Kausar Mohammed is a distinguished equity facilitator, actress, and comedian. Her highly-interactive presentations offer an insider’s view into the film and television industry through the eyes of a queer, Muslim, woman of color.
As a co-founder of SHIFT, a women of color-led collective offering racial and gender equity education and consulting, and drawing from her own experiences in Hollywood, Kausar disrupts norms by unapologetically centering historically marginalized identities.
Kausar's impactful career spans TV, film, and live comedy, including her celebrated queer, Muslim romcom THE SYED FAMILY XMAS EVE GAME NIGHT, which premiered at the 2021 Toronto International Film Festival. She also starred in the 2023 horror comedy movie, APPENDAGE and the films, LITTLE and WHAT MEN WANT.
On television, in addition to portraying superhero Dr. Meena Dhawan on the CW's THE FLASH and Shila in MO, Kausar's voice work as Yaz in JURASSIC WORLD: CAMP CRETACEOUS and the series follow-up, JURASSIC WORLD: CHAOS THEORY, has gained a dedicated fan base as has her Cleo De Nile character on MONSTER HIGH.
Kausar is a founding member of Los Angeles-based The Get Brown sketch comedy troupe, where she continues to create comedy that pushes the boundaries as to what it means to exist as first generation Americans today. She brings a uniquely transformative perspective, grounded in the performing arts and anti-oppression work, to her engaging and entertaining workshops, discussions, and art.
To Laugh or Cry: Comedy as a Tool for Hope
Comedy exists as a tool of resilience, critique, and hope—especially in times where resistance is necessary. Kausar Mohammed, a queer Muslim comedian, actor, and writer, and equity consultant, explores how comedy serves as a mechanism for change and self-liberation in systems currently dominated by white patriarchal, cis-gendered norms. Through a blend of storytelling, personal reflection, and comedic showcases, we will explore what it means to reclaim liberation through laughter. Participants will experience exclusive viewings of Kausar’s comedic digital work and with her all South-Asian sketch comedy team, The Get Brown, to explore the ways humor can be used as a means of cultural critique. The session will culminate in a screening of her acclaimed short film, The Syed Family Xmas Eve Game Night, to illustrate how art-making can be used to activate hope and manifest our radical imaginations.
Rewriting Fear: Horror as a Tool for BIPOC & Queer Liberation
Kausar’s lens on the horror film genre sees it as “a pathway to critique the world around us. It puts a face and name to the societal issues plaguing us and imagines narratives to take them down.” In this interactive presentation, we explore what “monster” means to us, who historically have been called monsters, what impact this has on structures of power including media, policy, and pop-culture -- and employ creative writing exercises to redefine and reclaim our fears. This workshop is particularly poignant for affinity groups and folks from historically-marginalized communities (ie. BIPOC, queer, etc.)
Normalizing Our Narratives: Queer, Muslim, and Unapologetic
How do we reclaim space and tell our full, authentic stories? In this session, Kausar Mohammed explores the power of intersectional storytelling and the necessity of queer, Muslim representation in media. Through an exclusive screening of the acclaimed short film The Syed Family Xmas Eve Game Night and a candid discussion, participants will examine themes of family, belonging, and joy—challenging narratives that erase or tokenize LGBTQ+ Muslim identities. This conversation delves into the filmmaking process, the impact of authentic representation, and how storytelling can be a tool for both visibility and liberation.
