Hook of Hope

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Learning and education is very precious to me as my younger self had to fight against my family, my community, certain ideologies and against all odds just to pursue further and higher education. The journey was difficult but so worth it.

I worked my way up by working in different departments, with roles that wereup or down in grade. I joined the Home Office as an SEO and left the department to go to Treasury as a grade 7. Readers will discover the resilience and strength it takes to find oneself. We will see Nurjahan hook on to hope, as she finds her true and authentic self. This week I attended Civil Service Live in London where I was a panel member; title of the panel discussion was ‘How a strong evidence and science ecosystem can help us improve public service delivery, be more innovative and do more (even with less).’ I appreciate that I can speak Bengali, but the dual identity I felt early on in my life was a bit of a struggle. Growing up in an environment where you have two cultures to balance is difficult for an immigrant. I had to be very eastern at home but demonstrate a western culture at school.I am finally, finally at home," Nurjahan says. "I feel home, for me, is America because this is where I am comfortable in my own skin." I had been to almost 100 deputy director interviews, and I wasn't successful until I was. Still, I always felt that I was punching below my weight. Thank you for the opportunity to have a conversation with you all at a time where it is so needed to help make the #civilservice even more inclusive and welcoming to all.

I have an invisible disability –I'm deaf in one ear – and this has been usedagainst me as though it is detrimental to my performance. I didn't come to the civil service as a long-term career," she told Dods Diversity & Inclusion. "But when my mum had a second stroke,I made up my mind and mapped out what I wanted to do with my career over the next years," she explained. I firmly believe that I belong in the SCS. But I grew up with a dual identity in a family and home that never felt like I belonged. So, I've learned to be resilient and fight against the odds. To all those who were at the event and who are currently on my LinkedIn network please can you share the following with those who I am unable to connect with and reach: Murielle Gonzalez, content strategy manager at Dods Diversity & Inclusion, is an experiencedjournalist and editor.She can be reached on [email protected] of Criminology and Police Science, Mawlana Bhashani Science and Technology University, Tangail, Bangladesh. The interview took place before Khatun's presentation at this week's Ethnic Minorities into Leadershipin Leeds. In the conversation, she revealeddetails of the challenges she encountered, the sources of resilience, and the drivers to become the leader she wanted to be. A whole new world Persistence and resilience only come from having been given the chance to work through difficult problems.