Today we’d like to introduce you to Nausheen Siddiqui.
Hi Nausheen, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I’m Nausheen Siddiqui, an IT Service Management Product Manager at Toyota Motor North America. I’m also a mother of three and wife to a very committed (and very busy) entrepreneur. Life at home is a mix of strategy, chaos, and caffeine and I wouldn’t trade it for anything.
I earned my bachelor’s in Computer and Information Systems Engineering from NED University in Karachi, Pakistan. After becoming a mom, I worked online from home helping with our family’s digital product business while raising my kids. I joined Toyota in 2018 as a contractor and became a full-time Product Manager in 2021.
Beyond work, I’m passionate about creating positive change in my community empowering women, mentoring youth, and addressing stereotypes about Muslim hijabi women. I recently collaborated with the NED Alumni Association in Dallas to provide career coaching for youth, which was an incredibly rewarding experience. I believe that when we share our experiences honestly, we make it easier for others to step forward with confidence. I’m always open to partnering with individuals and organizations who share these passions and want to collaborate on meaningful community initiatives.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Like many immigrants, I’ve faced my share of challenges. The biggest one was leaving family behind in Pakistan to start a new life in the U.S. Building a career while raising kids and supporting my husband’s entrepreneurial journey hasn’t been easy, it takes a lot of juggling (and some deep breaths).
The hardest part is being so far from family. My parents still live in Karachi, my brother’s family is in London, and my sister’s family is in Sydney, Australia. With loved ones scattered across three continents, it’s tough knowing that my kids are growing up without the day-to-day connection to their grandparents, uncles, aunts, and cousins. If I’m not in Dallas, there’s a good chance I’m in one of those cities — refueling with family, laughter, and way too much chai.
Then there’s the reality of being a visibly Muslim woman in America. Wearing the hijab means you often stand out, sometimes in ways you don’t want to. I still remember walking into a Macy’s at Willow Bend Mall about ten years ago and realizing the staff was going out of their way not to help me. When I came back to my car, there was a note telling me to “go back to your country,” with a few other choice words I won’t repeat. It was awful, and for a while, it made me want to disappear.
Unfortunately, that experience isn’t unique to me. Many hijabi women face similar moments of discomfort, the stares, the assumptions, the subtle profiling. It’s part of our day-to-day reality. But I’ve also seen things slowly get better over time. With growing awareness through diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs, more workplaces and communities are beginning to understand and appreciate the value of true representation. There’s still a long way to go, but the conversations are finally happening and that gives me hope.
I joined Toastmasters and started talking about my experiences through speeches. It helped me heal, and I realized that silence only helps prejudice grow. Speaking up and helping others do the same became a big part of my purpose.
I’ve volunteered as a youth leadership coach at Future Stars Leadership Club, where I helped teens build confidence and communication skills. I want every young person, especially girls who choose to wear the hijab, to know that they can stand tall, be proud, and be proud of their identity.
I’m also active in TAASIA (Toyota Asian American Society In Alliance), which represents the diverse Asian cultures within Toyota. I’ve served as a panel speaker and communications manager for various TAASIA events, including a session where I shared personal experiences about bias and belonging. Those conversations matter, they remind us that diversity isn’t just about numbers; it’s about voices.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
Being a Product Manager requires a mix of strategic vision, user empathy, and execution skills. I focus on defining product roadmaps, understanding customer needs, and leading cross-functional teams from tech and design to marketing to deliver products that truly make an impact. My core strengths include strategic thinking, clear communication, and balancing business, technical, and user priorities.
I’ve worked as a Product Manager for e-commerce applications, enhancing customer experiences and adding new features. I have expertise in digital product development using Agile and Scrum practices gathering and prioritizing customer requirements, creating a product vision and roadmap, and aligning stakeholders to build successful products that meet business goals.
I’m excited about how AI is transforming the way we work. The potential it brings from improving processes and decision-making to creating smarter, more personalized customer experiences is incredible. Across industries, AI is helping us reimagine what’s possible. I see it not just as a tool, but as a catalyst for innovation and growth. It’s changing how we think, how we collaborate, and how we prepare for the future.
I’m very proud to be part of the Toyota family. I love Toyota’s Kaizen culture, which focuses on continuous improvement and learning. Currently, I lead the IT Service Management products and processes, focusing on Incident, Problem, and Change Management for Toyota Motor North America.
I’ve been with Toyota since 2018, and it’s been one of the most rewarding chapters of my career. The culture here is rooted in respect for people — regardless of background, accent, or identity. It’s one of the few places where you feel seen for both your work and your individuality.
Can you tell us more about what you were like growing up?
I grew up in Karachi, Pakistan, in a middle-class family with two siblings. I was a quiet, curious kid loved playing with my siblings and listening to Pakistani pop music. Then, around eighth grade, something clicked, I suddenly became very studious and started excelling in school, scoring at the top of my class.
I wasn’t sure what I wanted to be, but I knew what I didn’t want.. and that was biology. Luckily, my school introduced Computer Science around the same time, and that completely changed my path. I loved it, and it led me to study Computer and Information Systems Engineering at NED University, one of Pakistan’s top engineering schools.
That decision shaped everything that followed. Today, I’m an active member of the NED Alumni Association in Dallas, helping organize events and mentoring young professionals from our alma mater. It’s nice to give back to the same community that gave me my start.
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