The highly acclaimed and prestigious Women in Leadership (WIL) has honored the most inspiring female professionals of the country at the 6th edition of Inspiring Women Award. The grand award ceremony took place on 7th October, 2021 at Ikebana Hall, Lakeshore Hotel, Gulshan, Dhaka.
After a long break due to the global pandemic, the in-person ceremony truly rejuvenated everyone’s spirits. A total of 24 winners and 18 honorable mentions were awarded this year on the esteemed accolade’s 6th iteration.
The Inspiring Women Award is the flagship accolade of WIL, recognizing outstanding women leaders in various frontiers. 2021 marks the 6th iteration of the Inspiring Women Award. The 6th Inspiring Women Award recognized – the leaders of tomorrow, inspiring female professionals, and changemakers of Bangladesh. In doing so, the accolade seeks to inspire women of Bangladesh to take charge and unlock their potential.
Speaking on the occasion, Ms. Nazia Andaleeb Preema, President, Women In Leadership – WIL said, “Inspiring Women Award helps women in the fight of leadership- both inside and outside the professional world. It is not easy to be a woman, but it is easy to be an inspiring one.”
During the welcoming speech Mr. Shariful Islam, Founder and Managing Director, Bangladesh Brand Forum mentioned,” As men no matter how much, we try to understand a woman’s journey it is really difficult to comprehend, especially in Bangladesh as one of the most underutilized resources in Bangladesh is indeed women’s participation”.
This year, the esteemed accolade received an overwhelming number of nominations from across the country. A total of 350+ entries were received from 125+ organizations under 21 categories. Three jury panels, consisting of experts and renowned professionals selected the winners and awarded them in two levels – Honorable Mentions and Winners.
While explaining the rigorous jury process of Inspiring Women Awards, one of the prominent jurors from the jury panel, M. Zulfiquar Hussain, Chief Executive Officer & Lead Consultant, Grow n Excel, Mentioned, “As jurors, we scrutinized each and every application through the comprehensive review system. It’s disappointing that in the entry levels we still see women are still underrepresented in almost all job sectors although we all have a talent to build a sustainable Bangladesh.”
For the last 5 years, WIL has been encouraging professional women to pursue leadership in their careers. The Inspiring Women Award was first given in the year 2014 and since then the underlying message of Inspiring Women’s Award is to officially recognize women’s efforts in the growth of the country; to empower women professionals and create role models in society (at both individual and the organizational levels).
6th Inspiring Women Award is an initiative of Women in Leadership (WIL) in partnership with Joya Sanitary Napkin. The Strategic partners were Bangladesh Creative Forum (BCF) and Colours FM 101.6, Technology partner – Aamra, PR partner – Backpage PR, & Web solution partner – Exsentra, Concept by Preema Arte Foundation. The event was organized by Bangladesh Brand Forum.
LIST OF WINNERS: INSPIRING WOMEN AWARD 2021
| Category | Name | |
| Leaders of Tomorrow | Winner | Syed Sadia Hossain Student, Bangladesh University of Professionals (BUP) |
| Leaders of Tomorrow | 1st Runner-Up | Sayma Akhter Jafrin Student, Asian University for Women |
| Leaders of Tomorrow | 2nd Runner-Up | Ta-Seen Reaz Niloy Student, American International University – Bangladesh |
| Leaders of Tomorrow | Honorable Mention | Bidita Zaman Student, Bangladesh University of Professionals (BUP) |
| Leaders of Tomorrow | Honorable Mention | Tasfia Afrin Faria Student, Jahangirnagar University |
| Leaders of Tomorrow | Honorable Mention | Tabassum Sadia Shahjahan Student, North South University |
