Posts by Amy London

On July 15, 2021, the Institute for Economic Empowerment of Women celebrated 15 years by recognizing individuals who have made a significant contribution or impact. Honorees were recognized at an event hosted by HoganTaylor LLC Oklahoma City, with proceeds benefiting IEEW and its PEACE THROUGH BUSINESS® program.

Wahab and Manizha married in 2011. Manizha says of Wahab, “he has been a great partner, very gender sensitive and very courageous to break gender stereotypes.” Showing his understanding of his bride-to-be, Wahab assured Manizha that he expected her to continue her professional work and reach for the goals she had set. He emphasized, “in 5 or 10 years from now, I don’t want you to look back and say, ‘oh, you couldn’t do this or achieve that, because you married me’.” Wahab has been Manizha’s rock, ensuring that their life together remains as he promised the day they married. He supports her everyday work and accomplishments, but moreover, he enjoys her drive, respects her independence, appreciates her competency and deep sense of responsibility for family, friends, and indeed, for the world at large.

“…Although at times the work takes her away from home, just like mine takes me away most of the time, we were blessed with autonomous children who have grown up into very reliable adults who look out for each other all the time. Mine has mostly been online parenting and sporadically physically present. Despite the enormous challenges that come with distance parenting, it doesn’t stop me from engaging them in discussions of values of hard work, discipline, respect for self and for others, especially our elders. Career and parenting requires very meticulous balancing.”

Mothers everywhere struggle with the age-old question regarding the balance of work and kids. More recently, mothers have been speaking truth to the theory of having it all. Women’s determination to be all and do all in the juggling act of balancing life often results in feeling inadequate. In reality, the trick is to live it…

Every country has a reason to celebrate mothers. In Afghanistan, the official Mother’s Day is June 16. In 2016, Tolo news ran a piece that led with a statement from the Chief Executive of Afghanistan, Abdullah Abdullah. He said, “Women are the real champions of this country. We hope that there are no tears in…

Born in a country that has endured a combination of armed conflict, widespread poverty, and social injustice, 2015 PEACE THROUGH BUSINESS® graduate Masooma Sadat Hashim sought to bring light to the severely crippled education healthcare system for the youth of Afghanistan.  Masooma used her creativity and determination to push past social barriers in her hometown,…

Business plans are like road maps; it’s possible to travel without one, but it will only increase the chances of getting lost along the way. Instead of placing yourself in a situation where you may have to stop and ask for directions or start over, entrepreneurs often use models such as a business plan, to…

All-day, every day, around the world, a more gender-balanced world is being forged. For centuries people around the world have been marking March 8th as a special day for women. At the Institute for Economic Empowerment of Women, we understand the importance of dedicating this special celebration to Afghanistan and Rwanda’s hard working women. This…

Traditionally, society has taught us the cliche saying “survival of the fittest,” in other words, you won’t make it in this world without competition. The truth is, working with one another and building up each other’s power, enough to challenge it, is truly the only way society will change and evolve.  At the Institute for…