Our Founder
In tribute to our visionary Founder, Shirin Hussain, whose spirit ignited in us, a flame of women empowerment.
Though she no longer walks among us, her legacy is etched into the very soul of our organization. Her relentless commitment to women's empowerment through NAARI (Hindi for "WOMAN") remains our guiding light, and her visionary leadership echoes through every initiative we pursue. Her impact was not momentary, it was transformational, and it lives on in the lives she uplifted.
Today, her torch burns brighter than ever. Through F.O.W.E.S., Sabah Hussain, her daughter, carries that legacy forward with fierce passion, unshakable commitment, and the same fire that once lit the path. Guided by her mother’s vision, she leads the charge to elevate women globally, advancing the mission with strength, purpose, and a relentless pursuit of impact.
Late Shirin Hussain
Founder, NAARI
Governance & Leadership
Sabah
Hussain
Founder & Chair,
Federation of Women Empowerment & Support
Sabah is a seasoned entrepreneur, angel investor, bold architect of transformation, a global strategist, and a force behind F.O.W.E.S., W.O.M.E.N. and The Alpha Women Network. She brings decades of executive leadership, global business development, business neuroscience expertise and entrepreneurial insight, combined with a deep, unwavering commitment to Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and systems that empower women at every stage of their journey.
A builder at her core, Sabah leads with clarity, strategy, and vision. She creates infrastructure where others see chaos, and momentum where others feel stuck. Her expertise spans cross-border trade, business intelligence, mindset reprogramming, and operational scale, and she channels it all into a singular mission: to ensure women are not just invited to the table, but are equipped to own it, expand it, and redefine it.
Sabah envisions a world where women are powerful economic drivers, ethical leaders, and architects of generational change. As Chair, she leads with integrity and long-range vision, grounding every decision in sustainability, inclusivity, and global collaboration. What she brings is more than experience, it’s a legacy in the making.
Pascale Nguyen
Board of Director, F.O.W.E.S.
Operating Partner - Financial Services Sector, SIA Partners
Pascale is an experienced executive and an ICF Certified Coach with over 25 years of expertise in the financial service industry. Currently an Operating Partner at Sia Partners, Pascale specializes in organizational, business and technological transformation, change management, and leadership development in the financial sector.
As a serial business entrepreneur, Pascale has successfully founded and led a strategy and management consulting firm, as well as a wealth management and insurance firm. She also brings operational expertise from the franchise industry, where she gained hands-on experience in business growth and management.
Pascale is deeply committed to mentorship, inclusion, and the advancement of women in leadership. Her passion for empowerment and equity stems from a personal mission to pay it forward and drive meaningful, lasting impact.
Saadia
Sajid
Board of Director, F.O.W.E.S.
Tech & Social Impact Leader | DEI & Women Empowerment Advocate | Vice Chair, CPACT | Founder, SYNCMAG |
VP at Cronomagic
Sadia is a tech and social impact leader, community builder, and an award-winning advocate for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, and women empowerment.
She serves as a Vice-President of Development & Operations at Cronomagic, where she leads global business strategy, digital transformation, and cross-regional operations across North America and Asia.
As the Founder and Executive Director of Syncmag, a multi-cultural platform celebrating inclusion and cross-cultural dialogue, Sadia leverages story-telling and entrepreneurship to amplify under-represented voices. She also serves as a Vice Chair of the Canada-Pakistan Affiliated Chamber of Trade, where she shapes organizational policy and champions cultural cohesion and economic inclusion.
Recognized with both, the King Charles III Coronation Medal and the Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee Medal, Sadia is widely respected for her strategic leadership, cross-cultural expertise, and her ability to drive systemic impact through innovation and collaboration.
Hanna
Abdel Hamid
Board of Director, F.O.W.E.S.
WXN Top 100 Most Powerful Women in Canada |
Strong Women in IT 2023 | Head of Sigma Software Canada | Certified DEIB Specialist
Hanna is an award-winning executive and a recognized leader in business operations, market expansion, and team development.
