DCW Board Elections/2026/Munazza
| Summary |
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| Mandatory questions | ||
| Why are you running for the DCW Board? What unique contributions do you bring to the role? What areas would you like to learn more about? | My term as the CCO has been defined by my dedication & commitment to operational excellence, efficiency, increasing global reach and streamlining initiatives to make them sustainable and impactful. I have actively improved and optimized our core programs like Heritage Lens, DCW Conversation Hour, Empowering Creatives, Graphic Design Internship etc to name a few .
On the Board, i intend to apply the blend of analytical thinking and creative direction to our long term priorities ensuring stable progress and sustainability. I am interested in furthering my knowledge and experience to better advocate for our community's interest, my goal is to ensure that DCW leads with integrity, visual clarity and a strong globally recognized presence. | |
| Please describe your Wikimedia experience (such as contributions to the Wikimedia projects, activities as a Wikimedia movement organizer, or other relevant participation). | Having anchored and contributed to the foundational core of DCW and it's initiatives since inception from behind the scenes, I have now transitioned into frontline leadership role focused on bridging the gap between high-level strategy and technical execution.
I successfully expanded our community’s recognition by pitching to and securing distinguished voices and leaders from the wider Wikimedia movement. Being the host of & moderating our monthly conversation hour has helped in maintaining a space where diverse voices could intersect. I spearheaded the Graphic Design Internship, a targeted initiative to bring women from marginalized groups into the movement by providing mentorship and resource access. I oversaw and supervised the creation of visual identity of programs like Heritage lens, Wiki Loves Muslim Academia, Mehfil e Wiki etc. I have also refined our reports and grant proposals to focus on maximizing impact through analytical thinking. I conducted specialized sessions during our first annual convening. I made strategic choices to ensure our visual language remained uncompromised and aligned with DCW’s core values while curating personalized community assets and swags. I also lead a dedicated online orientation program to integrate new members into our mission. I consistently focus on professionalizing our output, ensuring we never compromise the grassroots authenticity that remains the heartbeat of our heritage. | |
| From your perspective, what should the Deoband Community Wikimedia prioritize over the next 3 to 6 years? Why do you consider these priorities to be the most important? | My priorities focus on sustainability, safety, inclusion, and strategic expansion.
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| Optional questions - Professional Experience and Education | ||
| Describe your educational background, including degrees, certificates, and courses of study finished, and their relevance to board work. | I am currently pursuing my undergrad in Food, Nutrition and Dietetics, it’s actually where I learned the discipline of handling complex information and sticking to high ethical standards. I have several certifications in digital marketing, communication, soft skills, medicine and nutrition courses. I’ve taught myself graphic design, html and basics of css and am currently diving into data analytics. These equip me with the technical tools for measurable, data-driven impact.
I’ve had the opportunity to participate in the ICNC IAPEN conference 2026, moderate a live student book review podcast for the 7th Orange City Literature Festival, alongside hosting numerous events within my college. Most notably, I hosted the National Webinar on Medical Nutrition Therapy for Renal Diseases and the debate competition on Millets at Eat right Mela organized by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in association with SRWC collabrating partners NSI Nagpur Chapter, IDA Nagpur Chapter, and IAPEN Nagpur Chapter. They demonstrate my capacity for professional diplomacy and my ability to facilitate complex discourse. I am prepared to leverage this background in institutional coordination to act as a bridge between our community and global movement partners, ensuring DCW's growth is managed with both administrative rigor and strategic clarity. | |
| Describe your experience in making impactful decisions. | ||
| Outline your career experience and key roles you have held. | My career spans several roles, including:
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| Provide two examples where you successfully addressed or advised on complex organizational challenges. How did you collaborate with others to resolve these issues? | Our fellowship and internship programs lacked a rigorous selection process. I centralized the screening and application workflow by introducing objective criteria for evaluating candidates. We moved away from informal selection toward a merit-based system. This not only improved the quality of our contributors who align with our long-term strategic goals but also provided a transparent framework.
My role in the DCW Conversation Hour involved more than just facilitation; it required strategic outreach. By carefully pitching our vision and moderating these technical dialogues, I ensured the community was represented with professional authority, ensuring that every call served a specific strategic purpose. This experience in managing complex, real-time discussions across diverse geographic and cultural contexts has prepared me to act as a diplomatic bridge for the Board, ensuring our community’s voice is heard. | |
| Add any relevant links describing your professional background, experience, profile (such as LinkedIn, etc.). | User:Munazza | |
| Optional questions - Leadership and Strategic Thinking | ||
| How have you been able to empower people to make their voices heard? | A key priority has also been the professional advancement of our contributors. We realized to maintain a sustainable movement, we must offer value back to our committed volunteers. So, we implemented a formal system for providing Certificates of Experience and Letters of Recommendation, ensuring that their contributions to the movement translate into tangible assets for their academic and professional careers.
I implemented a mentorship framework focused on Intentional Design. I recognized that for our interns to truly contribute to the Wikimedia movement, they needed to understand the strategic 'why' behind every visual choice. Each project was approached with purpose and impact. By mentoring them to align their creative output with our organizational mission, I helped create a culture where design is seen as a tool for advocacy, ensuring our message remains professional and impactful across all platforms. | |
| In professional settings, personality conflicts can arise. How do you stay productive and maintain effectiveness in such situations? | Whether it is coordinating for college events/competitions, national webinars or managing global outreach, I adopt a solution-oriented mindset by prioritizing institutional objectives over interpersonal friction. I take the initiative during moments of organizational stagnation or conflict, reframing challenges as opportunities and offering actionable paths forward. I view professional disagreements not as personal hurdles, but as opportunities for evaluation and iteration, ensuring that the final output whether an event/ national webinar or a community prorgram/ grant proposal remains the central focus. This allows me to remain a reliable leader and a steady bridge between differing perspectives, ensuring that the organization’s progress is never stalled by individual conflicts. | |
| Describe ways in which you have helped to form a bridge between multiple communities. | ||
| verification | verification performed | |
eligibility:  verifiedverified by: Aafi |
identification: verified verified by: Aafi | |
| Moderator notes | Despite the ongoing UG degree, the candidate is allowed to run, subject to their vast experience with the DCW community. | |