Maria Umar is the founder and president of the Women’s Digital League (WDL), a non-profit organization formed in 2009 with the goal of providing digital literacy training and employment to Pakistani women.
She has over 10 years of experience in the online digital marketing industry.
Maria is also the Project Manager for WomenX, a World Bank-supported training program for women in business, which stems from her enthusiasm for the economic empowerment of women.
Maria was a schoolteacher who resigned after being denied maternity leave.
She afterward began writing for another lady she met through the well-known employment portal Rozee. pk, and soon went on to create her own content creation business.
Maria created an oDesk account and began giving away writing tasks to her own family.
It evolved into what we now refer to as the ‘Women’s Digital League.’ This business provides an opportunity for all educated young women to work in the digital world.
Maria’s career was turned around by Project Artemis/Goldman Sachs 10,000 Women Program.
Another major boost came from reaching the finals of GIST’s “I Dare” business plan competition. WDL was included in Google Pakistan’s web campaign promoting technological innovation.
She was also named an Ashoka Changemaker Thought Leader.
Moreover, WDL was also a finalist in Changemakers’ “Women Powering Work” competition, winning the Early Stage Award.
The base of Maria’s company is to make good use of social media, which allows writers to interact with clients all around the world.
The business has grown to become ‘The Digital League,’ a platform for Pakistan’s digital workforce that offers digital solutions to both people and businesses.
Maria is a firm believer in women’s empowerment and has worked tirelessly to demonstrate her commitment.
She has been recognized in both local and international media as an innovative leader.
Forbes, Ashoka, Virgin, Mashable, Dawn, CNBC, and Express Tribune, are just a handful of these media. Maria is also using the Technovation Challenge to inspire females to pursue STEM careers at a young age.
