Those who say women should better stay behind the four walls need a reality check. Looking at women excelling in all the fields one must realize the need of breaking all the stereotypical notions formed against their capabilities. From being a teacher to flying airplanes, women these days are leaving their imprints everywhere.
One such woman is Roya Mahboob, the founder and CEO of Afghan Citadel Software Company. She was born in Herat, Afghanistan a country with more than 85% illiteracy among women. Her childhood was not a bed of roses as she had to leave her homeland with family with the advent of Soviet invasion in Afghanistan. She took refuge in Pakistan and Iran like other homeless people of her country. This was the tough time for her and others. She was not allowed to attend a school and go outside to play. Who then knew, this refugee would one day become an entrepreneur? Her journey continued and she returned back to Afghanistan in 2003 and put her first step towards the entrepreneurial journey. She learned English while volunteering at a French NGO. In 2005, she enrolled herself in Herat University to pursue bachelor in Computer Science for information and communications technology. Since then she never looked back. Where women in Afghanistan even today remain behind the veil, Roya Mahboob has dared to break the stereotype and stand aloof from the line. After completing her graduation, she worked as IT Director in her university and also acquired an MBA in Information Technology in 2011.
A woman of substance
Her progress towards entrepreneurship began when she was included among seven Afghan entrepreneurs as a part of the Herat Information Technology program. While pursuing her MBA, Mahboob with her two university classmates, laid the foundation of Afghan Citadel Software Company in 2010 with an investment of $20,000. Such a risky initiative she took with a positive intention of providing an opportunity to recent university graduates particularly women to look for a job in Afghanistan’s growing tech market. This initiative proved to be helpful for all those women like her who wanted to break away from the prejudiced notions and stand independent on their feet. The company aimed at developing software as required by the clients that were mainly government ministries, international organizations and universities. Thus, the company began to come into recognition of not just few but many.
Roya Mahboob is applauded worldwide for her efforts in giving a boost to technology and encourage women. She despite receiving several threats from her own countrymen kept her pace on and responded on these threats-
“You have to show everybody that men and women are equal. Women can do something if you allow them. Give them opportunity and they can prove themselves”.
Empowering women
She later joined in with partnership with Film Annex, to launch the Afghan Development project in the year 2012. Mahboob and Film Annex together are striving to make internet classrooms in the schools of Afghanistan so as to increase the connectivity in the education system throughout the country and offer them a hopeful future so that they are not led astray and don’t end up in joining the poisonous terror groups.
She has successfully collected many awards and titles for her social initiatives. Her nonprofit, Digital Citizen Fund, is helping women realize their potential, strength and freedom to fulfill their goals. Her tech efforts are aimed at connecting business and social world. She also got a place in the 2013 list of Times magazine of “100 Most Influential People In The World”. Roya Mahboob’s determination, courage and entrepreneurial capabilities will surely encourage other women not only in Afghanistan but other developing countries to take charge of themselves and step out of their protective environment to participate in all sectors of economic life important to build stronger economy and to improve the quality of life for family and community.
Aanchal is a freelance writer and has been writing since 2013. She is currently pursuing her masters in English Literature from University of Delhi and received her B.A. (hons.) degree in English Literature from University of Delhi.
She has a great passion for writing poetry. She is also a keen reader of inspirational stories of people who have achieved success through hard work.