Inspirational Somali Woman from Cali Encouraging the Diaspora to Return and Build

[Inquisitive_]

You’re completely mistaken , there are ''plenty'' of Somali professional networks in the diaspora, many of which are thriving and often led by Gen Z and millennial professionals.

Just to name a few:

Global Somali Diaspora (GSD) A well-established global platform that regularly holds conferences and networking events across Europe, North America, and Africa.
https://global-somalidiaspora.com

SNABPI – Somali North American Business and Professional Incubator, recently held its national conference in the U.S. bringing together Somali-American professionals from various fields.

‘Not your typical networking event’: Somali professionals showcase talent at inaugural national conference

Somali North American Business and Professionals Inc. began mostly as a loose project in 2017 on Facebook. It quickly grew to become one of the most popular Facebook groups for Somalis. With more than 15,000 members, it has now officially transitioned from mainly having online interactions to...

sahanjournal.com

SPNEA – Somali Professional Network of East Africa (Kenya)


Somali Professionals Network – Australia

SomaliPN on Instagram: "Final Announcement! Brought to you by SomaliPN and Darusalam Society Inc, our NDIS Networking and Business Expo is happening TODAY! Join us for an amazing lineup of speakers and businesses that you won’t want to miss. Book

10 likes, 0 comments - somali_pn on June 21, 2024: "Final Announcement! Brought to you by SomaliPN and Darusalam Society Inc, our NDIS Networking and Business Expo is happening TODAY! Join us for an amazing lineup of speakers and businesses that you won’t want to miss. Book your tickets...

www.instagram.com

Somali Professionals – Canada

Somali Professionals on Instagram: "🚀 Meet the powerhouse speakers for our first panel discussion of the evening! 🎤 Munassar Ali – Engagement Manager, Automation @ IBM Consulting 🎤 Abdi Hersi – Director, Payment Strategy & Partnerships @ Wealthsimpl

35 likes, 0 comments - somaliprofessionals on February 13, 2025: "🚀 Meet the powerhouse speakers for our first panel discussion of the evening! 🎤 Munassar Ali – Engagement Manager, Automation @ IBM Consulting 🎤 Abdi Hersi – Director, Payment Strategy & Partnerships @ Wealthsimple 🎤 Zakaria...

www.instagram.com

In the UK, there are multiple specialized associations:
– British Somali Medical Association @TheBSMA
– British Somali Educators Association @bsomeducators
– Somali Lawyers Association (SLA) @Sla_network
– Association of Somali Engineers – UK LinkedIn

These aren’t just symbolic groups , many of their events are backed by Somali-owned businesses, banks, fintech firms, universities, and diaspora investors. They connect professionals across sectors and age groups and foster serious initiatives in entrepreneurship, education, healthcare, and tech.

So before making broad, defeatist claims like “we can’t even form a network,” maybe take a second to look around. The networks are there. The collaboration is happening. Just because you're not plugged in doesn't mean it doesn’t exist.

Instead of leaning into “we’re too individualistic” narrative, maybe ask yourself what role you could play in strengthening these networks , or better yet, join one.

I have never heard of them nor has anyone I have asked and looking at the links you posted the last tweet was last year with incredibly meagre following, views and zero engagements, no updates whatsoever, not a single worthwhile project that benefits Somalis done or even claimed.

The website still references 2024, you yourself didn't know about them until you just googled it to respond to me.

Looking around can't see any significant achievements made or claimed, just high ticket priced endless conferences, typical money making schemes, I can post you a 100 of these.

Look as I said to you before, I really admire your optimism in fact I am in awe of it knowing the indefensible position your trying to defend.

My post is not about defeatism, although it appears so, but this is how you talk to a people steeped in false arrogance and pride, you give them the bitter truth and shame them, it's the only way you can illicit action, self reflection and hopefully change from them.

Your post gives the false impression that everything is going really well, and what worries me most is that your not cognisant of the existential danger we are really in as a country, which I have discussed many times and you was unable to counter, but of course your hopium posts sells better.

