Members

Women’s rights, gender equality and women’s empowerment have been at the heart of everything Gulbakhor has achieved during her 25 years of professional experience. From placing women’s access to finance at the heart of her leadership at an award winning bank, to the establishment of a crisis center for women victims of violence that has helped over 44,000 women and families over its life time.  

To establishing and running the National Association of Business Women of Tajikistan that has helped thousands of women escape poverty and find economic empowerment, and promoted business women as role models to the whole country.  To advocating for policy changes in the financial sphere, to end violence against women and to empower women in business. Gulbakhor has a Master’s degree in Finance and Banking, a Ph.D. in Gender and Science, and a Master’s degree in Business Administration (MBA). In May 2014, she won the EBRD Women Business Awards for “Outstanding Achievement in the Financial Sector”, for her role as the Deputy General Director of the IMON International. Gulbakhor is passionate about innovation and learning. She has her own series of educational lectures, the “April Readings” to inspire research and development regarding women’s equality and empowerment.

Founded in 1995, the Association of Business Women of Kazakhstan (ABWK) brings together over 5000 women entrepreneurs and has 21 regional branches across Kazakhstan.  Over its lifetime ABWK has realised over 100 projects. The current focus is on mentoring, supporting business expansion and personal growth, networking, legal support and personal and family happiness.

A trained economist and sociologist, Raushan Sarsembayeva is recognised both nationally and internationally as a leader committed to the development of women's entrepreneurship, having won numerous awards. 

Women's Forum "Kurak" is a non-profit, public organization that unites women from various fields, including business.  The mission is to support and develop entrepreneurship in Kyrgyzstan and Central Asian countries, improve the economic standard of living of women, their families, as well as their spiritual, personal and professional growth. Kurak is a beautiful patchwork fabric sewn from different pieces of fabric in colour, texture and size. The 70 members of our organization are the very bright scraps that, uniting in the name of a common mission and goals, become part of a large colourful canvas.

Ainura Saginbaeva was a founding member of Women's Forum Kurak in 2012. In 2021 she was elected to the position of Chair of the Board. Ainura is a highly successful entrepreneur in her own right, being a leading business coach and internationally recognised, and with her own research and consulting company.  With a PhD from Moscow State University in sociology, her efforts are focused on the development of women and research to solve societal issues.

The National Association of Business Women of Tajikistan (NABWT) was founded in 1995 as a non commercial, public organization, later gaining republican status.  The mandate of the Association is to expand economic rights and opportunities for women; providing them with economic empowerment. Whether this is through helping them with business skills, vocational skills, promoting access to resources and education, changing the environment within which they do business, opening up new markets and helping women to share skills. With over 2500 members include women entrepreneurs in diverse sectors ranging from the service industry to processing of agricultural production, from work that can be carried out in the home to those in production, manufacturing and sales, and from the food industry to the handicraft industry.  The National Association of Business Women of Tajikistan has gained considerable experience in implementing advocacy projects and lobbying for the rights and interests of women entrepreneurs. 

Sanavbar Sharipova is one of the founders of NABWT and has been involved with the Association throughout its life. Having been CEO of a market leading lending institution in Tajikistan, Sanavbar is particularly passionate about women's access to finance, with a wealth of knowledge and experience on practical measures that result in equitable inclusion of women and removal of barriers that prevent women becoming successful entrepreneurs. 

Women Leaders in Business is a new organisation in the process of official registration. Experience has shown that it doesn't matter who you are; man or woman, experienced or start up, there are always opportunities for self-development and business development. The organisation aims to empower all women to reach their potential, to lead and run businesses, and to be at the forefront of innovation.   

Gulshat Petrosova is a highly experienced business woman, with a wealth of experience in logistics, distribution, brands and marketing. She puts a strong focus on IT, building businesses with full integration with the latest technologies. As her knowledge of IT integration grew she set up a consulting company to provide other companies with suitable IT solutions.  Now as the founder of Women Leaders in Business she wants to help other women be successful.

The Association of Business Women “Tadbirkor ayol” was established in 1991, with the purpose of expanding and protecting the economic and social rights of women, supporting their entrepreneurial and public initiatives, and helping to ensure the use of financial and information resources.  With 68 branches across Uzbekistan, over the life of the Association 14,000 women received training, 9,000 started their own businesses and over 130,000 work places were created.  The Association focuses on creating conditions for women's participation in  business, strengthening the climate of mutual trust and partnership, introducing innovative educational programs, increase the competitiveness of women's business, and advocating for institutional legal mechanisms to improve women's economic and social opportunities.

Gulnora Makhmudova is an experienced and inspiring leader, very much focused on the competitiveness of women's businesses.  Having spent time in the US, and running commercial operations, she uses this knowledge and experience for the development of women entrepreneurs in Uzbekistan.