Prime Highlights
- Veenoo Sharma has been appointed advisor on Diaspora Entrepreneurship and co-chair of the India–Pakistan Initiative at the Commonwealth Businesswomen’s Network.
- She aims to strengthen support, funding access, and global partnerships for women-led diaspora businesses across Commonwealth countries.
Key Facts
- Sharma will help shape CBWN’s strategy focused on diaspora entrepreneurship, with special emphasis on improving capital access for women entrepreneurs.
- The first Power Diaspora Forum will be held in February 2026, bringing together women leaders, investors, and policymakers from the UK, Gulf, and South Asia.
Background
Edinburgh-based entrepreneur and investor Veenoo Sharma has been appointed advisor on Diaspora Entrepreneurship and co-chair of the India–Pakistan Initiative at the Commonwealth Businesswomen’s Network (CBWN). The appointment places her in a key role supporting women entrepreneurs across Commonwealth countries and global diaspora communities.
Born and raised in Edinburgh, Sharma brings experience across law, investment banking, property development and entrepreneurship. In her new role, she will help shape CBWN’s strategy to support diaspora-led businesses, improve access to capital, and strengthen international partnerships. She will focus mainly on women-led businesses, which still get a smaller share of global funding despite their strong growth potential.
Sharma’s commitment to women’s entrepreneurship comes from personal experience. She has spoken about witnessing her father’s bankruptcy during her childhood and the social pressure that followed. The experience, she says, pushed her to build financial independence and later support other women in gaining confidence, capital, and long-term stability.
Alongside her Commonwealth appointment, Sharma has announced the launch of the Power Diaspora Forum, a new global initiative aimed at connecting influential women across business, politics, investment, media, and culture. The forum will focus on creating economic opportunity for the next generation of women entrepreneurs.
The initiative will gather senior female leaders from the UK, the Gulf region, and South Asia. It will help them get more funding, open leadership opportunities, and build strong mentorship networks. The forum will also work to close long-standing gaps in support for women-led businesses across diaspora communities.
The first Power Diaspora Forum is scheduled for February 2026. It will gather entrepreneurs, investors, and policymakers to set priorities, including practical steps to improve access to capital and long-term support systems for women entrepreneurs worldwide.
