BRAC Bank has concluded the first batch of its flagship women’s leadership development initiative, marking the completion of a year-long programme aimed at strengthening women’s representation in senior leadership roles.
The programme, titled ELEA — Enlightened Leaders Exemplify Achievement — was designed to provide high-potential women co-workers with structured exposure to leadership capability building, confidence development and strategic decision-making. The initiative reflects the bank’s planned approach to supporting the career progression of women within the organisation.
A total of 24 women co-workers from different divisions completed the programme, which ran for one year and followed a structured leadership grooming framework.
Delivered in four progressive phases, ELEA guided participants from personal mastery and stress management to influencing, collaboration, strategic vision and enterprise-level impact. The learning model combined formal training with mentoring, coaching, networking, cross-functional attachments and project-based work.
Participants undertook advanced leadership and strategic thinking modules covering critical thinking, executive decision-making and data-driven storytelling. The programme also placed strong emphasis on emotional intelligence, focusing on self-awareness, empathetic leadership and psychological safety. Skill-building workshops addressed confidence, stress management, influencing and negotiation, enabling participants to manage power dynamics, resolve conflict constructively and deliver sustainable outcomes.
Experiential learning was a core component. Participants completed departmental and business attachments, applied learning in their roles across all phases and worked on real business challenges. Each participant developed a strategic solution to a defined issue and presented the project to the Human Resources Leadership Team.
The initiative was developed by a cross-functional project team led by Acting Head of Human Resources Farhana Sharmin Sumi, bringing together expertise from multiple functions to shape the leadership framework.
Implemented in collaboration with BRAC Bank’s internal platform for women, TARA Forum, the programme addressed structural and social barriers that often affect women’s career progression, supporting participants in balancing leadership ambition with professional and personal responsibilities.
Managing Director and CEO Tareq Refat Ullah Khan said modern leadership requires adaptability, passion and the ability to motivate teams amid constant change, adding that the bank plans to expand ELEA next year to include more co-workers as part of its broader leadership development strategy.
Chairperson Meheriar M Hasan attended the completion ceremony, reaffirming the Board’s commitment to building a sustainable pipeline of women leaders through long-term investment in capability and confidence.
Through ELEA, BRAC Bank is positioning leadership development for women as a strategic priority, reinforcing its future leadership pipeline with structure, accountability and long-term focus.
