Page 35 - ICE BUSINESS TIMES March 2020

process in 2015 and it was the month and how much I have or global interest groups. The
completed in 2016. At the moment achieved, and reasons why I may knowledge sharing aspect of EO is
we have 30 plus members, and we not have been able to achieve all the endless.
are planning on being a very big goals, identifying problems and This time will be the third year of my
organization. getting help from the forum if EO Social Impact, a program also
We organize a program called the needed. Also included are the goals organized for the last 2 years. The
Global Student Entrepreneurship for the next month and how I plan main aim is that as EO Bangladesh
where we take on mentorship roles on attaining them, as well as chapter what kind of work we are
and gradually teach how to do whether any assistance is required doing that is making it possible for us
accounting, create business or not. You cannot solicit within this to bring a positive impact on the
feasibility reports, or even provide group or within EO. This is because society as a whole. We want to
input on the business report when you are in such a small, replicate, share the best practices with
generated by them. Amongst all the close-knit community, conflicts may others and at the same time we can
benefits of EO, the ones I love the arise because of businesses, best to learn from others to, literally an
most is the learning – there are avoid that completely. Because what exchange of ideas and practices.
plenty of professional trainers who we are getting into is much bigger There are also a lot of people
are also business people. We also than that small piece of business. interested in funding programs
have programs with very big and The forum group that I belong to, related to education, sanitation, etc.
international academia such as you will recognize them immediately The idea is to mobilize such people.
Harvard, MIT, Cornell, London when I state their names, United Last 2 years have been phenomenal.
School of Economics and others. Group’s Sanjabi, E Generation’s This year unfortunately we are facing
organic thing to follow for any They help us go through these Shamim Ahsan, Faatin Haque from a bit of a challenge because of
businesses. It is one of the most programs. There is also a kids Trade International, Paragon Fariyan CoronaVirus, but still so far the attract a lot of foreign trainers, for the the information for better learning. As that we have very good members the same time we need to have a gone through this. Also the fact
significant opportunities and was university, which is for our kids who who is also a restaurateur, Faridpur responses have been really good. We improvement of various businesses. It entrepreneurs a lot of times even who take responsibility for their pool of assets, like us being assets remains, this is an international
something new and different that are growing up and planning to step Jute Mill, Jason Pharmaceutical’s have an upcoming event on March was not limited to only business, I though it is a family business, we are tasks. The EO social events that we in this organization. I may be organization, and fees are high.
Bangladesh required at the same up. They go through certain Azra Salim, in total there are 8 of 6th , so let’s see. had brought someone in from the not able to share many things with were able to do in the beginning, considered a senior member, but I Sending fees from here is a bit
time. programs as well. us. Amongst the seniors are 3 Toronto chapter, she spoke of mental our family, but you need to vent out globally that was the first time we still have a lot left to learn. Like me, difficult. Though we are trying to
bringing in these kinds of assets
organized an Award show. The
streamline this, the biggest
We are eager to know Having been in both of the chapters, Second biggest benefit or takeaway members and I am one of them. We Did you face any strength needed to be a female and share. These learning sessions award was open for anyone who together, the more assets you have challenge that comes up is people
I was able to bring a few like-
also have a lot of younger
in EO is the forum. The chapter
how you were introduced minded people who thought of the members are divided into smaller generations who completed their challenges setting up the entrepreneur. You realize this is not help us to become better was associated with this kind of the more you learn. The more scope may have money, but the investment
to EO, how did it all same nature as I did and realized groups who are called forums, studies from abroad and are finding chapter? How did you isolated to Bangladesh, it is a global entrepreneurs, better leaders as well. social work globally, and it was of learning that you have, to do that required for self development may
concern/challenge. So we were able to
Because at the end of the day if I am
happen? that this was something we should usually the size of a forum is it challenging to merge into the overcome those? bring trainers from multi faceted not a good leader, the people in my meant to give them recognition. we need to increase our not be there. The specific awareness
From Bangladesh I think 10
membership, to increase
for that has not risen yet. It is an
It was back in 2012 when a group of bring into Bangladesh. The way the minimum 6 and maximum 10, and family business, this is point of In Bangladesh the process happened avenues. So far it has been a office who follow me as an example, companies participated, and then membership we need to be more expensive organization to be
representatives from EO was visiting membership works, you become a optimum size is 8. The forum relatability for them with us. That is via TTO, which is under the Ministry phenomenal experience, and honestly then bringing about change in any globally there were 30 plus members active. A challenge that arises in involved in. We may also have to
Bangladesh, two of our present member of the global platform and meetings are extremely structured, the second biggest take away from of Commerce. The challenges were the prospective members we were able organization would be impossible. who had participated with their Bangladesh is the sponsorships increase our activities and have
members introduced me to EO. Later then you get affiliated to a chapter. I so it is just not like an ordinary the forum basically the formulation, to have an to include in these kinds of learning Same reasoning applies to my projects. That was the first required to organize an event like more member integration programs.
