A fresh graduate from University of South Florida in Tampa, Zara has bagged herself a degree in International Studies and Spanish. Her passion for politics geared in at high school and the rest, as they say, is history.
She recalls working as Florida Digital Content Director for Obama in 2012 as an enriching experience. Starting out as an intern in January 2012 in OFA (Obama for America) and learning the ropes of the digital department at Florida headquarters, Zara takes a risk once again.
Putting off school, she decides to stick through the grueling upcoming elections. Her dedication soon makes her the Digital Content Director shortly after. She reminisces: “It was critical. We were registering thousands of voters, informing them of deadlines, getting them to the polls, getting them to sign up online to volunteer at their local field offices, and teaching them about the important issues that were at the core of the 2012 election.
I got to meet the President, First Lady, Vice President, President Clinton, and other celebrities who campaigned for the President like Eva Longoria, Kerry Washington, among many others.”
She fondly adds: “My mom also got to meet Barack Obama, which was so wonderful.”
We’d expect a woman of her stature who has achieved so much so soon to bask in the glory of her success, but her humble nature comes as a pleasant surprise.
“I don’t feel successful because I know at only 22 I have SO much more to accomplish. I really feel humbled, and to be honest, lucky! Working for Nobel laureate Dr Yunus was really the first thing I did that gave me validity as a young professional, so I feel really lucky to have gotten that opportunity.
Being able to work for the President was pure honour to say the least.”
Currently working as Digital Manager for Tampa mayor Bob Buckhorn, Zara loves her job. As a public affairs assistant, her calendar is packed with events with the mayor almost every day, documenting each event through photography. Zara warmly mentions: “He is an incredible politician and I really believe that he will be governor of Florida one day."
"My job as Digital Manager requires me to manage the social media presences of the city, the mayor and work on cool development projects such as working with our IT department to create an app for the city, and working with Tampa police department to create a marketing campaign for bicycle safety.”
A patriot at heart, Zara’s heart goes out to the women of Bangladesh. She strongly believes that Bangladesh frantically needs a colossal cultural shift as far as women are concerned.
Women need to come out of their shells and demand the integrity and respect they deserve. She zealously insists: “Getting girls quality education and ensuring they finish their studies is vital. Also, promoting sexual health education is important. If you can empower women, you can change the world.”
Thinking of Dhaka, Zara takes a walk down memory lane..
“I think my favorite memory of Dhaka was when I was 5 or 6 and my dadaji would take me on rickshaw rides every afternoon of the summer and take me to get warm peanuts. I don’t remember much of him, but I remember that vividly.”
Getting personal with Zara Rahim
3 things she cannot leave her house without:
Her iphone, eyeliner, and her keys
One random skill that she wished she could learn
“I wish I could sing but no lessons can help this voice!”
Secrets unraveled
She studied abroad in Spain for a semester.
She is a diehard fan of the Los Angeles Lakers.
Zara strongly advocates Bangladeshi women to take a stance in the political conditions.
"Women make up half of the global population yet account for 70% of the world’s poverty. There needs to be a larger focus on advancing the rights of women.” Zara Rahim
