Meet Mariam Rehman, a visionary Muslimah businesswoman who transformed her Australian-Pakistani heritage and passion for food into successful ventures.
Recently chatting with us from Tirana, Albania, Mariam dedicates her time to sharing how her journey began with starting several businesses and how travel has helped them grow further.
Join her in this captivating profile story as she balances her entrepreneurial spirit with wanderlust, plus some future travel tips for those who are thinking of doing the same.
A Woman With Many Hats
Mariam is the co-founder of a food franchise and an entrepreneur in a branding business. She grew up in a small city called Wagga Wagga in New South Wales, located between Melbourne and Sydney.
“It’s a nice place to live and relax, with cute country towns surrounding it, but there’s not much to do.”
Wagga is ideal for escaping the rush of big cities like Melbourne and Sydney.
But the cities have their own appeal too. Melbourne showcases artistic culture and is great for coffee and cafes.
Sydney is known for their beautiful beaches but also ideal for the foodie with fine dining restaurants and an abundance of cultural foods.
Mariam shared more about Australia, that agriculture is a significant and well-respected industry, with food, produce, and cotton grown in New South Wales and being exported all around the world.
Now living in Sydney, Mariam mentioned that her lifelong love for cooking and food is due to her Pakistani heritage.
From Telling Stories About Food, To Strategizing Stories For Brands
Inspired by people’s stories, cultures, and dreams, along with her passion for food, directed Mariam into branding.
“The brand agency came about when I realized that I had a knack for communicating someone’s thoughts in a way that would resonate with the receiver.”
Through Monale, Mariam made people feel understood and helped clients plan and align their brands with customer needs.
Habibi Chicken, A Love Letter To Wagga Wagga
Realizing that Wagga Wagga barely had unique halal options, Mariam and her brother created a food franchise, Habibi Chicken, in 2022.
Through this, they formed a close connection with their community and helped put Wagga on the map.
The siblings expanded their business and opened a second store in Melbourne.
There’s no differences in the food taste between the two stores.
“All our signature sauces and marinations come from Wagga (where fresh produce is grown and crafted).”
- Check out Habibi Chicken in Wagga Wagga (directions here) or in Melbourne (directions here) when in Down Under, Australia.
Balancing Long-term Travel and Multiple Businesses
The love for food and meeting diverse people made traveling very important to Mariam. But being busy with life and work got in the way.
“An idea I quite frankly was nervous about, as I am running three businesses.“
Mariam’s husband was the key driver in their six-month trip.
By planning and traveling together, the couple became organized and stayed one step ahead of their plans.
In their travel marathon, Mariam and her husband visited Jakarta, Bangkok, Singapore, Abu Dhabi, Turkiye, and the Balkans.
The travels boosted their businesses, rather than being a barrier. This experience opened doors to building relationships with the people they met through their journey.
Shifting Perspectives on Heritage & Islam From Various Travel Encounters
From their travels, Mariam and her husband eventually realized that being visibly Pakistani led to certain connotations. They felt as though they were treated like outcasts at a certain point in their travels.
“Where are you actually from?” implied that they were not seen as Australians, though Mariam was born and bred there.
Despite the minor negativity, this didn’t ruin their trip as the majority of the people made them feel welcomed.
There are a lot of curious people, so there is an expectation that you’ll be stared at. This is what Mariam felt, especially as she wears the hijab.
“But it forces you to be secure in what you believe, irrespective of what the majority do.”
Feeling at Home, Away From Home in Albania
Being surrounded by the mountains in Tirana, she found it to be therapeutic. The city also reminds her of Wagga.
The pair reached Albania just after Istanbul, which was much calmer in comparison.
Luckily, Mariam did not face any language barriers and came across many friendly and hospitable people.
Carrying The Wanderer’s Mindset – Pack Light In Mind, Luggage & Heart!
Despite being on the road for six months, Mariam traveled light, which meant she could do some shopping.
“I bought some amazing hijabs in Turkiye (and clothes) in Usmaniyeh.”
She recommends Hush Puppies sandals as they were very comfortable for walking and ideal for the summer.
Wrapping up with the most important advice, Mariam shared how important it is to keep an open mind and find common ground with the locals, especially as Islam is practiced differently in various localities, regions, and countries.
