOs Dinner series aimed at empowering founders.
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Working with Areeb’s Father
- Abdul Haseeb Basit worked with Areeb Siddiqui’s father early in his banking career.
- This was his first exposure to senior Muslim professionals and useful career guidance on being unapologetic about faith.
Ethical vs Islamic Branding Debate
- The debate between 'ethical' vs 'Islamic' fintech branding depends on objectives and context.
- Branding should attract the mass market with Islamic principles, not only Muslims.
Early Islamophobia Experience
- Abdul Haseeb Basit shared an experience where a senior colleague asked if he was an Islamist and made Islamophobic comments.
- This highlighted the long-standing Islamophobia he faced in professional environments, especially post 9/11.
