six truths about being a tech entrepreneur in Pakistan so about five
entrepreneur in Pakistan so about five
entrepreneur in Pakistan so about five years ago I started my company called
years ago I started my company called
years ago I started my company called switch which is a mobile solutions
switch which is a mobile solutions
switch which is a mobile solutions company and it was a function of both
company and it was a function of both
company and it was a function of both necessity as well as stubbornness
necessity as well as stubbornness
necessity as well as stubbornness necessity because I was having a really
necessity because I was having a really
necessity because I was having a really difficult time finding work and I say
difficult time finding work and I say
difficult time finding work and I say stubbornness because I was obsessed with
stubbornness because I was obsessed with
stubbornness because I was obsessed with this product idea that had already been
this product idea that had already been
this product idea that had already been tried tested failed and shelved
tried tested failed and shelved
tried tested failed and shelved so for months and many many job
so for months and many many job
so for months and many many job rejections later I decided to brave up
rejections later I decided to brave up
rejections later I decided to brave up and work on this idea of mine switch was
and work on this idea of mine switch was
and work on this idea of mine switch was born out of my parents dining room in
born out of my parents dining room in
born out of my parents dining room in the winter of 2012 and we launched our
the winter of 2012 and we launched our
the winter of 2012 and we launched our first SMS based employment portal in the
first SMS based employment portal in the
first SMS based employment portal in the summer after the idea was simple to not
summer after the idea was simple to not
summer after the idea was simple to not only connect job seekers to employers
only connect job seekers to employers
only connect job seekers to employers through SMS using mobile technology but
through SMS using mobile technology but
through SMS using mobile technology but to also give them enough information so
to also give them enough information so
to also give them enough information so that they could negotiate a fair salary
that they could negotiate a fair salary
that they could negotiate a fair salary know what the market Worth was and
know what the market Worth was and
know what the market Worth was and wanted to train them for a job interview
wanted to train them for a job interview
wanted to train them for a job interview the service little did we expect became
the service little did we expect became
the service little did we expect became an instant hit we launched it in
an instant hit we launched it in
an instant hit we launched it in partnership with the telecom network and
partnership with the telecom network and
partnership with the telecom network and within the first year we had over 1
within the first year we had over 1
within the first year we had over 1 million Pakistanis using and
million Pakistanis using and
million Pakistanis using and recommending the service to difference I
I had gotten a taste of the mobile
I had gotten a taste of the mobile revolution and I was hooked now when I
revolution and I was hooked now when I
revolution and I was hooked now when I look back I think all those hiring
look back I think all those hiring
look back I think all those hiring managers made the right decision of not
managers made the right decision of not
managers made the right decision of not hiring me but for a very wrong reason I
hiring me but for a very wrong reason I
hiring me but for a very wrong reason I say wrong because they mistook the
say wrong because they mistook the
say wrong because they mistook the enthusiasm and too much extent courage
enthusiasm and too much extent courage
enthusiasm and too much extent courage of a young girl as arrogance and
of a young girl as arrogance and
of a young girl as arrogance and glossiness and this is something that my
glossiness and this is something that my
glossiness and this is something that my headhunter at the time the gentleman who
headhunter at the time the gentleman who
headhunter at the time the gentleman who was there helping me look for employment
was there helping me look for employment
was there helping me look for employment told me the Daniel you’ve come across is
told me the Daniel you’ve come across is
told me the Daniel you’ve come across is too arrogant they think that you will
too arrogant they think that you will
too arrogant they think that you will not make a good team player and I say
not make a good team player and I say
not make a good team player and I say they made the right decision because if
they made the right decision because if
they made the right decision because if they had hired me I would still probably
they had hired me I would still probably
they had hired me I would still probably would have been working for them when
would have been working for them when
would have been working for them when somebody else was busy working on my
somebody else was busy working on my
somebody else was busy working on my dream so thank you thank you to all
dream so thank you thank you to all
dream so thank you thank you to all those HR managers out there who believed
those HR managers out there who believed
those HR managers out there who believed in my stubborn obstinate ways before I
in my stubborn obstinate ways before I
in my stubborn obstinate ways before I did this brings me to my first learning
did this brings me to my first learning
did this brings me to my first learning navigating the Pakistani tech space that
navigating the Pakistani tech space that
navigating the Pakistani tech space that a lot of us will enter into this space
a lot of us will enter into this space
a lot of us will enter into this space are a function of necessity and a lot of
are a function of necessity and a lot of
are a function of necessity and a lot of us who stick around are a function of
us who stick around are a function of
us who stick around are a function of our title who cares if you’re Daniel or
our title who cares if you’re Daniel or
our title who cares if you’re Daniel or Daniel so when I was first approached
Daniel so when I was first approached
Daniel so when I was first approached for this talk and I was being storming
for this talk and I was being storming
