They laughed at me when I said, "I'll live in America one day!"

From Laughter to Leadership: My Path from Rural Roots to Forbes Features.

They said a girl like me could never dream big. They laughed when I told them I’d live in America. Growing up in a post-Soviet rural town where female leadership was frowned upon, I was constantly told to "stay in my lane." But I dared to dream.

Today, I’m the founder of Femigrants Foundation, leading a global community of diverse female immigrants in Silicon Valley, and I’ve been featured in Forbes, Business Insider, and Yahoo Finance.

In this video, I introduce myself and answer 5 powerful questions:
00:00:00 - Aytakin (Ika) Aliyeva intro
00:00:26 - Three words that describe you (and why).
00:00:55 - What mistakes did you make as an immigrant?
00:02:35 - What is the of the Verso Talk Show?
00:04:05 - Your advice to immigrant women?
00:05:28 - What is your legacy?

💡 Whether you're an immigrant woman, a dreamer, or just someone who has ever been told "you can’t," this video is for YOU.

🔥 Why you should watch this video:

If you’ve ever faced discouragement or doubt, my story will inspire you to keep going.
It’s not just about breaking barriers—it’s about redefining what’s possible.
You’ll hear firsthand how I overcame obstacles, cultural expectations, and naysayers to create a legacy of empowerment.

My advice for you: Don’t let where you come from define where you’re going.

🎥 Watch now and join me on this journey of resilience, courage, and leadership. Together, let’s empower the next generation of immigrant women to dream BIGGER.

👉 Subscribe for more inspiring stories and tips on leadership, empowerment, and breaking barriers!

*Every Wednesday, I will share video interviews with successful immigrant women leaders who are investors, million-dollar startup founders, executives in tech, etc

Femigrants Foundation: https://femigrants.com
My LinkedIn:   / aytakin-aliyeva-femigrants  

#SiliconValley #ImmigrantWomen #FemaleLeadership #DreamBig #FemigrantsFoundation #VersoTalk