What's her story?

Azima Dhanjee is a Child of Deaf Adult (CODA), Co-founder/CEO of ConnectHear, Board Member of Social Enterprise World Forum (SEWF) and ex-member of the National Youth Council (a federal government initiative). She is an alumna of the Institute of Business Administration (Class of 2020), with a Bachelor’s in Business Administration.

Azima is raised by Deaf parents and Pakistani Sign Language (PSL) is her mother tongue. Growing up, she was always troubled by how simple communication was a challenge for the Deaf due to the language barrier. The lack of awareness and accessibility with regards to the Deaf community led her to initiate and manage “ConnectHear” along with her two high school friends. “ConnectHear” is a social enterprise that strives for sign language accessibility and Deaf inclusion of the Deaf community in Pakistan by utilizing technology and has recently launched a sign language recognition A.I. for the very first time in the country.

She is also a Diana awards recipient and has been mentioned for her efforts in Forbes, Pioneers Post, and various other publications. Furthermore, ConnectHear is the winner of TiE Women Global Competition among 40 chapters, Young Innovators Award by the World Summit Award, the P@SHA ICT Awards as well as the Standard Chartered Women in Tech Competition. Azima has presented at sessions on Social Entrepreneurship, Disability Rights and Leadership at various national and international forums.

Additionally, Azima has represented Pakistan in Kenya as a Global Encounters’ Participant; in Senegal as an English Language Instructor; and in the United States of America as a Cultural Exchange Ambassador.

Azima has great faith in the growing social entrepreneurial ecosystem in Pakistan. She is committed to exploring new ways to use technology and design thinking to help the differently abled presently, and in the future, through her initiative, ConnectHear.

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