Nabil Bank Women Empowerment: ‘Women in Motion’ Event, Female Leadership & Banking Initiatives

1st April 2025, Kathmandu

Nabil Bank organized the “Women in Motion – Accelerate Action” event in Kathmandu on Monday. The program focused on promoting women’s empowerment, increasing capacity, fostering inclusivity, and raising awareness about gender equality.

Nabil Bank Women Empowerment

The bank aims to strengthen women’s leadership roles in various sectors, particularly in banking.

Event Highlights and Leadership Statements

Sarita Bhatt Adhikari, the Independent Director of Nabil Bank, inaugurated the event. She highlighted the importance of empowering women and providing opportunities for their growth. Nabil Bank’s Chairman, Uphendra Prasad Poudel, also spoke at the event. He expressed the bank’s commitment to women’s empowerment and leadership. He acknowledged the challenges women face in the banking industry but emphasized the need to address them and move forward.

Poudel said, “We are committed to gender equality. When inclusivity is achieved, it benefits all sectors.” He also noted that historically, women were paid less than men, but this is changing.

However, he mentioned that challenges, like workplace violence against women, still exist. Despite this, he emphasized that Nepal has recognized these issues and is actively working on solutions. Nabil Bank is committed to increasing women’s representation in leadership roles and creating opportunities for them.

Focus on Increasing Female Leadership in Banking

Manoj Ghyawali, Acting CEO of Nabil Bank, emphasized the need for more women in banking leadership. He pointed out that women are still underrepresented in managerial roles in the banking sector. However, he expressed confidence that programs like this will encourage more women to take up leadership roles.

Ghyawali said, “Women’s involvement in leadership is crucial. They bring a different perspective and are more focused on work.” He also highlighted that women excel in governance-related roles, noting that there are very few women dismissed for poor performance. He praised Nabil Bank for successfully maintaining a large female workforce and stressed the importance of increasing women’s participation across all sectors.

Challenges Faced by Women in the Workplace

Ghyawali addressed the challenges women face, especially balancing work and family responsibilities. “Women have to juggle multiple tasks at home and work, which makes it harder for them to achieve full representation,” he explained. He stressed the importance of increasing women’s participation to create more inclusive workplaces. Ghyawali emphasized that Nabil Bank is committed to gender equality, focusing on creating equal opportunities for all employees.

Keynote Speech by Ashrayta Karki Chaudhary

Ashrayta Karki Chaudhary, Chairperson of Nepal Super League, was the chief guest at the event. She praised Nabil Bank for organizing the event, which she believes is a significant step toward achieving gender equality.

Chaudhary said, “Nabil Bank is making a substantial contribution to women’s empowerment in the workplace and supporting the nation’s economic development.” She also acknowledged that women played a major role in the bank’s success.

Chaudhary emphasized the importance of men’s involvement in women’s empowerment. She encouraged everyone to support women at home, in the workplace, and society. “We need to invest in young girls and encourage them to pursue their dreams without fear,” she added.

Panel Discussion on Women’s Leadership

The event also featured a panel discussion titled “The Sea Shift: Navigating Barriers and Catalyzing Leadership.” Panelists discussed how women can lead in various fields. They emphasized that women are equally capable of leadership and should be given opportunities. Environmental activist Silsila Acharya, entrepreneur Roji Kattel, and Dr. Ramji Ram participated in the discussion, while Yagya Banjade from Kantipur moderated the session.

Employee Participation and Initiatives

More than 200 Nabil Bank employees, both men and women, attended the event. Nabil Bank has also been organizing programs throughout March to promote gender equality and women’s empowerment. These initiatives aim to raise awareness, improve personal capacity, and create a supportive community for women.

In addition to the main event, the bank held the “March in to Wellness” program and the “Wellbeing of Women” sessions, benefiting employees in Kathmandu and beyond. Nabil Bank also organized a nationwide rally on International Women’s Day with over 1,200 employees participating.

Conclusion: Nabil Bank’s Role in Nepal’s Financial Sector

Nabil Bank is one of Nepal’s leading commercial banks, providing services to over 2.4 million customers through 268 branches and 320 ATMs. The bank has played a key role in Nepal’s banking development for over 40 years, continuously introducing innovative services. Nabil Bank remains committed to creating an inclusive and equitable financial environment, focusing on providing high-quality services to its customers.

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