Dr. Raheela Akhtar, CEO, Lussoro Brand, VP, WCCI, Lahore, LUSSORO, by Raheela A. Dr. Raheela Akhtar, CEO of Lussoro Brand and Vice President of the Women Chamber of Commerce & Industry Lahore (WCCI), has an exclusive discussion with Flare. During this conversation, she shares insights into the beginnings of her career, the challenges she faces in building and expanding brands like Lussoro and Ramira Couture, and her participation in additional business initiatives, including J5 Resorts Lahore and Cool Paint Company.
Flare: Kindly, introduce yourself and share the journey that inspired you to establish the Lussoro Brand?
Dr. Raheela Akhtar: I am Dr. Raheela Akhtar, a businesswoman, entrepreneur, and Vice President of the Women Chamber of Commerce & Industry Lahore (WCCI). My professional journey began with a background in gynaecology, which gave me a deep understanding of women, their confidence, aspirations, and the importance of empowering them.
Coming from a prominent business family associated with Waves, I was exposed to entrepreneurship and business from an early stage. Over the years, my passion evolved towards fashion, lifestyle, hospitality, and business development. This journey led me to establish and develop brands including Lussoro and Ramira Couture, while also being involved in other business ventures such as J5 Resorts Lahore and Cool Paint Company.
For me, entrepreneurship is not simply about building businesses; it is about creating opportunities, establishing a legacy, and using success to make a meaningful difference in society.
Flare: What is the vision behind Lussoro, and what makes the brand unique in Pakistan’s fashion and lifestyle industry?
Dr. Raheela Akhtar: The vision behind Lussoro is to create a modern Pakistani lifestyle and fashion identity that combines quality, elegance, creativity, and international standards. Lussoro believes that Pakistani brands can compete confidently at an international level while connected to our cultural heritage.
Through Lussoro and Ramira Couture, I want to present Pakistani craftsmanship in a sophisticated and contemporary way. Our focus is on quality, design, presentation, and building a brand that can appeal to both local and international customers.
Flare: What have been the biggest challenges you faced as a woman entrepreneur, and how did you overcome them?
Dr. Raheela Akhtar: Every entrepreneur faces challenges, but women often have to manage additional expectations and responsibilities. The biggest lesson I have learned is that challenges should not become limitations.
“My role at WCCI is particularly meaningful because it allows me to support women entrepreneurs and contribute to a stronger business environment for women in Pakistan”
I overcame difficulties through patience, consistency, strong decision-making, and faith in my vision. I believe that when you know where you want to go, obstacles become part of the journey rather than reasons to stop. My professional and business experiences have taught me to remain focused, learn from setbacks, and continue moving forward.
Flare: How do you maintain a balance between your responsibilities as CEO of Lussoro and your leadership role as Vice President of WCCI Lahore?
Dr. Raheela Akhtar: Balance comes through organisation, delegation, and discipline. As a business leader and Vice President of the Women Chamber of Commerce & Industry Lahore, I understand that both positions require commitment and responsibility.
I try to surround myself with capable people and give them responsibility while remaining involved in important decisions. My role at WCCI is particularly meaningful because it allows me to support women entrepreneurs and contribute to a stronger business environment for women in Pakistan.
Flare: What are the major opportunities and challenges currently facing women entrepreneurs in Pakistan?
Dr. Raheela Akhtar: Pakistan has enormous potential for women entrepreneurs, particularly in fashion, textiles, technology, education, food, beauty, healthcare, and e-commerce. Digital platforms have also made it easier for women to reach customers beyond their immediate geographical markets.
However, access to finance, business networks, mentorship, market exposure, and confidence still pose challenges. We need to create an environment where women are encouraged not only to start businesses but also to scale them into sustainable companies.
Flare: What initiatives is WCCI Lahore taking to support women-led businesses and startups?
Dr. Raheela Akhtar: The Women Chamber provides an important platform for women entrepreneurs to connect, learn, showcase their businesses, and build professional networks. I believe chambers can play a major role in creating opportunities through networking, exhibitions, business development activities, mentorship, and interaction with relevant institutions.
My vision is to see more women moving from small-scale entrepreneurship to structured, sustainable, and export-oriented businesses.
Flare: How important are innovation, branding, and digital transformation today?
Dr. Raheela Akhtar: They are essential. A good product alone is no longer enough. Businesses need strong branding, professional presentation, digital marketing, e-commerce, social media presence, and customer engagement.
For fashion brands especially, the customer is now global. Digital transformation allows a Pakistani designer or entrepreneur to showcase products internationally without depending entirely on traditional retail channels. Innovation should therefore be at the heart of every modern business strategy.
Flare: How can government, industry, and chambers strengthen women entrepreneurship?
Dr. Raheela Akhtar: The three sectors need to work in coordination to this end. Government can provide supportive policies, financing opportunities, training, and incentives. Industry can provide mentorship, market access, partnerships, and employment opportunities, while chambers can connect entrepreneurs with these resources. A coordinated ecosystem would allow women-led businesses to grow faster, create employment, and contribute more significantly to Pakistan’s economy.
Flare: How can Pakistan’s fashion and textile sector compete internationally?
Dr. Raheela Akhtar: Pakistan has exceptional craftsmanship, talented designers, skilled artisans, and a rich textile heritage. To compete globally, businesses must focus on consistent quality, professional branding, international-standard packaging, reliable production, digital commerce, and export compliance.
We should not only sell products internationally but also build recognisable Pakistani brands. Our cultural identity can be one of our greatest competitive advantages when presented through modern design and international-quality business practices.
Flare: What leadership qualities should every successful entrepreneur develop?
Dr. Raheela Akhtar: A successful entrepreneur needs vision, patience, resilience, integrity, adaptability, and the ability to make difficult decisions. Most importantly, leadership requires the ability to build and trust a team. I also believe that successful leaders should be humble and in the process of continuous learning. Business is always changing, and a leader must be willing to meet the needs of those changes.
