Meet the team

I am Dr. Rizwana Thanawala the founder of AMZEN Foundation, and this is more than just my story—it is the story of the women who came before me.
My grandmother and mother were brilliant, determined women, but fate dealt them a different hand. Born into circumstances where education and opportunity were luxuries, they carried within them untapped potential, dreams and ambitions left unfulfilled.
But where their journeys were forced to stop, my mother made sure ours would begin.
With only a tenth-grade education, my mother refused to let history repeat itself. She defied the odds—raising me and my two brothers with relentless determination, ensuring that we had what she and my grandmother were denied.
Education wasn’t just a priority in our home—it was a mission. She pushed us to dream, to study hard, and to carve out our own paths. And when our own strength wasn’t enough, she taught us the power of mentorship—seeking guidance, learning from those who walked before us, and finding allies to help us rise.
Her belief in the power of education didn’t just change our lives—it shaped our destinies.
There is something undeniable about a girl or a woman who decides to change her story—she refuses to accept limitations. Education gives her not just knowledge, but the courage to stand firm, the confidence to question the status quo, and the ability to pull others up alongside her. It is not just a tool—it is the key that unlocks possibilities.
That is why I founded AMZEN Foundation for young girls who, like my mother and grandmother, have potential waiting to be realized.AMZEN exists to create possibilities Through education, mentorship, and opportunity and break free from the cycles of limitations .
And while our mission is dedicated to empowering girls, our name—AMZEN—carries forward an even deeper legacy. It is named after my two sons, because I believe that real change happens when men become allies in this journey. Just as my mother’s resilience shaped my life, my hope is that my sons will carry forward this commitment—to uplift, to support, and to ensure that every girl, everywhere, has access to opportunities that past generations were denied.
With AMZEN, I want every girl to know she has the permission to dream and dream big. And we are here to give her the support she needs.

Amzen is my way of honouring my mother’s legacy and making sure no deserving girl goes unheard or unsupported.

“A fighter. A navigator”
I am Khushnuma. I am the co-founder of AMZEN.
We all have a history behind our success. Mine has been made of perseverance and continuous self-development.
Studying was always my passion. I knew I had to work hard to reach where I wanted to be. Coming from an affluent Muslim family, higher education was like a dream come true. My mother was my biggest support in every way. She always believed that I would wear a black cloak one day. Little did I understand the meaning of a ‘black cloak’. I completed my schooling and my graduation in Commerce and Law. Soon I had a family life, a husband and a son to take care of. Not everyone has a good marriage and I stood up against all odds, faced all challenges, and brought about a change in my life. The biggest setback came to me when I lost my husband.
I realised the meaning of a ‘black cloak’, then, which gave me a path to walk. I walked alone, but I knew my way.
Today, I am a practicing Advocate/Solicitor/Arbitrator, with my own law-firm; K K Associates. I am also honoured for being registered as Advocate-On-Record with the Supreme Court of India and my firm KK Associates, has been recognised amongst the Top 10 law firms for Corporate Services by Industry Outlook. My journey has no boundaries.
Through AMZEN, it's my endeavour to reach out to aspiring girls; to encourage, improve and enhance their education for a brighter future and who, like me, would wish to bring a change to their lives.
Let’s together celebrate the achievements of each one of us, each one of you.