4thLADIESFUND® Entrepreneurship Conference(LEC 2013)

 BLOGG BY : IRFAN-UL-HAQ

LADIESFUND Brings the World to Pakistan

Karachi 21^stSeptember 2013- DawoodGlobal Foundation(DGF),the Higher Education Commission, French Consulate, German Consulate, Indonesian Consulate, British Deputy High Commission, Turkish Consulate, Honorary Moroccan consulate andOzygin University Turkey, came together to hold the 4^thLADIESFUND® Entrepreneurship Conference (LEC 2013) on Saturday, September 21st, 2012 from 9:00 am to 6:00 pm at Marriott Marquee, Karachi, Pakistan.  LEC 2013was a milestone event for Pakistan that attracted well over 600 VIPs, women entrepreneurs, male and female students, dignitaries, international delegates and mediawho gathered to hear the inside scoop to success from people who have innovated and changed their industries. 

This year’s theme was “Game Changers," and the event featured speakers from Turkey, France, Germany, Indonesia, UK and Switzerland, as well as the best of local entrepreneurship. Sherry Rehman gave the Keynote address, former UK First Lady Cherie Blair sent a special video message saying she has fond memories of her visit to Pakistan and wishes to come again, pop star Zoe Viccaji sang the National Anthem along with her band. The jam-packed day was filled with cutting-edge panels, interactive workshops, educational presentations, theatre performance by Nida Butt, Yoga Stretch Break by Jeanette Faruqueand Indonesian cultural dance by Indonesian delegates.  The event was a fundraiser for women empowerment in Pakistan and in particular vocational scholarships for grassroots girls for media studies at the Institute of Journalism as part of the LADIESFUNDEducate a 1000 Girls Programme.

There were three panels; How to Start, Pitching for Finance and Global Game Changers. The first panel, How to Start, consisted of Nida Butt, Muriel de Saint Saveur (France), MasarratMisbah and was moderated by Rohan Malik (UK). The second panel, Pitching for Finance, had Cherie Faiella (Switzerland) and MasoodLohar as panelistswithZeenatSaeed Ahmedas moderator. The third panel, Global Game Changers, included Dr. Diana Kisro-Warnecke (Germany), Indri Bachitiar (Indonesia) and ImgeSabanci (Turkey) as panelists and was moderated by ShahrukhHasan.The Speakers includedAmeenaSaiyid, YasinParacha, HasnainRazaLaddubhai whose sessions were moderated by British Deputy High Commissioner John Tucknott,MD Gillette Saad Khan and MD HOM MoidulHasan respectively. Amin Hashwani gave a presentation on Business Beyond Borders and Kamal Faridi gave an educational presentation on Social Media Obama 2012 Campaign in which he shared his experience.KhushbakhtShujat was Special Guest.

Atlas Asset Management surprisedZeenatSaeed Ahmed with trophy in appreciation of her journey as a woman entrepreneur who is a role model for other women.

LADIESFUND International Fellowship to China was presented to AlinaMakhani by Deputy Chinese Consul General Pan Qingjiang with a special video message from Alina who is in China.  One of the LADISFUND Bachelors Scholarships at Iqra University were presented as were as 10 LADIESFUND Vocational Scholarships to grassroots girls for studies at Institute of Journalism.  Nazneen Tariq Khan and ShanazRamzi, donors of LADIESFUND Vocational Scholarships, were on hand to meet the winners, while Dawood Global Foundation presented the cheques.

There were stalls from sponsors including IBEX-a TRG Company, Meezan Asset Management Ltd., Indonesian Consulate, Atlas Asset Management and M.S. Collections and the first tea break was sponsored by AKD Securities.  There was also a special OPI nail bar for relaxation and a social media stall by Creative Chaos.

LADIESFUND® Student Ambassadors from 10 universities across Pakistan ensure a diverse and gung ho crowd.

LEC 2013 is organized by Dawood Global Foundation in partnership with the Higher Education Commission, French, German, Indonesian, British and Honorary Moroccan consulates.

