TAAGA has always supported trailblazers and curated a sense of style for women who are modern and versatile. Building on this endeavour of promoting feminism and providing women the opportunity to realise their true potential, TAAGA Outstanding Young Professionals Award was launched in February 2023 to honour young female professionals who stand out in their field of work.   

Three bright women from varied industries earned the winning title, and six other talented individuals made it as finalists, all of whom were recognised and awarded during BRAC's Hope Festival this year.

The first winner, Labiba Mustabina Oishee, Business and Clinical Development Associate at Renata Ltd. went on to study biochemistry during her undergraduate and pursued a master's degree in business. Although initially her career path looked riddled due to the lack of diversity in professional roles within the life sciences industry of Bangladesh, she later found a position to leverage both her specialities.

"When I started my current role, the most exciting bit for me was the freedom to learn. It allowed me to develop my skills on several fronts simultaneously such as clinical research, commercial analysis, and intellectual property evaluation to name a few," said Labiba. She is an advocate of cross-disciplinary careers and aims to be a role model for young graduates in life sciences who are on the lookout for a career that is already not set in stone.

Maria Kibtia, Area Leaf Manager at British American Tobacco Bangladesh, who is the second winner has a background in STEM and was in search of a role where she could put to use her data-driven decision-making skills and analytical aptitude.

Upon joining BAT Bangladesh, she has been leading a team to deliver compelling business needs and big numbers while ensuring quality. Alongside, she is working with others to reduce harmful impacts on the environment and enhance the livelihood of others. 

"I believe in the power of empowering people to achieve equality. Every day, I engage with people from the rural community and see there are many disparities in society. By providing them with the right guidance and training, they can live a better lifestyle. The possibility to touch lives and transform them keeps me motivated," she voiced.

Forhat Nazib Chowdhury, Manager – Climate Responsive Infrastructure at Save the Children International, and the third winner was initially involved in mainstream architecture working as a Junior Architect in a consultancy firm and then teaching in an interior institution for a while before eventually finding her ground in the humanitarian sector. Since then, she has been involved in working to eliminate climate-related issues.    

Her fondness towards Mother Earth seeped its way into her designs and work which reflects nature.

"If you recognise the environment through your work, in return, nature will give you amazing results! Staying connected with our natural blessings and eventually seeing the result of my effort bringing positive changes to the whole community motivates me to deliver better work every day," she shared.

Apart from them, six finalists were also recognised in TAAGA Outstanding Young Professionals Award 2023 including Sahida Fatema, Operations Manager at foodpanda Bangladesh. Sahida has always been passionate about helping others and thus chose to work in the customer service industry. "My urge to learn and be my best motivates me every day in my journey," she remarked.

Shabnam Rafat Ummey Sawda, Business Analyst – MyGP Product at Grameenphone Ltd. has also taken strides of success in her professional field. Being an AI enthusiast, she has been with GP since the beginning of her career serving multiple roles. "My goal is to be a part of the upcoming technological revolution in Bangladesh," she shared.  

Tasnia Tasnim, Territory Manager at Berger Paints Bangladesh Ltd. built a strong footprint in the paint market of Chattogram through her work. She has learned a lot about dealing with people and different situations by means of delivering tasks.

"As a leader, I address my teammates' needs, create an appreciation culture, and acknowledge their contributions/opinions," she said.

Finalist, Zeba Samiha, Category Demand Planner at Berger Paints Bangladesh Ltd. delved into an area of work that is relatively new in Bangladesh. "The most significant drive in my career journey has been the opportunity to engage in a field where I can create a positive impact by exploring possibilities," she shared.

Another finalist, Dr Nazmee Kabir, Orthopaedic Surgeon, Evercare Hospital shared her motivation behind joining such a specialised field of study. "Surgeries itself motivate me into working hard, the adrenaline rush before each surgery, the healing of a patient after treatment, the satisfaction of recovered patients are all very rewarding," she explained.

Lastly, Anika Meahnaz, Assistant Manager – MRP at Unilever Bangladesh Ltd., another finalist coming from an engineering background has always been fascinated by factory and operations. "With my team, I have driven multiple projects in quality and safety which have not only given an edge to our products in the market but have also improved the productivity of our resources," she mentioned.

The journey of recognising women who are creating an impact by TAAGA does not end here, but the winners shall be featured in a national campaign and become a part of the TAAGA Young Professionals Alumni Network.  

Photo: TAAGA