Meet Yousef Al-Mukradi

We were lucky to catch up with Yousef Al-Mukradi recently and have shared our conversation below.

Yousef, we’re thrilled to have you sharing your thoughts and lessons with our community. So, for folks who are at a stage in their life or career where they are trying to be more resilient, can you share where you get your resilience from?

I believe my resilience comes from my roots, my family, and the journey that shaped me. Growing up in Yemen taught me early that life can be challenging, but it also taught me that strength is often born in difficult environments. When I moved to Canada, I arrived with my dreams, my camera, and the pen that started it all, the pen I used to sketch my first ideas and write the beginnings of my creative path.

Adjusting to a new country, learning a different system, studying while building my career, and establishing my company Salam Creative required more than talent. It required true persistence. Much of that persistence came from my parents, who believed in me long before the world knew my work. Their support, sacrifices, and prayers continue to give me strength even on the hardest days.

Reema also played a strong and meaningful role in my journey. Her constant encouragement, her belief in my potential, and her ability to remind me of what I am capable of during moments of doubt pushed me forward in powerful ways. Her support made a real difference.

My resilience is also rooted in my sense of responsibility to my community. As a Yemeni artist living abroad, I carry my culture, my story, and the voices of many who never had the chance to share theirs. That purpose motivates me to keep going and to represent my heritage with pride.

Every challenge I faced, from financial struggles to adapting to new environments and starting from zero, became an opportunity to grow. I learned that resilience is not about never falling. It is about choosing to rise each time with more wisdom and determination.

Today, resilience fuels my work as a photographer, designer, and founder of Salam Creative. It reminds me that no matter how simple the beginning was, and even when all I had were my camera and my pen, I always had the power to shape the future I dreamed of.

Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?

I am a photographer, designer, illustrator, and calligrapher, and the founder of Salam Creative, a full-service creative company that brings together visual art, branding, storytelling, and marketing. We specialize in brand identity design along with photography, illustration, calligraphy, marketing, social media management, and video editing, providing clients with a complete creative solution in one place.

What excites me most about my work is the ability to create art that carries meaning. I began my journey drawing and writing with the same pen I still keep today, and now I combine those early passions with professional work that connects people to culture, identity, and beauty. Every project is an opportunity to express something deeper, whether it is capturing a moment with my camera or building a brand identity that reflects someone’s story.

Salam Creative represents my journey from Yemen to Canada and my belief that creativity can bridge cultures and bring people together. Our brand identity services help businesses communicate visually in a way that is clear, authentic, and aligned with their values.

I am currently expanding Salam Creative with new services and upcoming visual projects, including calligraphy-inspired branding and creative photography concepts that highlight Middle Eastern aesthetics in a modern way. My goal is to continue growing the company, collaborate with more creatives, and inspire others through art rooted in identity and resilience.

There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?

Looking back, the qualities that have had the greatest impact on my journey are resilience, consistency, curiosity, and the patience I learned from my mother and father.

Resilience helped me move forward through every challenge, from starting over in a new country to building my company, Salam Creative, from the ground up. My advice for anyone at the beginning of their path is to accept challenges as a natural part of the journey, because real growth often comes from difficult moments.

Consistency made a huge difference for me. Whether I was practicing photography, design, illustration, or calligraphy, showing up every day and improving step by step had a powerful impact. For beginners, I always recommend focusing on progress rather than perfection. Even small improvements can lead to significant results over time.

Curiosity kept my creativity alive. It pushed me to learn new skills, explore different styles, and combine art forms such as photography, calligraphy, and branding. Curiosity leads to innovation. If you are early in your journey, stay open, experiment often, and never stop learning.

Patience also played a meaningful role. It is something I learned from my mother and father, who taught me to stay calm, trust the process, and keep moving forward even when progress feels slow. Their example continues to guide me in both my personal and professional life.

These qualities are not unique to me. They are qualities that can help anyone grow and evolve if they develop them with patience, intention, and a genuine passion for learning.

Alright so to wrap up, who deserves credit for helping you overcome challenges or build some of the essential skills you’ve needed?

Many people have helped me along my journey, but the most influential guidance came from my mother and father. They taught me patience, strength, and the importance of staying grounded. Their support, even from far away, gave me the confidence to keep going through every challenge. The lessons I learned from them shaped the way I look at life, work, and creativity.

Reema also played a meaningful role in pushing me forward. She encouraged me during moments of doubt and reminded me of my potential when I needed it most. Sometimes a few words of belief from the right person can change your direction completely, and she provided that support at exactly the right time.

Together, these people helped me build the qualities I rely on today: resilience, consistency, curiosity, and patience. I truly believe that success is never a solo journey. It grows through the love, encouragement, and guidance we receive from the people who believe in us.

Contact Info:

• Website: http://salamcreatives1.com/
• Instagram: Salamcreative.ca
• Other: Instagram – y0ef_

Image Credits

Yousef Al-Mukradi