Q. Share your professional background life journey
Ans. I graduated from Aitchison College, passing out as a Valedictorian-Rivaz gold medalist. I got my Undergraduate and Graduate degrees from the USA i.e., Cox School of Business at the Southern Methodist University (SMU) in Dallas, Texas. Ranked first in the MBA class I won the prestigious SEDCO prize.
Prior to HRSG I was CEO and Managing Director of Descon Oxychem and Descon Chemicals, both listed companies. I have also held senior leadership roles with FMC Corporation LLC in the U.S. and British Oxygen Group PLC in the UK. Having been selected 5 times successively as one of the top 100 CEOs in Pakistan, I am also a member of the Board of Governors of the Pakistan Society for Training & Development, including its President between 2013 and 2016. I am an advocate for women’s rights and was the Chairperson for the International Advisory Board for Women 2017 and the Chairperson for the Advisory Council of Pakistan’s Women Entrepreneurs Network.
It all started when I worked in a restaurant as a waiter and as a porter at a hotel to pay for my living expenses while at university. These seven years defined how I would approach life. It taught me about dignity of labor, resilience, grit and about being the best at whichever job we do. Most importantly, learning to fail, picking up the pieces and converting those to growth opportunities. I learnt about the value of relationship, trust and delivering on commitments. I was particularly fortunate to find exceptional mentors at FMC, Sumitomo, and British Oxygen, who provided me with outstanding opportunities to grow without setting boundaries. Those early years established the footprint for my life and professional career. I attribute my success to God’s compassion and His benevolence towards me, my parents and family.
Q. What in your opinion are the three key challenges for Senior Management/ businesses in Pakistan?
Ans. (a) Creating a strategic vision (b) Inspiring others and maintaining leadership responsibility and (c) Predicting the future.
Q. How do you define corporate culture at your company? How do you make sure that people live, act and breathe your organization’s vision, mission and core values?
Ans. Corporate culture is the shared values, attitudes, standards and beliefs that characterize members of the HRSG team. We encourage leaders to live the cultural values walk the talk.
Q. What are the top benchmarks for high-performing Senior Management who have created long-term value for their companies?
Ans. (a) How much value are they creating? (b) How well are they performing against their competition? and (c) How well are they performing against their peers?
Q. How do you motivate your team to achieve desired goals?
Ans. Providing the right culture, motivation and respect are the most important things. At our firm we treat team members as equals and listen to them. We have genuine respect for what they do and how they do it. Leadership communicates frequently. Celebrating wins, helping teams meet their aspirations and thoughtful development are the main ethos.
Q. What things would you not like to do?
Ans. (a) Avoid accountability (b) Lack collaboration (c) Be non-transparent and (d) Avoid taking risks that can lead to failure.
Q. How would you define leadership?
Ans. (a) Character. (b) Courage. (c) Compassion. (d) Humility. (e) Hope and tolerance. (f) Patience.
Q. Is anyone your greatest inspiration?
Ans. My parents are my role models and inspiration. They taught me how to live life and build a legacy of humility, service, and contribution.
Q. How does HRSG foster leadership at all levels?
Ans. 1. Keep an open mind and listen to our teams to get an understanding of how they currently view the firm and where additional leadership would be most valuable.
2. Provide opportunities to lead at all levels.
3. Flatten the hierarchy.
4. Create leadership platforms at multiple levels where people can take risks, win or fail, and be acknowledged for it.
Q. Any message/ advice to the younger generation of entrepreneurs, business leaders and senior management?
Ans. My counsel to young and upcoming leaders (millennials) is aptly expressed by Albert Einstein, who said: Every day I remind myself that my inner and outer life are based on the labors of other men, living and dead, and that I must exert myself in order to give in the same measure, as I have received, and am still receiving. So it is with my life. Pakistan is a great nation and we must accept the challenge of moving it to the next level where its contributions to the global community are respected and celebrated.
Q. How do you manage anger and stress?
Ans. (a) Feel your anger and don’t repress it. (b) Learn from your anger don’t waste it. (c) For stress, I turn to reflection, quiet time and prayer.
Q. Would you rather be respected or feared?
Ans. Respected. Respect can only be earned through visible behavior and never comes through rank, position or the size of the office or protocol. Feared leaders are obsolete and carry no value.
