Our Story
It all began when 15-year-old Alisha Junaid traveled from Silicon Valley to Pakistan during her winter break. Hoping to continue her volleyball training, she started playing locally and discovered a country brimming with talent: girls with extraordinary potential, limitless passion, and dreams of competing on the world stage, yet constrained by limited resources. That moment sparked a journey far bigger than she ever imagined: a mission to empower girls across Pakistan to realize their full potential, both in sports and in life.
Our Founder
Alisha Junaid, a setter for Pakistan’s National Volleyball Team, is the founder of Empower Sports Academy, a nonprofit creating new opportunities for girls in sports. Originally from the United States, Alisha is a TEDx speaker, USAID Youth Leadership Award winner, and Babson College student. She has led national volleyball tournaments across Pakistan and organized international tours, all while pursuing her own athletic and academic goals.
Board of Directors
The Empower Sports Academy Board of Directors unites world-renowned volleyball legends like Stanford’s Kevin Hambly, Italy’s Giovanni Guidetti, and U.S. Olympic Manager Denise Sheldon with visionary leaders such as architect Malika Junaid and entrepreneur Junaid Qurashi. Representing expertise in sports, business, design, and social impact across the US, Europe, Turkey, Italy, and Pakistan, this globally diverse team is united by a single mission: empowering the next generation of female athletes in Pakistan.
Strategic Advisors
Our Strategic Advisors are visionary entrepreneurs, investors, and global leaders who help chart Empower’s long-term path. With diverse backgrounds in business, innovation, and social impact, they provide the insight, resources, and networks needed to scale a moonshot vision. Their guidance ensures Empower is not just a sports academy, but a sustainable movement creating opportunities for Pakistan’s young women to become world-class athletes and changemakers.
Advisory Coaches
Our Advisory Coaches are elite global professionals in sports and academics, dedicated to nurturing our athletes every day. From Olympic-level coaching to innovative training methods, they guide skill development, personal growth, and character-building, ensuring every girl at Empower has the tools to excel on every stage she steps onto.
Brand ambassador
Empower Sports Academy is proud to have the support of leaders and influencers who believe in our mission of providing quality education, elite sports training, and life skills to young women across Pakistan. Our ambassadors play a key role in amplifying our message, inspiring communities, and helping us reach more young women with opportunities that build confidence, leadership, and lifelong skills.
Mawra hocane
Pakistani Actress, Entrepreneur & Global Advocate for Women’s Empowerment
Mawra Hocane is a renowned Pakistani actress, entrepreneur, and advocate for women’s empowerment with recognition both nationally and internationally. She has partnered with the UNHCR to support refugee children and humanitarian initiatives, and actively promotes women’s financial independence as a path to empowerment. Through her acting, including roles in Jafaa, she raises awareness about domestic violence, encouraging young women to speak up. Mawra is also a vocal supporter of mental health, sharing her own experiences with anxiety and creating safe spaces for others to do the same. With her global reach, credibility, and dedication, Mawra amplifies Empower Sports Academy’s mission of providing education, elite training, leadership, and life skills to young women across Pakistan.
Strategic Partners
Empower is proud to have the support of dedicated partners and sponsors who share our vision of transforming opportunities for girls in sports. Their investment goes beyond financial backing to providing resources, visibility, and credibility that make our programs possible. Our partners are making Olympic dreams possible for young girls in Pakistan.
