Visa and HBL, Pakistan’s leading bank, have revealed the winners of Pakistan’s inaugural She’s Next program. This global initiative by Visa supports women in funding, running, and growing their small businesses. Among the victorious entrepreneurs are Ziana Sakhia of Bechlo, Sadaf Rehman of CodeSchool, Rida Zainab of Porter Pakistan, and Ayesha Awan of SocialBlu. The People’s Favorite award went to Hira Javaid, CEO of Foster Learning.
Selected from a pool of nearly 2,500 applicants across various sectors, each winning woman-owned small business receives a US$10,000 grant, tailored training by Katalyst Labs, and access to the She’s Next Club, providing valuable resources like a workshop library and a mentorship community.
A distinguished jury, including Carl Manlan from Visa, Maya Inayat Ismail from HBL, Aatif Awan from Indus Valley Capital, and Sheema Sultan from Core Gym, assessed entries based on entrepreneurial journey progression, business metrics robustness, digital presence, and problem-solving abilities.
Leila Serhan, SVP and Group Country Manager for NALP at Visa, expressed excitement about recognizing the ambition and confidence of these women entrepreneurs, emphasizing the ongoing commitment to empower this inspiring community.
Aamir Kureshi, Head of Consumer, Agriculture & SME Banking at HBL, highlighted the bank’s dedication to supporting women entrepreneurs and shaping the financial industry. The She’s Next program in Pakistan is part of Visa’s global initiative, which, since 2020, has invested approximately US$3.8 million in grants and coaching for women SMB owners globally.
