UIU seminar explores ESG opportunities and challenges for women professionals and entrepreneurs

Published : Saturday, 22 August, 2026 at 1:20 PM

Environmental, social and governance (ESG) requirements are creating new career and business opportunities for women, while complex compliance systems could also place disproportionate burdens on women-owned enterprises, speakers said at a seminar held at United International University (UIU).

The School of Business and Economics (SoBE) at UIU organized the seminar titled “Navigating ESG & Climate Mandates: Risks and Rewards for Female Professionals and Women-Owned Firms” as part of the third event of its NEXUS Seminar Series.

Delivering the keynote address, Dr Afifa Raihana, Senior Environmental Specialist at the International Finance Corporation (IFC), said ESG and climate-related requirements are increasingly influencing business strategies, investment decisions, market access, competitiveness and long-term resilience.

She highlighted emerging career opportunities for women in environmental and social management, cleaner production, renewable energy, ESG reporting, sustainable finance, environmental consulting and climate-risk assessment.

To benefit from these opportunities, Dr Raihana emphasized the need for women professionals to develop not only technical expertise but also strong communication, stakeholder-engagement and policy-literacy skills.

At the same time, she warned that complex environmental and social compliance requirements could impose additional costs on women-owned businesses, particularly those with limited access to finance, information and technical expertise.

However, she noted that effective compliance can enhance business credibility and improve access to corporate supply chains, export markets, public procurement and sustainability-linked financing.

The keynote session was followed by a panel discussion featuring professionals from the healthcare, construction and education sectors.

Ms Priti Chakraborty, Senior Vice-President of the Bangladesh Chamber of Industries (BCI), stressed the importance of connecting academic education with real-world sustainability practices. She said such alignment would better prepare young people for changing workplace and business requirements.

Drawing on her experience in the traditionally male-dominated construction sector, Ms Fahima Shahadat, Country Manager for Bangladesh at Menard Group of France, discussed the professional and social barriers women face when entering technical fields and advancing to leadership positions.

She called for stronger collaboration among universities, employers, policymakers and professional networks to help women professionals and women-led businesses adapt to evolving global standards.

Ms Sabrina Shaheed, Principal of Sir John Wilson School, emphasized the importance of introducing environmental responsibility, entrepreneurship and leadership development before students enter university.

She said schools can play an important role in helping girls develop confidence, problem-solving skills and responsible risk-taking abilities from an early age.

Professor M. Niaz Asadullah, Convenor and Moderator of the NEXUS Seminar Series, said the initiative was created to bridge the gap between academic learning and professional practice by bringing industry experts and practitioners into direct dialogue with UIU students and faculty.

He noted that the ESG transition demonstrates the importance of such a connection, as universities need to prepare students not only to understand emerging global standards but also to apply them in ways that promote competitiveness and inclusive growth.

Professor Salma Karim, Director of the BBA Program at UIU, delivered the welcome remarks at the event.

The seminar concluded with an interactive question-and-answer session involving students, faculty members, researchers and representatives from the corporate sector.

The NEXUS Seminar Series is a monthly initiative of UIU’s School of Business and Economics. The series aims to bring together academic knowledge, international evidence and professional experience to explore emerging challenges affecting business, the economy and society.