As Head of Sigma Software Canada, she drives strategic growth, leads cross-functional teams, and fosters innovation to overcome complex business challengers. Named one of Canada's Top 100 Most Powerful Women in 2024 by WXN, she blends vision with operational excellence to deliver measurable results. Her expertise spans across financial management, process optimization, crisis leadership, and stakeholder engagement.
A dynamic public speaker and 2023 Speaker of the Year nominee, Hanna is also a passionate advocate for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. She mentors women and non-binary professionals, empowering them to lead with confidence. Beyond her corporate role, she contributes to community causes as a non-profit board member. With an MBA and a track record of impactful leadership, Hanna brings strategic insight, a commitment to inclusion, and ethical guidance to everything she does.
As a Board Member of F.O.W.E.S., Hanna brings strategic acumen, operational expertise, and a deep commitment to inclusive leadership through growth initiatives.
Sanka
Kangudi
Board of Director, F.O.W.E.S.
Social Impact Leader | CEO, Trendsetting@WorkTech
Sanka brings over two decades of experience in global HR and internal communications executive roles, communications, and executive business strategy consulting. After witnessing talented businesses struggle with rapidly evolving global pressures, she founded Trendsetting@Work to address the gap between traditional business tools and the growing complexity of modern business realities. Her M-PACT™ platform integrates behavioural science, global intelligence, and AI to support SMB and corporate decision-making, while her C.O.D.E.™ methodology helps organizations navigate uncertainty. Her approach centres on the principle that collective progress accelerates when businesses can move from uncertainty to opportunity.
Throughout her career, Sanka has maintained a commitment to opening doors and holding them open for others, while breaking barriers herself. She serves on multiple boards, hosts the "SME Heartbeats" podcast series to amplify diverse entrepreneurial voices and expertise, and mentors leaders across sectors. Her strategic expertise in talent optimization, operational agility, and anti-fragility positions her as an enthusiastic contributor to her community. She commits to being there for those who need her, bringing both insight and genuine care to every relationship.
Strategic Contributors
Mentors & Coaches
Our mentors and coaches are instrumental in offering guidance, knowledge, and support to our focused programs contributing to skill development, boosting confidence, and serving as role models, inspiring women to excel. Their dynamic mentorship fosters a culture of growth and empowerment, enhancing the overall success of women within F.O.W.E.S.
Volunteers
At F.O.W.E.S. we believe in the transformative power of collaborations and partnerships to amplify the impact of our initiatives. By joining forces with like-minded organizations, businesses, and individuals, we create a collective force that transcends boundaries and brings about positive change. F.O.W.ES. believes in fostering a supportive ecosystem that breaks barriers and empowers women.
Speakers & Panelists
Our speakers and panelists are the voices that ignite inspiration, knowledge, and meaningful dialogue. They are more than just thought leaders, they are trailblazers who ignite the torch of empowerment. As advocates of change, our speakers and panelists shape the conversations that lead to action, making them invaluable pillars in our mission to create an empowered world for women everywhere.
Donors & Supporters
Our supporters play a pivotal role in driving positive change and fostering the empowerment of women. Their unwavering help serves as a catalyst for transformative programs, enabling women to break barriers, access education, and build brighter futures. In our women empowerment organization, donors are not just contributors; they are champions of progress, advocates for equality, and key partners in creating a world where every woman has the opportunity to thrive and fulfill her potential.
Collaborators & Sponsors
At F.O.W.E.S., we believe in the transformative power of collaborations and partnerships to amplify the impact of our women empowerment initiatives. Joining forces with like-minded organizations, businesses, and individuals, helps us create a collective force that transcends boundaries and brings about positive change to a wider audience. Together with our collaborators, we foster a supportive ecosystem that empowers women, breaks down barriers, and promotes equality.
Funding Partners
Our funding partners play a pivotal role in driving positive change and fostering the empowerment of women. Their unwavering support serves as a catalyst for transformative programs, enabling women to break barriers, access education, and build brighter futures. In our women empowerment organization, donors are not just contributors; they are champions of progress, advocates for equality, and key partners in creating a world where every woman has the opportunity to thrive and fulfill her potential.