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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   Learning Event with Abrar A Anwar- MD and CEO Standard Chartered Bank Malayshia
 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
 Because at the end of the day if I am
 concern/challenge. So we were able to
 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
                                                                                for that has not risen yet. It is an
             From Bangladesh I think 10
                                               membership, to increase
 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,   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   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   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
 integral part of the   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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