Azernews.Az

The latest edition of the SHE Congress - a premier platform celebrating women’s leadership- brought together over 500 participants in a vibrant gathering filled with inspiring speeches, insightful panels, and dynamic discussions. The event was proudly supported by Azercell Telecom, the country’s leading mobile operator, which joined as the Digital Transformation Partner.

Held under the theme “Beyond Now - Creating What Lives On”, the congress featured strong participation from Azercell, represented by Shirin Aliyeva, Chief Legal and Data Strategy Officer, and Sona Abbasova, Director of Corporate and Marketing Communications.

In her keynote speech, Shirin Aliyeva highlighted Azercell’s commitment to values that extend well beyond connectivity: “At Azercell, our mission goes beyond providing telecom services. We’re deeply invested in social development and the growth of human capital. As technology, especially AI, continues to transform our world, we remain convinced that no innovation can replace empathy, emotion, or creativity. Every initiative must remain focused on people and their well-being.”

One of the standout sessions was a panel titled “The First Open Door - Taghiyev’s Legacy”, dedicated to the history of women’s education in Azerbaijan. Moderated by Sona Abbasova, the discussion explored the visionary role of Zeynalabdin Taghiyev, whom she described as one of the early believers in “soft power” - a man who, over a century ago, had the courage to champion girls’ education despite societal norms and resistance.

Orman Aliyev, Executive Director of Baku Media Center, spoke about the upcoming biopic Taghiyev, which chronicles the life and impact of the philanthropist. He noted that the film reflects not only Taghiyev’s achievements but also his struggle to advance education for women.

“Taghiyev believed that educating a woman meant educating an entire family - and the society of the future. That vision still resonates today.”

The film’s screenwriter, Ismayil Imanov, emphasized that while society has evolved in many ways, some outdated beliefs about girls’ education still persist. This sentiment was echoed by Gunesh Tekin, lead actress of the series “Citizen A”, inspired by Jafar Jabbarly’s play “Almaz”. She pointed out that many of the challenges portrayed in the century-old story - particularly around access to education for girls - remain relevant, often due to ingrained parental stereotypes.

Vafa Kazdal, Vice-Rector for Strategy and Development at ADA University, brought the discussion into today’s context. She spoke about the importance of creating opportunities for young women and empowering them to make informed choices and gain confidence in shaping their futures.

“When we open more doors for girls, we drive progress for entire communities.” – she noted.

Closing the session, Saida Abdullayeva, a Board Member of the “Huma Quşu” Education Support Fund, shared the fund’s mission and partnership with Azercell. She noted that the initiative has enabled many young women to study abroad equipping them to contribute to innovation and technological advancement in Azerbaijan.