In a business environment characterised by competitiveness – even ruthlessness – Ms Dawood stands out for her supportive and positive attitude to all women in the work-force. During the first quarter of 2010, the Dawood Capital Management Ltd., of which Ms Dawood is CEO, hosted the second Ladies Fund Women’s Entrepreneurship Awards. The Ladies Fund Entrepreneurship Awards were developed by Ms Uzra Dawood and her team to recognise the efforts of female entrepreneurs in the country. The award was created in the spirit of the legacy left by dynamic female leaders such as Mohtarma Fatima Jinnah, who played a pivotal role in the creation of Pakistan.
It was most appropriate that the Ladies Fund Awards were held at the Mohatta Palace Museum, Karachi, where Mohtarma Fatima Jinnah herself once lived. The awards were held on March 12, 2010, during International Women’s Week. The spirit of Ms Jinnah seemed very much alive, as eminent women from different backgrounds and professions participated in the awards ceremony. Ms Dawood was present at the reception of Mohatta Palace with a very professional and uniformed team to welcome all her guests. Guests were given the opportunity to take photographs with the beautiful Mohatta Palace as backdrop.
The awards ceremony started with a red carpet reception, during which guests had time to mingle and talk. This was followed by an awards distribution ceremony, brief speeches and then high tea. The chief guests for the event were Ms. Nasreen Jalil, former Senator, and Ms Khushbakht Shujaat, Member of the National Assembly. Both these dynamic and courageous women spoke of the importance of politics and democratic platforms in reforming the lives of the women of Pakistan and facilitating the general well-being of citizens. Ms Dawood and Ms Sidra (the compere for the evening) both touched on contemporary themes such as the importance of financial literacy and independence of women in all sectors of society (urban and rural), the challenges of the feudal system inherent in the power structure and the role of women in changing Pakistan “one idea at a time”. It was a pleasure to hear the powerful ideas and personal experiences of these speakers: for many women in the audience, their renditions touched a chord or memory.
Four categories of awards were distributed during the awards ceremony: Woman of the Year 2010, Lifetime Achievement Award, Trailblazer 2010 and Momentum 2010. These award categories covered both lifetime achievements and notable business and entrepreneurial achievements during 2010. Ms Dawood describes how “the hundreds of nominations that were received from across the country” prior to the awards encouraged her to continue with the awards in the second year. The judges panel for the awards included Barrister Shahida Jamil; Frieha Altaf, CEO of Catwalk; Ameena Saiyid, Managing Director of Oxford University Press; Rehana Saigol, fashion designer and jewellery designer; and Sameera Raja, CEO and owner of Canvas Art Gallery and former winner of LadiesFund Women’s Entrepreneurship Award.
The high tea served after the awards ceremony represented the feminine and festive side of the ceremony. The goodies included pastries, éclairs, savories and a delicious chocolate fondue fountain. Another memorable touch to the ceremony was the use of pink as the main color of decoration, and as a signature color on give-aways, as well as on DCM Ltd. stationary.
Overall, it was a memorable evening for all the guests and a great networking opportunity for female professionals in the country. The beauty of the Mohatta Palace and its role in history added to the grandeur of the event.
The winners for the awards in their respective categories were:
LADIESFUND Woman of the Year 2010: Dr Ruth Pfau
Field of contribution: Support for Leprosy Victims
LADIESFUND Lifetime Achievement Award: Begum Sughra Kazmi
Field of contribution: Clothes and Design
LADIESFUND Trailblazer 2010: Khadija Malik and Kiran Aman
Field of contribution: Production and Publishing (Stillwaters)
LADIESFUND Trailblazer 2010: Lal Majid and Madiha Sultan
Field of contribution: Confectionary (Lal’s Chocolate Boutiques)
LADIESFUND Momentum Award 2010: Nilofer Saeed
Field of contribution: Dining/Confectionary (Copper Kettle and Hobnob)
