Sadia Bashir facts for kids

Sadia Bashir is a talented Pakistani computer scientist, a person who studies computers and how they work. She is also a game developer and an entrepreneur, which means she starts and runs her own businesses. Sadia is famous for creating PixelArt Games Academy. This is Pakistan's very first school focused on teaching people how to make video games! She is the chief executive officer (CEO) of the academy, leading its work.

Sadia Bashir's Story

Early Life and Learning

Sadia Bashir grew up in a family where it wasn't common for girls to go to school. But Sadia was determined to learn! She wanted to attend an English-speaking school. To pay for her studies, she worked hard. She earned money by teaching other students and by sewing clothes.

When she started school, it was a bit tough to fit in. So, Sadia spent a lot of time in the school library. There, she taught herself about graphic design, computer science, and, most excitingly, video games! Her love for games began when she was a kid. She used to play video games with her brother's friends.

By the time she was 13, Sadia was already designing her own games. She kept working part-time to pay for her university studies. She earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Computer Science. Later, she got a Master's degree in Computer Science. She specialized in Artificial intelligence (AI) and Software Engineering. She also got a special certificate in how video games are made from COMSATS University.

Building a Career in Games

Sadia Bashir started her career as a programmer, writing computer code. Then, she moved into making games. With help from a mentor, she and a friend opened a small game studio in a basement. They started creating games there.

After working in the gaming world for seven years, Sadia noticed some things. She felt there wasn't enough new and exciting game design in Pakistan. Also, very few women were working in the industry. She decided to do something about it! She started organizing meetings and workshops. These events helped local game developers connect with famous experts from around the world. Some of these experts now advise PixelArt Games Academy.

In 2016, Sadia founded PixelArt Games Academy. It's Pakistan's first school just for game development. The academy teaches people how to make games. It also does research and works with game companies. A cool rule at the academy is that at least 33% of its students must be girls or women. The academy even offers special scholarships just for women. This helps more women join the tech world in Pakistan.

Amazing Achievements

Sadia Bashir has won many awards for her hard work. In 2016, she received the "Women Can Do" Award from the US Embassy. This award recognized her as an important woman entrepreneur in Pakistan. An entrepreneur is someone who starts a business.

In 2017, her team won at the Global Entrepreneurship Summit. She also became the first Pakistani speaker at the Game Developers Conference (GDC) in San Francisco. This is a huge event where game developers from all over the world meet. Later, she was chosen to be part of the Prime Minister's Youth Council. This group helps young leaders share ideas with the Prime Minister of Pakistan.

In 2018, Sadia was listed in Forbes magazine's "30 Under 30 Asia" list. This list highlights young people who are making a big impact. She was recognized for her influence on Pakistan's gaming industry. In the same year, Facebook Gaming honored her as a Global Gaming Citizen at The Game Awards in Los Angeles. This award celebrated her efforts to bring more different kinds of people into gaming. Sadia remains the first Pakistani to speak at the Game Developer's Conference, which is a big step for Pakistan's tech industry.