Growing up in Pakistan, I realised very early that the lives of many girls revolve around constraints imposed upon them, to the extent that sometimes even their birth is questioned rather than celebrated. Decisions about their education, career or marriage are made for them – not by them. In this process, many women lose their voice; some learn to be content with very little, but a rare few begin to challenge the norm. I did that.

The more I was denied a leadership role – from medical schools to professional boards – for being a woman with her own opinion and ability to disagree, the more I realised something deeper. Instead of adhering to the common saying, ‘If they do not give you a seat at the table, then bring your own folding chair,’ I began to wonder who was setting the table and why the world was making women adapt to places that were never built for them in the first place. I started asking why women in medicine couldn’t have their own table? While resilience might help one woman earn a seat, mindsets that are unwilling to share decision-making power do not change overnight. This only happens when women unite to make places of their own.

A clear revelation emerged: Pakistan required an organisation for women health professionals. Despite constituting around 70% of medical college admissions, most women drop out of the field or are hardly seen at policy tables. This issue was not about merely personal preferences, but rather about systemic gaps.

Read more at: https://rcp.ac.uk/membership/commentary/from-rcp-impact-to-women-s-global-leadership-a-journey-of-transformation/