ISLAMABAD: The S&P Global Pakistan has successfully mentored 20,000 women through its transformative Million Women Mentors (MWM) program in the country. Launched in 2020, the initiative aims to inspire curiosity and enhance the confidence of women, enabling them to thrive in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) careers and leadership roles, leveraging the transformative power of mentorship.
The program concluded with a grand event held at a central location in Islamabad. The ceremony was graced by Andrew Schofer, the Chargé d’Affaires of the US Embassy in Pakistan, highlighting the profound impact of the Million Women Mentors program in advancing women in STEM fields across the country.
The primary objective of the program has been to establish connections between one million women and girls with mentors, empowering them to achieve their goals in the STEM field. S&P Global Pakistan, in collaboration with its People Resource Group WINS (Women’s Initiative for Networking & Success), Islamabad, partnered with the US-Pakistan Women’s Council (USPWC) to lead the Million Women Mentors (MWM) initiative.
Andrew Schofer commended the Million Women Mentors (MWM) program, stating, “Mentoring is a powerful way to encourage and equip women and girls to pursue their careers in all sectors. We are incredibly excited that S&P Global joined us in this initiative and has been a trailblazer in fulfilling their mentoring commitments. Mentorship nurtures our next generation of professionals in the workplace and can enable women to rise to positions of leadership.”
Mr. Schofer highlighted that with women constituting only 14.4% of total business owners in Pakistan and more than twice the number of women out of the labor force than men, the Mission recognized that women were the key to unlocking economic growth.
Mujeeb Zahur, Managing Director, S&P Global Pakistan, commented, “This landmark achievement highlights our commitment to progress and equality, embodied in the Million Women Mentors (MWM) initiative. MWM not only opens doors for women in STEM but also fosters business and digital marketing skills, bridging the global skills gap and promoting an inclusive economy.
To fulfill their commitment, S&P Global Pakistan collaborated with the Society for International Education (SIE), The Indus Entrepreneurs (TIE), She Means Work (SMW), National Incubation Center (NIC), Epiphany, CaterpillHers, and xCircle Women.
Under the MWM program, over 250 sessions were conducted, engaging 150+ S&P Global mentors who dedicated more than 1170 volunteer hours. Covering a diverse range of STEM-related topics, the program mentors provided critical support to women entrepreneurs and professionals.
Mentorship areas included STEM Awareness, Upscaling Business using Technology, Growth Mindset, Confidence and Imposter Syndrome, Freelancing, Digital Marketing, Building Resumes, and LinkedIn profiles. The commitment to mentor 20,000 women and girls over three years has come to fruition. The MWM initiative has been recognized for its impact, winning the Vanguard Award in 2020 and earning an Honorable Mention in 2021.
