Daily Times

Recently seen making waves in the news as far as Social Entrepreneurship was concerned, we speak to Sadaffe Abid, the founder of CIRCLE– the Women’s Tech organisation gradually taking over Pakistan. Encouraging women from all spheres of Pakistan to invest in themselves through investing in tech concentric ventures, Sadaffe tells us about her efforts to leave behind a digital footprint, which will have a lasting social and economic impact in the country; changing our eco-system for generations to come.

The IDEA and CIRCLE

Earlier, I was involved with microfinance and financial inclusion for women. I was a witness to how the power of economic development could transform lives. This was a life-changing moment for me and I searched hard as to how I could serve the women of this nation. I saw how economic enablement transformed entire families and communities. Most women in our country today are stuck in low-paying jobs with little prospects for future development. I kept thinking where was the future? I found in my research that it was technology. That’s how I decided to invest in technology and women, who would be the way into the future.

Very simply put, my goal is “Women Economic Empowerment and Inclusion.”

Investing in Women is the smartest Economic solution in the world today. If you want an economy, especially like ours, to progress, make them a part of the solution. It was from these ideas and this drive that I founded CIRCLE, which invests in women.

CIRCLE: the organization that promotes technology & entrepreneurship

I started CIRCLE with a mindset to empower women with technology. We kept in sight three core initiatives. The first was all about leadership development of Pakistani women and having more women in boards and organisations, especially in leadership positions. Currently, under 25 per cent of women are in the formal economy in Pakistan, as estimated by the World Bank, which is the lowest in the region. This had to change for our progress. We mobilised CEOs to commit to gender diversity and inclusion and work towards bringing SDG-5 into their business goals. I run leadership programs for women; helping them build confidence and learn tools to exercise leadership effectively. I apply a powerful model called “Adaptive Leadership,” which is pioneered at Harvard Kennedy School by Prof Ron Heifetz, who I studied with and worked as a Teaching Fellow. Over the years, I have studied the presence-based leadership model at Georgetown University, and am a part of a thoughtful global community called Cultivating Leadership.

Our second initiative was to bring She Loves Tech into Pakistan to create an ecosystem for women tech start-ups. This enables them to build visibility, get access to mentors and participate in the world’s largest women and startup competition in the world. The winner goes from Pakistan to Beijing for Global Finals to represent Pakistan in front of a global audience and receive mentorship; be a part of a cutting-edge boot camp and meet investors.

My third initiative might seem a little complex. It is called “Tech Karo” (Do Tech), to bridge the digital gender divide and leverage technology for under-served communities, especially girls and young women. We set up a Tech Hub with computer classes in Lyari (a challenging low-income neighbourhood, which has seen many difficult times): an area where wi-fi is considered a luxury, which should instead be basic access in the world today.

We are providing coding skills to youth, especially women, and working with the Usman Institute of Technology in Gulshan- I- Iqbal Karachi. Our Cohort 2 is going on with 80 students, over 60 per cent of whom are women. Our graduates from Cohort 1 are now working in organisations such as Ibex, 10 Pearls and Venture Dive. We bring in mentors from the industry so the curriculum is industry-relevant. This year, we offer free Code Camp certification, which is globally recognised so we are raising the bar.

It is very exciting as we have found you don’t need women to be IT geniuses in computer science to code. They need empowering education, which fits the model of their locale. We implemented such education and we have seen women thriving in this field.

#SheLovesTech Pakistan

She Loves Tech is an international initiative, which I bought to Pakistan in 2017 to support women start-ups and encourage entrepreneurship amongst women. The finalists receive mentorship from top entrepreneurs and business leaders in the country along with a pitch workshop, which is delivered by Raza Matin, a Google consultant, who has been leading this for the last three years. We send the winner to China where they get to present their ideas on a global scale. This year, my team of six women & I travelled through the country, using public transport, with the mission of encouraging women and girls to explore technology and entrepreneurship, but most importantly, to believe in themselves. The goal is that women should say yes to opportunities; be willing to take risks; fail and pick themselves up.

Global Recognition

Although I received several awards, the one closest to my heart is the Mount Holyoke Alumni Achievement Award. It was there whilst studying as a young girl that I developed the love of learning, curiosity and enjoyed meeting people from different cultures.

Challenge Accepted!

Women don’t have access to networks. They miss out in that way. The challenges get compounded with poor transport, lack of policies to support women at work, lack of agile working options but technology is an amazing equaliser. We need the men and women to leverage each other’s skills, collaborate in the homes and the workspaces, so our nation progresses.

My Biggest Assets

The love and support of a father make a huge difference to a woman. Both my parents were truly supportive in my life, but it was my father who encouraged me to be bold and courageous. He passed away in December 2018 and I miss him greatly. What I am today is because of the values, simple habits and behaviours he taught me. After retiring as a Brig from the Pakistan Army, he spent the next 30 years volunteering his time and expertise for the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan. I saw a man who would give water and food to the birds, water the plants daily and that small gesture that he did each day of his life as well as handling human rights concerns, encouraging my mother in bridge and tennis, my brother in their endeavours, made him a wonderful example growing up.

Why Technology?

60 per cent of Pakistan’s population is a young generation and there are not enough jobs. Technology is an amazing equaliser and enabler. Women, in general, in Pakistan face complex challenges from a fundamental lack of access to safe and affordable transport. Culturally, they cannot just hop on a motorbike to go to work. The cost of transportation for women is four times the amount and it is a major blockage to women’s participation in the economy. Attitudes are changing but things are slow. We need to bring tech to women, which enables women to work from home too. Tech is where the growth, and this is where the future is.

What does Pakistan need to do on as far as IT Education is concerned?

A certain momentum has certainly built up although we still have a long way to go. Each time committees, projects or initiatives are brought forward by policymakers, they should be looking at factors such as is there a diverse group on the table representing different strengths and perspectives? Our nation will progress when we leverage the talents of our women. This was the vision of Jinnah, the Founder of our nation and I’m hoping this will be a united vision for all of us.

It is well known that gender diversity boosts the bottom line. Mc Kinsey calculated gender parity would add $28 trillion to the global economy. We need to encourage women, prepare them. Most of all, we also need to advocate for them. Women get mentored but don’t have sponsors, who create new growth opportunities for them. We need an eco-system to support women’s participation and men as allies. When women grow, nations progress. When women win, we all win. Nike Foundation research shows that for every dollar a woman earns, she invests 90 cents in education, nutrition and health care.

Pakistan should invest strongly in technology for youth and women. That’s my recommendation. We need to have a curriculum that can be learnt online combined with physical spaces for mentorship, learning and building a community. This is what we are doing under “Tech Karo,” and seeing positive results.

Naya Pakistan and Future Pakistan

I remain committed to this country. Pakistan presents huge challenges but also opportunities. Although I feel like a global citizen due to my travels and connectedness with good friends around the globe, my heart is in Pakistan. I love to see my Pakistan progress and utilise its potential. I am keen to continue to contribute to Pakistan’s progress through technology, entrepreneurship and focus on women.

To the women out there, I give a clear message: Believe in yourself because Pakistan needs you. In your belief in yourself and pursuing your dreams, in saying yes lies the opportunity for Pakistan to achieve its dreams to become the nation it was envisioned to be by our founding fathers.

The writer is a columnist who writes on a range of topics, which have a social and cultural impact, as well as on notable figures