By Jenn McKeogh, senior manager, GM News
At General Motors, our battery strategy is a key ingredient in the future of electrification. And our talented employees – from battery chemistry, to engineering, manufacturing, research and more – help bring our innovations to life.
For battery validation engineer Alina Alam, her passion for electric vehicles is rivaled by only one thing: food. Off the clock, Alam moonlights as a food content creator, where culture and cuisine intertwine with each delicious bite.
The birth of a blogger
Born in Pakistan and raised in Metro Detroit, Alam has always had a deep connection to her culture. And her journey to food blogging wasn’t an easy one – it spans continents, disciplines, and passions.
Alam moved to the United States with her parents when she was seven, her family settling in the Detroit suburb of Dearborn. After high school, she earned an undergraduate degree in materials engineering from the University of Michigan, followed by a master’s degree in Enviornmental Engineering from Cornell University, focusing on India and Pakistan's water resources. She discovered the power of food to connect people and celebrate culture while a student at Michigan.
“I’ve always known there was a foodie inside me,” says Alam. “While I was in college, I was always taking photos of food with my digital camera – it was only a matter of time before social media allowed me to take it a step further.”
In 2015, she took to social media, starting her account "foodiesnapper" on Snapchat before expanding onto Instagram. Her first post, titled "Not Just Butter Chicken," aimed to break stereotypes about Pakistani and Indian cuisine.
Alam recently launched a tea cart catering service, bringing high tea to events and households across Metro Detroit.
From tapas to tea
Today, Alina is one of the few Detroit-area Pakistani food influencers. With over 15,000 followers on Instagram, as well as channels on Facebook, TikTok, and YouTube and a blog, she reviews local halal restaurants, collaborates with nearby businesses, and highlights the integration of halal food into American cuisine.
“Most people think of halal food as your typical Middle Eastern cuisine, but there are so many options,” she says. “From burger joints to fried chicken, you can find so many halal places in Michigan. And you don’t need to go to a five-star restaurant to have a good experience.”
One of Alam’s most cherished daily rituals is "high tea" time, which is similar to the British tradition of afternoon tea – but with a Pakistani twist. Last fall, she created her own high tea cart and recipes, offering a platform for people to bond and celebrate warmth in a post-COVID world.
High tea is more than comforting snacks and a warm drink: for Alam, it represents a way to pause, connect, and build relationships.
“Work will always be there, it’s not going anywhere. But when you take a break, share some tea, and bond with other people – then you open the door to true connection and innovation,” says Alam.
Alam at the 2024 Detroit Grand Prix with General Motors.
Building battery tech
Alam's GM journey is deeply connected to her passion for food and fellowship. After completing her degree at Cornell, she took a role in battery chemistry for a lithium ion battery manufacturer – but she knew her future lied in the automotive industry.
“I’ve lived all over the world, but I was raised in Metro Detroit and that’s where my heart is,” she says. “Cadillac has always been my favorite brand, and working at GM is a dream come true”
She joined GM in 2022 as a validation and development engineer for Rechargeable Energy Storage Systems, where she applies her background in battery chemistry in our journey towards an all-electric future. In her role, she works with a team of engineers to develop the right testing to validate batteries pre-launch.
“At the end of the day, batteries have ingredients and a recipe to put together – just like food,” she says.
Alam’s, passion for food stems from her love of human connection – and that also applies to her day job, where she connects teams across research and development, product engineering, and program launch to ensure quality for GM’s EV customers. She even introduced high tea time to her team, fostering meaningful conversations and strengthening bonds between colleagues.
Making an impact
For Alam, food and engineering are just different pathways to innovation. Whether she’s reviewing a halal Mexican restaurant, sharing her favorite Pakistani comfort food of lentils and rice, or testing GM’s future EV batteries, she approaches each endeavor with a desire to foster connection.
Through her blog and role at GM, Alam exemplifies the power of blending personal and professional worlds to celebrate culture, connect people, and facilitate innovation.
