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Brief Resume of Dr. Chowdhury Saima Ferdous

Dr. Chowdhury Saima Ferdous is an accomplished academician with over 19 years of extensive experience in research, academia, and administration. She has a remarkable track record in talent development and mentorship and is dedicated to shaping global citizens who will lead Bangladesh into a prosperous future. Dr. Ferdous is proficient in policy formulation, assessment, and behavioral analysis, and she excels in mixed-method research, with a strong focus on corporate governance, women's empowerment, and environmental, social, and governance (ESG) issues. Her expertise positions her as a leader in her field, driving positive change and innovation.
Dr. Ferdous commenced her academic career in 2005 as a lecturer in the Department of Management Studies at the University of Dhaka. In 2008, she transitioned to the newly established Department of International Business within the same university. In this capacity, she made significant contributions to the development of academic programs, the formulation of policies, and the establishment of collaborative relations with stakeholders, which were instrumental in securing a solid foundation for the nascent department.
From 2013 to 2016, Dr. Ferdous held the position of Chairman of the Department of International Business at the University of Dhaka. Throughout her tenure, she demonstrated exceptional leadership in enhancing the department's brand image among current and prospective students, corporate partners, and various stakeholders. Dr. Ferdous emphasized establishing a meritocratic and performance-driven culture within the department while upholding principles of transparency and accountability. Subsequently, she fulfilled her role as Director of the Evening MBA Program in 2016 and Director of the Master’s Program in 2021. During her tenure in leadership, she prioritized the advancement of women and the promotion of work-life balance for both faculty and students. Two of her initiatives have received widespread acclaim throughout the university. First, she took the initiative to establish a daycare facility within the faculty area, which is now utilized by faculty members across the University of Dhaka. Second, with the objective of raising awareness in recognition of International Women’s Day, she launched a program entitled “Jago Bonni Shika” on March 8th, 2014. This initiative has now become a tradition within the Business Faculty, aimed at promoting awareness of women's rights and the challenges they face.
Dr. Ferdous has been awarded the Commonwealth Scholarship to pursue a PhD program. She successfully completed her Doctoral Degree at the prestigious University of Birmingham, United Kingdom, in 2009. Her dissertation focused on corporate governance. Throughout her research program, she had the privilege of serving as a member of the Cadbury Research Committee, which provided her with valuable insights into the mechanisms that ensure effective governance globally. This experience enhanced her ability to analyze corporate corruption and formulate strategies to address it.
Dr. Ferdous holds a Diploma in Social Science Research, which she earned in 2010 from the prestigious Birmingham Business School at the University of Birmingham, United Kingdom. She completed her Master of Business Administration with a major in Strategic Management in 2001, following her Bachelor of Business Administration in 2000, both from the renowned Department of Management Studies at the University of Dhaka. Notably, she received a Gold Medal for her outstanding academic achievement during her Bachelor’s program, underscoring her commitment to excellence.
Her research encompasses various aspects of corporate governance, particularly in areas such as board diversity, firm performance, and disclosure practices. In addition to these topics, Dr. Ferdous’s work examines the performance of family firms and their adherence to Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) guidelines. She has contributed to the academic community through numerous publications in national and international journals, with several of her research papers awarded "Best Paper" awards. Her current research emphasis includes the governance structures of family firms and the factors contributing to financial distress. Furthermore, she is in the process of authoring a case-based book that focuses on corporate governance in Bangladesh.
Dr. Ferdous served as the Head of the Research Committee at the Center of Excellence for the Bangladesh Apparel Industry from 2015 to 2018, where she made significant contributions as a researcher. In addition, she has acted as an External Member of the Ethical Committee at City Bank Limited. She has been a guest faculty member at North South University in Bangladesh for many years.
Throughout her professional career, Dr. Ferdous has actively participated in numerous national and international conferences and seminars, where she has presented her research articles. Notable events include the Oxford Symposium on Women Leadership at the University of Oxford in the United Kingdom; the British Accounting and Finance Association Annual Conference held in Brighton, UK; the Global Accounting and Organizational Change Conference (GAOC) organized by Sunway University in Malaysia and LaTrobe University in Australia; the International Conference on Corporate Governance in Birmingham; the National Symposium on Change Management organized by the Xavier Institute of Development Actions & Studies in Jabalpur, India; and the International Colloquium on Business & Management hosted by Suan Dusit Rajabhat University in Thailand, among others.
In pursuit of her professional development, Dr. Ferdous has participated in numerous training programs aimed at enhancing her expertise. These programs include the Advanced Corporate Governance Board Leadership Training of Trainers in Banking, which was jointly organized by the International Finance Corporation (IFC) and the Global Corporate Governance Forum (GCGF). She also attended a Workshop on Research Methods conducted by Oxford University, UK.
Dr. Ferdous completed a series of training sessions at the Birmingham Business School, University of Birmingham, UK, which comprised Training on Project Management, Training on Supporting Diversity, Training on Teaching Development for Postgraduates, a Workshop on Case Study, and Training on Presentation Skills. Additionally, she participated in the Training Program on “SPSS & Applied Statistics,” organized by the Institute of Statistics Research and Training Department at the University of Dhaka.
Furthermore, Dr. Ferdous engaged in the International Training of Trainers in Corporate Governance Leadership, which was jointly organized by the Global Corporate Governance Forum and the Bangladesh Enterprise Institute. She also attended a Workshop on Corporate Governance organized by the Bangladesh Enterprise Institute and the Association of Management Development Institutes of Bangladesh (AMDIB).