Influential Woman · Service

Sharmin Aktar

Business Development Manager, theflourishcafe.com

Bensalem, PA

6Awards received

Certifications · Degrees · Memberships

Degree MBA from Washington University of Science and Technology (in progress Degree Expected completion September) Degree MBA from Bangladesh Cert Certified Event Manager from Mumbai

Her Story

About Sharmin

My expertise is in leadership management, coordination, and event management. In my previous role as executive assistant to the CEO of a major telecommunications company in Bangladesh (part of Telenor), I was the core person taking care of everything for the CEO and leadership members. I coordinated with all international and national stakeholders for meetings and events, and whenever visitors came from other business units in Malaysia, Bangkok, Singapore, and European countries, I took care of everything from flight booking to meetings. I was the face for the CEO. I also led a division responsible for all kinds of events, employee experience, training scheduling, and monthly town halls. In my current role at Flourish Cafe, a European restaurant with locations in Newtown and Holland, Pennsylvania, I focus on stakeholder relationships and help develop business ideas. We are working on franchise expansion, and I help management members with their business strategies while ensuring our customers receive the best service, because for us, the customer is always king. I am also pursuing my second MBA from Washington University of Science and Technology, which I expect to finish at the end of September. My goal is to start my own business in the future, and in the meantime, I want to work for corporate companies where I can be part of the management team. I am a very organized person and a multitasker who believes nothing is impossible with dedication and intention.

Her Interview

Ten minutes with Sharmin

01What do you attribute your success to?

I believe that nothing is impossible if I really want to do something. It's just about my dedication and my intention that I want to do it. So far, I believe that everything is possible for me. Even if I don't know something, I'm a quick learner, so I can learn it. It doesn't matter if you're from another country, or you think you're old, or you're not young, you're married, a single mother, whatever - nothing matters. It's just your dedication and what you want to do. You just need to do hard work, you need to be honest with your work, and you need to be transparent with your team members about how you want to achieve your goals. Then nothing is impossible, and nothing is tough. Everything is possible, you can achieve. I believe in people, so I always love to work with teams. I'm actually a leader, not a manager. I love to encourage and help others to grow, and at the same time, I want to grow. I'm open to learn all of this.

02What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?

You shall never stop dreaming. You shall never stop dreaming, and you shall dream big. If you can dream big, then one day you can achieve it. But if you don't have any dream, where and how will you achieve it? You need to have something in your mind that you want to achieve, but never compromise with your honesty and integrity. There is no shortcut, actually. If you really do hard work, if you're really honest with your work and team, you will be successful one day. There's nothing that can stop you. I want to encourage other women - if anybody thinks that they are from another country, and they're old, or they are not young, they are married, single mother, whatever, nothing matters. It's just your dedication and what you want to do. You just need to do hard work, you need to be honest with your work, and you need to be transparent with your team members about how you want to achieve your goals. Then nothing is impossible, and nothing is tough. Everything is possible, you can achieve.

03What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?

I will never judge people by race or religion, whatever that is. We just need to give the opportunity to people so they can explore new things and they can move forward. It should be diversified. It's wonderful when you have a diversified team. For us, the customer is always king. We need to make sure they're happy and they're getting the best service from us. You need to be honest with your work and transparent with your team members about how you want to achieve your goals. I believe in people, so I always love to work with teams. I'm actually a leader, not a manager. I love to encourage and help others to grow, and at the same time, I want to grow. I'm open to learn.

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