A Global Movement by Samra Parekh
One Billion Empowered
A Global Movement by Samra Parekh
The Origin Story
Hi, I’m Samra Parekh — the first Pakistani woman to be admitted into the University of Cambridge’s Master of Finance program.
But before Cambridge, before Goldman Sachs, and before YouTube… I was a girl with a dream — and a story of starting over.
“I was the valedictorian. The gold medalist. The one who always stood first.”
At the Institute of Business Administration (IBA) in Karachi, I graduated at the top of my class.
- I believed I was destined for something extraordinary.
- I had big dreams — of going global, doing meaningful work, and becoming a voice for others like me.
But life had a different plan.
“And then... I broke.”
I went through a divorce that shook me to my core.
The girl who always had it together — was now being questioned by society, family, and even herself.
I was told my time was up.
That I should get married again.
That ambition had an expiry date.
But something in me refused to accept that.
“So I made a decision.”
I decided to face every fear.
To rise again.
And to do something no Pakistani woman had ever done before.
I chose to apply to the University of Cambridge — on the very last day, May 31st, 2022, because that’s all I had.
No mentors. No perfect prep. No fallback plan.
And I got put on hold.
But I didn’t give up.
I prayed. I prepared. I believed.
Because when you choose empowerment over fear, your life changes. And it did.
“Cambridge changed everything — but the story didn’t stop there.”
I was accepted.
I moved to the UK.
I walked the same halls as global leaders.
I graduated.
I got hired by Goldman Sachs, the top investment bank in the world — one that doesn’t even exist in Pakistan.
I became a speaker, a coach, and a role model for thousands of students across Pakistan, the UK, the Middle East, and beyond.
One Billion Empowered Was Born
This movement is more than a brand.
It’s a mission — to help people believe in themselves louder than the noise around them. To me, empowerment means:
Believing in yourself + taking action
Even when you’re scared.
Even when you’ve been rejected.
Even when no one believes in you — yet.
Because if I hadn’t felt empowered in 2022, I would have given up.
I would have settled.
And you wouldn’t be reading this right now.
What We Do
At One Billion Empowered, we help the next generation of dreamers, underdogs, and leaders to:
Get into elite universities (like Cambridge, LSE, Oxford, INSEAD)
Land global jobs (even if you’ve never left your country)
️ Feel empowered to speak, show up, and lead
Build confidence, clarity, and courage
We do this through:
- YouTube videos and free tools
- Digital courses, resume kits, interview coaching
- Keynote speaking and university workshops
- A growing global community of people who believe they’re meant for more
Life at Cambridge
Life at IBA Karachi
