Munira Rahman, hailing from an orthodox Bangladeshi Muslim family, was expected to follow a traditional path of marriage and motherhood. However, she chose to carve her own path, starting with her Instagram account “travelinmyshoes” to share her experiences as a solo traveler. Alongside her passion for dance and choreography, Munira joined her father’s business, Al Haramain Perfumes, where she faced the challenge of establishing herself in a male-dominated industry. Through innovative marketing strategies, she has successfully taken the brand global. Munira’s journey is a testament to her determination to empower women and make a difference in her community.
Munira’s achievements are a testament to her dedication and hard work. This year, she was honored with the Filmfare MiddleEast Young Achiever award for her outstanding performance as CMO. She is also a TEDx speaker on the topic “Empowering Women: Redefining Cultural Mindsets and Prioritizing Support at Home for Professional Success.” As a director and chef marketing officer as well as the brand Ambassador for Al Haramain Perfumes, she has been featured in Khaleej Times for transforming the brand and for Bangladeshi woman in the UAE/MiddleEast with such significant influence in the perfume industry. Additionally, Munira had the honor of being a keynote speaker at the Saudi Women Leader Summit alongside princesses. She was awarded “Most Loved Travel Blogger in the UAE for 2023” by Flite Magazine and “Travel Influencer of the Year 2024 – Runner UP” by Filmfare MiddleEast. She also recently won the “Top 10 retail leaders of year” award by BIGBOX UAE
Reflecting on her experience at TEDx, Munira said in an interview with Astitva Tripathi, “It’s the most overwhelming platform. As a Bangladeshi woman to be standing there and being amongst such prestigious people was a dream come true. Actually never dreamt I would get this far. But when I did I grabbed it with both my hands not just for me but every girl/woman out there to show them anything is possible. TEDx has changed a lot of lives for me and it’s one of the biggest achievements that I can give back to my community.”
When discussing her motivation to become an influencer, Munira shared, “I did not just become a travel influencer. I had to run away from my house when I was taken to Bangladesh saying it was my cousin’s wedding but it was mine. I had to start my life from scratch and my first job was cleaning toilets and slowly I paved up at working spaces. I was free. This is when I wanted to see every part of the world and learn cultures & traditions that I was unaware of since I was kept in a bubble.”
Munira realized that traveling was her passion when she broke free from the constraints of her upbringing. She explained, “Coming from a Bangladeshi Muslim Orthodox family, where solo travel is not encouraged, I chose my own path as a solo traveler. I noticed my traveling has impacted on my audience and my experiences have inspired many women to break free and embrace their independence. While my full-time role includes being the CMO and brand ambassador for Al Haramain Perfumes, I use my travels to not only explore different places but also encourage women to be fearless and confident in pursuing their dreams.”
When asked about choosing her travel destinations, Munira said, “The beauty of the places is within itself. The history, the architecture, the untold stories are the main reasons for my travel. Yes, I enjoy the tourist places but my captions have different views of a story that I imagined. The reality of the places is why I’m there. A lot of tourism can damage the whole idea of traveling but I believe everyone learns something. There is a small tiny box which opens up in your mind changing perspectives.”
For her next destination, Munira is excited about Armenia. “Armenia’s rich history, stunning landscapes, and unique cultural heritage make it an exciting destination for me. I am particularly drawn to its ancient monasteries, beautiful architecture, and the stories that have shaped this fascinating country. As someone who loves history, I’m eager to explore Armenia’s historical sites, cuisine, and culture.”
Offering advice to aspiring travel influencers, Munira emphasized, “Be fearless. Sky is the limit. Make sure you have your itinerary at check and don’t forget to always be safe. Starting a career in traveling requires a lot of courage where there are language barriers, cultural differences and humans aren’t all the same. So while traveling make sure you have everything possible needed in your hand and more than anything make sure it’s not only about a trip but for you to refresh. There should be breaks between days but I usually take breaks on the first and last day to refresh and absorb all that I have done during those days.”
Safety is paramount for Munira while traveling. She advised, “The key is to always come back before 8/9 pm. Yes you heard it right. I start my day around 6 in the morning and explore around and relax. I prefer taking group tours and if you have extra money to spend then get private tours with a good tour company. Always check their ratings and social pages and always make sure they are legit. Your security & safety is a priority so make sure you are more in crowded places when you are wandering alone. But if you decide to take tours you are safe already.”
Regarding the concept of settling down, Munira reflected, “I think in my community I have heard that a lot. When will you be settled? Settling doesn’t mean marriage and husband and kids to me. I believe settling means being content with yourself and the choices you made in your life for your dreams, career and many more. Yes if along the way I do find my person and who is supportive I wouldn’t mind. But for now I’m pretty much settled with myself.”
Munira’s best travel experience was visiting Hiroshima, Japan. “As I said earlier I love history. So when I travelled to Hiroshima, Japan this has changed my life. The ruins of World War II remain there still & it was such as emotional moment to actually see & feel what the innocent lives must have gone through. To see how the city is still struggling up from the ruins. I have realized the struggles that I have gone through are so minimal when compared to these humans who have suffered so much.”
On the contrary, her worst travel experience was missing a flight. “Worse travel experiences would be me missing my flight. Happened just once but other than that nothing Alhamdullilah! But yeah I’m a perfectionist and I need to finish all what I have saved in my itinerary so sometimes due to lack of time or maybe I was exhausted and I had skipped would make me feel like my trip was a waste. But I overcame that and worked on myself because it’s okay not to be able to do everything and embrace every part of the trip even if it’s not all of it. It’s still precious!”
