Kriti Mehrotra
As a workplace reality series we can only describe as intoxicating in more ways than one, Hulu’s Jimmy Kimmel-executive produced ‘High Hopes’ is honestly unlike any other in the genre. That’s because it explores the world of legal cannabis drugstores from all angles by actually following arguably one of the most well-known and oldest California dispensaries, MMD. It thus comes as no surprise that some employees are key figures within t his production, amongst whom is none other than co-owner/founder Mishka Ashbel’s partner, Sumaiya “Sumi” Islam.
Who is Sumaiya “Sumi” Islam?
Although not much regarding Sumi’s early years or upbringing is public knowledge as of writing, we do know her family originally hails from Bangladesh but has been settled in the US for a while. Therefore, of course, she completed her schooling from here only, just to eventually kickstart her professional career and build a good life with the help of her loved ones’ unwavering support. It turns out her first job was at a South Asian restaurant/store named Alad in Sweets & Market, where she was able to hone in on aspects like hard work, people skills, as well as time management.
As if that’s not enough, Sumi also proudly served as a Starbucks barista during this time, just to leave in the spring of 2010 to focus on her position as Aladin’s Assistant Manager until January 2012. Then came her stint at Van Nuys from 2013 to 2021, where she gradually moved up from the sales force to general management while consecutively stepping into the marijuana business in 2015. According to reports, she actually joined MMD as a store employee at first, but she soon grew to begin dabbling in accounts, inventory, purchasing, vendor relationships, plus staff scheduling too.
Where is Sumaiya “Sumi” Islam Now?
Despite not drinking, smoking, or having any interest in leading a partying lifestyle, it appears as if Sumi returned to MMD at some point after leaving in 2019, yet in the capacity of an assistant. With all the work she’d previously done for this organization, she was able to quickly adjust to this position of co-owner/founder Mishka Ahbel’s pers onal assistant while also being his girlfriend. It’s actually unclear precisely when this couple first got together, but it’s imperative to note that even though they might’ve had their issues over the years, it has never affected her ability to do her job.
In other words, it appears as if Sumi and Mishka are able to separate their personal and professional lives, which is obviously only possible when there’s trust and understanding between them. So, of course, it comes as no surprise the latter has often referred to her as his life partner as well as the love of his life – she supports him, values him, and even goes against him if necessary when she knows it’s the right thing to do for the business. This travel enthusiast plus fitness freak is thus the voice of reason for Mishka/the Ashbel brothers, enabling them to expand and reach new heights without messing up their budgets or timelines.
Read More: High Hopes: Where Are The MMD Employees Now?
