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community, because we thought it   What's your take on the   goals. That is the most rewarding   a different approach. In order to   where entrepreneurs apply and our
 would be encouraging to have a   impact that's being   part.   create a socially, commercially,   learnings and knowledge are
 learning platform; a platform where   This platform decides who will be   viable project you have to invest -   cascaded down.
 knowledge sharing is the driving   created by the EO   the future of Bangladesh, alongside   we call this positive investment. Our   We have to evolve and change so
 force. I have learned so much by just   members in the local   it  is creating impact in the national   policy is along with investing, we   that we don’t become obsolete. We
 being a member.  You learn from   business ecosystem?    economy. EO Bangladesh is creating   have a long term vision which   need to learn and know how to read
 each other, like what the other   It has created massive impact since   impact in the whole world through   enables revenue generation.   the minds of youth and understand
 industries are doing, how they are   its launch in 2016. Ever since I have   our members contribution in the   When I am invited by the UN to   them. You have to sell not just a
 managing their businesses,   become a member of EO,  I feel like I   impact business. Bangladesh is one   speak, I am often asked to speak   product, but a solution to a
 managing their homes, corporate   have a very strong network and it   of the few EO member countries who   more on how SDG contribution is   customer’s dream. Where do I get
 norms, etc. It becomes a family.   has really helped me expand my   are really contributing towards   helping your bottom line and   this energy to innovate?  - EO.
 horizon in terms of business,   impact.       business growth. The funding gap
 Can you tell us about the   learning, and outreach. This   and skill gap is because the   Where do you want to
 involevement of female   network has allowed me to stay   Tell us about the Impact   corporations are not collaborating,   see EO in future?
                                               which is why EO is creating both
 entrepreneurs in EO?    connected to the globe, and it has   Awards Ceremony that   awareness and impact. We also   EO wants to be the most influential
 We proudly say that we have 21%   proved itself to be a powerful   EO Bangladesh is   focus on skill development for the   entrepreneurship organization in the
 members who are not only female,   network. It has enriched my   organizing in March?   youth population. In regards to this,   country contributing to the national
 knowledge and inspired me to
 but they are actively involved   What's the vision   we have a flagship student   economy, to the youth, to the
 members of EO platform. The active   contribute in every aspect of my   entrepreneurship competition. It’s a   women, to the entire education
 business. EO encourages
 female members are very well   entrepreneurs to take risks. So if I   behind?   global competition. Every year we do   system of this country. To be an
 challenges of the time we live in -   known figures in their respective   am taking that risk, who inspires me   The Impact Awards have 12   it here nationally. The winners are   entrepreneur education is very
 the environment is changing,   industry in Bangladesh. Our   – my fellow EO members. As a   applications shortlisted. Impact in   able to become global entrepreneurs.   important. To be an entrepreneur
 business dynamics are changing,   members include Zareen Mahmud   learning platform, EO allows   terms of - the way I define impact in   Last year the winner was a female   one must gather work experience. I
 therefore the risks are also   Hosein, Mehnaz Tabassum, Nishat N   entrepreneurs to obtain knowledge   my SDG report - impact comes from   participant who had a very   worked in microfinance, in the
 changing. We also focus on   Hamid, Zahida Fizza Kabir, Sohana   from the movers and shakers in the   innovation and through innovation   innovative product. Impact also   banking sector, and then I came into
 generating entrepreneurs from the   Rouf Chowdhury, Azra Salim and   country. We bring in lots of   you can go towards your reach and   comes from quality. We have   entrepreneurship. Because I worked,
 youth demography, because this is   Faatin Haque among others from   knowledge and expertise, which   by going towards an outreach you   reached 1 lac women, but changed   I could innovate. You deal with all
 the population that will drive the   various sectors who are really active   makes EO a very powerful   can create impact, so innovation,   the livelihood of 10-15 women that   external issues, internal stuff,
             outreach, impact – are connected to
                                                                                business management and growth.
 Tell us about your journey   future. EO is a platform that drives   and also on the board. Our board   international global platform.  each other. Whatever your activity or   are now successful entrepreneurs.  The CEOs seat is a very hot
 members diligently arrange learning
 the whole ecosystem of
                                               In our country, the next 10-15 years
 with EO.  entrepreneurs. It is going to be an   sessions where we invite   When we talk about the impact,   business it has to be contributing to   will be shaped through investments.   seat.Forum experience is the best
 Entrepreneur Organization is a platform   influential organization in terms of    international speakers. EO is a   view the SDG report. This is a very   society.   EO can play a pivotal role in this   experience. It has given me a lot of
 that hosts entrepreneurs who have   policy levels, policy advocacy, and   platform that is bridging the   powerful statement of an industry.   We are trying to encourage the EO   economic transition. Having the   courage and also solutions to my
 This will inspire others, which is
 established and become industry leaders in   policy framework as well.   knowledge gap by providing access   members and their spouses to come   movers and shakers in our country   problems.
 their respective sectors, who have generated   Bangladesh decided to join the EO   to information exchange.   actually added to the report. Now   forward, and go beyond the   develop their risk-taking ability will   We handled each other, at the least
 you can say the first SDG report in
 massive turnovers, and who have   arbitrary CSR initiatives. It’s one   allow EO to promote the youth   we sat beside one another and
 significantly contributed to community. EO   the private sector was launched by a   step ahead of CSR. CSR means you   population and the women of the   listened to each other. Moments like
 new member, this is how we engage
 is set upon 5 core values – cool, thirst for   do your corporate social   country. We are the first to sign the   these are scarce in this artificial age.
 learning, trust and respect, making a mark,   with each other in terms of learning   responsibility - which is usually a   WEP - woman empowerment   You have to prepare yourself for the
 and sharing. The risk-taking ability
 taking risks and going where we aim to go.   one time investment. We at EO take   principles. We also do mentorship,   future and the unknown crisis that
 Members of EO are keenly working on   increases.                               you might have to face. We are
 driving business and constantly involved in                                    doing a very group integrated effort,
 innovating. EO drives innovation,   What has been the most                     we are going to UN, for that, this
 perseverance, and learning. EO functions as   rewarding part of being          time we have an UN Impact Summit
 a peer-to-peer learning platform, where   associated with EO?                  with probably 50 participants and
 entrepreneurs share their experiences,   Of course learning. EO brings about   39 chapters. So I am also
 knowledge, and swap advice with each   a platform where everyone is equal,     participating there. I am one of their
 other.   whether it is a billion dollar                                        international EO women leaders; so
 The journey of an entrepreneur can   company or a million dollar               I feel to be prepared for the future,
 be solitary. EO facilitates a space   company, it doesn’t matter. We are       we need to integrate our ideas and
 for entrepreneurs to band together   all equal and peers. Recently, we         thoughts together, and learn what is
 and bounce ideas and hold   have released a new ad with the                    happening in the outside world.
 discussions on multitude   message - what can you give to the                  Youth is the future, and EO will
 fronts, for instance corporate   community? Because giving back to             always be there to guide them. We
 governance, workplace   society is how we are going to                         want to implement the thoughts and
 regulation and even including   accomplish the SDG goals and create            ideas and energy of EO into the
 personal issues. At EO, we   the impact. EO gives me the energy                youth population and lead them into
 take into consideration the   to pursue accomplishing the SDG                  the brightest future we can
                                                                                collectively create.
             GSEA 2019-20
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