The Life of Shahzada Dawood: Benevolence We Admire, Respect & Celebrate

• Shahzada Dawood was a passionate philanthropist, businessman and an advocate for equal rights for women.
• Shahzada balanced business success and social responsibility by heading several foundations.
• Passionate about wildlife photography and environmental conservation, he was the ideal global citizen.

Shahzada’s Global Impact

Shahzada Dawood (1975-2023) was a husband, father, businessman and philanthropist, as well as a passionate wildlife photographer. His many roles touched lives around the world, and his memorable legacy will endure and continue to change lives for the better. As the co-founder of Girl Power Talk, whenever I encounter a special person who embodies the qualities we seek to cultivate in our global community, I try to pause, read and reflect. Shahzada is someone who still shines so brightly. He sought so intently to warm others with his light, that his legacy naturally gives his admirers pause.

By studying hard and proving himself, Shahzada became vice-chairman of the Engro Corporation and director of the Dawood Hercules Corporation. Far from being concerned only with the bottom line, Shahzada not only worked diligently for the success of his familial business endeavors, but also devoted himself to lifting up the people of Pakistan, and thus the country itself.  

The Dawood Foundation

In 2020, when our world was abruptly changed by COVID-19, Shahzada’s family foundation, The Dawood Foundation, was already coordinating with the Hussain Dawood Pledge, and they leapt into action by allocating over 1 billion PKR to help Pakistanis struggling with the pandemic and its many effects. As we may recall, this extremely difficult time had us grappling with everything: work, school, childcare, finances, and health issues ranging from physical to emotional and mental, among others. The Dawood Foundation also collaborated with Aga Khan University to help with frontline healthcare workers, and together they coordinated with the Ministry of National Health Services, Regulation and Coordination. 

The Dawood Foundation has focused on education since its inception, and is specifically designed to be accessible to those who are less privileged, including those with disabilities. Its projects range from public schools to institutions of art and design or science, or the much-needed service of childcare for working or single parents. The most wonderful aspect of this support of education is its broad scope: it is not just focused on one field, like technology or textiles. This even-minded approach opens doors for so many more people, helping them achieve a brighter future. Sometimes, this support is the first step and a catalyst is what helps someone (or something) get started.

Empowering Women in STEM

In recognition of his many efforts and contributions, Shahzada Dawood was named a Young Global Leader by the World Economic Forum in 2012. In 2020, he was honored with an invitation to speak at the United Nations for the International Day of Women and Girls in Science. Nine years ago, on February 11, I was chosen to raise awareness about women and girls in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). The United Nations holds an annual assembly at their headquarters in New York City where their many initiatives promote opportunities and advancement for women and girls in STEM fields. 

The International Day of Women and Girls in Science is so important because there are still egregious differences in the treatment of men and women in STEM. One of the most glaring gaps is that despite having more girls in school than ever, women only make up 35% of STEM graduates. Decades of entrenched bias, stereotyping, and attitudes from the personal to the cultural have all contributed to this weakness. It is a weakness because we deny ourselves the possibility of innovation by dissuading women and girls from STEM.

I wish I could have heard Shahzada speak at that assembly in 2020. Girl Power Talk’s entire ethos centers on empowering young people with opportunities to develop exemplary soft skills and technical knowledge. Since the events of 2020, we know we all need more compassion and intelligence in our dealings with ourselves and with each other. The world changed greatly that year, and we needed leaders like Shahzada to help carry us through. We still do. At Girl Power Talk, we dedicate ourselves to cultivating not only strong leaders and diligent workers but good global citizens with integrity and accountability.

Shahzada’s Passion for Sustainability

An authentic leader with a healthy balance of heart and mind, Shahzada was a trustee at several foundations, always with the goal of improving and uplifting. However, Shahzada didn’t live his life only in boardrooms or in offices. He had a great love for exploring natural habitats and photographing his adventures. His interest in adventure and solving challenges was also ever present in his son, Suleman, who was always encouraged to follow his dreams by the late Shahzada and his beloved wife, Christine Dawood.

A champion for the environment, Shahzada cultivated habits of sustainability and diversity in his companies and places of influence. He knew none of us could function alone, working extensively with the Engro Foundation, The Dawood Foundation and The King’s Trust International.  

These decisions made by Shahzada flowed out into the world and created positive and positive ripples in the lives of others. Business decisions by Shahzada not only affected his own company processes and employees, but they also touched customers, their loved ones, and the global community they all lived in together. Shahzada understood that we are all connected, and he did his best to turn the strands he touched into meaningful relationships.

Shahzada Dawood: A Legacy of Benevolence

I never worked with Shahzada, but I feel his dedication to higher ideals, fair business practices, and heart-forward philanthropy that helped people first before the bottom line. Shahzada exemplified benevolence, the kind of leader we need to help usher in compassionate change for us all. His core values aligned with the mission of Girl Power Talk and was a powerful beacon of light in the often cutthroat world of business.

Shahzada brought his focus on empowerment and protection to his life, his work, and his hobbies. Providing his fellow people with safe working environments, opportunities for advancement, and also working to conserve the natural world gave Shahzada a most holistic heart. We prove ourselves through our words and deeds, and Shahzada Dawood made himself the kind of man who models the global citizen we all try to find within ourselves and others. His life’s story is one of driving social impact and supporting underprivileged communities. And so, we celebrate the life of a philanthropist, father and beloved husband whom we deeply admire.

Shahzada is remembered with love by his wife, Christine Dawood, their daughter, and the thousands, if not millions, of people whose lives he touched directly and indirectly.