In this latest series of articles, we publish interviews with women working as professionals or students in the technology sector. The objective is to highlight their work and contribution to the industry and the community.
In these interviews, you will find women working in technology to solve real-world problems, break stereotypes, and create the next big impact on the tech industry. This series of interviews shows that even with the lowest rate of women’s participation in the labor market in Pakistan, there are still many smart women who are creating and using technology to work wonders.
Today, we are featuring Mahjabeen Alvina. Read on to learn more about her work and get inspired.
1. Tell us a little about yourself, your background, your education, and your work.
I’m Mahjabeen Alvina, a biomedical engineer by degree and an educator, changemaker, and community builder by heart. My journey started with a curiosity for science as a child, and over time, it led me into engineering and then into the world of entrepreneurship, education, and impact. I graduated from NED University, where I developed a strong foundation in STEAM fields, which I now use to design programs and learning experiences for youth.
For over a year, I led Pakistan’s only Startup Lab at the largest American Space, where I helped young entrepreneurs build ideas into impactful ventures. I currently run “Umeed Labs,” an initiative focused on empowering underserved girls through STEAM and entrepreneurship education. I believe learning should be hands-on, relevant, and deeply inclusive, and I work every day to make that possible for more children, especially girls, who deserve equal access and opportunity.
2. What are your future plans/aspirations? How will it impact the community/society/your team/your project?
My dream is to grow Umeed Labs into a national movement that brings hands-on STEAM and entrepreneurship education to young girls across Pakistan, especially those from underserved and overlooked areas. I want learning to be more than textbooks; I want it to be about curiosity, confidence, and connection.
One of my strongest goals is to create access to relatable role models and visionaries for these girls, people who show them that it’s okay to dream big and that there are many paths to success. Too often, our girls are left figuring things out too late. I want them to know their options early, see themselves in powerful spaces, and believe they belong there.
Whether it’s through regional learning hubs, youth-led innovation projects, or mentorship circles, I aim to build spaces that nurture not just skills but self-worth. When a girl sees her future clearly, she doesn’t just change her own life; she starts changing her entire community.
3. Please brag about your career accomplishments. What are the things you are proud of?
I’m proud that my work has consistently created real-world learning spaces where innovation, equity, and empowerment come together. From leading Startup Lab at Lincoln Corner Karachi to curating national and international programs like Space Diplomacy Week with NASA and The Makers’ Challenge with Pakistan Science Club, I’ve used education as a tool for possibility.
I’ve trained Afghan women refugees, Hindu community girls, and underserved children through coding, creativity, and STEM camps. As part of FPCCI’s education reform committee, I’m contributing to shaping inclusive education policy. I’ve also led teacher trainings, like the STEM Summit with EdLab Pakistan, reaching over 100 educators with innovative strategies.
Umeed Labs is my proudest initiative, bringing together my work in AI, entrepreneurship, and STEAM to create hope-filled pathways for young girls. Whether it’s building AI-integrated curricula, mentoring at incubators, or setting up podcasts to spotlight unheard voices, my goal has always been the same: to help people believe that their ideas and stories matter.
4. What has been your best education/career decision, and why?
Choosing to work directly with people instead of following a traditional career path was the best decision I made. It allowed me to understand not just individuals, but also the deeper problems in our education system.
This path gave me clarity on the kind of learning our next generation needs, something that builds curiosity, creativity, and real skills, rather than only preparing them for jobs that may not even exist in the future. It helped me see how these gaps can be mended with the right kind of education and support.
5. What are the best lessons you’ve learned?
One of the most important lessons I’ve learned is that growth doesn’t always come from success; it often comes from showing up, staying patient, and doing the inner work quietly. Progress isn’t always visible, but it still counts.
Working closely with people has taught me to lead with empathy and to listen before I speak. That has helped me build stronger, more honest connections in both education and community spaces.
I’ve also learned that you don’t need to wait until you feel “ready” to begin. Most clarity comes through action, not overthinking.
