Bushra Amiwala lost her first run for political office when she was 20 years old. Six months later, she ran again and won, becoming one of the first Gen Z elected officials in the United States, all while she was a full-time college student.
When Amiwala, then 21, was elected to the Skokie, Illinois, school district’s Board of Education in 2019, she also became one of the youngest Muslim elected officials in the United States.
His first run, which he lost in 2018, was to become a Cook County commissioner, part of the local legislative body for the county that includes Chicago. Amiwala, who grew up and attended school in Skokie, thought a local school board might be a better fit for her interests and experience after losing her first race.
But she didn’t see working in local politics as a calling, or the start of a long career in government that might take her to the White House — two reasons, Amiwala says, why people often assume she was involved in politics a such a high level. young age.
Amiwala studied business at DePaul University and planned to work for a large technology or financial company as soon as she graduated.
Instead, Amiwala viewed serving in public office as a meaningful way to spend his free time and an opportunity to peek behind the curtain of American politics.
As a first-generation daughter of Pakistani immigrants, Amiwala says she has always had a special interest in supporting underrepresented communities. That passion intensified during the 2016 presidential election, when hate crimes against Muslims increased.
“It’s made me more determined to engage in politics as a form of activism,” Amiwala tells CNBC Make It. “Protests and calls on social media are great, but I also think one of the best ways to drive tangible change is through public policies”.
One of her proudest accomplishments on the school board is a statewide law she helped pass that requires every public school in Illinois to teach the positive contributions of American Muslims and other minority religious groups as part of their CV. Amiwala testified before the Illinois General Assembly in support of the bill, which was signed into law in 2021.
Now 26, Amiwala has created a career that harmonizes his love of business and politics. He won his second term on the school board in April 2023, a position he will hold until 2027. After that, Amiwala says he has no definitive plans to continue his career in politics, but he hasn’t ruled out running for Congress one day . .
Amiwala balances his board of education responsibilities with a full-time job as a solutions consultant at Google and his MBA studies at Northwestern’s Kellogg School of Management.
CNBC Make It: How do you balance your board job with your work at Google and going to business school?
Amiwala: It was difficult to understand at first. I’ve been burnt out in the past and have had to do a lot of thinking and adjusting my schedule and what I can and can’t compromise on.
But one approach that helped me was reminding myself that I don’t need to put 100% into everything I do; for example, using 70% of my energy can still get me a good grade, and I’ve extended my grace to be that’s okay, as a professional perfectionist.
Luckily, my job at Google is mostly 9-5, and my elected position is a part-time volunteer role, where I have to attend a couple of board meetings a month.
After having a chaotic lifestyle [working multiple jobs while in school] for so long, though, I’ve finally started to rely on my calendar app, not just for work responsibilities but also to prioritize self-care in my schedule.
I’ve been working with a personal trainer for the last couple of months, so I’ll schedule things like workouts and meals into my day to hold myself accountable to dedicating my free time to activities that will nourish me because if it’s not blocked out on my calendar, it’s not going to happen.
I have also recently started centering my day around prayer, trying to set aside time to pray at least five times during the day. This allows me to take 2 to 5 minutes to check in with myself, reflect, and calm my mind.
All these little lifestyle changes really make a big difference in saving time and managing my schedule.
CNBC Make It: Have you had any unique experiences as one of the first Gen Z elected officials in the United States?
Amiwala: Sometimes I forget how casual my Gen Z language is and how it comes out in my everyday language, even in the workplace – I’ve said things like, “Wow, you all did great with this presentation,” or “That was really amazing”. slay” in board meetings, but I love the way he is welcomed with open arms. Usually it allows everyone to laugh for a moment in a long six-hour board meeting, that brief moment of levity can ground us and remind us that we are all human beings doing our best.
I think Generation Z embraces authenticity more than other generations in the workforce, which is a powerful skill I’ve learned from my colleagues: If you present yourself as your authentic self and are comfortable in your skin, more people will gravitate towards you. and I want to work with you.
CNBC Make It: What’s your best advice for creating a fulfilling career if you have many interests?
Amiwala: I would encourage people to chart their careers on what I call the “income realization” matrix. In other words, if a job has a low level of satisfaction, it is better for it to have a high income, and if something has a high level of satisfaction, it is better if it has a low income.
Ideally, you should have aspects of your career that fall into both categories, because it’s rare to find a high-performing, high-income role.
I get security and financial satisfaction from my job at Google and I enjoy what I do there, but I get the most satisfaction from what I do outside of my day job, volunteering and serving my community on Ed’s board of directors.
It’s important to decipher what the right combination or balance is for you, whether it’s adding a side hustle or volunteering more. Having multiple aspects of your career that give you emotional or financial satisfaction can help you feel more complete instead of relying on one job to meet all your needs.
This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity.
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