Learning to Lead with Courage: From Islamic History to King’s E-Lab
Written by Maryam Bham
When I joined the King’s E-Lab Residential, I arrived with a mix of excitement and self-doubt. As a teacher, I’ve spent years helping others develop critical thinking and problem-solving skills, yet I realised how little school had prepared me for the messy, human side of entrepreneurship. I’ve long dreamed of building a social enterprise, but I lacked the confidence to take that first uncertain step.
What struck me most during the week wasn’t just the workshops or frameworks. It was the people, the ideas, and the mindset behind action. As a Muslim woman, the experience resonated with the women who inspire me: remarkable figures in history whose leadership, strategy, and vision changed societies and economies centuries ago.
These women weren’t just successful in a conventional sense, they were visionaries, leaders, and entrepreneurs in every sense, excelling in male-dominated worlds, building networks, managing resources, and leaving legacies that still shape our world today.
Khadijah bint Khuwaylid (RA) is often remembered as the wife of the Prophet Muhammad (SAW), but that narrative barely scratches the surface. Khadijah was a visionary businesswoman in 6th-century Mecca, independently wealthy, fiercely strategic, and greatly respected. She built a trading empire spanning routes from Yemen to Syria, understood the value of people and partnerships, and led with empathy and trust. Even before the advent of Islam, in a society where women had little recognition, she proved that a woman could own and manage her wealth independently with exceptional acumen. With the revelation of Islam, these rights were protected at the highest level, affirming that a woman’s wealth is hers alone and safeguarding the kind of independence Khadijah exemplified. Her success was not only in trade but in the way she combined ethics with emotional intelligence. She was a leader guided by faith and humanity.
Fatimah al-Fihri, founder of the University of Al-Qarawiyyin in Fez, Morocco, took entrepreneurship beyond commerce; using her inheritance to create an institution that laid the foundation for higher education as we know it today. This was not merely an act of philanthropy; it was a visionary enterprise that shaped the course of learning for centuries. Fatimah structured the university to be sustainable, recruited the best scholars, and created systems of governance that balanced access, excellence, and long-term stability. She understood her “market” - students seeking knowledge - and built an ecosystem around it. Her story shows that true entrepreneurship is about legacy and systems thinking, not just chasing trends.
Lubna of Cordoba, a financial genius in 10th-century Andalusia, managed the state treasury under the Umayyad Caliphate. She negotiated at the highest levels, supervised complex accounts, oversaw public funds and implemented fiscal policies that shaped an entire society. Her analytical brilliance, attention to detail, and courage earned her immense respect within the Islamic world, showing that competence and leadership were valued regardless of gender. Lubna’s achievements remind us that intellect, integrity, and strategic vision are timeless pillars of leadership.
Then there was Razia Sultana, the only female ruler of the Delhi Sultanate in the 13th century. She led armies, made political decisions that defied expectations, and governed through merit rather than lineage. In a world that resisted her very existence, she led with courage, strategy, and an unwavering belief in her vision. Razia’s story is a reminder that as well as vision, leadership also requires resilience against doubt, both others’ and your own.
Zubaidah bint Ja‘far, was another visionary in infrastructure and social entrepreneurship. She inherited significant wealth from her family. She strategically used these resources to create the Zubaidah Trail, a network of roads, wells, and resting stations linking Baghdad to Mecca, facilitating trade, travel, and commerce. She managed contractors, engineers, and resources with bold vision and precision, demonstrating that leadership and entrepreneurship can thrive through foresight, courage, and purposeful action.
Aisha al-Taymuriyya, in 19th-century Egypt, was a scholar, writer, and knowledge entrepreneur. She published books, mentored young women, and created networks for intellectual and social development. Her work reminds us that entrepreneurship can be about education, legacy, and social impact, and that human networks are as powerful as capital or ideas.
Each of these women showed that entrepreneurship and leadership are not only about ideas. They are about people, connection, conviction, and courage.
