Recently, Emily Chimenti had a chance to sit down with WLD Board Member, Nabeela Virjee, to discuss her life, career, and involvement in WLD. We hope you enjoy getting to meet our July member!
Nabeela, for those that don’t know you, share a little about yourself.
I am the proud daughter of Tanzanian immigrants who are of Indian descent. My dad is a family doctor who retired to take care of the love of his life, my mom, who suffers from advanced Alzheimer’s. My sisters and I were born in Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada, where we attended a French immersion public school. Growing up, my parents spoke a mixture of English, Gujrati and Swahili.
My family moved to Kokomo, Indiana in 1996 when I was 10 years old. My husband, Brian, who I met when we were both waiting tables at the Chili’s in Bloomington, is a 3rd-generation ‘South Sider’. We’ve been together for nearly 20 years and are doing our best to raise our two young boys, Zayn (4) and Zulfi (2), to be kind and conscientious global citizens.
You have chosen a field of law where you get to advocate for persons who have been injured or killed. What drew you to this field? What is your favorite part of your job?
This sounds crazy, but this line of work found me. The universe is like that sometimes. In the Summer of 2017, when I was working for the City of Indianapolis as Assistant Corporation Counsel, I often walked to the City-County Building from my house at 16th and College. One morning, I was crossing the street at Delaware and St. Claire, and a truck failed to yield at the intersection and ran into me, hitting me from behind. I navigated a long physical and emotional recovery that fundamentally changed me. Lee Christie and his team handled my case beautifully so that I could focus on recovery. Representing injured people felt like a calling after that; it gave me a focus.
Outside of your busy legal practice, you also were elected to the Center Township Board. What inspired you to get involved in local politics? Was it difficult getting your name on the ballot and running?
I’ve always been interested in politics, but it wasn't until I realized how fragile our government institutions are without active public participation that I felt compelled to get more involved. I’ve always consistently voted, even in off-cycle elections, but it just didn’t feel like enough.
I started attending local Democratic club meetings and got involved. I asked questions at public meetings and people started paying attention. Center Township Trustee LaDonna Freeman began to mentor me, and we built a relationship. She then asked me to run for a seat on the Center Township Board. She held my hand through the process, and that made all the difference in the world.
What do you like to do in your free time (if you have any!)?
The last couple of years, I have started a new hobby, gardening. It has brought me a ridiculous amount of joy to get my hands in the dirt and watch things grow. I also love to cook for my family and friends. Eating, drinking, and laughing with loved ones is my favorite pastime, and if it’s outside and near a body of water, even better.
What motivated you to become involved in WLD? Why did you want to be on executive board?
WLD attracts some of the most incredible women lawyers I’ve ever met. I am always trying to ‘level up’ and that means seeking out and surrounding myself with women who inspire me. WLD Executive Board brings top-tier women together who are leaders in their practices, communities, and homes. The relationships built within this section are truly special and transcend beyond the workplace.
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