Nazia Andaleeb Preema is one of Bangladesh’s most prolific, bold and leading contemporary artists who is a strong cultural influencer, leader and activist. She has a deep passion for dynamic ideas, techniques, and experimentation with new media (art, leadership, performance).

Preema is the Chair of Preema Arte Foundation, President of Women in Leadership, Director and Creative Editor of Bangladesh Brand Forum, Founder of Bangladesh Creative Forum & Founder of Preema’s Atelier. She was also a distinguished member of the council board for Superbrands Bangladesh for 2023-24.

Preema represented Bangladesh’s national pavilion at the 58th La Biennale de Venezia in 2019, the most prestigious art biennale in the world. Preema, the widely traveled and exhibited artist, has also received recognition both domestically and internationally for her creative endeavors. In her 25 years of artistic career, Preema had 22 solo art exhibitions and has participated in major international art biennales all over the world.

Preema has received numerous national and international recognition for her innovative approach and ideas, including the BASIS (Bangladesh Association of Software and Information Services) Award 2016 in the Visual Arts category, PRIDE of Bangladesh recognition as the most prolific visual artist of 2016, the prestigious Anannya Award as the outstanding women in the creative field of Bangladesh for 2014, Royal Overseas Award 2011 in Fine Arts, Britain, and many more.

In a recent conversation with BBF Monthly team, Preema spoke about her journey with Women in Leadership and shared the core vision, objectives and goals of the platform.

BBF: How do you think being an artist influences the way you take leadership onboard?

Nazia Andaleeb Preema: Because I am an artist, I not only imagine and express, but I also experience and absorb what I see, and I create a vision to find new directions for my art and life. My practice of art is to serve a greater purpose. I am driven by the vision to change people’s lives for a better world. I don’t limit myself as an artist. I believe in limitless possibilities. I also strive to create new knowledge through blending my artistic manifestation and the concept of gender empowerment to make a difference in the lives of women. WIL is the trigger for empowering women in leadership. My art asks questions, and the platform WIL (Women in Leadership) is the answer.

In my journey as a woman, I was focused and careful about my societal role. I grew up in a family where women possess the same amount of leadership & responsibility as men. I have grown up understanding the value and importance of equality. Men and women are not enemies. They are complementary to each other. The context of leadership and diversity and their complementary nature came to me naturally. Therefore, my art practice has shown me the path of diversity and enabled me to connect the dots.

What specific societal needs or challenges prompted the initiation of Women in Leadership (WIL) in Bangladesh ten years ago?

To me, visual interpretation is the key to expression. While dealing with art in the context of women in our patriarchal society, I realized the need to create a platform for professional women. The core vision was to focus on the potential of corporate and professional women by “owning and visibility.” In 2014, Women in Leadership (WIL) started its journey to influence society, women, and organizations to harness awareness about gender diversity and the importance of encouraging and supporting women to rise in leadership roles. WIL has become a movement of empowerment within and around different corporations and diverse institutions. The empowerment philosophy has been infused and injected within the society to change the mindset. The platform is like a canvas; you start a journey, and it shapes its path to create a vision.

How has the organization evolved to address them over time?

In the last 10 years, WIL has become one of the most unique and impactful initiatives that has been working through a multi-dimensional approach to nurture the ecosystem of women leadership in Bangladesh. More female professionals enter and rise to their potential into leadership roles, and organizations understand the value of gender diversity in their leadership and actively engage to pursue that goal.

As WIL celebrates 10 years of its journey, I look back and study the major shift that has been initiated through the support of the industry and professionals in making a movement of women leadership. WIL is the only platform that nurtures potential female leaders from universities to recognize female professionals at entry, mid, and top levels. Through mentoring and pushing these messages through summits, dialogue, online platforms, and publication, WIL has made the topic mainstream within the professional world.

Bringing creativity, innovation, and artistic expression to the issue, I have tried to add a multi-sensory dimension to this complex issue.

What is the focus of this year’s WIL fest?

Leadership is a sensitive issue. It is not about ownership but owning self.

This year’s WIL Fest will focus on economic independence. One can raise the question: does economic independence solve the complex gender equality and diversity debate around the world? While the answer is no, I firmly believe that having economic independence provides any female with a strong context for empowerment to start with.

This year, throughout all the components of WIL Fest (Summit, Award, Art, Publication, Online Dialogue), we will focus on how WIL can help and push females to pursue economic independence through empowerment. The festival will bring context to different segments of knowledge & learning to activate the concentration on the core theme from diverse angles & dimensions. WILArt is an important segment where inclusivity will play a big role in independence through visual elements, interpretation, and creativity.

Through all the engagements, we will strive to inspire female professionals to be authentic, independent, and leaders with strong self-esteem.

What areas will be explored during the summit this year?

The WIL summit is one of WILFEST’s critical engagements. At the summit, we will invite senior business leaders, bureaucrats, academia, thinkers, and professionals from different sectors to share their insights and perspectives on leadership from the lens of female professionals. We will explore personal branding, leveraging digital for women, nurturing senses and instincts, obstacles and challenges faced by women professionals, and ways to address them from an organizational perspective. The summit will highlight women’s leadership through keynotes, case studies & panel discussions. WIL believes that knowledge is power; hence, by exchanging viewpoints and debaters and by providing support, we all can be an integral part of the whole women empowerment and leadership process. The focused power is important to multiply and amplify the influence among each other and beyond.

How do you feel the Inspiring Women Award Recognition helps the vision of WIL?

Oh, it helps women a great deal to be proud of their own selves. I personally think it is very important for any professional woman to be recognized. Because through this recognition, they can grab the attention of the industry. They are now more visible to others to see their potential and enormous possibilities. Inspiring Women Award has a very strong nomination and selection procedure; it is a neutral, open, and transparent process, too. The WIL Inspiring Women Award not only rewards the deserving but also creates a sustainable growth policy and supportive parameters for women’s empowerment within organizations.

I feel it plays a significant role in pushing WIL’s vision to make female professionals more confident and self-aware of their skills and capabilities. Studies have shown that women professionals with the same skill level feel less confident than their male counterparts and do not push for bigger opportunities. I feel this award not only gives an immense confidence boost to the winners but also inspires other female professionals to become better and leave their mark in their respective fields.

Looking ahead, what are the major challenges and opportunities WIL anticipates in the next decade, and how does the organization plan to adapt its strategies to remain effective in advancing professional women’s leadership in Bangladesh?

WIL is the trigger to make women realize their value and worth by being a major part of the economic development of the nation. Every woman has the right to be economically independent. To achieve that, women need to be educated, skillful, and professional. A platform like WIL is a reminder to them to be aligned with the importance of pursuing their career. We have noticed a major shift in the thinking and approach within organizations to give women professionals an equal chance. In the coming decades, WIL and I personally envision more women joining the workforce and contributing to the economic growth of the country for their own independence and assurance.

Society will not change overnight. It is not a miracle but a slow and steady process of development & shared progress. WIL will look into different ventures and will continue to create a support system to ensure women’s empowerment by helping female professionals realize their potential.

What message would you like to give to the professional women of Bangladesh?

There is no limit to exploring your full potential. Women need to dream big for themselves, be courageous and wise, and always be awake and ready. They should never compromise to be who they deserve to be. Today, women are a valuable part of new creativity, innovation, technology, and AI. It is not hard to be a modern women who is independent, educated and universal woman.