Founder of Femigrants Aytakin (Ika) Aliyeva Shares Advice for Women Entrepreneurs on Building Successful Businesses as First-Gen Immigrants

Success requires qualities like hard work, commitment, dedication, perseverance, and resilience to overcome adversity. For some people, it takes a lifetime before they are able to reap the rewards of all their hard work; but once they taste its ripe fruit, every sacrifice seems worth it.

However, the journey to that point is not easy in any sense of the word, and Aytakin (lka) Aliyeva, the founder of Femigrants, offers a few words of advice to immigrant women looking to live a fuller life with all the sweetness of their labor.

During her childhood, Aytakin experienced the devastation caused by war first-hand. However, she was lucky enough to be born to parents who supported her dreams of going abroad. She was one of the few students in her country, and the only girl in her community, to go on not one, but four student exchange programs to the States. But it wasn’t until she hit her early 30s that Aytakin moved to America permanently and began her life anew.

She has experienced life in all forms, yet has seen, firsthand, what determination and a little belief in oneself can help achieve in the long run.

You deserve more than you think you do

As someone who came to the States for a higher degree and a chance at a better life, Aytakin believed she was limited to low-paying jobs, a common stereotype associated with immigrants. It took a long time for her to elevate her thought process and began to aim high instead, she made other people see her worth naturally in the process. This change in her perception of herself eventually got her a job at Instagram as a Data Integrity Specialist.

It was only after she underwent a significant mindset shift, addressing the common insecurities and doubts faced by immigrants and the impact of societal norms, that she was able to gain a broader perspective on her life. She tries her best to help women realize that they are certainly more than what they believe themselves to be, and deserve all the success and happiness in the world.

Make a solid game plan

Almost everything is possible if one has a solid plan and chooses to stick to it– and that is precisely what Aytakin did with Femigrants. From its humble beginnings as a small Facebook group connecting immigrants and fostering support, Femigrants has grown into a global organization with over five thousand members.

Support your fellow women

Even if it is just one person believing in another, they can be capable of doing anything. The idea that someone holds them in such regard that they wish to see them succeed, serves as a driving force for people. The members of Femigrants share a commitment to the well-being of immigrant women, serving as a platform for support, career guidance, and endless inspiration. It embodies the essence of women supporting one another and embracing the life that they've fought for.

“When we women come together in support of each other and stand together in solidarity, no obstacles can stand in our way. Together, we can create a brighter future for generations of women to come,” says Aytakin.

Aytakin emphasizes the importance of a strong support system as a key factor in achieving success. Only by surrounding yourself with people who believe in you and have faith in your capabilities can a person hope to persist in the face of adversity. She urges her fellow Femigrants never to be afraid to ask for help, for there will always be someone willing to assist you in any way possible. All you have to do is allow that person to help you.

To learn more about Femigrants and what the organization does, click here.