She's on the short end of some pretty steep odds – 99-1 – but Manizha Wafeq doesn't seem the least bit fazed.
She owns her own business and business owners who are women have faced challenges for a long time in a world typically dominated by men.
But Wafeq's challenge is substantially more daunting. Her consulting business is in Kabul, Afghanistan, a country not typically known for advancing women's causes.
"It's an opportunity and a challenge," said Wafeq, who owns the company, Impressive Consultancy, with her sister. "They do not look at women as equal partners or equally capable of doing the job. It's a threat to them. You have to have enough knowledge and good experience. You must have the highest level of awareness."
Wafeq, 24, was in Oakland County earlier this month as part of a three-week leadership training program that is based in Dallas. Wafeq came to Oakland County where she was sponsored and mentored by Lori A. Blaker, president and CEO of TTi Global, a Rochester Hills-based global training provider for automotive and industrial manufacturing.
Wafeq spent a week with Blaker in her Oxford home. She attended business meetings at various Oakland County sites including Chrysler, the Rochester Regional Chamber of Commerce and the county-run Oakland County Business Center. She also met with Maureen Krauss, the county's director of economic development and Lola Are, the Business Center director.
She learned techniques for business management, finance, marketing, sales and human resources; essentially how to be a problem solver. Wafeq plans to offer marketing assistance for companies when she returns to Kabul, which has grown from 1 million residents to 6 million in eight years.
Are counsels hundreds of clients a year but Wafeq was the first from a foreign country to see out Are's expertise.
"She has a lot of wisdom," Are said. "She didn't seem like a 24 year old."
Wafeq was in Michigan for the fourth time. Her other visits were to Midland and Northwood University. She was effusive in her praise for Blaker and her experience in Oakland County, especially when a party was thrown in her honor.
"It's a beautiful place," Wafeq said. "The weather is nice. The people are beautiful. Words aren't enough to say 'thank you.' It wouldn't work."
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