SAMAJ WEEKLY UK
Taher Gadiwala’s personality is such that he lights up any room he enters. Originally from Mumbai and now pursuing postgraduate research in Birmingham, he has become a familiar face in community leadership, student representation and civic engagement. I caught up with Taher to talk about his journey, his ambitions and why he believes influence should always be used to improve the lives of others.
When Taher Gadiwala speaks about his life, one word comes up repeatedly: intent. It is a philosophy that has guided him from the bustling streets of Mumbai to the lecture halls of Birmingham, and now into positions of leadership that extend well beyond university life.
He still remembers arriving in Britain on 17 September 2022.
“It was a beautiful bright and sunny day,” he recalls with a smile.
Born and raised in Mumbai, Taher comes from a close-knit Dawoodi Bohra family. His father runs a small rubber moulding business, while his younger sister teaches French and has also built her own online cosmetics business. The values of enterprise, service and community have clearly shaped his own outlook.
Today, those values underpin his doctoral research, which explores migrant entrepreneurship from a perspective that goes beyond economics.
“My research is into migrant entrepreneurs,” he explains. “I want to study people from the Global South who are already transnational entrepreneurs and understand how they build transnational influence and, most importantly, political capital.”
For Taher, that political capital is not simply about status or power.
“It gives entrepreneurs the strength to influence world policy and forge cross-border partnerships.”
It is an ambitious area of study, but one that reflects his wider interests. Throughout his time in Birmingham, he has consistently sought opportunities to connect people, organisations and communities.
Most recently, he was elected as a Public Governor for Birmingham Community Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust, where he will serve a three-year term.
Rather than viewing the appointment as another line on his CV, he sees it as a responsibility.
“I am thinking about how I can create meaningful and long-lasting impact as a Public Governor,” he says.
His commitment to civic engagement extends further still. Taher sits on the leadership board of Citizens UK’s West Midlands region, helping bring together community organisations to negotiate with decision-makers and campaign for positive change across the region.
He has also recently joined the Board of Trustees of the Afghan Community and Welfare Association. Despite its name, the organisation now supports refugees and immigrants from many different backgrounds, reflecting Taher’s belief that communities are strongest when they work together.
At Aston University, Taher became one of the defining student leaders of his generation. Initially elected as one of four Vice Presidents, he and his colleagues restructured the Students’ Union leadership so that each held the title of President, leading their own portfolios while maintaining equal responsibility.
“It kept the power dynamics in balance,” he explains.
Serving two consecutive terms between 2023 and 2025 gave him the opportunity to lead on projects that connected students with opportunities beyond campus.
One initiative he is particularly proud of is Aston University’s memorandum of understanding with the Birmingham Commonwealth Association.
“The partnership gives Aston students the chance to be involved in events across the city,” he says. “They gain networking opportunities, employability experience and volunteering opportunities that are so important for building their careers.”
Despite an impressive list of leadership roles, Taher remains remarkably future-focused.
Ask him about his long-term ambition and he laughs before answering.
“My end goal is to create an empire that can influence the world and improve it for good.”
It is a bold statement, but one delivered without arrogance. For Taher, influence is meaningful only if it creates opportunities for others.
His advice to young people reflects the same philosophy.
“No job can determine your brilliant ability or skillset,” he says. “Keep an open mind. Be willing to go anywhere in the world to find your passion. At the end of the day, your intent is what matters. It can open doors you never imagined. Give it time and trust the process.”
Even when discussing artificial intelligence, his perspective centres on people rather than technology.
“AI is the future,” he says, “but I can’t guarantee whether it’s good or bad. We must not lose the practice of natural intelligence. We have to make sure AI doesn’t dictate our lives.”
Speaking with Taher, it quickly becomes clear that his greatest strength is not simply academic ability or leadership experience. It is his optimism. Whether discussing entrepreneurship, community organising, healthcare governance or student life, he approaches each challenge with the conviction that relationships matter and that positive change begins with bringing people together.
For someone who arrived in Birmingham less than four years ago, he has already established himself as a bridge-builder across communities, institutions and cultures. If his ambitions prove anything like his energy suggests, this is unlikely to be the last time his story is told.