| Leaders of Tomorrow | Honorable Mention | Nuzabah Azim Student, Institute of Business Administration, University of Dhaka |
| Leaders of Tomorrow | Honorable Mention | Rafah Nanjeba Torsa Student, University of Chittagong |
| Leaders of Tomorrow | Honorable Mention | Pritha Das Student, Jahangirnagar University (IBA) |
| Most Progressive Organization | Winner | IPDC Finance Limited |
| Aspiring Woman Leader | Winner | Sabira Mehrin Saba Product Manager, Praava Health |
| Aspiring Woman Leader | Winner | Rokaiya Ahmed Purna Fashion Designer, Marks & Spencer, RAP (Own Label) |
| Aspiring Woman Leader | Honorable Mention | Kashfia Tabassum Ahmed Manager, Robi Axiata Limited |
| Aspiring Woman Leader | Honorable Mention | Tanzia Munir Territory Manager, Unilever Bangladesh Limited |
| Aspiring Woman Leader | Honorable Mention | Naurin Jahan Executive, Brand Marketing, The Daily Star |
| Progressing Woman Leader | Winner | Asma Akhter Manager, Procurement Operations Unilever Bangladesh Limited |
| Progressing Woman Leader | Honorable Mention | Sabrina Mridha Sr. Manager Marketing & Communications, Amari Dhaka |
| Progressing Woman Leader | Honorable Mention | Zinat Tabassum Hassan Product Developer – Team Leader, Team Sourcing Company Ltd. |
| Inspiring Woman Leader | Winner | Mubina Asaf Head of Legal & External Affairs, British American Tobacco Bangladesh |
| Inspiring Woman Leader | Honorable Mention | Anamika Bhakta Executive Vice President, Robi Axiata Limited |
| Inspiring Woman Leader | Honorable Mention | Sayeda Tahya Hossain Director, Human Resource, Perfetti Van Melle Bangladesh Pvt. Ltd. |
| Inspiring Woman Leader | Honorable Mention | Samrine Bokhari Director, Commercial, Grameenphone Ltd. |
| Colours FM Power Woman of the Year | Winner | Mirona Khatun Head Coach Champions League – Male, Dhaka City Football Club |
| Inspiring Female Startup | Winner | Lamea Tanjin Tanha Co-Founder, TransEnd |
| Inspiring Female Startup | Honorable Mention | Breity Sabrin CEO & Co-Founder, Just Storys Limited |
| Inspiring Female Startup | Honorable Mention | Farhana Rashid Founder and CEO, Bhumijo Limited |
| Inspiring Female Startup | Honorable Mention | Sanjida Farhana Founder, Poshapets Limited |
| Inspiring Women Award on Breaking the Glass Ceiling | Winner | Raka Noshin Nower Director & Filmmaker, Applebox Films ltd. |
| Inspiring Woman in Media | Winner | Alisha Pradhan Founding CEO, HerNet Television Ltd. |
| Inspiring Female Initiative | Winner | Zareen Mahmud Hosein Founder and Executive Director, HerStory Foundation |
| Inspiring Woman Entrepreneur | Winner | Sylvana Q. Sinha Founder, Chairman & CEO, Praava Health |
| Inspiring Woman Entrepreneur | Honorable Mention | Tanzila Elma Founder, Chairman and Chief Operating Officer, House of Ahmed LTD. |
| Inspiring Female in Development Sector | Winner | Dr Rudaba Khondker Country Director, Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN) |
| Inspiring Female in Science | Winner | Dr Tasrina Rabia Choudhury Principal Scientific Officer, Bangladesh Atomic Energy Commission |
| Inspiring Female in Journalism | Winner | Mithila Farzana Current Affairs Editor, Ekattor Media Limited |
| Inspiring Dynamic Leader | Winner | Shwapna Bhowmick Country Manager, Marks and Spencer |
| Inspiring Woman in Academia | Winner | Celia Shahnaz Professor, Dept. of Electrical and Electronic Engineering (EEE), BUET, IEEE |
| Leadership in Arts | Winner | Kanak Chanpa Chakma Visual Artist |
| Inspiring Woman in Sports | Winner | Jahanara Alam Bangladeshi Cricketer, Bangladesh National Women’s Cricket Team |
| Inspiring Female in Fashion | Winner | Faiza Ahmed Owner & Creative Head, Manas |
| Inspiring Female Leader | Winner | Tina Jabeen Managing Director & CEO, Startup Bangladesh Limited, ICT Division, Bangladesh |
| Inspiring Woman in Tech | Winner | Achia Nila Founder, Managing Director, Women In Digital |