Off the clock explores the outside interests of GM employees. To nominate someone for this series, drop us a line at news@gm.com.
Check out more from the series:
At General Motors, our battery strategy is a key ingredient in the future of electrification. And our talented employees – from battery chemistry, to engineering, manufacturing, research and more – help bring our innovations to life.
For battery validation engineer Alina Alam, her passion for electric vehicles is rivaled by only one thing: food. Off the clock, Alam moonlights as a food content creator, where culture and cuisine intertwine with each delicious bite.
The birth of a blogger
Born in Pakistan and raised in Metro Detroit, Alam has always had a deep connection to her culture. And her journey to food blogging wasn’t an easy one – it spans continents, disciplines, and passions.
Alam moved to the United States with her parents when she was seven, her family settling in the Detroit suburb of Dearborn. After high school, she earned an undergraduate degree in materials engineering from the University of Michigan, followed by a master’s degree in Enviornmental Engineering from Cornell University, focusing on India and Pakistan's water resources. She discovered the power of food to connect people and celebrate culture while a student at Michigan.
“I’ve always known there was a foodie inside me,” says Alam. “While I was in college, I was always taking photos of food with my digital camera – it was only a matter of time before social media allowed me to take it a step further.”
In 2015, she took to social media, starting her account "foodiesnapper" on Snapchat before expanding onto Instagram. Her first post, titled "Not Just Butter Chicken," aimed to break stereotypes about Pakistani and Indian cuisine.
From tapas to tea
Today, Alina is one of the few Detroit-area Pakistani food influencers. With over 15,000 followers on Instagram, as well as channels on Facebook, TikTok, and YouTube and a blog, she reviews local halal restaurants, collaborates with nearby businesses, and highlights the integration of halal food into American cuisine.
“Most people think of halal food as your typical Middle Eastern cuisine, but there are so many options,” she says. “From burger joints to fried chicken, you can find so many halal places in Michigan. And you don’t need to go to a five-star restaurant to have a good experience.”
One of Alam’s most cherished daily rituals is "high tea" time, which is similar to the British tradition of afternoon tea – but with a Pakistani twist. Last fall, she created her own high tea cart and recipes, offering a platform for people to bond and celebrate warmth in a post-COVID world.
High tea is more than comforting snacks and a warm drink: for Alam, it represents a way to pause, connect, and build relationships.
“Work will always be there, it’s not going anywhere. But when you take a break, share some tea, and bond with other people – then you open the door to true connection and innovation,” says Alam.
Building battery tech
Alam's GM journey is deeply connected to her passion for food and fellowship. After completing her degree at Cornell, she took a role in battery chemistry for a lithium ion battery manufacturer – but she knew her future lied in the automotive industry.
“I’ve lived all over the world, but I was raised in Metro Detroit and that’s where my heart is,” she says. “Cadillac has always been my favorite brand, and working at GM is a dream come true”
She joined GM in 2022 as a validation and development engineer for Rechargeable Energy Storage Systems, where she applies her background in battery chemistry in our journey towards an all-electric future. In her role, she works with a team of engineers to develop the right testing to validate batteries pre-launch.
“At the end of the day, batteries have ingredients and a recipe to put together – just like food,” she says.
Alam’s, passion for food stems from her love of human connection – and that also applies to her day job, where she connects teams across research and development, product engineering, and program launch to ensure quality for GM’s EV customers. She even introduced high tea time to her team, fostering meaningful conversations and strengthening bonds between colleagues.
Making an impact
For Alam, food and engineering are just different pathways to innovation. Whether she’s reviewing a halal Mexican restaurant, sharing her favorite Pakistani comfort food of lentils and rice, or testing GM’s future EV batteries, she approaches each endeavor with a desire to foster connection.
Through her blog and role at GM, Alam exemplifies the power of blending personal and professional worlds to celebrate culture, connect people, and facilitate innovation.
Off the clock explores the outside interests of GM employees. To nominate someone for this series, drop us a line at news@gm.com.
Check out more from the series: