23-year-old Kainat’s story with inHive starts off when she applied as a volunteer and young leader for the inHive – PYCA joint project on alumni networks in Pakistan. After undergoing training and coaching over the last year, Kainat is currently involved in initiating alumni networks in her old school in Peshawar, a region where women are discouraged from large-scale participation in the economic and public sector.
In this article, Kainat reflects on her journey as a young entrepreneur in Peshawar and shares her aspirations for the future.
Written by Yusra Akhtar, Project Lead at inHive
“Unfortunately, in some parts of Pakistan, women conducting business in public is not yet normalised; this is why I have had many unpleasant experiences. These issues will only end when there are more women in the public sphere.”
It was a typical slow Sunday in Pakistan when Kainat and I got on a call to chat about her life story, business and much much more. Kainat’s name literally translates to ‘the universe’, and is very fitting for speaking with her gives you an enormous feeling of boundless potential and opportunity.
Kainat has been making waves and upending societal and gender expectations long before her involvement with our project with PYCA. Kainat is a young entrepreneur who around two years ago, started her business of procuring, packaging and selling organic and pure honey. She realized early on that people in Pakistan are always on the lookout for honey that is both free of impurities and reasonably priced. In a country where honey has always held an almost spiritual importance and is consumed regularly for many different reasons, there is a constant demand. When the time came, Kainat seized the opportunity, putting her business idea into action – eventually, Orgahoney was born.
“In Peshawar, we use honey in everything! We have it for breakfast, use it for our health remedies and fitness – in fact, when someone has fever or diarrhea, honey is the first thing they are given”
Kainat’s Honey-Photos by PYCA and Kainat Fatima
Setting up a family business
Kainat is running her business full-time while also finishing the last semester of her undergraduate business degree. When I ask Kainat about her journey as a young female entrepreneur, she answers light-heartedly and casually. She credits much of it to circumstances and life events. Her father, who was a champion for girls’ education both in the family and community, passed away unexpectedly. As the eldest sibling she had no choice but to step forward to take up the financial responsibility of the house. What Kainat does not dwell on too much and, in fact, underplays is how she exhibited immense strength, courage and creativity as she stepped into that role, and capitalized on her knowledge and skills to quickly establish her own business.
Kainat and Orgahoney have come a long way since then – the first year was spent experimenting and finalizing the product with small capital in hand, as well as struggling and learning the ins and outs of doing business as a young woman in Peshawar. Faced with a lack of good options for the jars, packaging materials and printing services, Kainat scoured her own city, and eventually moved on to do research in neighboring ones. Over time, she established business with retailers and sellers. Kainat and her family manage the business together, with her mothers and sisters taking ownership of various processes such as procurement, packaging and printing.
“I was always interested in money-related matters and economic activities. As a young child, I would ask my uncle questions about his business. However, he would get offended by my questions and would not answer.”
With faint traces of pride in her voice, Kainat talks about how she has had to significantly expand her own knowledge, skills and competencies over time. She meets different kinds of personalities every day, and every time she conducts any interaction, she walks away knowing that she is learning and growing. Kainat reveals that she actually used to be shy – something I wouldn’t have been able to guess! After putting herself through various professional courses and interacting with experts and local institutions, Kainat has not only enhanced her technical skills and expertise, but also learnt to communicate and handle all kinds of individuals, especially the difficult customers.
Overcoming gender stereotypes
As a country that ranks fourth lowest in gender equality and struggles with restrictive gender-based norms, women’s educational and professional advancement in Pakistan is often limited. Kainat similarly grew up in a community where women’s education is often deprioritised and financial independence and autonomy are largely lacking. Women like Kainat have to go against all odds and subvert countless social and cultural norms to change people’s mindsets and perspectives.
Kainat is open about the fact that it has taken time and certain events to change the mindsets of those around her. Kainat shares that when she enrolled at the university, her mother objected as this was ‘something only boys did’, but finally agreed to let her pursue higher education. Now after all this time, her mother herself loudly celebrates Kainat’s achievements and independence and shows her off as a role model in their community. Kainat has also been actively curating her own ‘hive’; a group of individuals such as mentors and experts she consults with regularly regarding both her business decisions as well as personal aspirations. Still, Kainat faces many challenges such as harassment and other unpleasant experiences in her daily work life.
Thanks to Kainat, the winds of change are continuing to blow for her younger sisters. Kainat is ecstatic that due to her experience and exposure as an entrepreneur, business owner and leader, she is able to mentor her sisters, both academically and professionally, something she never had. In fact, one of her younger sisters is already planning small profit-making schemes in her school, since this is all that goes on in their home now!
Being able to empower women around her is very close to Kainat’s heart. In her community, women who have lost their male family members lose all autonomy and decision-making power and are unable to stand up for themselves. Kainat urges women around her to focus on their economic empowerment and self-actualisation. Kainat’s involvement with PYCA and the alumni network project is also driven by her desire to look beyond individual gains and bring forth long-term positive change in her community.
“The premise is to give back, it is not about individual benefit, but rather something better than material benefit. That’s the motivation and that’s what I pass on to others”
Photos by PYCA and Kainat Fatima
Kainat’s brainchild and business continues to grow and thrive. She is about to introduce a new line of organic honey-based soaps and beauty products. Kainat herself is set to finish her undergraduate degree and take on a full-time position with UN Women. Kainat is also interested in serving in the army in the future and has set sights on the qualifying exam. She also loves to travel, and dreams about visiting Istanbul and Italy. She can’t wait for the day she will own her own car – and vehemently challenges anyone who suggests that she can fulfil that goal through marriage.