We’re on a Mission to Empower Female Immigrants With the Tools, Training & Network They Need to Build Successful Careers and Businesses in the USA
It’s tough to start your career from square one in a new place. That’s why we’re passionate about helping you gain the cultural confidence and connections you need to thrive in a new country.
Global immigrant women community members
Speakers who share their expertise and tips with our community
Unique annual events and trainings to impart skills and inspire confidence
Immigrant-led sponsor organizations who support our mission
Passionate volunteers enhancing the experiences of immigrant women
See How We’re Transforming Lives by Helping Women Build Their Careers…
“Being an immigrant is challenging, and being a female immigrant adds another layer of complexity. Thank you Aytakin for taking the initiative of bringing this community together through the Femigrants and creating spaces where everyone’s voices can be heard.”
Kanika Sabharwal
India | CNB Bank | Sponsor
“A wonderful day with wonderful women. Great initiative Aytakin Aliyeva and much needed for women coming from different parts of the world and building their lives and dreams in the US.”
Dr. Chandra Vadhana
India | Stanford | Speaker
“Volunteering with Femigrants is an absolute game-changer. The impact of the in-person events that we organize transforms the lives of our immigrant professional community. It’s great leveraging my organizational and interpersonal skills to meaningfully contribute to Femigrants’ mission.”
Elizaveta Gandhi
Russia | Event Team | Volunteer
“Femigrants is an amazing foundation. I found inspiration in the stories of fellow Femigrants, hearing about their journey. It is reassuring to know that you are not alone in this experience, and it serves as motivation to not give up and go for your dream.”
Bermet Mamatalieva
Kyrgyzstan | Event Attendee | Guest
Hi, I’m Aytakin…
Award-Winning Founder of Femigrants
As an immigrant myself, I know firsthand the struggle to find a fulfilling job that matches your skills and experience in a new country. Despite having experience in a well-paying job back in my home country and a graduate degree from the U.S. I still had a tough time breaking into a career that would allow me to use my full potential.
One of my biggest mistakes when arriving to the U.S. was starting from the ground up by applying to low-paid jobs. I did many jobs that I was far too overqualified for; receptionist, babysitter, eldercare, and retail to name a few. Worried about our financial future, I even found myself going door-to-door asking restaurants to hire my husband as a waiter or busboy, despite graduating Social Media Marketing in America.
I discovered that looking for job opportunities while being on a visa would be more challenging than I anticipated. What I learned through this experience was that the competition was fierce and only a few companies were willing to sponsor visas.
Even after finding a better job, when I became a mother, my mental health suffered further as I struggled with balancing challenges of breastfeeding with a demanding work schedule. Despite landing a full-time job, I still noticed bias towards immigrants, especially regarding visa restrictions and intricacies. When I learned other immigrants face a similar struggle without access to resources or guidance, I decided to create a sisterhood of support.
Today, Femigrants helps women immigrants of all ethnicities, cultures, and professional backgrounds succeed by fostering meaningful relationships. In 2021, 10% of noncitizen workers with a college degree were employed in service jobs, compared with 6% of U.S.-born workers. This shows we still have plenty of work to do to put immigrant women on an equal playing-field. That change can only happen when we work together and is only possible with your support.
We’re Here to Change Things for the Better
Among immigrants with a college degree, 20 percent have a low-skill (bottom third) occupation, compared to 7 percent of natives.
Non-citizen workers were more likely than citizen workers to be low-income (income below 200% of the Federal Poverty Level)
One in ten non-citizen workers with a college degree were employed in service jobs, compared with 6% of their U.S.-born peers.
Immigrant women fared worse on poverty measures than either immigrant men or the native-born population.
Femigrants Helps You Transition Your Skills & Experience to Build the Career of Your Dreams
We provide access to much-needed career resources, mentorship, and networks. With the support of successful immigrants from all professional backgrounds, you can more easily adapt to the local work culture. Whether you’re an international student or a seasoned professional seeking to advance your career, we can help.
Our Vision
To be a trusted hub for global immigrants seeking support, career guidance, and inspiration.
Our Mission
To help immigrant women achieve their professional goals and successfully integrate themselves into modern society.
We’ve Been Helping Immigrants Build Thriving Careers Since 2018
We’re excited to help others with their career journeys. But first, let us share ours with you…
Coming to America
Our founder, Aytakin Aliyeva, left behind family, friends, and a well-paying job at an oil company in Azerbaijan to move to the United States. At the age of 30, she was passionate about social media marketing and came to study it at a graduate program of Middle Tennessee State University.
Planting the Seeds
Aytakin moved to California for an internship at New American Media, a nonprofit organization where she learned about the experiences of diverse ethnic groups, immigrant issues, and more.
The Struggle to Succeed
Eager to join the American workforce, Aytakin tried unsuccessfully to get a job that matched her experience. Despite having a successful career in her former country, she struggled to find gainful employment in the U.S. and had no choice but to go door-to-door in search of low-paying jobs in San Francisco.
A Career Hiatus for Family Time
Aytakin and her immigrant husband had two children and felt increased pressure to level up their careers. There was no one to support or share Aytakin’s ups and downs, and the gap in her career plummeted her confidence in applying for better jobs.
Experiencing American Workplace Culture
After encouragement from a potential employer who urged her to apply for jobs that matched her experience and interests, Aytakin finally landed her first tech job at a Bay Area startup. She quickly noticed a lack of work-life balance and struggled to thrive as a breastfeeding mother with 24/7 work commitments. Her next job at a Fortune 500 Tech company offered a better balance and access to a diverse pool of talented leaders from around the world.
Searching for Answers
As she continued rising in her career, Aytakin began wondering if she was the only immigrant struggling both financially and mentally due to a lack of support. She decided to interview other immigrant women in STEM and business to learn about their journeys. Publishing these stories on social media led to widespread interest and empathy, with many women reaching out to share their inspiring stories.
A New Community is Born
To harness the power of this emerging community, Aytakin built an online platform for female immigrants. This Facebook group rapidly gained popularity, with hundreds of new members joining each week. Buoyed by its popularity, Aytakin registered Femigrants as a benefit corporation and went on to plan more than 30 events. The vibrant Femigrants community grew from just 10 members to more than 4000 and was featured in Forbes and other international news media.
Exciting Things Ahead!
After a pause in activities due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Femigrants was relaunched as a non-profit. In March of 2023, we were delighted to hold our first in-person event since the pandemic. The vibrant community is going strong, with over 5500 members and a wonderful team of talented volunteers.
As founder, Aytakin was recognized as a Woman Changing the World with double Gold awards for Migrant Leadership and Cultural Diversity and Inclusion. Femigrants has an expanded advisory board, features on news media channels, and global recognition as an organization that is changing the world. Now, it is poised to help even more immigrant women achieve their career goals through teaching skills in cultural adaptation, career advancement, and more.
Femigrants remains committed to the success of every member. With more than 5,500 members around the globe, we’re just getting started on our mission to make a lasting difference. Whether you’re looking to pursue your dreams as an immigrant, or you’re an ally to the cause, we rely on your support to champion change.
If you’re an ambitious woman who shares our vision, we’re excited to welcome you to the community.
Are You Ready to Build the Career of Your Dreams in the USA?
Maybe you’re a new arrival wondering where to start when it comes to the job search and application process. Or, perhaps you need support with negotiating a promotion or landing a senior-level role you know you’re qualified for. Whatever the situation, our network of women business leaders can help.
