Maria Umar is the Managing Director of Code for Pakistan, a civic tech organization dedicated to making governance more citizen-centric through technology. Widely recognized as a pioneer in digital empowerment, Maria is also the founder and president of the Women’s Digital League (WDL)—Pakistan’s first fully virtual platform that trains and connects women with digital work opportunities.

As an Ashoka Changemaker, Maria’s innovative work has earned international recognition. Under her leadership, WDL has won the Early Stage Award in Changemaker’s “Women Powering Work” competition and was featured in a national campaign by Google Pakistan for its groundbreaking use of technology. The platform has also partnered with the World Bank to implement a digital literacy program in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, as well as collaborated with Facebook and UpWork to further its mission of economic empowerment for women.

Maria’s impact has been spotlighted by leading global media including Forbes and CNBC, and she is featured as a case study in Alec Ross’s bestselling book, Industries of the Future, for her work enabling women to thrive in the digital economy.

In addition to her entrepreneurial achievements, Maria has served as a Gender and Inclusion Specialist in the fintech sector, promoting financial inclusion and equitable access to technology. Her contributions to gender equity in tech were celebrated at the Singapore Tech Festival, where she joined a fireside chat with Melinda French Gates.