Meet Rubina A Khan

We were lucky to catch up with Rubina A Khan recently and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Rubina , so happy to have you on the platform and I think our readers are in for a treat because you’ve got such an interesting story and so much insight and wisdom. So, let’s start with a topic that is relevant to everyone, regardless of industry etc. What do you do for self-care and how has it impacted you?

I believe in speed and alacrity at work, but once I am done with a project, I go inwards and recalibrate my physical and mental speed by slowing down the pace. The adrenalin high comes down and harmonizes with my inner self, restoring the balance of energies within my mind and body. A therapeutic massage, prayer, delicious food, watching a comedy series or film, a giggling session with a friend over Face Time always does it for me. I love nurturing my mind and soul when I am at home, in between projects and work travel. I heal when I am with myself and a chosen few loved ones. And then, when I go out and do another project, I am ready to take on the chaos, the beauty and the noise of the world all over again. Beautiful photographs, editorial features and ingenious ideas are fuelled by adrenalin as much as they are by tranquility and quiet. To be in a constant state of flux and anxiety is non-conducive to my work. Going inward and staying homebound works brilliantly for me because if I had to constantly be on the run on the work and social carousel, I’d be burning my creative and physical energy non-stop to no end. I’ve been in that place in jobs where I worked seven days a week, 19 hours a day leaving me physically and mentally exhausted just trying to wake up only to keep up with a relentlessly punishing cycle. That’s when I realised that if I continued the pattern, I’d only be good (and god forbid, repetitive!) in my work, and not great as I intended to be. I am very aware of my patterns at work now and I schedule it all in a way that optimises and enhances my creativity and productivity, without any collateral damage to my health and personal time. I’m still seeking greatness though, which I reckon is a lifelong chase!

Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?

I am an independent journalist, photographer (Getty Images) and a brand architect. It’s a privilege to wake up to new experiences at work everyday and learn from incredible people around the world. A nano-second can create photographic history and you can never plan ahead for these very seconds. They just happen and you’ve got to be at the ready to seize them. No work day of mine is ever the same and I love that! The unpredictability of my day lends itself beautifully (not always though) to a creatively arresting outcome, be it visual, verbal or textual. I also sell prints of my photographs in custom sizes.

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?

I credit my education, my familial upbringing and my fearless approach towards life for playing dominant roles in the beginning of my career as a working adult.

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

I am looking to collaborate with creatives, be it photographers, fashion designers, filmmakers and advertising people around the world on fashion, brand and lifestyle projects that’ll create historic visual moments and brand legacies. I can be contacted on: thykingdomkhan@gmail.com or my instagram @rubinaakhan.inc

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.rubinaakhan.com
• Instagram: https://rubinaakhan.inc

Image Credits

All images shot by Rubina A Khan for The Lana Dubai, a Dorchester Collection Hotel that opened in the UAE in February 2024.