‘Learn, Create, Lead’: Budding entrepreneurs learn from the best

Students of twin cities attend conference to hear experts

ISLAMABAD: University students from the twin cities got an opportunity to interact and learn about success stories from 500 professionals at an entrepreneurship conference on Saturday.

The conference, titled “3rd Annual Entrepreneurship Conference: Learn, Create, Lead”, was organised by the Entrepreneurship Development Institute in collaboration with Knowledge City and Discretelogix, and brought together around 2,000 students in their final semesters to learn tricks of the trade to mastering entrepreneurship in Pakistan.

Tauseef Abbasi, president of the National Youth Parliament Pakistan, told The Express Tribune that such an event was a great opportunity for students wanting to branch into entrepreneurship at an early stage.

He said in Pakistan students put in their own resources and exhaust their energy in initial years that could be avoided if they are guided timely.

Panellists highlighted challenges an entrepreneur faces in Pakistan while giving students an insight into how to tackle such issues. There was a planning and mentoring session for an hour and a half that allowed students to directly interact with their favorite entrepreneur.  “They told us about what they are doing and what we should be doing” said Saima Ali, a participant.

Abbasi said most students have to pool in their own resources to start their own businesses in Pakistan. While they struggle to make their mark in the market, they also suffer to compete with established businesses, he said further, adding that marketing products is also a challenge for newbies.

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf leader Asad Umer narrated his business experience and said everyone knows what the government should do and what the government is not doing. He added that young entrepreneurs had to think of what they can do and should do.

Reham Khan, a broadcast journalist, said institutions should be kept safe for investment. She said that as a nation Pakistanis are always looking for quick fixes to solve every little problem.

Shahnaz Kapadia Rahat, CEO of the Empowerment thru Creative Integration, said “When we talk about entrepreneurship we talk about a mindset.”

Mohammad Ahmed, another student at the event, said just by hearing others’ experiences, they learned how to streamline operations such as establishing a company to maturing it until its delivery. “Those who have been through the challenges know best,” said Ahmed.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 16^th, 2014.