Rokia Afzal Rahman highlights how to shine in the corporate front
By Benazir Aunon Sarker
Photographs by Choudhury Safwat Gani
Empowering women through entrepreneurship development, President of Bangladesh Federation of Women Entrepreneurs, Rokia Afzal Rahman is at the zenith of success. Involved in media, insurance, real estate and power sector, she brings to light skills that lead women entrepreneurs to excellence.
In Bangladesh now, there is a surge of startups and the investment scenario is also looking up. Rokia feels now is a great time for women entrepreneurs to hone their skills in their respective fields. “Bangladeshis like many other countries looks forward to a huge future for startups and young men and women are all rushing into an emerging market that Bangladesh has. The IT sector is a new field that women can open up to and connect with countries like the US , and Europe. Sometimes, formal training is enough for a woman in IT to start a business.”
However she feels they need assistance in setting up companies, getting trade licenses, registering the company as a formal business entity and later networking. “This is where associations can help. Subsequently they need to network so one can complement the other’s business.” The social welfare pioneer recognises that opportunities are great. “The government is very supportive of women entrepreneurs. They have loans for women, and at subsidised interest rates, it’s an opportunity they should certainly grasp,” she emphasises.
Sponsor Director in Midas Financing Limited and Director in the Central Bank of Bangladesh as a member of the board for three years, Rokia has diversified her business through a broad spectrum. Handling various projects and people, ideal negotiation skills are a must.
“Negotiating skills are gained over years of experience. However, Bangladesh needs better professional advice. Governments in other countries bring professional support, when they come to a negotiation table. “ Once, while sealing a deal I had to turn back and walk away; sometimes you just have to play a bluff,” she shares.
“In a good negotiation, both parties should come out of it feeling satisfied so it’s not really a winner and loser situation,” she affirms. Considering the role of women in business, she doesn’t find significant difference in the set of negotiation skills for women and men. “It’s the same concept of negotiation for both; men have been engaged in this arena for a longer time which justifies their possession of better negotiating skills. However under the same conditions, if a man and woman negotiate, I think woman would do better,” she smiles.
However women have not come into procurements yet, which is important. “There should be a reserved quota in procurements from the government in the private sector that should be available to them. Women are natural managers, they are sincere and dedicated which is what makes them good at negotiating,” she ends on a positive note.