Hifza Afaq

Hifza Afaq is a co-founder of Kaarigar Mandi, specializing in IT, marketing, and social impact since July 2019. Currently, Hifza serves as a Women Leaders India Fellow and GAP Fellow with Vital Voices Global Partnership, participating in an immersive mentorship program for emerging women leaders. Hifza's contributions include being a Goldman's Sachs 10,000 Women Fellow at NSRCEL and a WISE Fellow with Action For India, along with leadership as the State President of the Uttar Pradesh SME & MSME Council at WICCI. Hifza also benefited from the Bharat Inclusion Initiative accelerator program by IIMA Ventures, emphasizing sustainable job creation. Previously, Hifza taught computer science at Dayalbagh Educational Institute while completing a PhD in Nature-Inspired Computing. Hifza holds degrees from Cornell University, Dayalbagh Educational Institute, and Queen Victoria Girl's Inter College.