51 WOTYA 2025 womanthismonth.com | JANUARY 2026 Winner of the Woman in Visual Arts category at the Woman of the Year Awards 2025, Thajba Najeeb is a visual artist and educator with 17 years of experience in arts education. Currently leading Visual and Performing Arts at a major school, she champions hands-on, student-centred learning through the DP and MYP curricula, encouraging creative autonomy, critical thinking and authentic self-expression. Her practice bridges education and artistic exploration, fostering spaces where creativity is both nurtured and celebrated. What was a moment during the ceremony that felt most meaningful to you? There were multiple moments that felt surreal to me. Even before my win, just saying the word nominee out loud was exhilarating. Then, when my former student, Rayana Sayyar, was announced as Woman of the Year 2025 in the service category, I felt such an intense rush of pride. The final moment came when my own name was called as the winner for Woman of the Year 2025 in Visual Arts. As I walked towards the stage, the world seemed to fall silent. Were there any reactions from family, team, or community that surprised you? I will never forget my daughter saying, “Mama, even if you don’t win, you’re still the Woman of the Year in my eyes.” My team, my family and my friends wrapped me in a blanket of love and support. This victory does not feel like mine alone. It feels like a shared celebration with everyone who knows me, loves me and recognises my passion for the arts. How has winning informed your priorities or plans since the awards night? When the line between work and passion dissolves, priorities remain steady. Mine have always been, and will continue to be, about creating accessible, safe spaces for expression and championing creative freedom. I want to ignite creative confidence in those who may not even yet see themselves as artists. How will you use the prize, platform, or network that came with this award? This recognition offers an incredible opportunity to elevate my work as both an artist and a visual arts educator. It allows me to advocate more strongly for the importance of arts education and for a more holistic, interdisciplinary approach to learning. What concrete next steps or milestones are you committing to in the next 12 months? Over the next year, I am working towards a solo exhibition in 2026, collaborating with women-led NGOs in Pakistan, and creating open dialogues with like-minded creatives about the role of the arts in cultural growth. I am particularly focused on highlighting the value of art in developing critical, reflective and empathetic minds. What is one piece of advice you would give to young women looking up to you now that you have won? My advice to young women is simple: be vigilant, persistent, patient and, above all, compassionate. Lift one another up rather than competing. When we choose collaboration over rivalry, we build a powerful community where everyone can thrive.
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