The Empowered Women Network Nepal Story

Imagine a world where women professionals connect, thrive and empower each other in a space free from constraints – this is the vision of the The Empowered Women (TEW). Founded by five dynamic Nepali women from diverse backgrounds, TEW has set out to redefine professional networking for women in Nepal creating a safe, inclusive platform where women can foster connections and advance their careers.

TEW’s journey began with Saloni Sethia, a multifaceted leader and podcast host whose show ‘Unheard With Saloni’ inspired her to organise informal meetups for women professionals. When Preeti Adhikary, founder of The Great Nepali Diaspora (TGND), joined the mix during her visit to Kathmandu, the idea took a broader shape. Word of a second get-together, spread via LinkedIn, brought together about 30 women professionals, including the three other women who would later come together for TEW – Dr Kisu Rawal, a public health professional and medical doctor committed to global healthcare, who had extensive work experience with international organisations and the Australian Red Cross; Sophiya Rana – distinguished certified Chartered Accountant with a proven track record of auditing across a wide range of sectors, including public administration, government bodies, development, education, hydropower, and financial services, Trishagni Sakya – hospitality entrepreneur and a women empowerment champion, who was recognised by Wow Magazine as one of 15 women to watch in 2023 alongside Palesha Goverdhan - our first Nepali Paralympian and Deputy Mayor Sunita Dangol.

This casual meetup in July 2023 sparked a realisation: Nepali women were hungry for a supportive professional network. With her extensive work globally with TGND, Preeti came to the realisation that Nepalis needed to learn how to network the right way, and also how to advocate for themselves. More so, Nepali women. She was keen to bring her learnings to empower Nepali women. The lack of rigid structure in these gatherings allowed organic connections to flourish, creating an atmosphere of warmth, safety and mutual respect. With a successful large-scale event in March 2024 attended by 97 women, the founders knew they had struck a chord, and TEW officially came to life.

Most events, dominated by socialising, rarely offer women the space to exchange crucial work-related insights or build impactful networks. For many women professionals, family obligations, societal expectations and safety concerns limit their ability to participate in informal yet career-critical conversations that men often engage in without constraints.

Preeti Adhikari’s experience with organising nearly 150 events under The Great Nepali Diaspora (TGND) in the US, Europe and Australia inspired her to bring this effective networking format to Nepal. She saw its potential to empower Nepali women to excel in their careers and contribute significantly to society.

According to the founders one of the reasons for TEW’s success lies in its unstructured and casual approach to networking. Unlike traditional events with rigid agendas or formal speeches, TEW gatherings encourage organic connections, fostering warmth, comfort and a sense of belonging. This approach resonated deeply with attendees, as seen during a major event in March 2024 that brought together 97 women professionals. The event featured attendee introductions, industry-specific discussions, shared experiences and a sumptuous dinner. Post event and inspired by the overwhelming participation, the founding team – Saloni, Preeti, Kisu, Sophiya and Trishagni – realised that TEW was more than a one-time initiative. It was the beginning of a movement, poised to transform how women in Nepal approach networking and professional development.

The Empowered Women (TEW) was thus born from a collective vision to revolutionise how professional Nepali women navigate their careers. The founders sought to address pressing issues: teaching women the value of professional networking, fostering strategic career thinking, balancing professional demands with household responsibilities, advocating for oneself, and developing the confidence to take a stand. These were challenges they themselves had faced, and they wanted to create a framework for meaningful change.

For Kisu Rawal, a public health professional who returned to Nepal from Australia in 2015, the contrast between professional cultures was startling. In Nepal, professional mentoring and guidance often took place in relaxed, conversational settings. Recognising the need for similar networking opportunities for women, she envisioned a community where women could share, learn and grow. However, her initial attempts to create such a network fell short without the collaboration and resources needed to make it sustainable.

Trishagni Shakya has long championed the need for Nepali women professionals to move beyond simply balancing day jobs and family obligations. She recognised that many lacked the mentorship and support necessary for strategic career advancement. Despite her passion and efforts to organise events for women, she realised that one person alone could not build the robust platform needed to drive systemic change. For her, TEW became the solution – a collective effort where the unique strengths of five determined women converged to create something powerful.

Sophiya had been part of various networks, but it wasn’t long before she noticed a deeper need – a yearning among women for a dedicated space where they could truly feel heard, supported and understood. This realisation was transformative. She saw how women craved a broader, all-women community where they could share their journeys, dreams and challenges without judgement.

Preeti Adhikary underscores that sustainable growth in Nepal’s professional women’s network requires not only dedicated individuals but also partnerships with organisations possessing grassroots expertise. To this end, TGND recently signed a memorandum of understanding with the Federation of Women Entrepreneurs’ Associations of Nepal (FWEAN) to amplify their combined efforts. TEW’s ongoing workshops with the USAID Urja project with CUE is also another milestone in this direction. Through these engagements, TEW hopes to institutionalise their work, create scale and expand reach across different provinces and sectors.

As The Empowered Women continues to evolve, their vision transcends individual growth – it is about redefining what is possible for professional Nepali women as a collective. By breaking barriers, fostering connections and tailoring solutions to local needs, TEW exemplifies what can be achieved when privilege meets purpose and intent is turned into action.

Their journey is not just about creating events or mentoring sessions; it is about igniting a larger cultural shift where women unapologetically claim their space, invest in their growth, and inspire others to do the same.

The real triumph of The Empowered Women lies in this realisation – empowerment is not a solitary climb; it is a shared ascent, where every hand extended uplifts another. And in that collective rise, they are not just changing careers or communities; they are shaping the future of Nepal itself.