THERE used to be a time when visionaries were held in high esteem. They were considered great role models. What they believed in was enough to make people look up to them. However, times have changed.
Today, that kind of vision has turned into reality and role models are people who are idolized mostly for what they have achieved, not for what they believe in. From Gates to the numerous tech-billionaires — which have spawned in recent times —have caught the immagination of the young people across the globe in search of gains that are far from anything that was idealized not so long ago.
In this regard, Dawn Magazine caught up with some young professionals in Karachi and found out about their role models.
Nabeel Alvi
Programme Manager Scholarships
British Council
For me, Bill Gates is my role model. I am impressed by the fact that he stood for what he believed in and built his own brand, and in the process became the richest man in the world. He collected various ideas, put them together, and now he’s a successful man. It was his dedication and commitment that led him to build Microsoft and outclass IBM that was then the world’s leading computer company. By doing so, he broke stereotypes.
Amina Haq
Model
I don’t have a role model, and I don’t believe in one. I do believe that life without one is not an impossibility, and one should strive to make a role model of one’s own self.
Fatima Hasnain
Software Engineer
TPS Pakistan Pvt
My mother is my role model and though she passed away six years back, her hard work is now paying off.
True, fathers have a very strong role to play in a child’s development, but the actual mental and emotional growth of the young ones depends on the mother. I recall the time when I used to have my exams, I could see my mother going through the same anxiety as I used to. Unfortunately, then I was too young to realize her feelings.
My mother was a housewife and at every stage of the 19 years we spent together I found her standing beside me. At that time I thought it’s her duty and every mother does it. But now when she is not around I feel the void will never be filled. Even when she was really ill, her worries were for her husband and children.
It is said that time heals all wounds, but no matter at which age you lose your mother, you always feel exposed and cheated.
Nadia Siddiqui
Group Head Corporate Communications
Jahangir
Siddiqui Group
Being a girl who has grown up looking up to women role models, I would say that Benazir Bhutto and Maliha Lodhi are two people who I look up to.
Nothing political, it’s just that when Benazir became the first female prime minister of a Muslim country, it broke a number of stereotypes in a patriarchal society.
And then there’s Maliha Lodhi, how she ably looked after Pakistan’s interests during the critical period of 9/11, as Pakistan’s ambassador to America was something that really showed to the world that women are as good, if not better, as men. I also believe that a woman is traditionally a diplomat.
Irfan Aamir
Director
O2 Communications
Hope always inspires me. If you follow the trail of successful people, you’ll find out that all that you have to do is do the things right and you’ll succeed.
Believing in what you do, having faith in your ideas is more important. I believe that a role model is the end result of all that. You’ll find one thing common in all successful people in the world, whether it is Andy Groove or Michael Dell. And that is that they started small, believed in something strongly and said, “Yes, it’s doable”. Bill Gates believed in something that he could do and you have Microsoft.
But along the way you also have to be nice to people who you work with. Bill Gates is not the only billionaire in Microsoft. There are a whole bunch of millionaires as well. It also shows that teamwork is important to any success story too.
Mustansir Salim
Area Sales Manager
UniLever Best Foods
For me, I would say, it is my father. He was a businessman and though he passed away when I was just 12 years old, his lessons have really helped me succeed in my career. I learnt a lot of thing from him.
My father was also a selfless person who was devoted to his family. You see, family orientation helps you become a good team leader and that’s what helped me and is still helping me professionally.
He was a through, extremely professional person and whatever he did, he gave his best to it. His devotion helped me acquire a good business acumen. The way he dealt with people and his reputation that he stuck by his word, that’s what made him a good businessman and that’s what has helped me. I grew up seeing how dedicated he was.
Azhar Javaid
W.E. Financial Services
Research
Analyst
My role model is the late prominent lawyer, Khalid Ishaq. Though I never met him, but what I read about him really made an impact on me. In fact, I read, long time back, a profile of his. Then I was a college student and was not taking my studies seriously. However, in that profile, I read that he was an avid reader, so much so that he used to read on any one subject for one year and then on another the next year, and so on. The profile proved to be a beacon for me.
This made me start reading and accumulating knowledge and putting it to good use. That has helped me succeed a lot. And though I am not as voracious a reader as he was, I do take out time and read.
It is sad that I never got to know him, I would have loved to, because he helped me broaden my horizon.
Shakir Hussain
CE
Creative Chaos Pvt. Ltd.
My role model is Richard Branson. He made it from scratch, didn’t inherit anything and started from LPs. Today, his company, Virgin, is involved in every business that there is. From cellular services to airlines, he is really striving for success everywhere. Now that’s an outstanding success story.
THERE used to be a time when visionaries were held in high esteem. They were considered great role models. What they believed in was enough to make people look up to them. However, times have changed.
