Growing up in a family of entrepreneurs, the business was a usual topic of dinner table

discussion. As a naturally inquisitive child, I was always keen to hear about the intellectual
business ideas being shared across the table along with the dishes; and all I did was hear,
observe, and dream big. The sound management knowledge and business acumen of my father
helped him tackle fiascoes, expand the family business activities across a wide spectrum and thus
set up business operations across many business centers of the world. Not only did I find it
exciting to hear my father’s comments on the ongoing business challenges, but I also loved how
he contributed a fair share to society by boosting the country’s economy. The fact that the very
business that took birth in a single room now employs over twelve hundred people, gave me a
strong impetus to follow my own dreams as well. Thus, it is fair to say that I gained invaluable
insight into the dynamics of international business from a very young age, sparking in me an
avid passion for business. 

By the time I was in secondary school, I had already become familiarized with the business
jargon and actively started participating in the intellectual business talks I grew up hearing. As I
studied for my A-Levels, my raw understanding of business matured and I became better in
understanding the complex business dynamics. In fact, I became more inquisitive regarding the
business and management strategies that could be applied in different administrative settings. I
also began hunting for solutions that could be an answer to all the administrative problems the
public institutions in Pakistan are facing right now.

My intellectual curiosity led me to pursue my undergraduate degree in Public Administration

from National University of Science and Technology (NUST). The interdisciplinary courses
offered in the program led to a paradigm shift in my vision; they made me understand the
reasons behind the current demise of the country’s institutions, and thus analyze the dreadful
outcomes my country has been facing in tremendous proportions due to inefficient management.
Courses such as ‘Organizational Theory and Design’ and ‘Human Resource Management’
allowed me to intellectually engage with concepts such as New Public Management that focused
on applying entrepreneurial spirits to the public services. Other courses such as Environmental
Policies and Politics developed in me critical reasoning and thinking skills while teaching me the
Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) of a business. 

However, the academic knowledge I gained from the course work was still not adequate and
therefore, I decided to start my own social welfare venture, Barkat. The main aim of founding
this project was to gain practical management skills alongside my undergraduate studies and
helping the underprivileged. This social welfare initiative focused on minimizing food wastage
by providing quality food to those in need. The project served as a turning point for me, as it
demanded strong coordination with different restaurants in Islamabad; quick management of the
leftover food along with its quality assessment, repackaging, and conducting food drives.
Planning this project made me execute business strategies, analyze problems, and thus increase
my personal and professional skills such as team coordination, human resource management, and
time management. It also created a sense of self-satisfaction and achievement in me. I felt a
sense of accomplishment by bettering the society and distributing a basic necessity, food, to over
a thousand people in the span of only two months. The genuine happiness and contentment I felt
during this venture instigated a desire to broaden my knowledge further and apply it on a global
level someday. 
It is also worth mentioning that apart from academics, I was involved in the extracurricular
activities happening around the campus. Being the Director Protocol at NUST Olympiad - the
biggest sports events organized by NUST - I had the responsibility of managing 58 teams
coming from all over Pakistan. Planning the event gave me the opportunity to apply the
managerial and communicative skills that I have acquired throughout my courses. 

With the goal to develop my professional profile holistically, I engaged in parallel pursuits to
gain more exposure of the corporate world. Due to my strong academic background I got a hard-
earned opportunity to get hired as an intern at the International Finance Corporation – World
Bank. My responsibilities here included the development of training modules for low-income
housing finance primarily; which assisted me in furnishing my interpersonal and professional
skills even more. My work experience has helped me get equipped with better communication
skills, and has given me a deeper and closer insight into the practical world.

Upon graduation, I joined Petroleum Exploration Limited as a Management trainee officer. This
opportunity has given me an invaluable and dynamic experience. My holistic development
throughout the years helped me enter the business world with a pearl of newfound wisdom; and
in a matter of couple of decades, the random ideas in my mind have transformed into firm
business decision. But this is not where I want my story to stop. With education being of utmost
importance to me and my family, I now want to pursue a higher degree in my field of interest
that would help further my career goals which include the realization of my own innovative
business ideas. 

I believe overseas education will help me expand my knowledge, develop a sense of confidence
in myself, and breathe new life in me as a person. MSc International Management program at
University of Leeds is the next stride I want in my journey. I believe the program will help me
gain skills through its core modules. Courses such as ‘Strategic Management’ and ‘Behaviour in
Organization’ will help me develop and implement high-level global strategies, and design
hierarchy and corporate policies. Other diverse academic courses would help me understand
organizational practices in a global context and help me discover international financial market
practices in different parts of the world. At the same time, the skills gained would help me
pursue my dream of providing consulting services, later in life, to institutions in Pakistan’s
public sector so as to optimize their performance, thereby contributing to the country’s
development.

Since University of Leeds is popular for its cultural diversity and top-class academic faculty, I
believe it will make a groundbreaking contribution in polishing my practical management skills.
The kind of global exposure I aim for is the most admirable feature that University of Leeds
offers. The University has a popular tradition for academic excellence and professional
accreditation; and that is enough reason for me to aim for it. The competitive atmosphere where
everyone works to his or her utmost potential in order to succeed is something I’ve always
aspired to. I am confident that University of Leeds quintessential environment and diverse
student body would enable me to see the world through a different lens. In return, I believe my
cultural background would be a great contribution to the school in creating an interesting student
body with cross-cultural experiences for everyone I interact with. If given the opportunity, I am
determined to bring forth further honor, recognition, and pride to Leeds University through the
translation of my goals into reality.