More than numbers

It is time we saw women as architects of the economy, not just as population percentages.

The first time I truly understood Bangladesh’s economic heartbeat, I wasn’t reading a report or analyzing data. I was sitting in Old Dhaka, watching Shahana—a 32-year-old entrepreneur and mother—effortlessly multitask. Her mobile phone was balanced precariously between her shoulder and ear as she attended a call with an international client. At the same time, she held her daughter’s math homework guiding her through long division. Her fingers darted between spreadsheets, her eyes scanning every detail. It was mesmerizing.