Meet the team

Samina Mahmud is a true visionary, an entrepreneur with a heart of gold, and a woman of many talents. She is the founder of Sheworks, a social enterprise that provides livelihood opportunities for women in rural communities in Pakistan through textile work.

Born and raised in Pakistan, Samina developed a deep passion for textile and fashion at an early age. As a young mother, she started a hobby clothing line and quickly realized the potential for creating a business that would train and employ men and women in intricate hand embroideries. She set out to create a brand that would not only be known for its high-quality products but also for its commitment to empowering women in her community.

Over the past 30 years, Samina has gained extensive experience working in the high-end textile and clothing industry. She established her own brand by the name of Zargul, based in Islamabad, which catered to a local and international clientele. At its peak, she employed 70 skilled artisans in an operation that was widely recognized for its craftsmanship, attention to detail, and vibrant, high-spirited appeal.

In 2001, Samina moved to Canada, where she continued to work for various fashion brands in Toronto and interacted with a diverse fashion community. Her experiences in the industry allowed her to gain invaluable insights into the fashion world, which would later prove instrumental in the establishment of Sheworks.

However, it was Samina's work with a non-profit organization in Pakistan in 2016 that truly ignited her passion for empowering rural women through textile work. As the head of design and business development for a development project, Samina gained firsthand awareness of donor-funded initiatives geared towards reviving endangered crafts and supporting rural women empowerment. She realized that there were significant gaps in these projects that often left women with no sustainable livelihood opportunities.

With her passion for textile work and her commitment to empowering rural women, Samina founded Sheworks in 2019. Her vision was to create a social enterprise that would provide women with the tools, skills, and resources they needed to become self-sufficient and successful entrepreneurs. Sheworks provides its employees with steady work, fair wages, and access to training programs and other resources that enable them to grow their skills and businesses.

Samina's determination and passion for empowering rural women through textile work have been instrumental in the success of Sheworks. Under her leadership, the social enterprise has grown rapidly, providing livelihood opportunities for dozens of women in rural communities. Her commitment to social responsibility, ethical business practices, and environmental sustainability have earned her widespread recognition and respect in the fashion industry.

In conclusion, Samina Mahmud is a true inspiration to women everywhere. Her unwavering determination, passion, and commitment to empowering rural women through textile work have made her a true visionary and a role model for many. Through her work with Sheworks, Samina has created a legacy that will continue to impact the lives of women and their communities for generations to come.

Gulmina Mahmud

International Operations. 

Gulmina supports funding and education activities for the girls school run by Sheworks. Her passion for humanitarian response and education in emergencies stems from having experienced it as a child growing up in Pakistan’s volatile Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province. She witnessed the challenges that girls face especially in her native Pashtun culture, when pursuing their right to an education and the arts, which inspired her to support education and advocacy throughout her life. She is the Co-founder of the Swabi school project and the Gulbaba primary school, the first girl’s school in her home village. 

She holds a M.A in International Educational Development with a concentration in International Humanitarian Issues from Teachers College, Columbia University. She is also a Western Union Foundation Fellow at the Watson Institute. Gulmina is creative and passionate, a lover of animals, music, and classical Indian Kathak dance. She enjoys staying active and going on outdoor excursions, reading and writing.  

 Farzana Jabeen

Senior Designer

​Farzana has a textile art background from a local university. She has extensive hands-on experience working closely with the artisan's communities. Her passion and deep knowledge of heritage embroidery technique has created a bond between her and the communities she works with.  She oversees design development samples prototypes with a team of designers