Sarah Ahmad Abedin

Sarah Ahmad, born 1965, in Chattogram (Chattogram Medical College Hospital), older of the two daughters of Mr. Jamal Uddin Ahmad, and Mrs. Rosy Ahmad, founders of GMS&C

Sarah’s primary, secondary and post secondary education was in Bangladesh. She completed her SSC in humanities from Holy Cross School in 1981 and HSC in commerce from University Women’s Federation College in 1983. She completed one semester in Dhaka University accounting department before pursuing higher education in the United States. She did her BBA in accounting information systems from Eastern Michigan University and MBA in electronic business from Johns Hopkins University. She also holds several professional certifications.

Sarah is an information technology and cybersecurity expert by profession with extensive management and leadership experience in a broad range of complex, fast-paced environments in public and private sectors. She started her career as an IT auditor in the State of Michigan Office of the Auditor General and over the next 30 years she had the privilege of working in various capacities for global companies like KPMG, Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA), NASDAQ Stock Market, IBM and others. Her specialization is in IT security, cybersecurity, enterprise governance, risk, compliance and privacy in addition to her IT audit experience (internal and external).

Sarah is the founder and CEO of BreaktheTide, a 501c(3) nonprofit organization in the United States. BreaktheTide provides a fundraising platform for nonprofit organizations to help raise funds for empowering women, children and underprivileged communities. She is a board member of Gultaz Memorial School and College in Doulatpur, Chattogram, Bangladesh.

She has been influenced by the great works of numerous humanitarians, some in her immediate family but many whose lifeworks she admired since early childhood. Sarah’s first introduction to the world of women empowerment work was in 1994 when she spent a short time in a village in Narsingdi, Bangladesh to experience the great work of Grameen Bank (2006 Nobel Prize recipient along with its founder Dr. Muhammad Yunus). The experience left a lasting impression on her and made her a firm believer that with a little support everyone can realize their own potential.

Sarah is a proud mother of Lara and Aaron, who are currently pursuing higher education. As they complete their education and start their respective careers, she hopes that they will follow the legacy of philanthropy, giving back and empowering others as their grandparents Jamal Uddin Ahmad and Rosy Ahmad have done some years ago.

Gultaz Shireen Rahman

Gultaz Shireen, born in 1966, in Chattogram (Railway Hospital), younger of the two daughters of Mr. Jamal Uddin Ahmad, and Mrs. Rosy Ahmad, founders of GMS&C

Gultaz obtained her SSC and HSC from Holy Cross School and College in Dhaka, Bangladesh, graduating with high distinction in 1982 and 1984 respectively. She was then privileged to pursue higher education in the United States and obtained her electrical engineering degree in 1988 and went on to build an extremely rewarding career with the Space Shuttle Program, at Johnson Space Center, NASA, in Houston, Texas, USA. Her career with the Space Shuttle Program spanned over twenty years, starting as a junior Space Shuttle Software analyst, gradually growing into more senior roles and ending up as an On-board Navigation Flight Controller, supporting approximately 50 successful Spaceflight missions, providing real-time support from the Mission Control Center. After the Shuttle Program ended in 2011, Gultaz changed her career to the oil and gas industry, working for Baker Hughes, an oil service company, for another 10 years, working as a business excellence manager, focusing on process improvements for safety, quality and compliance in the oilfield services sector.

Gultaz is very fortunate to have been born to two very supportive feminist parents, who instilled the value of education, courage, integrity, humility, and a fierce sense of personal/social responsibility and justice. She was encouraged to follow her own dreams, develop her personal strengths/beliefs and was given the freedom of choice to pursue her career path, however, with the clear understanding that she had to be self-reliant, independent and be able to support herself financially. To have been raised by progressive and visionary parents in a patriarchal culture/society was an extreme privilege. It emboldened her to set high expectations for herself without constraints or inhibitions because of her gender. These early life lessons prepared her to successfully navigate through many personal adversities, hurdles and setbacks over the years and they continue to give her the courage and confidence to embrace today’s constant changes and challenges without fear, but with hope and optimism.

The most rewarding gift of her life are her twin children, Shawn and Sheena Rahman, born 1994. As they chart their own course in life, her ardent prayer and wish for them is to become responsible global citizens, to always seek social justice for equality, inclusivity, with respect, kindness, compassion and understanding for all, without fear or prejudice. Privilege comes with responsibility, an expectation not lost on them. Gultaz’s parents expected much from her, and she, even more from her children. May each generation continue to build upon the legacy of her beloved parents, Jamal and Rosy Ahmad, and bring honor to their names, vision and spirit of philanthropy, with their own unique contribution wherever they may be.