Umra Omar won CNN Hero of the Year award in 2016 for her NGO that delivers lifesaving medical services to people residing in some of the most isolated and dangerous corners of Kenya. 

South Asian women have proven themselves time and again, scaled newer heights, broken barriers, achieved unconventional goals, and have stood tall in a male-dominated society. 

It is difficult to define the world ‘woman’ besides the obvious physical characteristics. Words like compassion, strength, independence, humility, grace, individuality all come to mind, which can be applied to anyone regardless of gender.

Womanhood is  knowing you deserve a seat at the table just as much as anyone else, and knowing that you are born equal.

I think it’s an honour to be a woman and that our community of women are resilient, compassionate, and fearless leaders.

As South Asian women, we continue to face the incorrect assumptions that there are certain things we can and can’t do, whether that is in our personal lives or professional lives