Staff Repoter :: Towards promoting women entrepreneurship and acknowledge women’s contribution in the business revolution in Bangladesh, JCI Dhaka East in collaboration with City Bank’s City Alo Center organized a program titled “She Leads” on May 11, 2019 in Dhaka to recognize and commemorate the exceptional leadership of the women in various professional and business endeavors in Bangladesh.

Bringing together women from all walks of life with extra ordinary endeavors, , it was an afternoon dedicated towards sharing the struggles and opportunities, towards self development and socio-economic contribution, the speakers shed light into past struggles and how it could define the future.

The convener of the #sheLEADS program, Ms. Kashfia Farhin presented the address of welcome. Mr. Asib Akram Auvi President, JCI Dhaka East, in his address mentioned the importance of this women movement and highlighted the role of JCI Dhaka East in this #sheLEADS movement. Mr. Irfan Islam (National President, JCI Bangladesh) and Mr. Mahmud Un Nabi (Director, JCI Bangladesh) also spoke at the event emphasizing on the focus of JCI Bangladesh towards women empowerment under which a comprehensive plan for women development has already been adopted.

JCI National President, Mr. Irfan Islam congratulated JCI Dhaka East for this initaitive and thanked City Alo for being the associate partner. Ms. Mariam Javed Juhi, City Bank's Head of City Alo (Women Banking) in her address expressed hopes that through City Alo, women entrepreneurs and professional would be able to avail the necessary support towards achieving success. She also highlighted City Alo’s unique banking facilities and top quality services for new and existing women entrepreneurs and professionals.

Also present as distinguished guests were Ms. Ismat Jahan, Vice President of JCI Bangladesh and Mr. Erfan Haque, Secretary General of JCI Bangladesh were also present at the event. After the inaugural session, three sessions took place where successful women leaders and pioneers in their respective fields shared their valuable experiences and stories. The first panel discussion took place on the Emergence & Current Scenario of Female Entrepreneurship: Challenges, Prospects, Environment, Experiences and Advices. Panelists at the session were Ms. Eshita Azad, Managing Director of Bengal Creative Hub, Ms. Sangeeta Khan, Treasurer of BWCCI, Ms. Nabila Nowrin, Co-founder of Moar and Ms. Danny Rahman, Founder & Chairman of PFDA- Vocational Training. The session was moderated by Mr. Asib Akram Auvi, JCI Dhaka East President.

The second panel discussion was based on the Roles of the Entrepreneurial Ecosystem Players (Accelerators/Incubators, Finance/Investments, Legal & Policy, Impact): Ensuring a Level Playing Field. Panelists included Ms. Tina Jabeen, CPA, Investment Advisor of Startup Bangladesh, Ms. Mariam Javed Juhi, Head of City Alo, (Women Banking), Ms. Anita Ghazi Islam, Founder & Partner of The Legal Circle and Ms. Ainee Islam Risha, Portfolio Manager, Economic Development and Social Research, Innovision Consulting Pvt. Ltd. This session was moderated by Ms. Kashfia Farhin, Venture Catalyst & Entrepreneurial Ecosystem Professional Convener, #sheLEADS.

The third and final session was on Stories: Sharing Aspiring Entrepreneurial Journeys. In this session, Ms. Armin Khan, Co-Founder and CEO, Ramani XYZ, Ms. Sadia Afrin, Founder and Managing Director of Checkmate Events, Ms. Tasania Atiq, Director of Ahmed Food. In his concluding remarks, Mr. Aasib Akram Auvi, President of JCI Dhaka East thanking City Bank’s City Alo said that the journey of sheLEADS has begun in the hope that today's women entrepreneur will be the future of Bangladesh's prosperous future and JCI Dhaka East has many more plans with this initiative.

BDPressRelease/ 13 MM/ May 2019