Leena is a woman of many hats – a proud mother of three children, a wife, a nuclear engineer, an insurance professional, and a community leaderLeena was a pioneer in many areas. A physics and mathematics graduate from SUNY Albany, she earned a Masters in Nuclear Engineering from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in Troy, New York in 1979, the first woman of Bangladesh origin to do so. Her nearly 20-yr engineering career spanned nuclear power industry, the US Air Force Weapons Lab in Albuquerque, New Mexico, and oil industry consultation. At Air Force Lab, she organized the First Women Professionals Conference in the Air Force.Leena has always been passionate about women’s and family issues. While raising her children, she recognized the unique challenges Bangladeshi women and their families face in a new society, with the children often navigating between two cultures. So in 1998, with support from Bangladeshi women in Southern California, she founded the Bangladesh Women’s Organization of California (BWOC) to provide a forum on the issues and help them bridge that gap. She ran it for nearly 10 years till she moved to the Bay Area.

Wahida has been working as an environmentalist and an urban planner for the California Department of Transportation for the past sixteen years. She got a Bachelor's degree in Architecture from B.U.E.T. Bangladesh and a Master's degree in Architecture and Urban Planning from UC Berkekey, California.Wahida believes, that women are the focal point of a family, community, society, institutions or organizations; therefore, empowering women contributes to the betterment of families and communities. Wahida being of Bangladeshi origin wants to participate in the process of helping and empowering Bangladeshi women in the greater Bay Area.Wahida is an artist and a singer. She is also involved in community building and affiliated with many Bay Area philanthropic organizations. She is a promoter/activists of minority rights and women’s rights at work and in her community.

Nuzhat has been working at Bank of America for 25 years and is currently a Delivery Lead.She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Mathematics with a minor in Computer Science from California State University, East Bay.‘Women empowering other women’ is a value that Nuzhat identifies with and is the reason for joining BWEN. Nuzhat raised two daughters that she hopes will become independent, thoughtful and courageous leaders in the careers they choose. She believes that spreading awareness of various philanthropic, humanitarian, cultural, and educational activities to other women in our community is the best way to engage and develop our daughters into future leaders. She is excited by the overwhelming support that BWEN has already received, and looks forward to the contribution it can make to the women of our community.In her spare time, Nuzhat likes to spend time with family and friends, cooking and traveling.

Mita is an experienced Software Project and Program Manager who worked in the Bay Area for 36 years. She earned a PhD in Computational Chemistry from the University of Georgia. She loves to sing and enjoys gardening and spending quality time with family and friends. She has been singing at different events and will continue to focus on becoming a better singer. She has always wanted to give back to the community and recently joined SV Bangladeshi Women in STEM, SpaandanB and BWEN. At SpaandanB, she has been teaching the kids in classes 4-10 how to become fluent in spoken English as part of their Distance Learning initiative. At STEM, she has participated in most of the events and has contributed to the video montage for International Women’s Day in 2024. She has also been mentoring the ladies in the community to help them with their career development and also with resolving issues at home. She has recently reached out to a few ladies who are having serious health issues to provide companionship and support and also a few ladies who are widows and require support. She tries her best to support all her relatives and friends in any way she can. She has a daughter who is an accomplished Technical Lead in software development and a very compassionate person who has been contributing to various charities throughout her career.

Tanvin had been working in the teaching profession for over 16 years in London, United Kingdom. She was an IT Trainer and Literacy Lecturer in Adult Education colleges. She moved to the Bay Area, California, in 2013 where she reinvented her career by moving into Medical Administration, holding positions in UCSF, Kaiser Permanente and more. Tanvin studied English Literature in Dhaka University and later in London pursued a Post Graduate Certificate in Education (PGCE) at the Institute of Education, University College London (UCL), UK. She believes that women need to be empowered to live her own life, apart from raising kids and looking after family. A woman needs to be empowered to nourish and nurture her inherent unique qualities, which finally puts her forward with a voice in society beyond her own boundaries, in supporting other women in need. Tanvin appreciates BWEN’s mission for raising this awareness in Bangladeshi women and wants to contribute in strengthening and enriching our vulnerable women.

Shamima is a preschool teacher with ten years of experience in this field. She has Bachelor of Arts ( BA) degree in Arts from Bangladesh; she has a strong background in working with women entrepreneurs in rural areas. For six years, she worked with small and rural entrepreneurs in Bangladesh, gaining valuable insights into the social and economic conditions of women in the country. This experience sparked her interest in empowering women in her community. Shamima believes that empowering women is crucial for them to live with respect, dignity and freedom, ultimately contributing to develop a better family and society. Recently, she joined BWEN and she’s excited to contribute to the organization’s mission of supporting Bangladeshi women in the Bay area. In her free time, Shamima enjoys spending time with family and friends, listening to music, cooking and traveling

Professor Parveen Zaman is a retired educator, writer, and community leader with a lifelong dedication to teaching, cultural development, and social impact. She has extensive experience in education at both elementary and higher education levels, including teaching at Evergreen Valley College and universities in the U.S., Malaysia, and Bangladesh. With two Master’s degrees and a Ph.D. From University of Alabama, Birmingham, Professor Zaman has demonstrated strong leadership in community organizations, serving in multiple executive roles for over 15 years—including President, Cultural Secretary, and Board Member of the BABA organization. She has co-founded schools such as Granada Islamic School and Silicon Valley Academy, and played a key role in establishing and advising the Bangla School and SBIA Sunday School. A passionate advocate for literature and cultural engagement, she founded the Bay Area chapter of BISWA SAHITTO KENDRO (World Literature Center), led active book clubs, and has published seven books while contributing to major newspapers and magazines.She has inspired generations of students to learn, lead, and give back. As a postdoctoral researcher at Stanford University and a diabetes educator in local medical centers, Professor Zaman has combined science and empathy to improve lives through health and awareness. Her work spans education, writing, and community service, emphasizing mentorship, empowerment, cross-cultural dialogue, and leadership—making her a strong role model for women leaders and a committed advocate for community development.