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The Chaudhry Nazar Muhammad Department of Economics and the Saida Waheed Gender Initiative at LUMS collaboratively hosted the Annual Women Leaders Networking Tea on Saturday, May 31, 2025. The event brought together inspiring women from across education, health, academia, and the development sector for an engaging and thought-provoking conversation on the realities of gender in the professional world.
Participants were encouraged to come together in groups to discuss challenges and build collaborative relationships. This activity set the tone with powerful reflections by everyone on their personal journeys, the gendered challenges they faced in professional work, and the strategies they used to carve out space for themselves.
A number of recurring themes emerged during the discussion. Participants highlighted how leadership roles continue to be dominated by men and pointed to the persistent problem of workplace harassment. Others drew attention to the burden placed on women to choose between professional ambitions and domestic responsibilities, especially in the case of single mothers. Particularly emphasis was placed on the often-overlooked pressure women face to conform to social expectations related to age, appearance, and behaviour. Guests also underscored the siloed nature of women’s work in sectors like development, calling for stronger mentorship and more inclusive opportunities for emerging professionals. All guests echoed the importance of pairing vision with strategy and building strong networks to enable long-term change. The event concluded with a sobering reminder: while this generation of women has grown up believing in empowerment and independence, systemic gaps—like weak maternity policies, wage inequality, and insufficient harassment protections—still limit women’s real agency. In light of these limitations, spaces like this networking event become a platform where women can come together, build collaborations, and offer mentorship.
The event created a vibrant, inclusive space to both celebrate achievements and acknowledge the structural barriers that remain. By centering diverse voices and shared experiences, the Annual Women Leaders Networking Tea reinforced a collective commitment to gender equity, and inspired participants to continue pushing for a more inclusive and supportive future for all, while also making connections for future collaborations.
We are especially grateful to Ms. Ume Laila Azhar, Interim Chairperson of National Commission on the Status of Women in Pakistan for joining us for the event. We are also grateful to our guests, Ms. Sarah Dawood, Ms. Sanam Kubra, Dr. Anoosh Wisal Khan, Dr. Saima Iqbal, Ms. Amneh Sheikh, Dr. Gul Khanda, Dr. Iram Rubab, Ms. Sadaf Rehman, Ms. Mehreen Shahid, Ms. Fatima Zaka, Ms. Hareem Sumbul Bari, and others for sharing their stories and for their time.