Entrepreneurs of Pakistan
Nowadays, I see young kids being expert users of computer but when I was 13 I was reluctant to use a computer because I had a fear of breaking it. But gradually I too give in to the temptation of this cool tech and started exploring the different dimensions it offered. I encountered many bugs in the operating system and fixing such problems was what motivated me to join an Engineering College to learn more about computers and software. During the third semester, I attended a seminar where the speaker talked on information security.
“Living in Wazirabad for 20 years was an experience in itself. The sight of the factories, the craftsmen working day and night and the sound of steel always intrigued me. When I returned to my hometown after completing my computer engineering, what was just a fascination to me in my childhood years became my passion. I started researching and was amazed to find out that the knives, daggers and body armors used in Hollywood movies were made in Wazirabad. The deeper I researched, the more it caught my interest.
“Living in Wazirabad for 20 years was an experience in itself. The sight of the factories, the craftsmen working day and night and the sound of steel always intrigued me. When I returned to my hometown after completing my computer engineering, what was just a fascination to me in my childhood years became my passion. I started researching and was amazed to find out that the knives, daggers and body armors used in Hollywood movies were made in Wazirabad. The deeper I researched, the more it caught my interest.
“Living in Wazirabad for 20 years was an experience in itself. The sight of the factories, the craftsmen working day and night and the sound of steel always intrigued me. When I returned to my hometown after completing my computer engineering, what was just a fascination to me in my childhood years became my passion. I started researching and was amazed to find out that the knives, daggers and body armors used in Hollywood movies were made in Wazirabad. The deeper I researched, the more it caught my interest.
“It has been a bumpy #entrepreneurial road. It was blood, sweat and tears all the way. Today people enjoy Travly's service. They #love (and partially hate) the content we share on social media. It looks like a happy go lucky story, but it never was. The hard part was finding a mentor/investor that aligns with our vision and brings real value to the team. Gladly we found our ace at the right time.
“As an individual, I consider responsibility to my community as an integral part of my identity, and I want to share it with others so that we all evolve towards a more conscious narrative which is otherwise condemned to amnesia.”
Through my own initiative My Voice Unheard, I aim to combine design thinking approach and the new media tools through visual story-telling and self-expression to highlight the invisible voices in our community.
I am an only child, born into a typical middle-class family of Karachi. Despite all the negativity that, unfortunately, exists in our society, I was raised in a loving and supportive environment, molding me into the strong woman I am today.
I hold a BS degree in Economics and Finance from the Institute of Business Management. It was my father who taught me to be independent at an early age by confiding in me to represent my country at a delegation in South Africa.
Like every other student I was keen to work for a renowned organization after completing my Master’s degree in Mass Communication from Kinnaird College for Women, Lahore. I joined Pakistan Fashion Design Council (PFDC) as Designer’s Relation Manager and after three years I was Consultant for PFDC. During my time in PFDC I focused on building my network in the media industry. One major learning that I had from my time working there was feedback about PR agencies.
“With the right intentions, a supporting partner and a unique idea, anything is possible. All you need after this is some hard work and lots of motivation. We had the ingredients so we went ahead with creating a perfect recipe ‘The Rack Couture’, a plus size fashion clothing brand in Pakistan for the first time.
“Food is in my genes! I studied hospitality in Switzerland, worked in restaurants and hotels there as well as in Amsterdam and South Africa. I had a plan to move to Chicago but before that, I came to Pakistan to spend some time with my mother. It was during that time that I noticed a gap in the food service market. It was then the idea of Xander’s came into being.
Initially, my mother was the key driving force for me. She is a veteran in food business running ‘Café Flo’ for almost two decades now. She has supported me every step of the way.