Sponsors:

Habib Oil Mills (Workshop), Khushhalibank (Gold), Bronze (GSK, Pioneer Cement, WEN), Stall (IBEX Global – TRG, Meezan Asset Management Ltd., Thardeep, Atlas Asset Management, M.S. Collections), Educational (IU, IoJ), Legacy (Triumph, Taneez, NAFA & arena) & Fan Art (Monsoon, Accessorize), AKD Securities (Tea Sponsor)

Partners:

Media (CityFM89, rozee.pk, 22-FOUR &Rehan Schools), Set (Le MosaqueElan), Airline (Cathay Pacific), Beauty (Shamain), Nomination (APWA), Food (14^th Street Pizza, The Cakery), Tea (AKD Securities), Water (Ab-E-Hayat), Music (EMI), Style (EllemintPret), Photo (Culligan), Jewellery (Heavenly Regalia), Ticket (Blue-Ex) and Logistics (Creative Chaos).

Supporters:

Polly & Me, L’Oreal, Body Focus Museum, Café Aylanto, Neelos, Nadia Rehan, SNL, Aisha Alam, Bombay Sweets, Sumbul, Ami’s, OPI, Garnier, Craft Company, JADE, Sumbul, Debenhams, SNL, Phenomena, Aisha Alam, Nadia Rehan, INSAM, Tapulicious, Okra, NEXT, XPOSE, Amethyst by Roohi, Lala Textiles, Mothercare, SaniaMaskatiya, CTL360, Wondermilk, Syed Basit Photography, Peter Thomas Roth, Sana Salman, Ayesha-Somaya, Lotus PR & Client Relations & Ideas PR.

T U Dawood Hair & Make-Up for Press Conference:  ShamainFaruque

T U Dawood Wardrobe for Press Conference:  Sofia NaveedLari for EllemintPret

T U Dawood Stylist for Press Conference: Afreen Shiraz

Special Thank You to the Media:

We especially thank the media for their constant friendship and support for our 4th LADIESFUND® Entrepreneurship Conference and to change entrepreneurship as we know it in Pakistan. Such entrepreneurs will not improve their own lives, but this change will start a cycle of changes that will change the community and our beloved Pakistan. You can help bring this change by constantly supporting us, without your support this change will not be possible.

LADIESFUND® Summary

 

LADIESFUND is a vehicle through which Dawood Global Foundation (the parent organization) gives back to the community and supports the upliftment of Pakistan women with activities such as LADIESFUND® Women’s Awards, LADIESFUND® Entrepreneurship Conferences, LADIESFUND® Women of Influence Luncheon Series, LADIESFUND® Internships, LADIESFUND® mentorships and LADIESFUND® Magazine. DGF is renowned internationally for its community projects and charitable work including its partnerships with initiatives such a SOS Children’s Villages, BABYFUND® Flood Relief campaign, LADIESFUND® Fellowships/Scholarships, Cherie Blair Foundation for Women and Google, The Citizens Foundation, etc. 

We now have approximately 12,000 women and youth in our network and our motto is Inspire-Connect-Educate.   Our mission is to connect Pakistani women professionals and entrepreneurs to each other and the best of local/national/international resources and opportunities; educate them on best business and entrepreneur practices; and inspire them with success stories and heroes.   Our annual September conferences (LEC) attract well over 600 people including Pakistani women entrepreneurs and 400 male and female University students from 10 different Universities and our recent 5^th LADIESFUND Women's Awards celebrated Pakistani icons including MalalaYousufzai.

We currently have 120 local and international partners working with us and our main goal for 2014 is to work toward educating 1000 girls as well as

LADIESFUND® Ethos:

• Celebrating phenomenal women
• Supporting women with high potential
• Highlighting positivity in Pakistan
• Promoting advancement of women in Pakistan

LADIESFUND® Advisory Council:

Amir Adnan, ByramAvari, Dr. Ishrat Husain, GhalibNishtar, Khalid Mirza, KhushBakhtShujat, NasreenJalil, SaadAmanullah Khan, Shafqat Sultana &Sultana Siddiqui.

LADIESFUND® milestones include:
- LADIESFUND® Women's Awards

- LADIESFUND® Entrepreneurship Conferences

- LADIESFUND® Women of Influence Luncheons

- LADIESFUND® Magazine

- LADIESFUND® Internships

- LADIESFUND® Nominations for AllWorld Network’s Pk100 and Arabia500

- LADIESFUND® Nominations for Cherie Blair Foundation for Women’s Women in Business Mentoring Programme

- LADIESFUND® Scholarships

- LADIESFUND® Fellowships

- LADIESFUND® E-daily newspaper: http://paper.li/LADIESFUND/pakistani-women-power-list

- LADIESFUND® Educate a 1000 Girls Programme

LEC 2013 Credit

LEC 2013 CreditsLEC 2013 Credits

       LEC 2013 Credits        LEC 2013 Credits