But above all, I’ve learned the importance of standing by your values, even when it’s hard. It builds your character and helps you feel content and at peace, because in the end, it’s you, your values, and your belief system that you’re answerable to. When you do what’s right, the results follow. Maybe not instantly, but eventually, and with more meaning.
6. Which woman inspires you and why?
My mother is the one who inspires me the most. She is the strongest influence in my life. She never had access to the opportunities I had; knowledge, resources, and stability were scarce in her life, yet she brought us up with love, comfort, and confidence. She made sure we were prepared to handle life and make the right decisions in times of crisis. It’s because of her that I stay rooted in my values and show strength and resilience during challenging times.
Outside my home, I came across another wonderful woman, our own Faiza Yousuf. She not only runs this space and other communities for women, but consistently shows up wherever women need support. What I admire most is her authenticity and genuine intention to help. She treats everyone with respect, and that respect doesn’t change for a woman coming from a rural area or a different background. Her clarity and deep sense of purpose have helped me many times over the past two years, and I’ve learned so much from her just by watching her lead with consistency and care.
7. Do you think Pakistan has changed as a society in terms of accepting career-oriented women? What needs to change to help more women come forward?
Since my childhood, I’ve seen a shift. Women going out and working has become more common, and it’s not seen as strange like it used to be. But being career-oriented is still often linked with being difficult or strong-headed. In our society, when a woman knows how to draw clear boundaries or speak up, she’s often labeled as “not wife material”, as if her worth is only tied to how quiet or accommodating she is.
We need to stop idealizing silent women and start understanding them as full human beings. That means supporting them at home, sharing the load of housework, childcare, and emotional labor. Professionally, the spaces also need to change. Women should feel safe, included, and heard. They shouldn’t just be expected to fit into male-designed systems; they should have a role in shaping those systems, too.
I strongly believe flexible, secure, and inclusive work environments are the key. When women are supported in managing both their careers and homes, they bring unique perspectives that lead to better ideas, better teams, and better solutions.
8. What will be the biggest challenge for the generation of women behind you?
One of the biggest challenges for the next generation of women will be the constant pressure to “do it all” and “be it all”; at home, at work, and even emotionally. They will grow up with more opportunities, but also with higher expectations and invisible demands. The pressure to be perfect in every role can easily lead to burnout or self-doubt.
Another challenge will be navigating a world that’s changing very fast, especially with technology and AI. Many of them will be preparing for careers that don’t even exist yet. If they’re not guided properly, they may end up feeling lost or left behind.
What worries me most is that even with progress, many girls may still carry the old fears: of being too bold, too ambitious, too visible. Breaking generational beliefs while building a new path isn’t easy.
But I also believe this generation is brave, and they question things. If we can offer them mentorship, mental wellness support, real role models, and safe spaces to grow, they will not only meet these challenges, they’ll change the narrative for the women who come after them, too.
9. What would it be if you could change one thing about the tech industry/business?
I would make it easier for women to enter and stay in tech. Right now, there’s a clear lack of opportunity, and the spaces we call “open” are not designed with their realities in mind.
If we truly want better products and services, especially those that involve women and children, we need more women in leadership. They bring the perspective and empathy that tech often misses.
We also need to change work policies to match women’s lives. That includes accessible restrooms, daycare, healthcare, flexible hours, and remote work options, not as favors, but as a norm. Only then can we build spaces that truly include everyone, not just those who already fit the mold.
10. How can WomenInTechPK help you and other women?
WomenInTechPK helps women in tech come together, connect, and learn from each other’s journeys. It creates a space where women from different backgrounds can find support, share experiences, and feel like they belong.
For someone like me, it can be a great way to meet the right people and build a network of women who would love to connect with young girls and become their guiding support. It can also help in telling more people about Umeed Labs and the work we’re doing to support the next generation of girls.
The platform also shares useful job openings and training sessions, which can really help women become financially independent and more confident in their careers. Spaces like this are important, not just for visibility, but for reminding women that they’re not alone and that they matter.
You can follow Mahjabeen Alvina using her profile(s) below, and please do not hesitate to hire her for your next project.
