Chairperson's Message
Ms. Ayesha Gulzar
Ms. Gulzar has built an impressive career as a management consultant and Master Trainer, bringing together two decades of international experience across multiple continents and sectors. Her educational foundation is particularly strong, combining technical expertise through her MIS degree from the University of Connecticut with strategic leadership training from Yale University, and further specialization in modern business approaches through Oxford University’s programs in social media and social entrepreneurship. Her professional focus on enterprise development and microfinance, especially in agricultural value chains, positions her at the intersection of traditional business development and sustainable economic growth.
This specialization is particularly relevant given the global emphasis on food security and agricultural innovation. Her work spans both hybrid and traditional value chain creation, suggesting she understands how to bridge modern technological approaches with established agricultural practices.
What stands out about Ms. Gulzar’s profile is her ability to operate across different organizational levels and cultural contexts. Her experience coaching senior executives while also working with multilateral development organizations demonstrates versatility in stakeholder management. The breadth of her geographical experience – from the US and Europe to Africa, the Middle East, and South Asia – indicates strong cross-cultural competency and adaptability.
Her current advisory role with the OIC/IDB-ICCIA on agribusiness enterprise development aligns well with her expertise and the growing importance of agricultural value chains in emerging economies. The invitation to speak at the Private Sector Meeting in Tehran on food security in OIC countries suggests recognition of her expertise in addressing complex economic challenges affecting multiple nations.
Her skill set in organizational capacity development, process engineering, and change management reflects the comprehensive approach needed for enterprise development work, particularly in developing economies where institutional capacity building is often as important as business strategy itself.