Pakistan, perceived as a largely male-dominated society, has witnessed the rise of some enterprising females who are a timeless inspiration for the country. These ladies have worked tirelessly to assert themselves as professionals in their respective fields and today, proudly boast a plethora of achievements to their name.
However, they are not only exemplary at what they do! These powerful women even preserve a work-life balance without sacrificing the quality of their work!
Truly deserving to be celebrated; all of them have done remarkable things for themselves, loved ones, and for the people of Pakistan. They are all a part of Pond’s 100 Miracle Women, a platform that celebrates and appreciates such efforts.
Brandsynario brings you some of Pakistan’s leading women and untold accomplishments of these superheroes! We asked them about their success stories and their perspective on female leadership.
1) NILOFER SAEED
Owner at The Hobnob Group, Innovator, Social Worker & Entrepreneur
1) What is your greatest strength ?
Taking chances and having guts to do what I think is right.
2) Do you think that personal trade offs can be a barrier to female leadership ?
Yes. She has to compromise at home and take help from family to fulfill her role if she is working person
3) Who is your role model and why ?
My role model is Queen of England. Reason is that she paid a heavy price in her personal life to uphold her kingdom
4) What are the most important things that helped you achieve a balanced professional and person?
The freedom from my family
5) One Word That Can Define You and Your Success in Life
Hard work
6) Tell us about an accomplishment that you consider to be the most significant in your career
NECOS as it was the first of its kind and opened avenues for many small business and got people to think of going back to their roots .
7) If you had only one superpower, what would it be?
The one thing I would want as a super power is to be able to make the world into a more just place.
2) MEHER NAJEEB
Owner of Meher’s Salon
1) What is your greatest strength?
My positive vision
2) Do you think that personal trade offs can be a barrier to female leadership?
No, I don’t think so
3) Who is your role model and why ?
My very close friend Ruby Hassan. who also is a pioneer in the beauty world. She was the one who saw this talent in me and pushed me fwd to do hairdressing
4) What are the most important things that helped you achieve a balanced professional and personal life?
Family support was the main thing that helped me to have balanced personal and work life
5) One Word That Can Define You and Your Success in Life
Hard work
6) Tell us about an accomplishment that you consider to be the most significant in your career
I was lucky to see once in a lifetime event L’Oreal 100 years celebration. It was an event which cannot be described in words.
7) If you had only one superpower, what would it be?
That would be to read people’s mind. !!!
3) NURAYAH SHEIKH
An artist, an educator at the Indus Valley School of Art and Architecture, home caterer under the label of “Handmade by Nurayah & Shabbo”
1) What is your greatest strength?
Empathy
2) Do you think that personal trade offs can be a barrier to female leadership?
There are always trade offs, but I wouldn’t call them trade offs they are informed choices we make . Women has both leadership and strength. They manifest in different forms at various stages of their life.
3) Who is your role model and why?
It’s difficult to define a single role model when I was in my teens it was Madonna for her brash boldness. As I grew in various stages, it was Heer for her loss Joan of Arc for her strength, Mother Teresa for her selflessness, Frida Kahlo for her perseverance. Now that I’m older I feel my mother embodies all these qualities.
4) What are the most important things that helped you achieve a balanced professional and personal life?
I draw support and strength from my soul sisters, my siblings, my children, my husband and having an optimistic approach towards life each day
5) One Word That Can Define You and Your Success in Life
Multitasking.
6) Tell us about an accomplishment that you consider to be the most significant in your career
Through my teaching I feel that I have touched the lives of many students and young minds.
7) If you had only one superpower, what would it be?
The ability to heal.
4) BUSHRA TAYYEB AFZAL
Director on the Board of The Citizens Foundation
1) What is your greatest strength ?
Resilience.
2) Do you think that personal trade offs can be a barrier to female leadership ?
I believe we should stop differentiating “leadership” roles by gender.
3) Who is your role model and why ?
One of the founder members of TCF, Mushtaq Chhappra who has the rare combination of commitment, humility, and “tawwakal”.
4) What are the most important things that helped you achieve a balanced professional and personal life ?
Discipline and organizing myself.
5) One Word That Can Define You and Your Success in Life
Thorough.
6) Tell us about an accomplishment that you consider to be the most significant in your career
Getting a donation of 1 Crore from a very generous donor.
7) If you had only one superpower, what would it be?
The power to make every Pakistani literate, and value the power of that education.
5) SHEHNAZ BASIT IKRAM
COO at Gul Ahmed
1. What is your greatest strength?
Passion- loving what I do is the fuel behind my success. I have this infinite urge to succeed more and get better than before.
2. What are the most important things that helped you achieve a balanced professional and personal life?
Work life balance seems difficult, but there are ways to go around it and achieve the perfect balance. I always try differentiating between urgent and important by staying focused on what really matters and that has helped immensely.
3. Do you think that personal trade-offs can be a barrier to female leadership?
Incredible amount of sacrifice is required to get to leadership positions & it is definitely more intense for Women. Fortunately I have been blessed with the most understanding and cooperative family and they have always supported me throughout my journey, I also try to maintain my calm by keeping the right balance.
4. One Word That Can Define You and Your Success in Life
Determination
5. Tell us about an accomplishment that you consider to be the most significant in your career
It was an accomplishment in itself to work as a professional textile designer back in the day. 26 years down this road, there have been several milestones which have paved the way for future industry trends. I am glad to set the ground for the younger generation to take it to another level.
6 If you had only one superpower, what would it be?
Power to Heal! I would love to help ease the pain of people suffering from lethal diseases and nothing would have been more satisfying.
7. What is your role model and why?
I have always looked up to my father as my role model as he gave his full support in whatever I wanted to do in life, from studies to career his valuable lessons have always guided me to achieve the best in life.
6) NIDA A TAPAL
Creative Director at Delphi.
1) What is your greatest strength ?
My ability to make the most of a situation and move on without lamenting over the past!
2) Do you think that personal trade offs can be a barrier to female leadership ?
There was a time when there was a trade off but the new generation is slowly overcoming it – the best leaders have the support of their loved ones. For leaders to achieve greatness they need to be very focused; and this is only possible when the other aspects of one’s life is well supported by near and dear ones.
3) Who is your role model and why ?
Hazrat Khadija – the more I read about her, the more I admire her! She was a modern woman with her own business and supported her husband immensely through her faith and love.
4) What are the most important things that helped you achieve a balanced professional and personal life ?
Support of my husband and family, compartmentalizing so my work doesn’t interfere with family time and Taking time with decisions- making rather than being impulsive and not stretching myself too thin by over committing.
5) One Word That Can Define You and Your Success in Life
Go-getter!!
6) Tell us about an accomplishment that you consider to be the most significant in your career
Relaunching Delphi! It’s been great fun working with my mum and creating new things! It’s also helped me maintain a career without compromising on my time with my kids!
7) If you had only one superpower, what would it be?
I wish I could turn back time and undo the invention of the lethal weaponry which is destroying our world today.
