A Bangladeshi youth empowerment leader, LinkedIn influencer, and social entrepreneur building digital futures — one community at a time.
From Computer Science graduate to international youth advocate — Farhana's story is one of consistent, courageous action.
Farhana Akter — widely known as Khan Farhana — graduated from Southeast University in 2018 with a degree in Computer Science and Engineering. What began as a strategic use of LinkedIn quickly evolved into a movement.
She founded FarhanasBrainstation on June 20, 2019, which has since grown into Bangladesh's largest LinkedIn-based youth community with over 300,000 members. She has coached over 15,000 young individuals entirely free of charge.
From working with UNDP Timor-Leste on ICT education reform to leading a Ministry of Agriculture project spanning five African nations — her impact transcends borders.
Southeast University, Class of 2018. Computer Science & Engineering.
Worked in Bangladesh, Timor-Leste, Botswana, Namibia, Zambia & more.
All coaching, workshops and mentorship sessions offered without charge.
Next Gen Leader – Youth Spirit Award (2021). Honored by Save the Children (2025).
From a LinkedIn profile in 2014 to speaking at the Global Entrepreneurship Congress in Indianapolis — scroll through the milestones.
Farhana began actively using LinkedIn (profile created 2014) for personal branding, blog posting, and self-directed learning. Earned a PHP certificate from SoloLearn and started volunteering with JAAGO Foundation.
Completed Computer Science & Engineering at Southeast University. Expanded LinkedIn content creation, sharpened skills in digital tools, and deepened early professional networking that would later open doors.
Landed her first full-time role at BIID through LinkedIn. Founded FarhanasBrainstation on June 20 as a voluntary youth mentorship platform. Worked with Oxfam on the "Her Story – PROTIC" project and supported 1,000 women entrepreneurs.
Co-developed the eKrishok app with CIMMYT BD & DAE — giving farmers access to weather, market prices, and agricultural advisories. Honored with the "Next Gen Leader" Youth Spirit Award during COVID-19.
Served as ICT Innovation Officer on the iSKY-TL project, improving ICT education in secondary and vocational schools across Timor-Leste. Co-authored "IoT for Beginners" with UNDP & MoYES. FarhanasBrainstation became Bangladesh's largest LinkedIn youth network.
Became Chief Digital Officer at Pulaspace (Ministry of Agriculture project across Botswana, Namibia, Zambia, Lesotho, S. Africa). Joined Dotlines Social as Head of Program & Partnerships. Trained 600 garment workers through "Oporajita" ICT program and led Global Entrepreneurship Week Botswana.
Spoke at the Global Entrepreneurship Congress (GEC 2025) in Indianapolis, USA representing Bangladesh. Honored by Save the Children for 3 years of mentorship. Led AI Connect Bangladesh Summit, environmental shapers training, and celebrated Women's Day 2026 with bdapps female developers.
Every number represents a life touched, a skill gained, a future unlocked.
Founded June 20, 2019 — a voluntary hub for mentorship, digital literacy, leadership, and SDG collaboration.
What makes FarhanasBrainstation extraordinary is that it has always been — and remains — entirely free. Every workshop, every batch, every career session is voluntarily organized and delivered.
From six-month mentorship batches with seven teams focused on entrepreneurship, personal development, and SDGs, to partnerships with BYLC, BDJobs, Save the Children, and Grameenphone — the network operates as a true ecosystem of opportunity.
In 2025, Farhana's three years of dedicated mentorship were formally honored by Save the Children, recognizing the real, measurable change this community creates for Bangladeshi youth.
Farhana's work actively contributes to multiple Sustainable Development Goals across her projects and communities.
Published articles, books, and co-authorships that extend her impact beyond borders.
Co-authored with UNDP Timor-Leste and MoYES to inspire youth leadership and engagement with Internet of Things technologies.
Co-Author · 2022A published article exploring how digital inclusion strategies can be deployed effectively at community scale across the Global South.
Article · 2025A reflective piece on FarhanasBrainstation's journey, published in recognition of her Save the Children mentorship honor.
Article · 2025Practical guidance from over a decade of LinkedIn-native community building — helping young Bangladeshis navigate digital professionalism.
LinkedIn Article · 2025Examining how rapidly urbanizing cities in developing nations can harness ICT and youth entrepreneurship for sustainable growth.
Article · 2025Facilitated 30 winning impact story videos with Oxfam Bangladesh, amplifying the voices of rural women in technology adoption.
Facilitation Project · 2019Hover over each card to flip it and discover the story behind the moment. Each card is linked to a real SDG goal.
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A six-month FarhanasBrainstation mentorship batch bringing together 100 young Bangladeshis to build leadership, entrepreneurship, and digital skills — entirely free of charge. Seven teams worked on SDG-aligned collaborative projects.
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Supporting 1,000 women entrepreneurs through skill development, incubation, and access to funding. Farhana facilitated workshops and training as part of BIID's flagship empowerment initiative.
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Co-developed the eKrishok app in collaboration with CIMMYT Bangladesh and the Department of Agricultural Extension. The app delivered real-time weather updates, market prices, and expert advisories directly to rural farmers.
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As ICT Innovation Officer on the iSKY-TL project, Farhana improved ICT education infrastructure, curriculum, and teacher training across secondary and vocational schools. She also co-authored "IoT for Beginners" with UNDP and MoYES.
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Led a comprehensive ICT and e-commerce training initiative for 600 garment workers across 20 intensive batches, empowering factory floor workers with digital literacy skills to open new economic pathways.
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Farhana represented Bangladesh as a guest speaker at the Global Entrepreneurship Congress in Indianapolis, USA. Her session focused on digital equity and youth-led innovation in the Global South, reaching policymakers and investors from across the world.
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What started as a personal LinkedIn community grew into Bangladesh's most impactful youth network — 300,000 members strong. Through free mentorship batches, career workshops, and SDG accelerators, FBS bridges the opportunity gap for young Bangladeshis.
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As Chief Digital Officer at Pulaspace, Farhana leads a Ministry of Agriculture-backed initiative connecting agricultural startups with investors and policymakers across Botswana, Namibia, Zambia, Lesotho, and South Africa.
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Facilitated rural students in creating 30 award-winning impact story videos documenting women's experiences with technology adoption. The project amplified unheard voices and gave rural women a platform to share their journeys with the world.