Khadija Ali is a resilient leader whose journey from Somali refugee to the President and CEO of Global Language Connections exemplifies the power of purpose-driven entrepreneurship. Based in Minneapolis, Khadija Ali leads a firm that offers interpretation, translation, and cultural consulting services in more than 200 languages. Her early life was shaped by the trauma of war and displacement—fleeing Somalia with her family, enduring time in Kenya, and resettling in the United States at the age of 13. Those early experiences with linguistic isolation, particularly in healthcare settings, ignited her passion to ensure that others would not face similar barriers. Over the past 21 years, she has built and scaled two successful companies, with her current venture serving clients across healthcare, education, legal, and government sectors. Through Global Language Connections, Khadija Ali fosters trust, inclusion, and cultural understanding.
Her leadership reaches far beyond her business. She serves on multiple boards, including the Minneapolis Foundation and Global Minnesota, and was selected for Harvard Business School’s Young American Leaders Program in 2017. Recognized with awards like the International Immigrant Achievement Award and the Nelson Mandela Cross-Cultural Ambassador Award, she continues to champion equitable access through language. In this in-depth interview, Khadija Ali shares her leadership philosophy, her approach to decision-making, and how she continues to build long-term trust across cultures in the Twin Cities and beyond.
What foundational leadership approach has helped you scale Global Language Connections while building long-term trust with the multicultural communities you serve?
Khadija Ali: One of the most foundational approaches to my leadership has been staying grounded in learning—whether it’s reading books, listening to the clients we serve, collaborating with peers, or engaging in leadership training and professional associations. Working alongside others in the field has helped me grow as a leader and scale Global Language Connections in thoughtful, sustainable ways. Building long-term trust, especially across cultural and linguistic lines, takes more than strategy—it takes humility and a consistent delivery of services. It’s important that we deliver quality services to our clients to maintain relationships in which they trust our company and our services.
When making difficult decisions, particularly involving clients from underserved backgrounds or major institutional partners, what values or lived experiences most influence your thinking?
Khadija Ali: I came to the United States as a refugee at 14 without speaking a word of English. I remember how isolating it felt to sit in classrooms or medical appointments, unable to understand or be understood. Those experiences shape how I lead today. So when I am faced with tough or difficult decisions, I lead with empathy and keep my lived experiences in mind.
How do you sustain strong, mission-aligned relationships with funders, board members, and staff when navigating moments of public visibility, expansion, or external pressure?
Khadija Ali: Communication and transparency are key, whether it’s constantly keeping funders, board members, and staff updated, celebrating milestones, or simply being honest about the good and tough things. I believe that communicating openly and honestly helps not only maintain relationships but also keep everyone connected, specifically on our “why.” We’re anchored in a shared purpose, so rooting our work in the mission and revisiting it in times of pressure is also an important aspect.
What training, mentorship, or hands-on experiences helped you build a leadership model rooted in both cultural competency and regulatory compliance?
Khadija Ali: While I am always reading and trying to learn new ways to improve or better my work, I also think that having the right team members and support systems around you is very important. Additionally, having a board of advisors and a compliance department has been incredibly helpful and impactful throughout my journey as an entrepreneur. However, as I connected with other entrepreneurs and pushed myself to join different leadership fellowships and workshops, I’ve learned that the amount of training or mentorships you have is not as important as the people who train and mentor you.
When designing interpretation or outreach programs for high-need communities, how do you ensure your goals are practical, measurable, and aligned with community realities?
Khadija Ali: It’s important to note that Global Language Connections partners with different businesses and organizations. Each of our partners has a need, but this may not always be an underserved community, as we also work with regulatory services, medical devices, etc., so we design our services based on our clients’ needs. In order to do so, we focus on communicating with and creating a relationship with said clients because we know that the businesses or communities we work with are uniquely different from each other.
Can you share a moment when you received tough feedback from a client or partner and how you turned that into an opportunity to strengthen your organization’s values and response?
Khadija Ali: Three years ago, we had a meeting with one of our largest clients in which we realized that we had not met a single goal that year. This experience prompted us to change our model and overall approach to how we meet our clients. One of the most effective outcomes from this experience was our decision to implement a client relations expert. No,w with this new role, we are consistently checking in with our clients on a daily basis rather than monthly, quarterly, or annually.
In a field where public trust, cultural sensitivity, and funding oversight all matter, what personal traits do you believe are most essential for leadership success?
Khadija Ali: Open-mindedness, consistency, empathy, and follow-through are essential traits for leadership, especially in a field like ours where public trust and cultural sensitivity are non-negotiable. We provide a service designed to close a critical gap in access, so reliability matters. Clients depend on us in high-stakes moments, and the only way to build lasting trust is to deliver—again and again—with integrity, care, and precision.
Tell us about a time when you supported a team member or community partner through a challenging situation—how did that reflect your role as a servant leader?
Khadija Ali: One of our clients was struggling with workforce retention and communication challenges—the majority of their employees were immigrants, and there were clear cultural misunderstandings and gaps. We stepped in not only to provide language support but also to guide the company through cultural competency training and relationship-building. It was about more than just translation—it was about connection. Since partnering with us, they’ve seen a 45% improvement in employee retention. For me, that’s what servant leadership looks like: meeting people where they are, addressing root issues, and helping both sides thrive.
How do you decide which issues require your direct attention and which can be led by your team, especially when scaling services or expanding into new sectors?
Khadija Ali: As CEO, my role isn’t just to grow the business—it’s also to stay deeply connected to how we operate day to day. Feedback from clients is central to that. When something isn’t working or a concern is raised, I make it a priority to engage directly, listening to both the client and my team to understand what happened and how we can improve. It’s important to me that all departments are aligned and working collaboratively to find solutions. As I’ve said before, our focus isn’t just on scaling—it’s on delivering quality every time.
What day-to-day leadership practices help you keep your team connected to your mission and grounded in transparency, care, and collective accountability?
Khadija Ali: Daily check-ins are a core part of how we stay aligned as a team. We hold staff meetings every day to review priorities, address any urgent needs, and ensure everyone is clear on their goals. We operate with a strong rhythm—daily, monthly, and annual goals—so there’s always a sense of direction and shared purpose. These consistent touchpoints keep us grounded in transparency, care, and accountability while also reminding us why the work matters.
This interview offers a compelling glimpse into Khadija Ali’s leadership journey and the values that drive her work at Global Language Connections. Her thoughtful insights and practical strategies underscore her role in transforming how language access is delivered. We thank Khadija Ali for taking the time to share her experiences and contributions to the communities she serves.