 

[Idilinaa]

I have never heard of them nor has anyone I have asked and looking at the links you posted the last tweet was last year with incredibly meagre following, views and zero engagements, no updates whatsoever, not a single worthwhile project that benefits Somalis done or even claimed.

The website still references 2024, you yourself didn't know about them until you just googled it to respond to me.

Looking around can't see any significant achievements made or claimed, just high ticket priced endless conferences, typical money making schemes, I can post you a 100 of these.

Look as I said to you before, I really admire your optimism in fact I am in awe of it knowing the indefensible position your trying to defend.

My post is not about defeatism, although it appears so, but this is how you talk to a people steeped in false arrogance and pride, you give them the bitter truth and shame them, it's the only way you can illicit action, self reflection and hopefully change from them.

Your post gives the false impression that everything is going really well, and what worries me most is that your not cognisant of the existential danger we are really in as a country, which I have discussed many times and you was unable to counter, but of course your hopium posts sells better.

You haven’t heard of them because you’ve never looked for them. That’s not a reflection of their nonexistence , it’s a reflection of your passivity. These organizations aren’t going to knock on your door. If you’re not actively engaged or curious, of course you’ll remain unaware.

Frankly, this isn’t the first time you’ve dismissed something without checking. In another thread, you confidently claimed Somali conglomerates like Hormuud weren’t investing in renewables and that prices remain high among other things, I directly showed that wasn’t true. You didn’t acknowledge the correction, you just went quiet, only to resurface later and recycle the same defeatist narrative. That’s not critical thinking , that’s intellectual dishonesty, or worse, an emotional grudge disguised as “realism.”


As for the Global Somali Diaspora (GSD), yes , their last major conference was in 2024, and like every year, the 2025 one is set for September. That’s why the website reflects the last event.

If you had taken even five minutes to explore it , you’d see they’ve hosted conferences and initiatives since 2011. They’re not a “money scheme” , they’re a platform coordinating diaspora efforts globally, including resource mobilization, investment matchmaking..

and even emergency response campaigns (like their El Niño fundraiser for 2022–2023 which mobilized millions). This is all covered in their project pages.

And this isn’t just about GSD. In my original post, I listed ''multiple'' active Somali professional networks across the U.S., UK, Canada, Australia, and Kenya. Many of them , like SNABPI in the U.S. , are fully Gen Z and millennial-led and have thousands of participants.

SNABPI, for example, has 30,000 registered professionals across North America and has held multiple national conferences since 2017. Yet you dismiss all of this because they don’t have a huge Instagram or Twitter following? That’s a shallow metric for impact , most real networking and collaboration happens offline.

‘Not your typical networking event’: Somali professionals showcase talent at inaugural national conference

Somali North American Business and Professionals Inc. began mostly as a loose project in 2017 on Facebook. It quickly grew to become one of the most popular Facebook groups for Somalis. With more than 15,000 members, it has now officially transitioned from mainly having online interactions to...

sahanjournal.com

And this also not a money making scheme that sells high tickets, its all non-profit and volunteer based.

And much like GSD they have actual projects where they mobilize funds , connect organizations/businesses and workshops they set up.

What they are in actuality are nonprofit organizations that takes talents from around the world and connects them to emerging markets, and provides knowledge exchange, capacity building, research and seed money to Somali startups and businesses.

You also keep mischaracterizing my position. Nowhere did I say “everything is going great.” I’m pointing to what ''is'' being done, to show that the picture isn’t as one dimensional as you make it seem. Recognizing success doesn’t mean denying problems. But your strategy seems to be doomposting until someone cries , and then claiming that’s the only way to “wake people up.”

Let’s be real, shame and cynicism aren’t what built Somali resilience , cooperation, trust, and initiative are. If you genuinely care about Somalia’s trajectory, then challenge yourself to contribute or collaborate. Otherwise, at least stop standing in the way of those who are.