Meet Afghanistan's First Female Tech CEO

in #women7 years ago (edited)

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I’m not sure how I’ve never heard of Roya Mahboob, Afganistan’s first female tech CEO, but then again I suppose I’m not too surprised.

After all, her work is changing the lives of girls and women in Afganistan and Mexico who don’t really have a voice currently in any media outlet.

This woman has a backbone made of steel, the determination of Superman and the empathy of the Dalai Llama. If you think you have a terrible life, you need to read this.

Whenever I think I have it bad, I go on a search to find people who are actually making a difference in the world.

I have the attention span of a gnat, so last week’s mission to help save the people of Venezuela has all but dried up, unfortunately in my brain. This is because I have the luxury of time and money, so I can entertain ideas without actually doing much of anything.

“If only I could stay focused on one topic, I could have saved the world by now.” -Stellabelle

I think I found Roya’s story because a woman named @Womeninaltcoin on Twitter had retweeted my story about Amanda B. Johnson. Whenever someone retweets my articles, I usually check out their other tweets in search of new information. Being an info addict has led me down the most amazing rabbit holes, so………on her wall I discovered a Cointelegraph article from 2014 about Roya. Oddly enough, it was written by our boy, Tone Vays.

You think we have it bad in the tech world? Well, most women still aren’t taken seriously in the tech field, but try having the Taliban breathing down your neck, sending you and your employees daily death threats. Roya’s story will definitely give you courage and provide you with enough inspiration to last a week (or less if you’re on the internet 24/7).

Someone give Roya a prize, right now.

Roya describes herself as a very curious person who always wanted to know what was happening outside her world. She explained that as an Afghan woman, she was only allowed to be in her home and taking care of her husband. She had no way to expand her mind.

Everything changed for Roya at 16 years old when she experienced her first taste of the internet.

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From that day forward she was determined to have a career in technology. She studied Computer Science at college, graduated with a degree and began working in the IT field in Afganistan. She then created her own software company and hired a female workforce. She became Afganistan’s very first female Tech CEO.

But the Taliban weren’t having it.

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They began to harass and stalk her employees and Roya received a lot of death threats, too. It got so bad that Roya found herself in a terrible state and she fled to the US. During her exile, she couldn’t forget that there were still millions of girls left behind as the rest of the world moved towards greater technological independence.

With that in mind, Roya started a nonprofit called the Digital Citizen Fund to give women access to technology and teach them how to use it. Technology opens up a world where women can realize financial independence — a vision for a better life and the tools to build that life for themselves. -Freethink

And as I was reading about Roya’s journey, I thought introducing Steemit to her organization would be a real moment in synergy. The goals of Steemit are aligned very closely with Roya’s vision of creating a future world filled with digital economic indepence and intellectual curiosity. The women who are learning about technology in Roya’s classes could greatly benefit from Steem’s built-in digital wallet, it’s focus on community building and the many opportunities to earn income. It’s a match made in heaven actually. I have requested to contact Roya and I will be sending her this article as well as a personal email. You can follow Roya on Twitter: https://twitter.com/RoyaMahboob

This is a match just waiting to happen……

Thanks for reading.

Cheers to our future that is looking brighter every day and I hope that Roya’s students can join us soon on Steemit.com.

Non dank-memes,
Stellabelle

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Remember that Afghanistan wasn't always so restrictive against women's rights. They were not the most liberal of countries, but women had rights, could go to college, and were not restricted as they are now. Afghanistan's religious extremists, the Taliban rose on a wave of religious rule.

Don't take freedom and progress for granted. Freedom and rights must be fought for. Extremists of all types are looking to disenfranchise others and for many of them, women are an easy target. Participating in politics, public rights advocacy, and your religious institutions makes the target much harder.

In the 17th Chapter of St Luke it is written: “the Kingdom of God is within man” - not one man nor a group of men, but in all men! In you! You, the people have the power - the power to create machines. The power to create happiness! You, the people, have the power to make this life free and beautiful, to make this life a wonderful adventure.
Then - in the name of democracy - let us use that power - let us all unite. Let us fight for a new world - a decent world that will give men a chance to work - that will give youth a future and old age a security. By the promise of these things, brutes have risen to power. But they lie! They do not fulfil that promise. They never will!

