A seat at the table- Sana’s takeover as Chief Product Officer
At just 22, Sana from Janakpur broke gender stereotypes in her community, became an entrepreneur, and through the Girls Takeover stepped into the role of Chief Product Officer of Plan International Germany, proving that when girls lead, change happens.
In a world where girls are often denied the chance to lead, Sana – a 22-year-old from Janakpur, Nepal, is rewriting the narrative. As part of Plan International’s Girls Takeover 2025, she stepped into the role of Chief Product Officer (CPO) at Plan International Germany for a day, taking over the role from Frank Thomsen.
But Sana’s journey to leadership began long before that moment. Raised in a conservative community with limited opportunities for girls, she defied expectations, pursued education, and launched her own business. Her story is one of courage, resilience, and the transformative power of giving girls the space to lead.
Here is her story, told in her own words.
Breaking barriers and building independence
“I come from a Muslim family with six siblings. As the eldest, I live with my mother while my father works abroad as a migrant labourer. Growing up, I studied in a Madrasa (Islamic school), where I learnt about my religion and my role in the family. But deep down, I wanted more; I wanted to continue my education and shape a future of my own.”
“In my community, girls face many restrictions. They are often expected to marry early, stay at home, and attend only the Madrasa. The idea of stepping outside, studying further, or working is rarely accepted. With my mother’s support, I broke those barriers. I rejoined formal education, completed my higher studies, and dared to imagine a different path.”
“Through entrepreneurship training, I learnt life skills, business education, and received start-up support. With this, I opened my own grocery shop, a small step that gave me independence and protected me from child marriage. Economic empowerment changed my life.”
Stepping into a leadership role
“When I was selected for the Girls Takeover 2025, I was amazed. The thought of leading in such a big role, even for a day, felt like a dream. On 9 September 2025, I symbolically stepped into the position of Frank Thomsen, Chief Product Officer (CPO) of Plan International Germany.”
“Before the day, I prepared myself by studying the role of a CPO. I learnt that a CPO helps design new ideas so projects are strong and useful, ensures programmes are working, listens to feedback, improves them, and works with leaders and partners to keep everyone moving in the same direction. Most importantly, a CPO connects with donors and sponsors to ensure children, especially girls, can access education, healthcare, and protection.”
“Meeting Frank and his team was inspiring. He welcomed me warmly and encouraged me, which gave me confidence. I joined discussions with Plan International Nepal’s team, learning about the programmes running across the country, including work with girls with disabilities and emergency response support. I was especially encouraged to hear about sponsorship, which supports more than 38,000 children in Nepal, with Plan Germany contributing the most.”
“As CPO, I felt responsible for thinking about how to convince more people in Germany to support girls in Nepal. I realised the power of communication and storytelling in mobilising support and even checked with the German team about what information their communications and influencing team needs to build strong sponsorship cases.”
“The most memorable part was sharing my entrepreneurial journey with Frank. He admired the way I asked questions and showed leadership in taking on his role. His words meant a lot to me.”
Frank’s reflections on the takeover
Frank Thomsen, CPO at Plan International Germany, shared his thoughts after meeting Sana:
“I was deeply impressed by Sana’s journey from breaking barriers in her community to becoming an entrepreneur. She has shown that with the right support, girls can build their own futures and inspire others to follow.
“I was deeply impressed by Sana’s journey from breaking barriers in her community to becoming an entrepreneur. She has shown that with the right support, girls can build their own futures and inspire others to follow.”
Frank Thomsen, CPO, Plan International Germany
“Hearing how she set up her grocery shop after the business skill training was remarkable. If time had allowed, I would have loved to visit her shop in Janakpur. Sana is very confident and very expressive. Within just a few hours, she was able to understand the responsibilities of my role and step into it with great energy. I am confident that in the future, she could definitely lead a role like mine.”
“This is exactly what we are looking for: the stories of girls that are impactful and show real change. They give a clear picture to our supporters in Germany of how they are contributing to the change that is led by girls themselves.”
“Being part of the Girls Takeover proved that young women like me have the skills, ideas, and courage to lead. It also reminded me that leadership is not only about making decisions, but it is also about listening, learning, and working together for meaningful change.”
“When girls lead, we all move closer to an equal world.”
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