Recently, I attended the Speed Mentoring Program for Women. Out of the four topics offered, I managed to join short sessions on two: Networking and Work-Life Balance.

It was a truly delightful experience, as those brief moments triggered a much deeper realization about where I am in my life and career.

The biggest truth that hit me is that you can start anything at any age, in any phase of life. You don’t need a permission slip to do impactful work—you just choose to do it. The world constantly tries to decide things for you, dictating timelines and boundaries, but real control stays with you the moment you take full ownership of your career path.

It also completely transformed how I view networking. For a long time, the standard advice was that you must always initiate—that you have to constantly reach out, talk to more people, and force interactions. But real networking isn’t a numbers game or a forced task; you earn it through your own experience and expertise. Connections follow naturally when you refuse to give up, stand firm in your confidence, and won’t let anyone else decide your outcome.

The same principle applies to work-life balance. We are often told to accept whatever standard is handed to us, even when no one around us is showing a better way. But I realized you have to be the change-maker. You have to negotiate, push back, and set your own baseline—one that actually brings balance to your work and life, regardless of what everyone else expects.

Event Note & Acknowledgments:

This Speed Mentoring session took place on Saturday, October 17, 2026, at MOAR Banani, moderated by Tania Ashraf. Organised under The Flow Fest (Dhaka Flow) initiative, the event was hosted in partnership with EGIYE, MOAR, and Working Women Bangladesh (WWB), bringing women together for meaningful conversations and community growth. Join the next session at theflowfest.com/dhaka.

Showing sincere appreciation to the exceptional EGIYE mentors of that day:

• Tania Ashraf (Founder & CEO, EGIYE) — For moderating the event, synthesizing our collaborative discussions, and keeping women firmly anchored in purpose through Leadership & Empathy (Finding Your Core Purpose).
• Dr. Paramita Karim (Senior Consultant – Family Medicine, Praava Health) — For bringing a grounded, honest perspective and facilitating actionable insights on Work-Life Balance & Avoiding Burnout.
• Minu Ahmed (Regional Learning & Strategic Support Manager – South Asia, WaterAid) — For offering a fresh perspective on how women approach Networking & Building Long-Term Connections.
• Nusrat Nowshin (Senior Vice President & Head of Foreign Investments, Bank Asia PLC) — For sharing clear, actionable steps for empowering participants around Professional Visibility & Personal Advocacy.