Sadaffe Abid
Sadaffe Abid | |
|---|---|
| Born | Karachi, Pakistan |
| Occupation(s) | Social entrepreneur, CEO |
| Years active | 1997–present |
| Known for | Founder and CEO of CIRCLE; former COO and CEO of Kashf Foundation; Vice Chairperson of Pakistan Microfinance Network |
Sadaffe Abid is a social entrepreneur based in Karachi, Pakistan, who previously held the roles of COO and CEO at the Kashf Foundation. She is the founder and current CEO of the technology firm CIRCLE. Additionally, she serves as the Vice Chairperson of the Pakistan Microfinance Network.
Personal life
Born into a military household in Karachi, Sadaffe experienced frequent relocations to cities such as Khariaan, Noushera, and Rawalpindi. Her early education was at an Army Public School until sixth grade, after which she continued her studies within the Beacon House School system.
She graduated with a B.A. in Economics and International Relations from Mount Holyoke College in 1995. Later, she completed an Advanced Management Program at Harvard Business School in 2008 and attended INSEAD in 2009. Moreover, she earned a Master's degree in Public Administration from Harvard University's Kennedy School of Government.
Career
In April 1997, Sadaffe became part of the founding team at Kashf Foundation, which was Pakistan's pioneering microfinance and wealth management institution. She contributed eight years as COO followed by two years as CEO, during which she played a vital role in the foundation’s growth. Under her stewardship, Kashf was honored with the AGFUND International Prize and the Grameen Trust Microfinance Excellence Award.
Subsequently, she assumed the position of CEO at Buksh Foundation, another key player in microfinance. Her professional experience also includes serving as Gulf Representative for Mercy Corps based in Dubai and guest lecturing at CEDEP at INSEAD. At National Bank of Pakistan (NBP), she holds a board membership and leads the Inclusive Committee.
Presently, she co-heads CIRCLE, a tech company dedicated to advancing women-led enterprises. Since 2014, she has been consulting for the International Finance Corporation on gender inclusion and teaching social entrepreneurship at CEDEP, INSEAD.
Sadaffe is also on the boards of Pakistan Microfinance Network, UN Women Pakistan Civil Society Advisory Council, and Indus Earth. She acts as an advisor for the Dell Women Entrepreneurship Network (DWEN) globally.
Circle
Sadaffe Abid established CIRCLE with the mission to empower women through technology by enhancing economic opportunities and leadership skills for women. Operating since 2014 in Pakistan, CIRCLE aims to increase female representation within the IT industry and nurture entrepreneurial talent.
Initiatives
In 2017, CIRCLE introduced She Loves Tech, a competition for technology startups led by women that offers mentorship support. By 2020, this initiative, sponsored by HBL, expanded its reach to ten Pakistani cities with a goal to empower 10,000 women through workshops and digital boot camps.
Another significant program is Tech Karo, which provides digital training such as coding and digital marketing to girls and women from disadvantaged backgrounds. This initiative focuses on improving economic prospects while generating positive community outcomes.
Awards and achievements
Sadaffe is an alumna of Australia Awards and has been honored with the Mount Holyoke Alumni Achievement Award for her contributions. Her efforts at Kashf have been highlighted in Nicholas Kristof’s book, Half the Sky.
External links
- Profile of Sadaffe Abid on LinkedIn
- Feature on Sadaffe Abid by CIRCLE
- Official site of Kashf Foundation