Layma Murtaza

Layma Murtaza is the Vice President of Business Development and a board member at ASEEL, a global tech platform blending ethical e-commerce with decentralized humanitarian aid.

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Hosted by

Hilmarie Hutchison

Layma Murtaza

Vice President of Business Development and Board Member at ASEEL – Champion of Ethical Commerce and Humanitarian Innovation

Layma Murtaza is the Vice President of Business Development and a board member at ASEEL, a global tech platform blending ethical e-commerce with decentralized humanitarian aid. An Afghan-American with over a decade of experience in international development,

Layma has worked across regions including Afghanistan, Egypt, Syria, Jordan, Turkey, and the United States. Her work spans refugee resettlement, civil society building, and tech-enabled aid delivery. A tireless advocate for dignity-first aid models, Layma is redefining how technology can serve humanity in its most fragile contexts.

About this Episode

In this powerful episode of The Matrix Green Pill Podcast, host Hilmarie Hutchison welcomes Layma Murtaza for a conversation about innovation, impact, and the future of humanitarian aid. From growing up in a refugee community in California to leading global efforts in conflict zones, Layma shares her deeply personal and professional journey.

Layma opens up about how her early experiences shaped her views on leadership, her transition from politics to humanitarian work, and the pivotal role of ASEEL—a platform connecting artisans in conflict-affected regions with global markets while also enabling life-saving aid delivery through tech-powered networks.

The discussion touches on key issues such as ethical sourcing, decentralized aid, working in fragile environments, and the unique challenges of scaling tech for good. Layma also talks about ASEEL’s impact initiatives, including the Welcome Returnees Kit and the Atalan Heroes Network, and how they’ve reached over half a million people in underserved communities.

Her “Green Pill” moment—a personal story of transformation following the passing of her grandfather—illuminates her life mission: to uplift those whose voices are often unheard.

This episode is a must-listen for changemakers, tech-for-good innovators, and anyone passionate about empowering communities with purpose, technology, and heart.

“I think I always had a thirst for history, the world, the social treasures that each culture has that I felt was hidden because of the lack of access to platforms.”

Layma Murtaza

“Impact means being able to change someone’s life in a positive way.”
Layma Murtaza

Show highlights

Just keep showing up, keep learning and keep building what you want to see, even if it's one connection at a time. - Layma Murtaza Click To Tweet

“This sector is not easy to navigate. It’s small and it takes a lot of tenacity to move forward.”

Layma Murtaza

“ My goal was to learn as much as I could about everything and anything related to not only helping Afghanistan, but every country that has a person in need of a voice, support and amplification.”

Layma Murtaza