In a grand event at the Governor House, Karachi, ICE Pakistan in partnership with Magna Carta College and Buckinghamshire New University, celebrated women’s leadership in a conference titled ‘Leadership Redefined: Women Shaping the World’. Held recently, this gathering brought together pioneers from various industries to explore how women are influencing change, leading innovation, and shaping a more inclusive global future.

The event was marked by the presence of distinguished leaders, including Prof. Sarah Williams, Head of the School of Business and Law at Buckinghamshire New University; Sarah Mooney, the British Deputy High Commissioner in Karachi, who served as the Chief Guest; and the celebrated media mogul, Sultana Siddiqui, President of HUM Network Ltd., as the Guest of Honour and a key note speaker. Sultana Siddiqui, shared her personal journey of resilience, from battling financial adversity to establishing one of Pakistan’s most influential media networks. Her message of “embracing challenges as the pathway to success” resonated strongly with the audience, reminding everyone that tenacity is key to any achievement. She said in her speech “In order to achieve a leadership role one has to work hard and be dedicated to attain the required goal. Without challenges, there is no success.”

Throughout the event, speakers tackled themes of gender diversity, empowerment, and leadership. Moneeza Usman Butt of KPMG spoke on dismantling gender biases within corporate spaces, while Masarrat Misbah, CEO of Depilex, shared insights on her mission to empower survivors of acid attacks through her Smile Again Foundation. Fashion icon Deepak Perwani also contributed, emphasizing the importance of gender partnership in societal progress.

Ms. Sarah Mooney, in her keynote speech, presented global insights on women’s empowerment, stressing the urgency for inclusive policies and collective action. The Deputy High Commissioner’s words echoed the event’s core message: to achieve a truly equitable world, there must be shared responsibility in fostering women’s access to leadership roles.

Governor Kamran Tessori’s adviser, Mr. Syed Tariq Mustafa, presented the Governor’s vision for educational reform, especially in digital literacy. Highlighting initiatives like laptop distributions, he underscored the Governor’s commitment to empowering Pakistan’s youth and advancing fields like AI and IT.

The conference concluded with heartfelt remarks from ICE Pakistan’s CEO, Mr. Usman Akram, who expressed gratitude to the women in his life, illustrating the personal impact of female leadership. Attendees left inspired with a strengthened resolve to support women’s empowerment and leadership across all sectors.