From a young age, Maliha Khan knew she was different. Not in a way that made her feel out of place, but in a way that lit a fire in her. “From the beginning, it was clear that I had a very entrepreneurial spirit,” she says, reflecting on a journey that has been anything but conventional.
Maliha is now the founder and owner of her own marketing business, a title that carries weight not just in the professional world but in her personal story as well. A first-generation college graduate, the first business owner in her family, and a mother of twin girls, Maliha is rewriting what legacy looks like—and she’s doing it on her own terms.
Creativity was always in Maliha’s DNA. Even as a student, her brilliance stood out in unexpected ways. “I had like, three of my teachers sit down with my mom and say, ‘She needs to go into graphic design.’ They literally had examples of my work—book reports with elaborate design covers—and had my mom go through them.” It was clear, even then, that she was destined to make an impact in a space that didn’t yet exist for her.
While others followed traditional routes, Maliha chose to carve her own. “I knew that I always wanted more and I wanted to have a greater impact,” she says. “I didn’t see a lot of people doing this kind of work, especially for my community.”
What began as a side hustle in college—freelancing to gain new skills and make extra money—eventually transformed into a full-fledged business. “It was very clear, early on, that I was going to turn this into my own business,” she shares. But the road to entrepreneurship wasn’t easy.
“As a strategist, I build brands. As a plus-size woman, I’ve had to build presence—not just for myself, but for every woman who didn’t see herself reflected.”
As a woman of color, and someone who grew up navigating Islamophobia and cultural expectations, Maliha often had to work twice as hard for half the recognition. “Failure wasn’t an option,” she says. “If you’re gonna mess it up, do it fast and figure it out, because you just can’t quit.”
She also speaks openly about the difficulties of juggling academic responsibilities, multiple jobs, and home expectations all at once. “Money was always a problem. Obtaining education was always a challenge. Finding the right opportunities, that was the number one problem.” And yet, she kept showing up. For herself. For her future. And now—for her daughters.
“In a world that taught me to trim myself down,” she says, “I decided to scale up instead.”
Every layer of who she is—Muslim, mom, plus-size, founder—isn’t a limitation. “It’s my blueprint,” she says. “I’m not here to take up less space—I’m here to fill it with purpose.”
In a world where she often felt unseen, Maliha made her own space. “When I say I had to create my own table, that was no small feat,” she says. But slowly, she began to find the right mentors, communities, and resources that helped her build the foundation for her business.
“Kansas City has such a robust list of resources now,” she says with pride. “Back then, I had the dream, but I didn’t know how to get there. Now, there’s mentorship, coaching, and community. Women are stepping into foundership—and that’s incredible to witness.”
Today, Maliha is not just running a business—she’s leading a movement. Her creative studio, Khancepts by KTD, is expanding to offer agency-quality design services for small to mid-sized businesses—without the agency overhead.
She’s also preparing to launch Khanect the Dots 3.0, an evolution of her consultancy and creative studio, with a streamlined model that helps brands bridge the gap between big ideas and real-world execution. Her latest mission? Helping businesses embrace AI in a way that’s authentic and true to their brand voice. “Don’t just use it to use it,” she advises. “It should still sound like you.”
This August, Maliha will be presenting a workshop at the Content Entrepreneur Expo (CEX)—a gathering of content creators and entrepreneurs. Then in October, she’ll return to Cleveland for MAICON, where she’ll moderate a full track, curating and guiding conversations at the intersection of AI and marketing. In between, she’ll be speaking at several local events, continuing the conversation around strategy, content, and innovation.
The little girl who was once told she’d never amount to anything now leads two thriving companies that have helped dozens of businesses uncover and amplify their authentic voice—work that’s not only transformed brands but earned her recognition across the industry.
Behind the scenes, she’s powered by the unwavering support of an amazing husband who champions her every move, and inspired daily by two beautiful daughters who get to see their mother show up boldly, bravely, and as her unapologetic self.
“I want them to look at me and see that they can do anything they put their minds to,” she says. “They are the reason I go as hard as I do. I am hoping the opportunities we pave today—the next generation will be able to benefit.”
Maliha Khan’s story is one of resilience, purpose, and power. She’s proof that with vision, grit, and a refusal to settle, you can break barriers and build something beautiful in the process.
Check out her websites here:
VoicesofherKC 