Shad Begum

Shad Begum is the Founder of a nonprofit organisation ABKT, an organization striving for the economic & political empowerment of Pakistan’s underserved communities with a special focus on women & youth. 

Shad is an Ashoka Lifetime Fellow, Acumen Fellow & Regan-Fascell Democracy Fellow. 

Shad is the recipient of the U.S. Department of State’s International Woman of Courage Award & the Prize for Creativity in Rural Life awarded by the Women’s World Summit Foundation, Geneva.

Shad holds a bachelor from the University of Malakand & an Executive MBA in human resources management from Preston University.

Shad is a TED speaker & has given her first official TED talk in 2018.

In 2019, Shad has founded Women Voices Pakistan, an initiative to feature, connect & amplify the efforts of Women & Girls for an equal & just world. In March 2022, Shad Begum’s efforts for girls' education were acknowledged & she was awarded the certificate of honor as “Pride of Pakistan 2022” by the ISPR, Pakistan.