Dear Community members,

We are currently hiring a QA Engineer and UI/UX Engineer.

Location: Islamabad
Position: Full-time
Experience 1+

Send your resumes at rmalik@herdomain.com

We have seen in a short number of years the explosion of comments, likes, raised questions and issues that provoke a wide variety of emotions that leads to action. The uploading of the video of the last moments of George Floyd who was pinned down for eight minutes and could not breathe while onlookers were desperately shouting to stop. This clip became a call to action to #blacklivesmatter movement and the world witnessed universal solidarity to black people and their continued struggles for equality.

Social media has an important role in spreading knowledge and instigating reactions from its audience. It can be used for good or for evil, it's great to see Trump being banned from Twitter, realizing the negative effects his tweets had on US society.  

In Pakistan, have seen social media, in particular, Instagram as a platform for expressing our selves through our selfies, businesses advertising their new locations, collections and offerings. We are all heavily influenced by the 'gram'. I stumbled on these articles which share the title using social media to lead change. Also, the graphic designer who uses social media to exhibit her creations,  inspired by women' issues in Pakistan.

Tell me what do you think about these articles? Do you agree with them?  Or do you think Instagram should just be used as entertainment only and not a rallying device????

Shehzil Malik

Samya Arif

 

1st of January is the day we reset to the beginning, we write down our resolutions or goals, or aspirations whatever you want to call them. We all have a list of what we would like to change, introduce, improve get rid off. 

Forum 2.0 has had a bit of a refurbishment in order to encourage more engagement between community members, to raise questions, to offer support, encouragement and advice. To motivate and inspire with your comments, stories, even pictures of your workstation. 

We created three new channels; Wellbeing, Productivity and Career growth as a way you can post or read about issues you're interested in. Let me know in the comments, what topics are of interest to you. Also, I would like a community member to moderate a channel; that they are interested in. So if you are passionate or want to learn more about the issues in the channels moderating the channel will be a great opportunity for you just comment down below.

Hi All
I hope everyone is well and had a great Monday. There was an article on BBC about people sharing their passion for reading and its known as 'Bookstagram'. I know I am guilty of posting pics of what I am reading I did that since getting back to reading in 2018 when I discovered liberty books and readings. pk, online retailers where I could get the latest non-fiction and fiction books at great prices with quick delivery. The prices of Liberty books are a bit higher but they do package the books in nice brown paper, it gives that real vintage vibe.
Last year I read Becoming by Michelle Obama and oh my word. She is truly an inspiration to all women. Reading the story of her childhood, how her mother fought for her education. Her career journey, meeting Barack and the Whitehouse the list goes on.
It is so important for women to hear the stories of such women, their struggles and journey which is not always portrayed in the media.
Even today there is still a great level of inequality in the workplace for women and more so for minority women, that we have to shout 10 times louder than our 'white' counterparts.
I saw on youtube a short clip of Michelle on Ellen's show and it was so funny when she described her first kiss with a boy named Ronnel, the way Michelle said it's a BLACK Ron-Nel was so funny. It's like saying white people can not say Denzal Washinton the way black people do. Den-Zell!!!!!

Here is a link to the Michelle video I was talking about
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f-hQt7-CHpk


Actually, my point is that let's start a book club!!!!. What we could have one day in a month we can post about a favourite book we have read, what kind of books are we into, how do you get in the feel of reading? Do you have a special place in your home you like to read? or a special coffee mug? Also, those who are parents do you get time to read to your kids. I remember just before Dinner my dad would tell us stories of Sinbad and Genie in the lamp, the films he would see in the cinema during the 1940s in Quetta.

So let me know is a book CluB a space you guys would be interested?????

Goodreads is a great place to find book recommendations, join reading communities and make new friends. 

Bookstagram

Hey everyone! I am Zumar Noor and I really commend the idea of this community! I am an aspiring data scientist, mother of a toddler and MS student at FAST NUCES, Karachi. I am eagerly looking for connections and learning opportunities through this platform. Looking forward to getting to know all of you better!

Hi All,

Hope everyone is doing well. I was reading online about the various initiatives, boot camps that have appeared in Pakistan and reading about so many girls who would never have thought of learning digital skills are now supporting their homes from the income they have earned through learning those new skills. Covid 19 has given young women an opportunity to learn and earn online as freelancers or as employees. I am really amazed that these girls with limited financial resources, sometimes with little family support but having 100% determination work hard, get certified and start to earn much more than before. 

I have always told my students that you have many opportunities but the first step is looking for those opportunities and hearing such success stories should inspire rather than making you feel jealously or depressed. I have already sent the digiskills.pk link to my ex-students and those who I know will avail these opportunities are the ones who do make a difference in their own lives and local communities. 

Women Tech Global Conference
Taal Project
Pakistani Women in Computing

With COVID 19 many businesses shifted to a more online, virtual workspace. Where employees can skip their commute to work and complete their tasks at home. This new normal of working can succeed of you have employer trust, that they give their employees the flexibility to do their work online, knowing it will get done. What I have noticed is the greater use of the term flexi working, job sharing and agile working, where companies take certain jobs and transform them into more adaptable tasks that focus on completing a certain number of hours by more than one person, leaving the employees to put time into their career development or other personal responsibilities.

COVID 19 will end in the near future, but remote/virtual working is here to stay. Companies have seen they can save money on office space rent, commuting, while employees have benefitted from extra time at home, again saving the commute. Despite these advantages from remote working, the social interaction that you get in the office, those canteen jokes, or the inspired idea that was generated while you and your friends were standinf by the water cooler has gone. The increased loneliness of not being able to talk to colleagues can have a huge impact on those who do live alone. 

Here are some articles, food for thought for our forum members, some of you have been remote working since graduation and some are like me, working online due to COVID 19. How will the workspace change after COVID 19, should we go back to the office? Is the blended learning of online classes the future for education? Do you miss the office gossip sessions?

Microsoft makes remote work option permanent

Coronavirus: How the world of work may change forever