Under the stewardship of Sadia Haque and husband Kashef Rahman, ShareTrip started as a small travel firm in Bangladesh where a tiny workforce provided offline services to avid travellers. Gradually, due to the passion of the co-founders, it caught the fancy of investors who backed it up and provided it financial support. Hence, the dream of the two entrepreneurs took flight and ShareTrip expanded its services to include all travel needs, emerging as a comprehensive online platform in 2018.
In a freewheeling interview with Business Frontier, Sadia Haque, Co-founder of ShareTrip, outlines the challenges she faced on the entrepreneurial journey and talks about her plans for the future ofthe company.
Can you tell us a bit about the early stages of your professional journey?
I began at Grameenphone, where I worked for about four and a half years. From there, I moved to BBC World Service Trust, now known as BBC Media Action, where I focused on marketing, emphasising social community development, which differed significantly from my previous role. Nokia was my next stop, where I worked as marketing manager for a few months before transitioning to Banglalink’s PR and Communication department.
Eventually, I decided to leave the corporate world to co-found ShareTrip, which gave me the opportunity to fully realise my vision and passion for the travel industry. The diverse experience over the years equipped me with a deep understanding of market dynamics and customer behaviour, which has been instrumental in making ShareTrip a successful venture.
What made you enter the travel business?
My husband Kashef Rahman and I have always shared a passion for adventure and exploring new countries, even on a tight budget. These experiences highlighted the challenges travellers face and the value we could offer. Motivated by our love for travel, we took a leap of faith and left our corporate jobs to pursue a shared dream. Our primary focus was on making travel affordable and personalised. We started on a small scale with just a few employees, providing offline services, but our passion quickly caught on. Investors recognised our vision for a more internet-inclusive and transparent travel industry in Bangladesh and supported us.
In 2019 with their backing, we rebranded as ShareTrip and expanded our services beyond bookings to encompass all travel needs, transitioning to a comprehensive online platform. Creating a user-friendly online platform was crucial to our mission of making travel accessible and stress-free for everyone in Bangladesh. From the beginning, we were driven by a commitment to work with passion and dedication, building ShareTrip around these principles. Our vision has always been to contribute to the long-term development and advancement of the Bangladeshi travel industry, and we strive for lasting impact rather than short-term achievements.
How do you think the travel industry is different from other businesses as far as the style of working and other parameters are concerned?
The travel industry in Bangladesh is distinct in its working style and key parameters. Traditionally, it operated manually, with offline management of flights, hotels, and visas. However, the COVID-19 pandemic significantly accelerated a shift towards digital solutions. ShareTrip, which began operations in 2019 as Bangladesh’s first OTA, has led this transformation. We introduced a user-friendly B2B platform that enabled local travel agents to serve customers more efficiently using advanced technology. This shift has made the industry more advanced, swift, and modern.
ShareTrip has played a pivotal role in this evolution, with over 8,000 local travel agents using our platform, indirectly creating job opportunities for more than 20,000 people. Our efforts have modernised the travel industry and contributed significantly to the economy by generating employment and improving service delivery, marking a substantial departure from traditional, manual methods.
You manage more than 250 employees in your organisation. What leadership style do you use to deal with challenges and let the organisation function smoothly?
Leading a team of bright and talented individuals has its own complexities. However, the true reward lies in empowering these experts and unlocking their potential. It’s about fostering a culture of innovation and agility, allowing us to tackle challenges head-on and improve continuously.
At ShareTrip, the employee well-being matters. That’s why we offer a fantastic benefits package, including MetLife health insurance, subsidised meals, and travel allowances. It’s more than just perks though — we cultivate a positive and supportive environment where everyone feels valued.
Bangladesh is a developing society. Being a woman entrepreneur, did you ever face criticism or resistance from the conservative elements?
As a woman entrepreneur in Bangladesh, I have indeed encountered criticism and resistance from conservative elements in our society, where entrenched gender roles and cultural norms often create barriers for women in business. This criticism has been particularly pronounced when I’ve ventured outside traditional roles and faced challenges balancing work with personal life.
Despite these obstacles, I’ve been fortunate to receive unflinching support from my family, with both my parents and husband providing encouragement. My experiences have fuelled a determination to create a more supportive ecosystem for women in our country. For example, I am involved with SheSTEM, a platform dedicated to women’s empowerment and transformation that also provides them with the tools and opportunities they need to thrive.
As the Co-Founder & CEO, what is your vision for the future of ShareTrip?
My vision is to solidify our position as the leading travel and lifestyle brand in Bangladesh. In the beginning, our focus was on simplifying travel planning for our customers by introducing the country’s cutting-edge website and mobile app. We have since evolved from merely a travel service to a comprehensive travel and lifestyle brand.
In 2023, we launched ST Pay, the country’s first travel wallet, gifting customers a smooth payment process for their preferred services. We’ve also added features like mobile recharge, bill payment, and shopping to enhance the seamless customer experience. Looking ahead, we are committed to offering a holistic travel and lifestyle experience where customers can plan and book their travel effortlessly and enjoy the convenience of purchasing from their favourite brands.
