RISING ICON #95: Arshia Hussain
What name do you prefer to be called?
Arshia
What are your pronouns?
she/her
Where did you grow up?
Brooklyn Park, MN
What city are you currently based in?
Still Brooklyn Park!
How do you typically introduce yourself to new people?
When I introduce myself to new people, I don’t hold back. I say I’m a young leader, a strong and powerful Muslim woman and most importantly a radical feminist to my core, unapologetically centering women’s rights across borders, sectors, and identities. I believe in dismantling systems of oppression that have silenced and marginalized women for too long. Whether in the social world, the workplace, or policymaking spaces, I’m driven by the conviction that real change requires us to challenge the status quo—and I’m here to disrupt it. I am a disrupter and a challenger!
What’s one thing you wish more people knew about you?
I wish more people knew just how fiercely I believe in the power of collective action to create radical, transformative change. I’m not interested in just "moving the needle"—that’s no longer enough in this stage of capitalism. We don’t have to settle for incremental progress when we have the power to demand everything we need to thrive. The status quo wasn’t made for us, and I’m committed to tearing it down so we can build something better together.
Who do you help?
I help myself, my people, and my community—the ones who bear the weight of oppression and are fighting to break free. Whether they look like me or not, they share the same struggle of resisting systems designed to keep us down. I stand with those who are done with merely surviving and ready to demand more—because we deserve it.
What are you building now?
I’m building a future where women and marginalized communities are at the center, where wealth isn’t hoarded by billionaires while the working class edges closer to poverty. I want a world where equity isn’t an aspiration, but a reality, where our planet is safe from exploitation, and our children can go to school without fear. I’m fighting for a future where disagreements don’t turn into attacks, where safety and justice go hand in hand, and where we invest in people, not profits.
What were you building ten years ago today?
10 years ago, I was 14 and starting high school. Donald Trump had just announced his candidacy for president. As a young person who could not vote, I thought what could I do? Is civic engagement possible for a 14 year old? It is!!! I became close with a local leader named Susan Pha and she was running for city council in Brooklyn Park. Her platform stood for community leadership and justice. And I knew I was aligned with her. So, at 14, with an adult chaperone, I doorknocked for her and met so many of my neighbors and got visibility to what adults cared about. What does it mean to be a resident of Brooklyn Park? I know what it was like to be a kid. It was empowering to be part of something bigger than myself. Through hard work, dedication, and the collective effort of volunteers like me, Susan Pha was elected to the city council, and today she’s a state senator. Knowing I played a role in that journey makes me proud.
Now, as an adult and still a resident of Brooklyn Park, I carry that same spirit of engagement with me, always striving to make my community a better place for everyone.
What do you predict of yourself 10 years from now?
In 10 years, I see myself on a planet that’s not just surviving, but healing—a world where we’ve dismantled oppressive systems and built social change that’s real and lasting. I envision a future where the outdated stereotypes about Muslim women and young people have crumbled under the weight of our power, our voices, and our leadership. By then, I hope we’ve shifted the narrative entirely and are investing in young people as the changemakers and disruptors they are, not as tokens or afterthoughts, but as the architects of a just and liberated future.
What’s a fact or statistic you wish everyone knew about your industry?
Only 1.8% of philanthropic dollars are dedicated directly to women and girls. Even less for women of color.
Why do you believe the work you do matters?
The work I do matters because true liberation isn’t individual—it’s collective. When one of us rises, we all rise. When we dismantle systems of oppression, it doesn’t just benefit the marginalized, it transforms the world for everyone. My work is about creating a future where we no longer have to say, "When we all do better, we all do better," because that truth will be embedded in the very fabric of society. This work is about reshaping power, redistributing resources, and ensuring no one is left behind.
Who is your mentor and what is the best advice they’ve given you?
I have so many mentors that have all supported me in so many different parts of my journey. There is always a theme of feeling lost or not knowing what to do next.
Choose the path that allows for your agency.
My good friend, colleague, big brother, and mentor James Arroyo Miller told me this when I was in a critical moment of my career deciding what in the world am I supposed to be doing? I was struggling with re-shaping myself to fit in a box but I believed that box was good. Or should I move on and be me?
What publication do you hope to appear in next?
Forbes 30 under 30-
Who would you love to be interviewed by?
I would love to be on The Digital Sisterhood.
If you had to give a TEDTalk tomorrow, what would the title be?
The world is safer when women are leading
What makes zero sense to you?
The prison system
What’s a word in your industry you hope gets re-evaluated?
Transformative
What game are you changing?
I’m not just changing the game—I’m flipping the entire board. The game of compliance with systems that were never built for us? I’m done with that. I’m here to rewrite the rules, where power is redistributed, and marginalized voices are at the forefront, not the margins. I’m working to change the game of who gets to lead, who gets to thrive, and who gets to make decisions about our future. This isn’t about playing by the old rules—it’s about creating new ones that center justice, equity, and radical transformation.
I want to reshape how we think about democracy and civic engagement. Let’s not compete with one another, let’s help each other.
What’s the next thing you’re a part of that you want to invite more people to participate in?
Reviving Sisterhood! I am supporting their fundraising and advocacy work. I would love more people to learn about the intersection of sexism and Islamophobia and Muslim women are often leading from the front.
Where can we follow you online? (include link your most active social media profile)
I love to see what young people are watching on tiktok but if you want to connect with me and talk shop, check out my LinkedIn
What’s one thing that makes every leader better?
Being a real one. Speak to truth, trust, and reality.
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We’re grateful to each Rising ICON for their transformative work. Thank you, Arshia, for sharing your story!
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“I envision a future where the outdated stereotypes about Muslim women and young people have crumbled under the weight of our power, our voices, and our leadership.”
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