50 Leading Women: Assia Mahmood

In honor and celebration of our Women’s Division‘s 50th Anniversary, we will be spotlighting 50 Leading Women making an impact, raising their voice, and leading the next generation of women in the workforce and Plano community.

Introducing, Assia Mahmood, Owner of Windhaven Academy. The idea and passion to create her own daycare & preschool began with her first child. She experienced dropping off her daughter at daycare and could not shake the growing desire to create a new space that focused on offering higher standards of safety, nutrition, education, and instilling imagination in the next generation for a lower, more manageable price. Thus was born, Windhaven Academy, independently owned and located in West Plano. Assia and her staff work every day to provide organic, kid approved meals, STEAM class instruction, milestone updates to parents, A FULL SIZED GYM, and most importantly, a safe place where Plano children are well loved and cared for while away from their caregivers.

1. Do you remember your first time attending one of our Women’s Division events? Tell us about that experience and what made you want to come back.

It was amazing to be in a room full of ambitious and accomplished women! Cheryl Jackson, the President of the Women’s Division is delightful to listen to. The panel at my first event was engaging and motivating. I loved that they had so much great advice for women at every stage of their leadership journey.

2. Describe your leadership style and how you lead others.

I try to lead with gratitude. Everyone has a choice, and I am honored they choose to work with me. I try to make sure I’m always grateful for how hard people work. At the same time, I want to make sure I’m developing their skill sets and coaching them to be better within the organization and for themselves. I believe acknowledging the good work people do and guiding them through the areas where they can improve is what leadership is all about.

3. How can women develop their leadership skills in the workforce?

Step outside your comfort zone. Take on a new task. If you keep doing what you’ve always done, you’ll never get where you want to go. Read, study, never stop learning.

4. What are the most important decisions you make as a leader?

As the owner of a daycare and preschool, every decision I make impacts the health, safety, and wellbeing of the children in my care. It is an enormous responsibility and one that I do not take lightly. Especially when my decisions affect the most precious people in someone’s life.

5. What has been one of your biggest joys as a leader?

I love creating a place that my team and my customers love and can trust. I love being available for them and supporting them through their own unique journey.

6. What strategies could be used to promote inclusion in the workplace?

Educating leaders about unconscious bias, celebrating the uniqueness of every team member, and encouraging workers to practice their culture and traditions within the company.

7. What advice would you give your 25-year-old self?

Make big plans and have big dreams but always be ready to pivot. The beauty is in the pivot!

8. What advice can you give to the next generation of female leaders?

Be confident and believe that you have everything you need to get where you want to go.

9. Who inspired you and why?

My dad. He is a self-made entrepreneur, and a father of 4 girls – all of us now in various leadership roles. He taught us to be strong, to speak up, to never stop learning, and to believe that we are capable of anything.

10. What do you want to be remembered for?

For supporting working moms. For the hundreds of moms who have sent their littles to my daycare and preschool – I aim to support them by providing a loving and nurturing environment focused on the health, happiness, and education of their most important people. Giving them this peace of mind can give them freedom to be the boss moms they need to be, when they need to be. I also support the working moms on my staff by providing free childcare at our facility, so they do the same! In the future, I hope to expand my reach further and offer education and support to an even larger network of working moms.