Walking down the bustling Edgware Road in central London, one can spot a big blue sign with a crown in the middle that reads Kings Pharmacy in both English and Arabic. This flourishing business was established in 2013 by a strong Kurdish woman on her path to redefine the power of Kurdish women.

Zaynab Alikamal was born in the vibrant city of Sulaymaniyah in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq. At the age of seven, when her father was elected to the first term of Kurdistan Region Parliament, her family moved to Erbil. These were days of joy but also fear for the people of Kurdistan, as they had just expelled the Ba’ath regime from its territories and were laying the foundation of an autonomous region that would later become the source of hope for Kurds throughout the world.

Kurdistan Chronicle caught up with Alikamal to learn more about her life. Her achievements and commitments in the face of challenges serve as an inspiration for young women striving to shape their societies in powerful ways.

A self-made woman

After moving to London in 2003, Alikamal embraced a new life in a different world. At just 16, she entered the workforce as a sales assistant in a small retail shop, determined to start from the ground up in the world of business. Despite her family’s wishes that she focusses solely on education, Alikamal knew she wanted to be a self-made woman, integrating into society while staying true to her Kurdish roots.

Gradually finding her way toward success, she was honored as the “Young Entrepreneur of the year” at the British Parliament's Newroz reception for the Most Successful Kurds in Britain.

A few years later, she was named Kurdish Peace Ambassador by the World Organization for Peace Without Borders (GPWB) in Paris, an acknowledgment of her dedication to peace and representation.

Years passed and the world was hit by the Covid-19 pandemic, but Alikamal could not sit still; she supported her community in every way possible. Her dedication was recognized by London’s Marble Arch, which named her “Hero Woman in Medicine.”

But these achievements are not solely the result of her determination and ambitious personality. Education has also played a significant role in shaping Alikamal’s path. She studied at Anglia Ruskin University in Cambridge, earning a bachelor’s degree in international marketing, diplomas in business and marketing management and in pharmacy, and a master’s in international marketing and innovation.

While Alikamal says her parents have served as the source of her inspiration throughout her life, she also considers some Kurdish and international women as role models.

“My greatest role model was my grandmother, Maleha Aziz Qadir. Also known as Mali, she was a fearless peshmerga fighter who endured imprisonment yet never wavered in her love for her people. She instilled in me the strength to fight for justice and never abandon the dream of an independent Kurdistan. I also deeply admire Layla Qasim, who sacrificed everything for Kurdish freedom, and Oprah Winfrey, who turned adversity into power, inspiring millions.”

Standing tall as a Kurdish woman

Growing up as a young Kurdish girl in London involved both struggle and transformation for Alikamal. Leaving behind her homeland, she faced the challenge of achieving success in a foreign country while proudly holding on to her Kurdish identity.

“Blending in was never just about adapting; it was about standing tall as a Kurdish woman in a society that often didn’t understand my heritage or the depth of my roots,” Alikamal said. Her story, however, demonstrates her unbreakable spirit and proves that Kurdish women can be independent, ambitious, and capable of leading in any space they enter.

As the daughter of a peshmerga veteran and patriotic politician, Alikamal refuses to compromise on her father’s legacy and abandon the fight for a prosperous future for the Kurds. However, balancing tradition and modernity, fighting misconceptions, and ensuring that Kurdish culture is not erased are daily struggles for a businesswoman living in a foreign land.

“I have remained steadfast in my belief that modernity should never come at the expense of authenticity,” she remarked.

Builders, not burdens

Alikamal has already achieved a great deal, but what makes her story truly inspiring is that she started as a migrant in a foreign land.

In many countries across Europe, some host communities might view migrants as a burden on the local economy or even a threat to the culture of the host community. But Alikamal thinks differently and is trying to fight these stereotypes. Throughout her career and contribution to society, she has one message – immigrants are builders, not burdens.

“We don’t just adapt; we innovate, invest, and uplift the societies we join,” she emphasized. “Judge us by our contributions, not misconceptions, because we carry the essence of our homeland while making our new homes better, stronger, and more prosperous.”

While staying strongly connected to her Kurdish roots, Alikamal realizes that the UK didn’t just give her chance, but a purpose.

“Living and working here allowed me to grow, embrace diverse perspectives, and refine my values. I feel like I am a British Kurdish peshmerga on an international scale, fighting not with weapons, but with knowledge, resilience, and innovation,” she said, underscoring how living in the UK has taught her adaptability and integrity.

Alikamal strives to bring all her experience back to Kurdistan to serve her people. She sees this not only as a mission for a patriot Kurd, but also as a responsibility to follow her father’s path and pass on his legacy to future generations.

“I want to serve my nation, uplifting its economy and inspiring the next generation of Kurdish leaders. Ultimately, I hope to see Kurdish women leading change and shaping the future with strength, determination, and pride.”

Durya Azad is a Kurdish journalist based in Erbil, Kurdistan Region.