Women Leadership Forum Launched

The Institute of Business Administration (IBA), Karachi, hosted the launch of the Women Leadership Forum (WLF) at its City Campus. Organized in collaboration with IBA-ORIC and the IBA Leadership Club, the event attracted a diverse audience from various sectors including NGOs, banking, finance, health and academia, supporting women’s empowerment. Ms. Sultana Siddiqui, President of Hum Network, graced the occasion as the Special Guest, and Ms. Shazia Marri, Member of the National Assembly, shared her thoughts through a recorded message, emphasizing her support for the forum’s mission.

The event began with a welcome address from Dr. Irum Saba, Associate Professor at IBA’s School of Business Studies (IBA-SBS) and Founder of WLF, followed by remarks from Dr. S. Akbar Zaidi, Executive Director of IBA Karachi. The programme featured insightful panel discussions on topics such as “The Need for Women Leadership Advocacy” and “Women Leadership: The Way Forward.” Panelists from various fields shared their perspectives on the challenges and solutions to empowering women in leadership roles. Ms. Sultana Siddiqui’s presence added a powerful voice from the media industry, underscoring the importance of women leaders across all sectors. She spoke about her personal experiences and how through adversity she rose to her present position. She also emphasised that hard work and focus is needed to achieve one’s goal in life.

Dr. Abdullah Sheikh, Dean of IBA-SBS, concluded the event with a vote of thanks, followed by a Networking tea, allowing attendees to further engage and build connections. The Women Leadership Forum aims to create a supportive network where women can connect, mentor, and inspire one another. A key theme was the role of collaboration between men and women in driving societal change, with a particular focus on the essential support of family in achieving women’s career aspirations.