About Me
Photo by Andrea Chen
My name is Aleenah Ansari (she/her), and I’m a storyteller in every context. I’m a freelance writer covering travel in the Pacific Northwest and beyond, entrepreneurship, and representation in media for publications like The Seattle Times, Insider, Byrdie, and more. By day, I support the adoption of Copilot, Microsoft’s AI-powered chat solution for work, through customer storytelling and demos for events, video production, and awareness campaigns.
As a queer Pakistani woman, I believe you can’t be what you can’t see, which is why I highlight the stories of women of color, people with disabilities, and LGBTQIA+ folks in my writing. I strive to lift as I climb, which is why I help high-achieving professionals and entrepreneurs feel more confident telling stories about their identity and work through 1:1 coaching. I also give talks about storytelling, personal branding, and strategically navigating the job search.
I’m also a 2021 ADCOLOR FUTURE, Human Centered Design & Engineering alumna, TEDx speaker, and 425 Business 30 under 30 honoree. Connect with me on LinkedIn, drop me a line at aleenahansari@gmail.com.
Outside of work, you can find me writing about my favorite hidden gems in Seattle and beyond, reading a book by a BIPOC author, and planning my next trip to New York.
⭐ Rewriting Representation: A Story of My Journey Into Tech⭐
I was invited to share my story for Microsoft’s Inclusion is Innovation campaign. Learn more about my non-linear path to tech, how I bridge creativity and strategy in my work, and the ways that public libraries have shaped me.
Nurtured by the wealth of knowledge found in public libraries, Aleenah Ansari, a product marketing manager at Microsoft, noticed the lack of stories that reflected her experience as a queer Pakistani woman. Determined to bridge this gap, she strives to make technology more accessible through inclusive and authentic storytelling.
⭐ A List of My Career (and Life) Accomplishments ⭐
My TEDx talk about channeling jealousy as a tool for self-reflection
I was invited to be a part of Microsoft’s Inclusion is Innovation campaign, which celebrated my non-linear journey into tech and lessons learned along the way.
I returned to the ADCOLOR Conference to mentor the next class of FUTURES as an alumni ambassador.
I interviewed Tori Dunlap, Charles Yu, Putsata Reang, Alexandria Bellefleur, Ocean Vuong, and others about their latest books for The Seattle Times
I started my freelance writing and speaking business that covers travel, entrepreneurship, and representation in media for publications like Insider, The Seattle Times, Byrdie, Visit Seattle, and more
I created TikToks about my favorite BIPOC-owned businesses in Seattle and beyond with the goal of inspiring others to be everyday adventurers in their own cities. My content has garnered 115k+ views to date and has enabled me to highlight BIPOC-owned businesses, bookstores, and gathering spacs.
I was an ADCOLOR 2021 honoree and 425 Business 30 under 30 winner
I trekked 17,598 feet in the air to Everest Base Camp - read about my lessons learned, what I packed, and even my favorite beauty products that came with me.
I gave my first TEDx talk about channeling jealousy as a tool for self-reflection
I facilitated a live Q&A with Her First $100k founder Tori Dunlap, and later went on her podcast to talk about the power of building authentic relationships!
I wrote mural walks for Fremont, Capitol Hill, University District, and Ballard
I raised $3k for women of color in STEM by creating boxes of products from woman-owned local businesses
I graduated from the University of Washington with degrees in Human Centered Design and Engineering and Comparative History of Ideas
⭐ Features and Awards ⭐
Inclusion is Innovation with Microsoft (article and video)
Storytelling, mentorship and weathering the highs and lows with Aleenah Ansari (article)
425 30 under 30 Class of 2022 Profiles (article)
Seattle Inno Under 25: Aleenah Ansari, Aleenah's Consulting Services founder (article)