Breaking Barriers: DPL Empowers Women to Lead with Confidence

DPL hosted an insightful leadership session, “DPL Girls Lead with Impact,” on March 13, 2025, featuring Hira Zainab, a seasoned leader known for her contributions to digital innovation, public policy, and industry transformation. As Vice President of Strategic Affairs at Contour Software, she has played a key role in driving IT sector growth, shaping policy reforms, and mentoring future leaders.

The session focused on the importance of women taking initiative, stepping up, and understanding what it means to lead. Hira highlighted that leadership is about creating opportunities rather than waiting for them. She pointed out that many hesitate to take the lead, not because they lack skills, but due to self-doubt.

“Leadership is about action. It is about making decisions, influencing change, and taking ownership of your journey,” she said.

She also spoke about the risk of having a narrow perspective due to limited exposure. To grow as leaders, she encouraged women to seek different viewpoints, broaden their experiences, and stay informed. Without this, she explained, leadership potential remains untapped, and progress slows.

Sharing her experience at P@SHA, where she worked on IT sector growth and policy reforms, she explained that leadership requires vision, resilience, and adaptability. She advised attendees to work on their skills, make bold decisions, and take on leadership roles with confidence.

DPL’s CEO, Syed Ahmad, highlighted the company’s dedication to creating a culture where women can step up, take charge, and lead with impact.

“Leadership isn’t about titles, it’s about taking initiative, making an impact, and driving change. Women bring unique strengths that fuel innovation and progress. At DPL, we are proud to support and uplift future leaders like Hira, and we will continue creating opportunities for women to step up, lead with purpose, and shape the future,” he said.

This session was organized by EmpowerHER, a leadership group launched in September 2023 to support and uplift female Rebels at DPL. Through workshops and awareness campaigns, EmpowerHER ensures that women’s contributions are recognized and valued.

The event ended with a Q&A session, where attendees discussed career growth, leadership challenges, and confidence-building. Many participants shared that the session gave them the clarity and motivation to take the next steps in their professional journeys.

The session reinforced DPL’s commitment to creating a culture where women are encouraged to take charge, overcome challenges, and lead with confidence. Through initiatives like EmpowerHER, the company is not just starting conversations about leadership but actively providing opportunities for women to step into influential roles and make an impact.