This post is part of the series ‘She’s a Boss!’ where I introduce you to badass ladies with hustle, drive, success, and female friendships that you don’t want to mess with.…well, there are a few guys out there who are just as driven to want to see you succeed, too. Welcome to our first ever He’s a Boss!
You know that one person on the internet who is always posting an IG story, or shooting you a DM at the right time in your life when you didn’t know how much you needed it? That would be Mohammad ‘Mo’ Jaffrey; he is the Instagram BFF you didn’t know you needed in your life.
I was introduced to Mo a few years ago by friends, in conversation only. “Oh, my amazing friend Mo!” “Oh, you need to hear about the cool stuff my friend Mohammad does.” “My amazing coworker Mohammad does it again!” Like, I get it…he’s cool, now let me at him and make him be my friend!
The French would call it “Je ne sais quoi” but I call it just being a well-rounded person. Mohammad’s sweet nature, perfectly coifed hair, and 1,000-watt smile will draw you in, but it his empathy and ability to hear you when you speak, and not just listen, but make you feel truly seen, that will make you want to stick around forever.
Influenced by his ‘TV American Mom’, Oprah, every afternoon at 3 p.m. this first-generation American, his parents immigrated from Pakistan, has that same kindness in his soul as Oprah. That deep-down true kindness that makes you realize that there are wonderful people in the world and they are cheering you on, want you to succeed and in fact, want to take your hand and lead you to your successes.
Once named the Disneyland Resort VoluntEAR of the Year in 2014 and showcased in the pages of Orange Coast Magazine in the Heroes of Orange County Edition for his work with the Big Brother Big Sisters of Orange County, his desire to help others came from needing that help himself as a child. “My drive goes far back, I was the recipient of a lot of help when I was younger as we were low income…and I realized how important it was to help others even as young as in elementary school.”
From a small start of volunteering to help books away in the school library to organizing ‘Locks of Love’ drives in high school and more, giving back has been a fabric of Mohammad’s life and the driving force in his success.
After a ten-year stint with The Walt Disney Company, in a variety of roles and even being awarded the highest Cast Member honor, The Legacy Award, Mohammad has been using his time during the current COVID19 crisis to continue to spread his brand of kindness throughout the internet and with his friends. Whether it’s sending a friend a croissant after seeing her Instagram about missing baked goods or using his time to share his deep emotions and feelings about this uneasy time in society. Mohammad won’t let a ‘stay at home’ order stop him from being there for others, socially distance speaking.
“I’m so used to helping other people, but I realize I need it too, and it’s so important for me to have an outlet.” And his outlet has been helping others feel a little less lost during this time through sharing words of encouragement or even moderating a Virtual Q&A with LA-based therapists for those looking to understand how to manage their fear and anxiety.
While Mohammad is always down to chat about anything from Chris Evans to personal finance and how to stick to a budget, lately, he wants to dig into the importance of soft-skills in our lives. These are the skills people are scared to add to our resume because we think ‘well, how can I quantify that?’ but Mohammad wants us to lean in and say screw it! Most importantly, he wants to talk about interpersonal relationships.
“I’ve joked with people that the only reason I have a career is because I’m nice to people and that is really the truth,” Mohammad shares. “Early in my career I had a genuine curiosity [of others] and realized the strength of interpersonal relationships. Understanding what people want, how they feel, and what they need, is such an important skill.”
We’ve all seen the photos hung in the break room and been preached the difference of a manager verse a leader in our careers. However, Mo believes that not everyone truly understands the strengths that are needed to be a leader. “A manager helps get tasks done but a leader empowers, encourages, and nurtures. Those are not qualities in my belief that people innately possess and it takes a certain kind of skill to truly lead people to greatness.”
Mo doesn’t just believe that leading has to happen in an office, it can happen anywhere. He is setting the intention as an ‘optimistic empath’ to empower, encourage, and nurture others the same way that Oprah empowered, encouraged, and nurtured him through his youth. However, trying to navigate a dream and a passion isn’t always easy.
“I’ll be honest, I struggle in trying to figure out the next step of my journey, I don’t know what these skills translate to and I do better when there is a clear path in front of me. But now I have the world open to me and I can go in any direction…it’s overwhelming to think how are my gifts best used for others?”
His belief in himself and his gifts aren’t wavering despite not knowing where the path in front of him is leading him, but he’s not alone. Other powerhouse thought leaders such as Brene Brown, Gary Vee, Glennon Doyle, and others are leading people to their highest version of themselves all through the desire to want to share their story, empower others and be the cheerleader on the sidelines of our lives.
But until the call comes in for his Ted Talk he’s content figuring out how he can best support others around him, offer advice, share his volunteer journey, and help others find their path. “If I could wave a magic wand, I would love to be close or near to what Brene Brown is doing, inspire learn, and teach others.”
Mohammad can inspire and teach you, too! For more information on your new internet BFF, cheerleader and mentor, you can check him out on his website or stalk him on ‘the gram‘!
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