Batool is the Pakistan Business Development Associate, managing fundraising and communications initiatives. Prior to joining Acumen Fund in Pakistan, she worked in the US in the consumer banking sector and has experience consulting in microfinance. Batool holds a Masters of International Affairs in Economic Development from the School of International Affairs, Columbia University.
A heartfelt thank you to our community for sharing the day with us at last Saturday’s Acumen Fund Pakistan Community Gathering. Thank you to Zubyr Soomro, Acumen Pakistan Advisory Council Chair for hosting the gathering and thanks to everyone who sent warm thoughts and words of appreciation for what the day represented for them. And a special thank you to our Dubai friends for joining us and really showing the reach of our community! It was a truly powerful day and we could not have been more blessed than to share it with all of you.
With an audience of over 100 individuals that was a happy mix between our wider community (old friends and new), investees, partners and advisors, we had an opportunity to really demonstrate the power of ‘patient capital.’ It included a truly lively debate on the agriculture panel, “Creating Economic Access for Small Farmers,” (hats off to our incredibly knowledgeable panelists, Dr. Rashid Bajwa, Dr. Sono Khangharani, Shahzad Iqbal, and Abdul Samad Khan) that had the audience engaged in a back and forth in way I have never seen before (who would have thought we would be arguing that aartis are good?!). It was followed by an inspirational message from the Fellows in a well choreographed and riveting session. They challenged the crowd to up their moral leadership compass to focus on dignity not dependence, solutions not sympathy, and choice not charity. It was so inspirational in fact, that we are now speaking with a local multi-national corporation on how they can support the Fellows Program and get more Pakistanis involved in joining the next generation of leaders.
We were honored to have Mr. Syed Salim Raza, Governor, State Bank of Pakistan as the keynote address who had a very strong message on what it takes to spur economic growth from the ground up. Access to finance and capital, whether for micro-entrepreneurs or for small farmers will be key in economically empowering a segment of the population that is critical to the economic health of Pakistan.
And the day was really topped off by a segment on “Honoring the Frontline.” The frontline staff of these social enterprises - the loan officers, installation, accounts, and site managers – the ‘backbone’ of all these organizations are the true inspiration for our team and we are humbled by the tireless work they do day in and day out. Nothing could have been more powerful than to have them recognized and honored. From the Kashf loan officers whose enthusiasm never wavers, to Saiban’s Akhtar sb who was so generous with his time in Acumen’s early days of investing and really taught us about housing – this was the highlight for all of us. We simply could not stop smiling.
On Saturday, through the substance and depth of the panel and the focus on the innovative business models that are really tackling poverty in Pakistan, we went one step further in demonstrating to the broader community that it can be done and patient capital can lead the way. We want to engage all of you, a community of believers and doers who do not accept the status quo and want to show the country what is possible.
We are all so proud to be part of this and hope you are too.
With gratitude and warmth,
Batool
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