In honour of International Women’s Day, we’re putting the spotlight on some of our hubs this week. Today: Bangladesh.
In Orange Corners Bangladesh year one, only 1 in 80 participants was a woman. Today, they’ve reached an incredible 51% and 62% female participation in their two 2025 cohorts. This wasn’t a matter of luck; it was the power of intentional branding and non-negotiable standards.
How did they do it? Here’s a look at their ‘secret sauce’:
- OC Bangladesh ensures every event or panel is balanced. If there’s a male speaker, a female moderator is appointed, creating a safe and welcoming space for women to see themselves represented.
- To bridge the gap in the local ecosystem, OC Bangladesh made employing women in decision-making roles a requirement for graduation.
- OC Bangladesh shines by ensuring diversity among those who design and deliver the programme, leaning towards a strong female presence in the implementing team.
- Recognising the challenges young mothers face. If a participant can’t attend in person, they allow co-founders to step in or provide materials, so no one falls behind.
- From social media visuals to marketing materials, OC Bangladesh prioritises diversity in age, ethnicity and religion, alongside a strong gender balance. This has led to a strong brand identity for OC Bangladesh.
By positioning themselves as a “gender-balanced hub” through every interaction and visual, Orange Corners Bangladesh is proving that when you create a safe, representative space, female entrepreneurs will not only join; they will lead.
