Amir Paracha

Yesterday, i had the honour of being recognized at my alma mater and I must admit that it felt rather strange to be celebrated. To be celebrated as a concept is quite unsettling, and to be celebrated in these walls – truth triumphs fiction. Especially because during my student days at IBA, I was “not exactly” the most celebrated student 😊

Steve Jobs has once famously said that it is only possible to connect the dots looking backwards. We have been told that hard work does pay off and my faith tells me that destiny is both responsible for and the connector of the odd dots that our life can be. I am often asked what gives success, I believe it may be 30% ability, 40% being in the right place and 30% making use of that place. I consider it far too arrogant to explain it only with logic – fortune, prayers of my parents, support of my spouse, peers, mentors and teachers has had a far bigger role to play than me.

Now don’t get me wrong. In case you are starting to question my merit entirely, please understand that I was, what is called a classic late bloomer. The preparation of this blooming may have begun at IBA, but it has continued since. In my experience, the best of education within this Institute comes not just from the grades earned at the end of the semester, but from the character building that I experienced during them.

A lot of people now describe the current state of the world as VUCA, they must have forgotten the IBA of 90’s during Dr Wahab’s time. The world, as volatile as it may be, IBA continued to stand resilient and open, come what may. Strikes, no transport, and sometimes actual shootouts – we learned to navigate everything and stay on course.

When I think about today and the future of this country and the leaders it is helping build, I sometimes wonder if we are helping the flame burn as bright as many had burned for us. I have sometimes been accused of toxic optimism, and idealistic patriotisms. Especially when I am forced to see even a leaking glass half full. Are there things that we see around us every day that knock the winds out of the most hopeful optimists’ sail? Yes. On those days that even if I must lie to myself and reason with myself – I tell myself to keep filling the glass – because I too drink from it and I too, am responsible for filling the glass. We have no choice but to be bullish about our country because we owe this to our youth.

And this wishfulness brings me back to theme – The IBA. The first of IBA’s journey back in 1955 were guided by the world-famous Wharton School of Finance and the University of Southern California, emerging as the house of the finest business graduates who went on to make great things possible. You did it then and you did it again just now by collaborating with Stanford University's Life Design Lab. IBA can be the institution that others look to for guidance and inspiration and helps Pakistan grow its talent.Thank you IBA!

Shout out to my IBA class of '96

Sometimes even when the same rules apply, it takes more to level the playing field - while Equality is the utopia we aspire for, Equity is the reality we need to ensure that everyone has an opportunity, everyone has access and the diverse needs of all groups are considered.
Today, in many of our workplaces, equality exists, sure, everyone can apply for the same job, everyone can aspire for the next promotion, everyone gets to sit in the meeting, everyone gets the same work hours, but what we need to ask is, does everyone applying for a job have access to the same experiences and education as the most privileged candidate? Does everyone aspiring for a promotion get the same mentoring and support to make it? Does everyone sitting in a meeting have the window and chance to speak up? Does everyone working the same work hours have the same level of responsibility within and outside the workplace?
The rules or design of the modern workplace are not designed in consideration of the needs of the most excluded or challenged groups - and this is why Equality isn’t Equal #EquityIs
There is a good need for mass personalisation and we should embrace this with a sense of our own conscience and responsibility.
Here is a message that aims to highlight the blind spots that we may miss out on in our bid equality as we move towards Equity.

#InternationalWomensDay #IWD
#UnileverForPakistan #EquityIs
#Unilever #UniquelyUnilever

Not a single eye left dry.

That's how we concluded the graduation ceremony for our Management Trainees or as we call them Unilever Future Leaders (UFLs) batch of 2020 yesterday. Parents and parental figures of our UFLs graced the occasion to celebrate their children's graduation.

It was deeply humbling and inspiring to hear the stories of our grads’ parents. This batch joined us during peak Covid times and navigated beautifully despite the challenges. I’m proud of how our amazing UFLs Muhammad Ahmed Jaliawala Zoha Akhtar and Sakina Azeem Qureashi persevered and are a source of joy and pride for their loved ones.

Much like a traditional graduation, the real power of the ceremony came from the presence of the loved ones of our UFLs, and in hearing from the leaders and peers who have been part of their journey, proving what they rightly say, it takes a village to raise someone and help them succeed.

The saying really hit home in the pride on the parent's and family’s faces to see their children reach this milestone. Mostly because the 2 years of their Management Trainee period that we see are just the tip of the many many years of journey their parents have taken with them to prepare, nurture, protect, enable and empower them towards reaching this moment of pride and hope. They are the true architects of this success and share the credit.

Being part of this moving experience was incredible for me and I'd like to wish all the best to our Unilever Future Leaders for the many great things they have coming their way in the future.

#Unilever #PowerOfU #UnileverForPakistan #Pakistan