Upon completing my studies at Oxford, I worked for the International Labour Organization to conduct research on gender equality in the labour market. I also had an opportunity to apply my knowledge on International Labour Standards as an Associate at Business for Social Responsibility (BSR). I managed and implemented a wide range of projects on business and human rights from the prevention of gender-based violence in garment factories in Bangladesh and India (HERrespect) to conducting human rights impact assessments for extractives companies.

In my current role at Better Work, I am responsible for the implementation of our global gender strategy across nine country programmes. I work with diverse stakeholders to promote decent work, gender equality, and women’s empowerment in the garment sector, from workers’ representatives to buyers and retailers. One of the most rewarding part of my work is to space to co-develop gender transformative interventions with my country teams to tackle the root causes of sexual harassment as well as strengthening our referral pathways to provide remediation for victims and survivors.

My experience at Oxford shaped my approach to gender and development as a practitioner, and I am thankful for the nurturing environment for intellectual curiosity fostered by the dedicated and ever-patient scholars at ODID. I am appreciative of the guidance and mentorship from my thesis supervisor, Miles Tendi, who supported my field research experience that is the foundation to my career in business and human rights. And I feel lucky for the friendships I have made at St. Antony’s College, Queen Elizabeth House, and especially our MPhil class of 2013, as we try to meet and reconnect across the globe.  

Find out more about the MPhil in Development Studies.