Fatema F. Issa, PhD, was raised in a single-parent household with her mother and two siblings. Having to start from scratch with no material possessions to their names, she learned the values of resilience and determination from her mother’s guidance and strength in the face of adversity. Thanks to her tireless work and devotion to improving their lives, all of Dr. Issa’s family members have been able to achieve success in their lives.
As an educator for more than a decade, Dr. Issa takes great pride in guiding and developing strength in people. To her, the job is about far more than imparting knowledge and skills. She seeks to help individuals find the courage and power to take the next steps in their lives. As an extension of her passion for assisting others on their journeys through life, Dr. Issa founded Issa Leads in 2019. The venture serves as a platform that she leverages to empower individuals to identify their strengths, hone their skills, and take charge of their futures. Alongside this role, she has excelled as a project coordinator with U Production and Consulting since 2019 and launched her career as a corporate trainer with Top Notch Consultancy in 2023.
Securing a solid and impressive background in higher education, Dr. Issa earned an Associate of Arts in social science from Northern Virginia Community College in 2008, after which she matriculated at Marymount University, graduating with a Bachelor of Arts in liberal studies, English and social science in 2011. She continued her academic pursuits at Marymount, earning a Master of Education in teaching English as a second or foreign language in 2017 and completing a Doctor of Philosophy in educational leadership and innovation in 2024. Her dissertation focused on the emotional well-being and resilience of educators in her home country of Lebanon, specifically examining the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. Drawing from her own experiences in the country during the initial stages of the pandemic, Dr. Issa sees her dissertation as a significant step toward realizing her long-term professional goals. She plans to finish a large-scale creative project which aims to explore various aspects of her life and experiences.
As part of her multifaceted professional journey, in 2014, Dr. Issa became an English teacher with Curie Learning, serving students from first through eighth grade. She spent four years in this role, during which she garnered additional experience as an English tutor with NovaStar Prep. From 2016 to 2019, she worked as an English language art teacher at the Nysmith School for the Gifted, after which she began working at the Ahliah School. Prior to launching her career as an educator, Dr. Issa spent two decades in the retail industry, starting at the age of 18 working for Nordstrom. After only a year, her hard work led her to be promoted to her first management role, and she gradually took on greater responsibility during the course of her eight-year tenure with the retail giant. She spent a year as an office manager and organizational director before becoming an administrative assistant for Bully Pulpit International in 2012. Dr. Issa rose from the role of executive assistant to become the chief executive officer of Ecosystems Services from 2014 to 2015. Today, alongside her work as the owner of Issa Leads and as a corporate trainer at Top Notch Consultancy, she is the general manager for Vera Restaurant, a new establishment owned by her brother.
Dr. Issa believes strongly in the value of maintaining a positive and nurturing environment as the foundation for professional success. Further, she understands the importance of a supportive social circle and seeks to cultivate environments that foster growth and excellence. Dr. Issa advises women aspiring to enter her field to embrace grace and empathy as guiding principles. She acknowledges the societal pressure for women to adopt a tough exterior to prove themselves but believes that true success comes from leading with compassion and integrity. Encouraging women to approach challenges with resilience and authenticity, Dr. Issa aims to inspire individuals to strive for excellence and overcome any obstacles that may come their way.