the pakistan expedition roundup
The Women Emerging expedition for Women in Business in Pakistan took place from April 2024 – November 2024. The seven-month journey was full of exciting new discoveries and learning - not just for the explorers, but for the Women Emerging team as well.
The expedition leader, Dr. Ayesha Mian, was an explorer herself on the first-ever expedition that Women Emerging ran in 2022. She now serves on the Women Emerging steering committee, bringing invaluable insight and guidance to Women Emerging.
This expedition brought together a group of 24 women, all from large corporate organisations in Pakistan. The goal was to create a space where they could navigate the unique challenges they face in the workplace and find their own way of leading rooted in their own strengths. The organisations represented by the explorers were Ismail Industries, PSO, Pathfinder, SLB, Karachi Electric, Tapal, and Faysal Funds.
As the Community Manager, I had a front row seat to the amazing transformations that took place. Explorers who were initially introverted found their voices, growing in confidence and actively contributing to discussions. The shift in their presence was truly inspiring to see!
Like many Women Emerging expeditions, this one was mostly online. However, being in the same city, Karachi, Pakistan, allowed us the rare opportunity to meet twice - once at the beginning of the expedition and once at the end for a final closing retreat.
At the heart of the expedition was the unique 4Es methodology - which emerged from the first expedition and has been perfected on expeditions ever since. Over seven months, we explored each of the Es - Essence, Elements, Expression, and Energy - deepening explorers’ understanding of what it means to lead in their own way.
Essence, the first of the Es, took the explorers time to fully grasp. Explorers establish what in their make-up influences how they lead.
It consists of seven key pieces: “motherness” (a word Women Emerging coined), trauma, ancestors, education, the body, the sacred, and nature. Of these, motherness resonated strongly with the explorers. Unsurprisingly, it wasn’t just the mothers in the group who felt a strong connection to this concept - it was, in fact, many of those who weren’t mothers at all. Motherness can encompass both the nurturing and the fierce sides of women leading. Amra Aqeel sums up what motherness means to her.
As a woman, I find these values are strengthened by qualities ingrained in me from a young age - nurturing and empathy. These traits naturally align with my commitment to transparency and truthfulness, allowing me to approach every situation with fairness and a genuine desire to see others succeed. - Amra Aqeel
As we moved through the expedition, the discussions became more energetic and flowing. Elements, the second E, pushed the explorers to unpick how their Essence shows up in how they lead. The third is ‘Expression’: explorers work through how the first two Es shape their day-to-day leading. Explorers also spoke to expedition Guides who gave them practical advice on leading.
The Guide was so authentic in her talk. There were so many ideas and discussions that were amazing. I cannot actually tag what was the best! - Shaista Sumar
I appreciated Uma's point about how we often overlook our own contributions to a problem. We rarely pause to reflect on the ways we might be unintentionally adding to the issue, and more importantly, how that awareness can lead us toward finding a solution. - Nighat Lakhair
The fourth is ‘Energy’: explorers discover how the flow across their first three Es generates the energy of leading.
By the time the explorers reached the final retreat, the change was undeniable. These women were no longer just employees in leadership positions - they had discovered their own individual ways of leading.
For one explorer, this meant breaking free from the "good girl" mindset. She had always taken on extra work, never saying no, fearing that setting boundaries would make her seem difficult. Over time, this led to burnout and a sense of being taken for granted. But through the expedition, she realised that leading wasn’t about pleasing everyone - it was about leading with intention. Now, she sets clear boundaries, knowing that saying no when necessary allows her to lead more effectively.
For another, the expedition reinforced the importance of internal reflection. She had always led with a focus on external expectations - what others needed, what the job required. But she had never truly asked herself: Why am I leading? What does leadership mean to me? Through the expedition, she learned to pause and reflect; to align the way she leads with her deeper purpose. Now, every decision she makes is rooted in clarity and self-awareness.
What I appreciated most about this session was the supportive environment that encouraged open discussions about both strengths and areas for improvement. - Duria Sharif
Real life experiences of other women in this expedition! Loved their honesty and how everyone is struggling one way or another. - Rehma Ali
While the expedition itself ended in November 2024 - the relationships, insights, and growth continue. Many explorers have stayed connected, supporting one another as they bring what they’ve learned back into their workplaces. Just last week, two explorers shared a photo of a meeting they had with one another and hope they continue to share their learnings and new approach to leading with others!
“Launching the Pakistan chapter for WE and Leading the first expedition of 25 amazing women in business was inspirational and exhilarating. In a country with one of the lowest gender equity indices, going with these ladies on an inward journey of connecting with the leader within was powerful. The deep connection to roots, ancestry, culture and nature was an eye-opening facet of the journey. What does leading mean for a Pakistani woman in business; this unique question yielded a discerning story!” - Dr. Ayesha Mian, Expedition Leader
The insights discovered during this expedition will help shape the upcoming themed solo expedition; a 2 month, online expedition for women in business in Pakistan to do at their own pace.