Elisha Rajbhandari is making a strong impact in Nepal by using technology to bring social change and empower young women. After working abroad in telecom policy and regulation, she returned home and started her own IT company.
On Girls in ICT Day 2025 (May 22), celebrated globally under the theme “Digital Skills for Life: Inclusion of Girls and Women in ICT”, Elisha is seen as an inspiring example of how Nepali women can lead in technology.
Early Passion for Technology
Elisha developed an interest in technology during her school years. She completed her SLC from St. Mary’s School in 2005 and later studied Electronics and Telecommunications Engineering at Kathmandu Engineering College. Her brother, also an engineer, inspired her to follow this path.
After graduation, she joined Agile Solutions as a Technical Assistant. Over time, she took on roles in HR, business operations, and project customization. Before leaving in 2015, she became a Senior Technical Consultant and had built ERP systems that the company still uses.
International Experience at APT
For over five years, Elisha worked at the Asia Pacific Telecommunity (APT), an international organization with 193 member countries. As Assistant Programme Director, she helped draft telecom policies and cybersecurity strategies for 38 countries in Asia.
She collaborated with professionals from across the continent and helped member states prepare reports and proposals for the International Telecommunication Union (ITU).
Starting an IT Company in Nepal
Just before the COVID-19 pandemic, Elisha returned to Nepal. Though she considered working for international organizations like the UN, the pandemic made her rethink her plans. In 2020, she launched Cyber Inc. Pvt. Ltd., her own IT company.
“I wanted to use the skills I gained abroad to build something valuable in Nepal,” she said.
Supporting Women in Tech
After founding her company, Elisha began researching how many women work in Nepal’s tech sector. She found that there was very little reliable data. To address this, she partnered with Women in Information Technology (WIT) and IT veteran Gunakeshari Pradhan to begin collecting proper records.
While her company focuses on software and mobile app development, she is equally committed to creating opportunities for young women in technology.
A WIT report from October 28, 2024, shows that Nepal has:
- 402 IT companies
- Only 400 women working as IT professionals
Barriers for Young Women in ICT
Elisha points out that women between 18 and 35 years old face major challenges when entering the tech industry. Most women working in tech are over 35, while younger women often have to manage household responsibilities or raise children.
She says this is not just a problem in Nepal. Across South Asia, the number of young women in ICT is very low. Leadership positions are still mostly held by men, and gender bias continues to block opportunities in workplaces, politics, and communities.
She believes that better government policies and institutional support are needed to bring more young women into the tech field.