in 2013, when I was travelling back started from the Toronto chapter, networking process in a restaurant EO has global networking, global foreign organization form a programs, we have been able to personal life as well in the sense that recognition of our achievement in this. People usually doubt the When I was the membership chair,
and forth to Toronto I met up with while keeping my global or a hangout. We sit once a month, learning programs and several Bangladesh chapter, there were a few convert everyone to become a member. I have to be a good example for my 2017. As the founding president exposure they get for sponsoring an that year we had the highest intake
some members from the Toronto membership, I shifted to the it is more like a stock taking, activities. We also have interest bureaucratic issues, that is just how We have also started a new program children. Being a better person is because we were going through the organization with only 30 plus of members. The people I was
chapter, and it made me realise that Bangladesh chapter. Transition beginning with a target that I had groups; based on shared interests, the system is. So it took some time from last year, it’s called Boardroom. extremely important. Times are process, I served 2 years, but members. The fact that all 35 people targeting and reaching out to, I
this would be an excellent opportunity period takes some time, I started the set for myself in the beginning of regional interest groups may form, but it’s been done now. The biggest What usually happens in a boardroom changing and very sensitive now. You otherwise our terms were one year. and who they are, that by itself is an knew for sure that 90% of them
to network while in Toronto. It would problem was that since EO is a is that it is very confidential, no have to be sensitive towards all your 2018 was Farzanah and then in asset. Hopefully by the year 2022, would say yes. I think if that drive
also give me access to the business member driven organization and not media allowed, basically meeting an approaches. 2019 it was Tahsin Aman. Our we should be reaching about 50. By was to be rekindled then
community and network appropriately employee driven, for other chambers entrepreneur in their offices, and me president elect is Zarin Mahmud, 2024 we should reach 100. For an membership rates may go up.
in Toronto. That was when I or associations’ tasks were delegated basically doing a one-on-one. They Can you you shed light then it would Mike Kazi from Kazi organization like this, to be
encountered how different EO was and they got done, but here we had to speak of their success, challenges, life on the accomplishments IT. So we have many different kinds sustainable we need a minimum of Are you planning to get
from all other chambers of trade do it. Getting the time from everyone history, and then we go into question of people from different facets of life 50 members. We need to reach that
bodies and industry associations. was a bit challenging. and answer with them. The purpose as the founding coming in and taking responsibility target as fast as possible. involved in any other big
I realised EO was similar to a of it is to learn from that person. The president? for this organization. The social capacity with EO?
university, and focused on the Af er your presidency following day we are going to have a I think number one the fact that I was impact awards was definitely one of In the case of chambers This time I will be there as a Forum
entrepreneurial development you were also the leading Boardroom session with the MD of able to bring a few like-minded people our biggest achievements. The fact there are so many Chair. Like I said I think I have
of an entrepreneur. This chair, how has the Akij Group, SK Bashir Uddin. It is a together on a particular platform who that we were able to organize a rolled the ball, since we have very
group of people or this member-only meeting and no shared the same concerns and who global event itself was quite members, but why is the good members who are all
organisation had experience been? outsiders are allowed. That way they had the same hunger to learn. I think rewarding. rate of obtaining new presidential material, who can all
perceived that I think not only during my time, but know that it is confidential (we sign a that by itself was a huge members so slow here? serve this organization as president
facilitation, Entrepreneur Organization (EO) Bangladesh held its 4th meeting of EO Board Room Series on 12th December 2018 at Pran-RFL Center in Dhaka. The objective of EO Board over a period of the last 3 or 4 years confidential form), we give them the achievement. Secondly, I think the What is your aspiration The thing is because of the fact that and contribute. I think I have done
policymaking, policy Room Series is to uncover the inspiring stories behind the success of established and prominent entrepreneurs. The event encompassed an exclusive dialogue and we have been able to introduce new assurance that whatever is discussed fact that I have been able to create a it is different from other chambers my job, and I am eager and excited
advocacy is just an experience sharing session with Mr. Ahsan Khan Chowdhury, Chairman and CEO of the f rst Bangladeshi Multi-National Company, Pran-RFL Group. Ms. Farzanah learning skills, mechanisms and at within the room remains within that succession planning from the very for EO? and associations, people are not to see my successors do a much
Chowdhury (then EO Bangladesh’s President), Hossain Khaled (Founding President, EO Bangladesh) and other distinguished members of EO Bangladesh were present at
integral part of the the event. the same time we have been able to room, our minds and hearts. We take beginning. Thirdly, I think the fact We want to grow organically but at used to it. People have not really better job than I have so far.

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