Article by Kelly Stenka
As an immigrant from Iraq, Hiam Al Naqqash’s journey to becoming a business owner is as unique as her creations.
In her home country, Naqqash’s days were filled with visits to family and friends. Whether with cousins and uncles or her mother and children, family life kept her busy. Alongside this, Naqqash pursued her love of learning, earning a bachelor’s degree in accounting.
Fast forward to when Naqqash, her husband and their two sons immigrated to the United States. She quickly found a job to help immerse herself in the culture and build connections. With her accounting background, she also applied for and got a job as a tax preparer. Just three days before completing her first tax season, Naqqash welcomed the birth of her daughter, Zumurda.
Her daughter’s arrival sparked something new in Naqqash. Having grown up with brothers and as a mom to two sons, she delighted in sharing the world with a little girl.
As Naqqash continued to build her life in the US, she noticed a lack of connection. Sure, she stayed in touch with family and friends back home with social media, but it wasn’t the same as face-to-face interactions every day. She also felt the strain many working parents do — juggling sick kids, work, and everything in between.
She knew she wanted - needed something that would fit her and her family’s lifestyle better.
When Zumurda’s first birthday arrived, Naqqash wanted to throw a memorable party but couldn’t find the decor style she had in mind. So she did as any other creative mom does - take the DIY approach. From decor to individualized gift bags, Naqqash’s special touch and customized ideas were woven throughout the celebration. Friends and family were delighted with Naqqash’s crafty creations. They asked her if she could do customized items for them as well. With her husband’s encouragement, Naqqash saw the opportunity to turn her craft into a business.
When Naqqash decided to get serious about pursuing her customized creations business, she connected with Kelly Ross, owner of Echo Collective. Through coaching sessions, Ross encouraged Naqqash to pursue Doane University’s Go for Launch workshop, an eight-session program designed to spark excitement for business creation and ownership in entrepreneurs and the Lincoln community.
Naqqash met several like-minded individuals through the Go for Launch program, some of who were additionally pursuing their master of Business Administration (MBA) through Doane. Inspired, Naqqash explored the MBA program and, with her bachelor’s degree transferring, decided to pursue it herself. Now halfway through the program, she’s gaining insights into everything from organizational behavior and bookkeeping to marketing and customer acquisition.
Naqqash is passionate about expanding her work beyond custom creations to empower other women—especially newcomers to Lincoln. As an immigrant herself, she understands the challenges they face and teaches creative skills that can help them start their own crafting businesses. Her classes not only foster self-sufficiency but also help participants overcome language barriers and ease homesickness, building a sense of community and connection. “I want to make a connection with women here. It doesn’t matter if you’re American, Mexican, Nigerian - l want to connect. I can help others overcome a lot of barriers since I’ve been through them myself.” Naqqash’s classes encourage creativity, learning and empowerment.
Others saw potential in her as well. When she applied for a grant through Arrive Coworking to expand her business, she was awarded $10,000. With this support, Naqqash can invest in essential aspects of her business like bookkeeping, marketing, and website development.
Naqqash’s ultimate goal is to open her own studio, where the community can shop her creations and women can gather to learn and connect. Until then, her business, Emerald by Hiam—named after the English translation of her daughter’s name—continues to be a beacon of community, learning, and custom craftsmanship.
