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As part of its ongoing commitment to fostering greater participation and leadership of women in STEM, SheSTEM, in collaboration with Ahsanullah University of Science and Technology (AUST), hosted a Fireside Chats and Policy Seminar on 25 June 2026. The event brought together students, industry leaders, academics, policymakers, and development partners. Together, they explored both individual career journeys and the systemic changes needed to build a more inclusive STEM ecosystem in Bangladesh.
The programme combined personal stories of leadership with policy dialogue. As a result, participants had the opportunity to discuss the challenges, opportunities, and institutional reforms required to empower more women to pursue and lead careers in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.
The event began with a series of Fireside Chats featuring three accomplished women leaders from Bangladesh’s technology and corporate sectors. Sadia Haque, CEO and Co-Founder of ShareTrip, Farah Tanjeem, General Manager, Technology Strategy and Transformation at Grameenphone, and Munuree Mozahed, People Delivery Specialist at Ericsson, shared their professional journeys. They reflected on the experiences, challenges, and opportunities that shaped their careers.
Through engaging discussions and open question-and-answer sessions, the speakers encouraged students to pursue careers in STEM with confidence. They also emphasized the importance of continuous learning, resilience, and mentorship in overcoming barriers to professional growth.
Meanwhile, the afternoon session shifted the focus from individual experiences to broader policy discussions. A seminar titled The Role of Higher Education in Shaping Women Leaders in STEM examined how universities, industry, and policymakers can strengthen career pathways for women. Furthermore, participants discussed ways to better prepare women for leadership positions in STEM fields.
The panel discussion, Empowering Women to Lead Innovation, explored curriculum readiness, industry expectations, workforce participation, and the structural barriers that continue to limit women’s advancement in technology and engineering sectors.
Moderated by Omar Farhan Khan, Principal Business Consultant & Portfolio Manager at LightCastle Partners, the panel featured the three Fireside Chat speakers. Additionally, Novia Nurain, Assistant Professor, Department of Computer Science and Engineering, BUET, and Jannatul Fardous, Executive Engineer, Bangladesh Water Development Board, joined the discussion. Together, they brought perspectives from academia, industry, and the public sector.
The discussions reinforced the importance of collaboration among educational institutions, employers, policymakers, and development organizations. Together, these stakeholders can create environments where women can enter, remain, and thrive in STEM careers.
Moreover, participants highlighted the need for stronger mentorship opportunities, industry-aligned education, inclusive workplace practices, and supportive institutional frameworks. These measures can encourage more women to pursue leadership roles in STEM.
By combining personal inspiration with evidence-based policy dialogue, the event demonstrated that achieving greater gender equity in STEM requires both individual empowerment and systemic change.
SheSTEM is supported by the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Bangladesh and implemented by a consortium comprising Aspire to Innovate (a2i), 10 Minute School, LightCastle Partners, Policy Exchange Bangladesh, and DevLearn Consultancy. Through engagements such as this, SheSTEM continues to foster meaningful dialogue and collaborative action. Ultimately, these efforts contribute to building a more inclusive and equitable STEM ecosystem in Bangladesh.
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