Hello Local Guides,
Today I am excited to shine the She Leads spotlight on @Trishatishu (Trisha Tahmina Aktar), a passionate academic and tech enthusiast from Bangladesh, now living in Tokyo, Japan. With a background in Computer Science and Engineering, she spent 7 years as a university lecturer and continues teaching online while working at Warabeya Nichiyo.
Her research focuses on IoT and digital image processing, and she has published multiple papers in these fields. Trisha is also a curious explorer she loves mobile photography, learning Japanese, contributing to Google Maps, and connecting with people through food and travel. From hiking with her husband to cheering for Federer and Messi, Trisha brings energy, warmth, and global perspective to everything she does.
When and how did you become a Local Guide?
I was introduced to the world of Local Guides through my husband. I noticed him actively contributing on Google Maps writing reviews, uploading photos, and building his profile. His passion sparked my curiosity, and I decided to start my own journey. My very first contribution was a photo upload of Mizumoto Park in Japan on October 23, 2022. Shortly after, I wrote my first review for Saitama Prefectural Misato Park. That moment marked the beginning of my exciting path as a Local Guide!
What inspires you to contribute to Local Guides Connect?
Local Guide Connect Forum is my place to talk. It is a medium to meet people speaking different languages. Cross-cultural knowledge, idea, rituals are shared. I get solutions to any problem of Google Maps from Connect. There are wise and experienced local guides whose writings and articles inspire me a lot to write too. Many unique and beautiful badges can be achieved, which also motivates me a lot.
What is your favourite type of contribution? Why?
Adding whether a place ensures accessibility. Opening/closing time is an important fact for me when we go somewhere. I always try to add the correct time. Adding new places, adding authentic pictures, writing reviews is my favourite.
How do you define leadership, and what does it mean to you?
Appreciating the work of another person, taking inspiration from there and starting your own, this is that person’s leadership. To me, leadership is creating a path for everyone in a positive, creative, meaningful, authentic, impactful, sustainable way. By following that path, one can reach their desired goal.
In what ways do you lead or make an impact outside of Local Guides Connect?
As a teacher, I counsel students. Especially mentally challenged boys and girls. They go through various challenging, depressing situations at this young age. To slowly get yourself out of that situation, you need a lot of mental support, it is very important to believe in your own capabilities and skills. Elaborating the right guidance and counselling to the young generation is also a challenging aspect, because they will be the leaders in the future. Mentoring about Pros and cons, Studying well not only for grading but also for your own development and up-gradation, how to increase your skills, making yourself presentable in front of the world, turning any failure into your strength, building confidence in yourself, all these things are very important.
As an academic researchers, I encourage all to make a contribution for society and community through you tech skill, researching on the vulnerable aspects of society. Create a system, apps, projects that benefit all of us.
The world is ours and keeping it clean is our responsibility. And those who keep the world clean are all leaders, and I am also in this row.
As a local guide, I have an invisible leading voice. Your written word, edit, contribution can have a positive impact on someone’s life, what could be more sacred than this? I am proud to have this invisible leading voice.
What keeps you motivated to lead and contribute?
When I become passionate about something for no reason, I do it spontaneously with whole heart. Research, Teaching, Tech & IT, counselling, Google maps contribution are included in my list of passions. I am growing with self inspiration and I contribute.
Who inspires you the most, and why?
Many people have inspired me at many stages of my life. My first school is my mother. She impresses me in every way possible. My becoming a person, my studies, my profession, everything has been possible because of her. Seeing my mother’s long hair, I also literally copy her. I am indebted to both my mother and father. My husband motivates me the most, he has all the support for what I want to achieve. My university professors encourage me. Everyone who has been on the Connect forum from the beginning inspires me. But @MahabubMunna gave me inspiration, he gave me the first idea of the Connect community.
How do you think we can inspire more women to be a part of our community?
1. If you do a promotional campaign school, college, university, you will know what the community is really like, what is happening here. We can exhibit the community’s features, activities.
2. Supports women entrepreneurs, can highlight women achievers, how they started their journey. How they overcame challenges, showcase them,
3. channelizing the road map for targeting the women who are actually interested in reaching them.
4. We can also reach volunteer organizations. We can nurture them where women work, ensure cultural & gender discrimination free environment.
5. We can do social media campaigns. Experienced, expertise women personnel can arrange session, webinar, workshop.
6. A Female Local guides group may reciprocate more.
Have you faced any challenges? How did you overcome them?
Initially, there was a problem while making contributions, the review, image would be hidden. I researched the guidelines and started contributing again. You have to maintain the authenticity, reality, and accuracy of the information.
I experience risk factors. Got messages come from spam and unidentified IDs for fake reviewers. The matter is very sensitive. I did not give any reply, I reported the ID. Need to take more awareness and safety measures.
Guidelines need to be given on the authenticity, rules and regulations of contributions, a clear idea is needed on how to make contributions.
What barriers do you face to contribute in community as a women and how do you overcome them?
I have experienced dominance. At the very beginning of the local guides journey, I was told that I don’t understand about contribution, and I got the views of contribution by luck. This platform is not for me. I got criticism. Even then, I did not stop contributing. Because I know no one can help you better then you. Then I motivated myself. I ignore those people and participate in various meet-ups, events, challenges. I am also posting regularly on connect with Google maps.
What message would you like to share with women around the world?
All the beautiful women, believe in yourself, on your own abilities., Be educated and develop your skill. Be the leader of your own voice. Spread your aura among everyone. Write your own story. Being a Local Guide and do remarkable changes for others, be an inspiration.
Trisha’s journey as a Local Guide is a beautiful reflection of her passion for learning, sharing, and connecting with the world around her. Whether through technology, teaching, or travel, she continues to empower others with her knowledge and curiosity. As she explores new places and cultures, she reminds us that every contribution no matter how small can help make the world more accessible and connected for everyone.
তাহলে এই টিপস টা আমার ওয়াইফকে দিতাম, তার চুল সব পড়ে যাচ্ছে বলে বেচারি চুল ছোট করে রাখে আর সারাদিন ডিপ্রেশনে থাকে মাথা টাক হয়ে যাবে এই আশংকায় 
