Meet Kinza Azmat

We were lucky to catch up with Kinza Azmat recently and have shared our conversation below.

Kinza, thank you so much for joining us today. Let’s jump right into something we’re really interested in hearing about from you – being the only one in the room. So many of us find ourselves as the only woman in the room, the only immigrant or the only artist in the room, etc. Can you talk to us about how you have learned to be effective and successful in situations where you are the only one in the room like you?

Let me be real — being the only person who looks like me in the room has been a journey of turning potential obstacles into my biggest strengths. Throughout my career, from engineering to consulting to business acquisition, I learned that competence speaks louder than anything else. I developed this approach of showing up prepared, knowing my stuff inside and out, and letting my work do the talking. At Southwest Airlines, I learned how to lead by example, managing diverse teams and solving complex problems with a mix of technical skill and empathy. My communication style became direct but warm — I wasn’t interested in fitting in, I was interested in standing out.

Dealing with discrimination and bias hasn’t been easy, but I’ve refused to let it define me. When an investor once dropped a wildly inappropriate comment about “pregnancy covenants,” I shut it down professionally and moved on. My strategy has always been to see these moments as opportunities to prove myself, not barriers to hold me back. I build networks, seek mentors who get my vision, and focus on delivering exceptional value. Every time someone underestimated me because of how I look, I used that as fuel to work harder, think smarter, and create opportunities that spoke for themselves. In the end, my results have always been my most powerful response.

Thanks for sharing that. So, before we get any further into our conversation, can you tell our readers a bit about yourself and what you’re working on?

When I was growing up as a first-generation immigrant watching my dad run laundromats, I never imagined I’d become an entrepreneur who helps business owners navigate the complex journey of building, growing, and ultimately selling their companies. My work through Chief Rebel is about demystifying business ownership — showing that there are multiple paths to success, and that your background doesn’t determine your potential. My book “Leverage” tells the story of how I acquired an $8.5M apartment locating business, but it’s really about the deeper lessons of strategic thinking, resilience, and transforming opportunities.

Beyond writing and sharing my own journey, I’ve developed peer groups and exit advisory services that give business owners a rare kind of support. These aren’t just networking groups –they’re spaces where entrepreneurs can get honest, tactical guidance about increasing their business’s value, preparing for potential sale, and making strategic decisions. My approach comes from personal experience: understanding that every business has unique potential, and that with the right perspective, owners can create meaningful value. For entrepreneurs looking to dig deeper, I’ve created a 25-module resource breaking down business acquisition, improvement, and sale, and my book offers an unfiltered look at what entrepreneurship really looks like. This isn’t about selling a dream — it’s about providing real, actionable insights for people who are serious about building something meaningful.

Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?

My engineering background taught me that every challenge is essentially a problem waiting to be solved systematically. In aircraft repair, I learned that pressure doesn’t break you — it reveals your capability. For aspiring entrepreneurs, I recommend developing this mindset by deliberately putting yourself in challenging situations. Take on projects that seem impossible, practice breaking complex problems into smaller, manageable steps, and train yourself to see obstacles as puzzles rather than roadblocks.

My operational expertise came from years of consulting and leading teams in high-pressure environments like Southwest Airlines. This wasn’t just about technical skills, but about understanding human dynamics, organizational systems, and how small improvements compound. My advice here is to be curious across industries. Don’t just learn your own field — study how different businesses operate, ask questions, and look for transferable principles. The most innovative solutions often come from connecting insights across seemingly unrelated domains.

Finally, my ability to see opportunity stems from a combination of analytical thinking and emotional intelligence. I didn’t just look at numbers; I looked at the human stories behind those numbers. For those early in their journey, this means developing both hard and soft skills. Learn financial modeling, understand market dynamics, but equally important, learn to listen deeply. Talk to business owners, understand their challenges, and practice seeing potential where others see limitations.

The through-line in all of this is a growth mindset. Every experience is a learning opportunity, every setback a lesson. Stay humble, remain curious, and never stop believing that with the right approach, you can transform potential into reality.

Okay, so before we go we always love to ask if you are looking for folks to partner or collaborate with?

I’m always looking to connect with two key groups: aspiring entrepreneurs who are serious about building meaningful businesses, and established business owners who want to strategically increase their company’s value and prepare for a potential exit.

For aspiring entrepreneurs, I’m particularly interested in working with individuals who are hungry to learn, willing to challenge traditional narratives, and coming from non-traditional backgrounds. If you’re a first-generation entrepreneur, someone looking to break out of corporate constraints, or an individual who sees business ownership as a path to both financial freedom and meaningful impact, I want to hear from you.

For established business owners, I’m seeking those who are thinking strategically about their business’s future. If you’re looking to understand how to systematically increase your company’s value, prepare for a potential exit, or simply want an outside perspective on your growth strategy, I can help. My approach combines deep operational expertise with a holistic view of business value creation. I’ve walked the path of acquiring, transforming, and growing a business, and now I’m committed to helping other entrepreneurs do the same.

My peer groups support both are designed to provide the tactical, no-BS guidance that I wish I’d had when I was starting my journey, supporting both aspiring and established business owners.

Ultimately, my goal is to democratize entrepreneurial success. Whether you’re just starting or looking to take your business to the next level, if you’re committed to growth and willing to put in the work, I want to support your journey.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://thechiefrebel.com
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kinzaazmat/
• Other: Newsletter: https://chiefrebel.ju.mp/
  Pre-order book w/free resource library: https://www.thechiefrebel.com/book
  M&A Advisory Firm: https://www.theoptimateam.com/