Nour Consortium: Building a Community of Muslim Women Entrepreneurs
Let me tell you how homesickness led me to build a business that empowered myself and a community of strong Muslim women entrepreneurs.
In 2016, I embraced Islam in a small Texan town, where the Muslim community, though small, was incredibly united. Their warm welcoming filled me with gratitude for my new community. It also inspired my career path, leading me to become a project manager and consultant for nonprofits and small businesses, many of which were led by Muslim community members. It was in helping others and supporting my community that truly gave me fulfillment.
Six years later, in 2022, I moved to the bustling city of Los Angeles, California after getting married. This transition, while exciting, was also a cultural shock. Moving from a quiet little town in south Texas made adjusting to the fast-paced California lifestyle and making friends seem like an impossible task. Don’t get me wrong, I was happy to get married and move to a vibrant new city to start my new chapter in life. But, every once in a while, I experienced a little homesickness. This led me to pursue more solo-activities like drawing and making art, which is my favorite hobby, and soon enough, I began designing personalized greeting cards and tote bags for friends back in Texas. I wanted to let them know I was still thinking of them on those celebrations and special occasions I missed, from birthdays to weddings. Especially since I couldn’t find cards or bags for Muslim holidays at local stores or even online, I loved being able to make my own.
It was a friend who had the “lightbulb” moment for me and encouraged me to sell these creations on Etsy. I decided to use my artistic skills to create Nour Emporium, a small online Muslim gift shop specializing in faith-inspired gifts, stationery, and wrapping essentials. The unexpected blessing? It helped me make friends in my new home. I became a vendor at Muslim pop-up events, meeting other Muslim women entrepreneurs in my area. Finally, I felt like I started to fit in, and I was so excited to start my new “side hustle” which was not only making money but also giving me a fun creative outlet.
Little did I know, my entrepreneurial spirit was just about to grow from there.
It was through conversations with fellow Muslim women entrepreneurs that I noticed a trend. Many of us weren't fully utilizing our potential.
We hesitated to apply professional business strategies, believing our businesses were too niche. This mindset, I realized, was really holding us back. Funny enough, I have a full-time job as a project manager and consultant for nonprofits and small businesses, but I never even considered applying this knowledge to my own business until I started noticing how it could be applied to my fellow Muslim women entrepreneurs. I found myself telling other Muslim women entrepreneurs about the funding available for small businesses like theirs but realized that I hadn't even applied for grants for my own business.
That is how I decided to embark on a new project. I wanted to start taking my business seriously, plan strategically for growth, and bring my Muslim sisters with me on that journey. So, I decided to host a series of business skill-building workshops. I looked for a venue, invited all my new business friends, and hosted a hybrid event that involved brunch, a one-hour workshop, and time to network and mingle. Leveraging my background as a project manager and consultant, I started organizing workshops on topics like branding, goal setting, and even using AI tools like ChatGPT as virtual assistants. I want to share all the business skills I have learned through my career in consulting, and if I happen to not know about a topic, I invite wonderful Muslim women professionals as guest speakers to lead the event. So far, we have business coaches and a business lawyer on queue for the next few months ahead.
Although it is just at its beginning stage, this community has already brought together dozens of Muslim women in a space where they can see each other as a community instead of competition. They are learning from each other and looking for ways to collaborate. At every workshop, we take a moment to introduce ourselves and share where we are in our entrepreneurial journeys. I have noticed how many times after our workshop ends, the attendees start networking, bringing back comments from each other's introductions, and offering advice and resources to support each other.
This group, which I called Nour Consortium, is built on mutual respect, collaboration, shared success, and celebrating each other's achievements.
Here, we replace competition with sisterhood, and gatekeeping has no place. Through workshops and resources, we apply professional strategies to grow our entrepreneurial ecosystem because we believe that together, we can achieve more.
As Muslim women, we are bound by our shared values and faith. Sometimes, we see our faith values as a disadvantage in the business world, especially when we are talking about limited funding, the need for financial literacy, and family or community commitments. What we sometimes forget are the immense rewards that come from conducting business in a way that aligns with our values. Embracing creativity in the way we find funding makes us resilient, and dedicating ourselves to financial literacy adds undeniable value to our ummah (Muslim community). And finding that healthy balance between family/community commitments and our entrepreneurial journey is a testament to our boundless potential. Islam emphasizes sisterhood and the duty to support one another, and creating spaces like Nour Consortium where Muslim women can uplift and celebrate each other’s success is essential for our ummah.
Personally, my business has grown so much since I started collaborating with my Muslim sister entrepreneurs. In February 2024, I finally achieved one of my biggest dreams and opened an Islamic gift shop in Anaheim’s Little Arabia District. I didn’t get there by myself—it was only possible through Allah (SWT) and with the immense support of my Muslim sisters. They give me advice, share feedback, and even send me resources and opportunities to make sure I don’t miss out. It is through that collective knowledge and collaboration that we can truly grow as a community.
To all my Muslim sisters: if you're thinking about starting a business, go for it! If you're struggling, seek advice from fellow entrepreneurs. If you're a successful business owner, share your expertise with your sisters. And always remember, there's enough room for all of us to thrive!
Valeria Trevino is a passionate entrepreneur and community builder who founded The Nour Company with a vision to empower and connect Muslims. Her entrepreneurial journey started with Nour Emporium, an online gift shop for Muslims, which was born from her desire to create a sense of celebration around Muslim holidays in America. Since then, Valeria has expanded her business to include Nour Consortium, a community of Muslim women in business, as well as Nour Modest Apparel, a size-inclusive modest clothing line for the modern Muslim woman.
As a revert to Islam, Valeria's commitment to the Muslim community extends beyond her business ventures. She has also volunteered and supported other national and statewide Muslim nonprofits and organizations. Today, Valeria lives in Los Angeles, California, where she works as a project management and business consultant for social change nonprofits and small businesses.
Through her work with The Nour Company, Valeria aims to create a supportive network that fosters innovation, creativity, and collaboration among Muslims in America. She's dedicated to providing resources and support for those seeking to live their lives in accordance with their faith, and she's committed to building a stronger and more connected Muslim community.