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
King’s College London 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 ‘International Business Strategy’ and
‘Comparative Management’ 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 behaviors 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 King’s College London is popular for its cultural diversity and world-class teaching, 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 King’s College 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 King’s Colleges 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 King’s College through the translation of
my goals into reality.