21 WhatsApp messages and 2 calls. Three years ago, my friend and I had just started a small, e-commerce venture selling gaming consoles when we had this encounter with an irate customer. An increase in supplier prices compelled my partner to raise the PS4 console price on our website, ‘The Gamer’s End’, resulting in those panic-stricken notifications.
This domino effect cornered us with a dilemma in real time; we could either sustain our profit or preserve our reputation—we mutually decided to sell our product at a loss, honouring the commitment we made prior to the change. This became my first insight into profit margins, customer satisfaction, and the importance of balancing the two. Over the years, my experience in handling customer queries and managing product prices within our business made me register the importance of comprehending the core financial concepts.
Beyond this venture, I applied my communication skills to other extracurricular activities. In January 2024, I was awarded a shield of appreciation for my participation as a brand ambassador at Enigma, Karachi— a four day flagship event held at IBA. I crafted proposals addressing several companies, and conducted outreach to companies via LinkedIn, emails and visits. Through extensive networking, my hard work paid off, I was successful in securing vital corporate partnerships for the organisers of Enigma with three major companies. i.e, United Kings, Afeef Packaging and Darul Sehat. This brought distinct sectors onto one forum, fulfilling the healthcare, food and food packaging needs at the event.
Later, I assisted in organising a Blood Donation drive alongside other volunteers and healthcare professionals at Darul Sehat. I was responsible for the on-site logistics of this drive, I guided the blood donors to the site of collection and set up the equipment to make the donation possible. Observing altruism of the donors who donated blood without any personal gain instilled humility in me.
However, my journey of personal development hasn’t been linear. A central figure in my life, my beloved aunt passed away, losing her battle to cancer. Having spent the formative years of my childhood closely attached to her, especially since she lived in close proximity to my house, I succumbed to grief, I quit school to pursue remaining O-levels’ education privately. It marked a transition in my life, I was no longer a nonchalant child playing football at school with friends instead I was at home trying to process my emotions.
During this chaotic time, I discovered my constant fascination with connections. Apart from my personal experiences with people, this pattern extends into my academic pursuits. Through my lens, Finance is a language that enables businesses and people to connect, which is what further gravitates me towards this field. This degree will teach me the ability to conduct financial analysis. This skillset is especially relevant because Pakistan is a developing FinTech market with low financial literacy, where a high proportion of adults do not have a bank account.
I intend to use this degree to build Fin-Tech solutions which will bridge the gap between businesses and individuals by making digital payments and investing more accessible. I want to build a comprehensive platform that is not only safe but also addresses multiple financial needs such as payments, lending and investments in one app.
While the rigorous academics at IBA will be the stepping stone to build my knowledge, I believe that IBA’s collaborative student organisations such as the IBA Entrepreneurship Society and Finance Club will increase my exposure to the real world and expand my intellectual capacity. Being one of the top universities in Pakistan, IBA’s competitive environment mimics the real world where markets are dynamic and the stakes are always high— similarly, IBA’s curriculum is relevant to the current socioeconomic and cultural climate and is extremely competitive. However, unlike the real world, its extensive alumni network serves as a safety web for its students as they have access to their adept mentorship. I believe that this balance will allow me to reach my potential and help expand my horizons.
I look forward to joining the IBA community, where I can turn the lessons from my own business journey into a platform that gives Pakistanis the financial tools they require.