-Charlie Chaplin

http://dangerousminds.net/comments/it_didnt_always_suck_to_be_a_woman_in_afghanistan

http://www.charliechaplin.com/en/articles/29-The-Final-Speech-from-The-Great-Dictator-

Haha what on earth is that! It's an amazing combination of terrifying and cute.

de verdad impresionante este post no habia oido de ello me parece muy interesante con respecto a las mujeres, la tacnologia cada dia evoluciona mas y mas..felicidades por tu poste @stellabelle tu como siempre publicando articulos de mucho interes para la comunidad...sigue cosechando exitos ;)

muchos gracias.

de nada siempre apoyando las buenas publicaciones :)

Following her on Twitter thanks to this! Interesting story about women and tech Leah!

Thanks! I was very surprised by her story....you're welcome!

wow.. It's so impressive seeing women do great and awesome things around the world just as Roya and you @stellabelle are doing... keep the great work...

Women have always been doing great things. It's the way that praise is doled out that needs adjusting. But thanks!

that's true, i totally agree with you

The blockchain is here to help readjust all the things that have gone wrong in society. At least that's how I like to see it, with unicorns and rainbows, and happy people.

Love the unicorn!

thats the good thing about blockchain.... gender equality

Thanks for sharing information about this amazing, intelligent and courageous woman!

Wow! This is great to have another power house with us, thanks for sharing and namaste :)

Congratulations @stellabelle!
Your post was mentioned in my hit parade in the following categories:

  • Upvotes - Ranked 4 with 462 upvotes
  • Pending payout - Ranked 10 with $ 444,79

Thanks @stellabelle, this is a really inspirational story - Roya Mahboob has managed to overcome so much adversity; she's a brilliant role model for all of us.

last week’s mission to help save the people of Venezuela

I don't think that you should be so hard on yourself - don't get me wrong, it's impressive, noble and altruistic of you, but I don' think that you can save a whole nation in one week. As they say "Rome wasn't built in a day".

If i'm not hard on myself, my life will be full of regrets.

Never heard of her either... But interessting post!

Amazing story. It would be unimaginably hard to keep going. It is already hard enough to be an entrepreneur in general.
P.S. Tone Vay's isn't my boy. LOL

he's not mine either.
insert sarcasm.

Follow you @stellabelle!

You did intresting blog...

nice.....resteem and upvote for your post....

wow...u r welcome...

Hi, interested as ever...

Thanks for sharing! very cool!

Slick new footer pic, I like it :)

thanks. I'm finally happy with my footer...i changed it like 5 times

There's absolutely nothing women can't do. They're far stronger in a lot of ways than men. The status of women has risen significantly over the last few decades, but in many parts of the world male domination and oppression continues. Glad to hear that Roya has come out from that male dominating society.

Very inspiring. I hope a lot of other women and girls will follow in her footsteps.

Great story and great woman. Upvote and followed!

only courage and audacity solve the problem
impressive.

that's what I was thinking.
She has more courage than most people i know.

There is still so much to do but the change is coming, there is no turning back and there will be an end to these "dark ages" women still have to live through in middle east. Thanks for sharing this @stellabelle!

This new video footage of yours confirms my suspicion of Putin and the dark side working together.

upvoted and followed

Great step in the in good direction, especially in a country like Afghanistan.

great post Stellabelle! Yes i agree even one thought or one moment can change life..followed you!

Inspirational post ! Thank you very much for your effort !

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Happy friday !
@akkha

The second I saw her last name I thought, "Some jackass is going to fuck with this."
And @business arrives on the scene.

nice post
follow me @emaa

This is awsome, YOU GO GIRL!

Pretty amazing story, sharing this on other social media sites.

An Afghan woman managed to start a software company even under the threat of Taliban. And even though she had to flee from her country, she is still trying to make a positive change for women. Incredible!!

Exactly. That's what I thought! And I think it's weird that this isn't on front page news!

Afghanistan was quite a liberal country before wars. image
Nice to hear!

Great work! Thank you for sharing!

Go Woman power!!!!!
I have a non Techy post for you @stellabelle Becoming Sandy Wexler

Reminds me of the story of Malala. Nice article!