At King’s E-Lab, I experienced a space where I could see those same values come to life. One of the most unforgettable parts was our brainstorming sessions. We spent hours throwing wild ideas onto the board (some brilliant, others...less so), before piecing together a pitch at the eleventh hour. I’m not exaggerating when I say our first attempts were chaotic. But as we debated logistics, refined our concept, and shared ideas late into the evening, I realised that entrepreneurship isn’t about perfection. It’s about learning, experimenting, and connecting with others. Every discussion, compromise, and last-minute insight brought us closer to a concept that we were proud to pitch as a team.
We also learned how to test ideas with potential customers in a session with The Tech Bros, which taught us the art of listening rather than assuming. We explored the Cambridge innovation ecosystem, learned how to master the art (and occasional chaos) of pitching, and developed research skills like stakeholder mapping and competition analysis, all guided by the incredible King’s E-Lab research associates and mentors.
Learning from Christian Bercham and Francesca Speroni from EFG International was also incredibly insightful. Their honesty about mistakes and moments of vulnerability showed that leadership isn’t about always being right. It is about courage, humility, and the willingness to grow. Their stories reminded me that failure isn’t the enemy; fear of failing is.
The week culminated in a lecture with Thomas Roulet and a surprise guest appearance from Stuart Lyons, whose advice tied together everything we had learned:
“Strategy comes before tactics”.
“No matter how smart people are, don’t employ them without chemistry. Chemistry comes before know-how”.
“The first thing to sell is yourself. Establish empathy, then understand your customer, and sympathise with their position”.
“Leadership is about leading teams towards a common purpose; share your strategy, ask if they’d like to buy in, then bring it to life together”.
“Create a marriage between the design history and the customer”.
As I listened, I thought of Khadijah (RA), Fatimah al-Fihri, and Lubna of Cordoba. Strategy without compassion is hollow and innovation without courage is fragile. The greatest entrepreneurs are those who lead with empathy, curiosity, and courage; values that transcend time, culture, and industry.
What made the residential truly special, though, was not only the lectures or the learning. It was the community. Every mentor, visiting entrepreneur, and student created an atmosphere of curiosity, generosity, and support. And the E-Lab team, Kamiar Mohaddes, Sophie Harbour, and all of the organisers behind-the-scenes, created a space where it was safe to fail, laugh, and grow. I came unsure of my ideas; I left inspired to act, guided by the lessons of history, the wisdom of my peers and the experiences from throughout the week.
Entrepreneurship, I’ve learned, is not just a skill or a role; it is a mindset. It is the courage to try, the curiosity to listen, and the humanity to lead with purpose. It’s learning from historical visionaries who dared to lead, from modern innovators who embrace failure with grace, and from the people around you who challenge and support you. It’s seeing possibilities where others see problems, and building bridges between ideas, impact, and humanity.
The women I admire, like Khadijah (RA), Fatimah al-Fihri, Lubna of Cordoba, and Razia Sultana, remind me that barriers can be broken and that leadership grounded in compassion can change the world. The King’s E-Lab Residential showed me that those same principles hold true today. Real innovation is human-centred, and confidence, courage, and connection are as essential as any idea.
As an educator, I hope that we pass these lessons on, not only in classrooms but in life. Empathy, collaboration, and courage should be nurtured early, so the next generation grows up ready to build, lead, and dream boldly. These principles, which empower and inspire, should be taught long before a residential programme at university. Carrying these lessons with me, I leave the King’s E-Lab Residential with a sharpened mindset and a renewed sense of purpose, ready to take the first steps toward building a social enterprise that makes a meaningful difference, guided by history, grounded in humanity, and driven by vision.
Maryam Bham is a PhD candidate at the Faculty of Education, University of Cambridge, researching how culture, belonging, and resilience shape the way educators lead and create change. Passionate about social impact, Maryam combines research, personal experience, and creativity to reimagine education and leadership. She is particularly interested in how cultural heritage and storytelling can inspire new ideas and empower communities. Through King’s E-Lab, she is exploring entrepreneurship as a tool for positive change, understanding how education, innovation, and community can come together to create meaningful impact.