Meet Eman Farooq

Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Eman Farooq. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Hi Eman, appreciate you sitting with us today to share your wisdom with our readers. So, let’s start with resilience – where do you get your resilience from?

In a dynamic world that’s constantly shifting and changing around us, it’s easy to lose yourself in the chaos. And quickly you’ll come to realize that every single person you’ll ever come across has their own layered, complex life that they’re living and experiencing at the same time as yours.
I derive my resilience from a deep awareness that everyone is quietly navigating their own intricate battles. This understanding fosters a sense of humility and perspective—reminding me that hardship is a universal thread, even if it remains unseen. In moments of personal struggle, this recognition anchors me; it helps me carry my own burdens with grace, knowing that I am not alone in my pain.
But more intimately, my resilience is shaped by the unwavering strength of my family and closest friends. I have witnessed them endure profound trauma—moments that could have broken them—and yet, they’ve emerged not just intact, but transformed, carrying their scars with dignity. Their courage, their capacity to rebuild in the aftermath of loss, and their refusal to surrender to despair have become the blueprint for my own endurance. It is through their lived example that I’ve come to understand that resilience isn’t about the absence of suffering, but the will to move forward in spite of it.

Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?

My name is Eman Farooq, I’m 23 years old, born and raised in the Bay Area, originating from Pakistan. Today, I am proud to say I am a young woman who’s finally ready to step fearlessly into a life shaped by vision, authenticity and purpose. I aspire to be an artist professionally, not in the narrow, traditional sense, but in a way that stretches across mediums, genres and causes, to tell a story.
As a DJ & singer, fashion model and philanthropist, I hope to carve a path that embraces multiple forms of expression and inspires people to lift each other up, support, and acknowledge one another in a more praiseful, empathetic way. By creating an immersive, emotional landscape people can lose themselves and in that process find something much deeper. My art is simply not to entertain, but to heal, refresh and awaken others to the rawness of life.
What’s most exciting about the journey ahead is that it’s limitless. There’s no script to follow, only a truth to chase. It’s the freedom to be many things at once and evolve endlessly. Bound by nothing, I wish to not choose one dream over the other, but weave them all into a singular, unstoppable narrative.

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?

Throughout the years, I’ve continually adapted to an increasingly fast-paced and complex world.
A quality that gave me the strength to power through roadblocks was resilience. A quote that really stood out to me emphasizing this quality was, “Do it broke, do it scared, do it alone, but just do it.” This mantra became a lifeline for me. There were countless moments where I had nothing, but my vision, no funding, no validation and no roadmap. But, I learned that progress doesn’t require perfection, and movement doesn’t require company. Sometimes the most powerful decision you make is to simply begin. Resilience taught me that waiting for ideal conditions is a trap. You gain strength by moving through the fear, not around it. My advice is to start NOW, with whatever you have. Resourcefulness if often more powerful than the resources. You may feel like you don’t have enough on the table to start, but you do, you always do.

A quote by Albert Einstein, “No problem can be solved in the same level of consciousness it was created in.” suggests that to overcome any challenge you must be willing to shift and broaden your perspective, approaching it from a different mindset or level of understanding than what you started with. I realized that growth – real, meaningful growth – requires stepping outside of your comfort zone. Whether its healing from past wounds, reimagining your purpose, or breaking the shackles of self-doubt, it demands a higher perspective. This meant unlearning, relearning, and embracing stillness, reflection and truth, even when it was uncomfortable. My advice is to prioritize inner work. Spend lots of time alone ; read, meditate, listen, question. The more self-aware you become, the more visionary you can be. Get comfortable sitting in discomfort, because I believe that’s where true insight lives.

One of the biggest shifts in my journey came from purpose-driven clarity and understanding the, “why, how, and what.” circle presented by Simon Sinek. According to Sinek, “Every single person or organization on the planet knows “what” they do and some know “how” they do it, but very few know “why” they do what they do.” (Sinek, TedTalks 2009). Without knowing your “why”, it’s easy to burnout or build something that looks good but feels empty. Knowing what your cause is, why your art exists in the first place, and why anyone should care about it is important to acknowledge. My advice is to always start with the “why”. Write it down, Let it evolve, but always keep it center. From there, map out your “how” – the values, methods, and systems that will bring your vision to life. Then refine your “what” – your tangible offerings, art or impact you want to create. This framework will not only keep you grounded, but help you move with intention, instead of reaction.

All in all, to anyone just starting out in their journey – please give yourself grace, but stay relentless. Always stay curious, be courageous and lead by your truth. The process isn’t linear, but it’ll all be worth it.

If you knew you only had a decade of life left, how would you spend that decade?

If I only had one decade of my life left, I’d choose depth over speed and presence over pressure. I’d live with fierce intentionality – pouring myself into the people I love, the art that moves me and causes that call to something greater than myself. I’d travel not just to see places, but to feel them and experience them fully, listening to stories in unfamiliar accents and tasting unique foods that might spark a memory. I’d create without fear of failure, speak without editing my truth, and love with the kind of wild honesty that leaves no room for regret. I’d make space for stillness as much as I would for celebration – watching the sunset, long walks with real conversation, belly laughter, silence. I’d give more than I take. And I’d try to leave something behind that speaks when I no longer can – my art, kindness and a trail of moments where someone felt seen.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: @djfffaith
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/eman-farooq/

Image Credits

Michael Vincent Academy
Eric Jaipal