At Icarus Media Group, our mission is to empower individuals through transformative content. We are committed to bridging information gaps and fostering positive social change in Myanmar and beyond.
Lachmi Baniya - Co-Founder and CMO of Icarus Media Group
2024 WE Empower UN SDG Challenge Awardee, Asia-Pacific Region
Lachmi (Lach) Baniya, an impact-driven media entrepreneur, began her journey in 2013 at the age of 21, driven by vision and determination. Growing up under Myanmar’s censored public education system, she understood the transformative power of information. When the country welcomed its first-ever democratic government and telecom access surged, Baniya saw an opportunity to harness this newfound connectivity. She set out to build digital media products on a bootstrapped budget to inspire change and empower communities.
In the last 11 years, under Baniya’s leadership, Icarus Media Group has evolved into a multifaceted organization with three key pillars:
- Icarus Media: A social enterprise focusing on media development that comprises five digital media products – each embodying a social-first ethos, reaching 11 million monthly in Myanmar. GandaWin Magazine and GandaWin Telly educate, empower and provide insights for girls to transition into self-leading women, while GandaWin Learn™ is an e-learning platform to promote career advancement and holistic wellbeing courses. Parenting Lab supports emotional wellbeing for parents, children and educators, and Bar Nyar Tha YaKar focuses on men's mental health, fostering an equitable community through mutual respect and understanding.
- Icarus Marketing: A social media marketing firm providing tailored strategies for companies’ media and marketing success.
- Icarus Collective: A 2024 initiative designed to steer creators toward ethical content creation and sustainable business models, amidst the lawless social media landscape of Myanmar where digital crimes are prevalent.
Commitment to United Nations Sustainable Development Goals
Icarus Media Group is dedicated to advancing the SDG 2030 Agenda through its suite of social-first digital media products, supporting several Sustainable Development Goals. GandaWin Magazine and GandaWin Telly empower individuals in Myanmar by promoting healthier lifestyles and gender equality, directly supporting SDGs 3 (Good Health and Well-being) and 5 (Gender Equality). GandaWin Learn enhances workforce skills with global expertise tailored to local needs, contributing to SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth).
Commitment to holistic wellbeing
Lachmi Baniya’s leadership at Icarus Media Group emphasizes holistic well-being, reflected in her passion for progressive policies, including paid parental leave, career development and upskilling opportunities.
Icarus Media prioritizes supporting their employees without losing sight of productivity, staying true to values of integrity, creativity and impact. This approach allows them to drive innovation and contribute to Myanmar’s future, investing in both their team, Myanmar community and beyond.
At Icarus, we believe in the transformative power of education infused with empathy and compassion. We're committed to empowering lives through knowledge that inspires and educates, fostering a more informed and equitable society, one person at a time.
By Grace Reiter, WE Empower Intern