for this talk and I was being storming topics one theme that kept popping up
topics one theme that kept popping up
topics one theme that kept popping up was my challenges in this industry as a
was my challenges in this industry as a
was my challenges in this industry as a woman my learnings as a woman in this
woman my learnings as a woman in this
woman my learnings as a woman in this industry specifically with regard to
industry specifically with regard to
industry specifically with regard to sexism and discrimination frankly
sexism and discrimination frankly
sexism and discrimination frankly speaking the feminists in me would have
speaking the feminists in me would have
speaking the feminists in me would have loved to talk about it if only I had
loved to talk about it if only I had
loved to talk about it if only I had much to talk about either I’ve been
much to talk about either I’ve been
much to talk about either I’ve been super lucky or my experience has not
super lucky or my experience has not
super lucky or my experience has not been unique in any way that I haven’t
been unique in any way that I haven’t
been unique in any way that I haven’t really faced instances of outright
really faced instances of outright
really faced instances of outright bigotry from within the industry twaddle
bigotry from within the industry twaddle
bigotry from within the industry twaddle I’m sure there have been a few instances
I’m sure there have been a few instances
I’m sure there have been a few instances but I feel like a lot of them were
but I feel like a lot of them were
but I feel like a lot of them were rooted in my inexperience I came into an
rooted in my inexperience I came into an
rooted in my inexperience I came into an industry that I knew very little about I
industry that I knew very little about I
industry that I knew very little about I did not have a mentor
did not have a mentor
did not have a mentor I had to hit the ground running so all
I had to hit the ground running so all
I had to hit the ground running so all my learnings were learnings that I did
my learnings were learnings that I did
my learnings were learnings that I did not run and I feel like a lot of the
not run and I feel like a lot of the
not run and I feel like a lot of the discrimination if you want to say was
discrimination if you want to say was
discrimination if you want to say was because of my inexperience and anything
because of my inexperience and anything
because of my inexperience and anything else
else
else friendly speaking I feel like my
friendly speaking I feel like my
friendly speaking I feel like my enunciation into this text space has not
enunciation into this text space has not
enunciation into this text space has not been any different from Madani odd or ‘
been any different from Madani odd or ‘
been any different from Madani odd or ‘ in fact I tell you something funny even
in fact I tell you something funny even
in fact I tell you something funny even now like 50 times 50 percent of the
now like 50 times 50 percent of the
now like 50 times 50 percent of the times when I’m entering a meeting people
times when I’m entering a meeting people
times when I’m entering a meeting people are expecting to see a Daniel
yeah but rarely by the end of it it
yeah but rarely by the end of it it really doesn’t matter sometimes I close
really doesn’t matter sometimes I close
really doesn’t matter sometimes I close a deal sometimes I don’t but hardly ever
a deal sometimes I don’t but hardly ever
a deal sometimes I don’t but hardly ever do I feel that I’m being discriminated
do I feel that I’m being discriminated
do I feel that I’m being discriminated against because of my gender or because
against because of my gender or because
against because of my gender or because of my faith if you ask me exactly why
of my faith if you ask me exactly why
of my faith if you ask me exactly why that is I would probably not be able to
that is I would probably not be able to
that is I would probably not be able to give you a definitive answer
give you a definitive answer
give you a definitive answer and it’s actually baffling that in a
and it’s actually baffling that in a
and it’s actually baffling that in a country like Pakistan where patriarchy
country like Pakistan where patriarchy
country like Pakistan where patriarchy is etched in stone you have the IT
is etched in stone you have the IT
is etched in stone you have the IT sector which is so different and that is
sector which is so different and that is
sector which is so different and that is something that single-handedly makes it
something that single-handedly makes it
something that single-handedly makes it the best thing about this industry it’s
the best thing about this industry it’s
the best thing about this industry it’s exclusively inclusive services to
exclusively inclusive services to
exclusively inclusive services to products the path leads travel something
products the path leads travel something
products the path leads travel something that is very dear to my heart do you
that is very dear to my heart do you
that is very dear to my heart do you know that for the past five years
know that for the past five years
know that for the past five years Pakistan has been consecutively ranked
Pakistan has been consecutively ranked
Pakistan has been consecutively ranked as one of the least innovative countries
as one of the least innovative countries
as one of the least innovative countries in the world
in the world
in the world 113 out of 127 countries this year
113 out of 127 countries this year
113 out of 127 countries this year according to the global innovation index
according to the global innovation index
according to the global innovation index embarrassing right you want to know
embarrassing right you want to know
embarrassing right you want to know something more disturbing
something more disturbing
something more disturbing guess how much of our GDP do we actually
guess how much of our GDP do we actually
guess how much of our GDP do we actually spend upon research and development take
spend upon research and development take
spend upon research and development take a while yes
I wish it were 7% things would have been
I wish it were 7% things would have been a lot better we spend less than point
a lot better we spend less than point
a lot better we spend less than point three percent on research and
three percent on research and
three percent on research and development so it whereas you know the
development so it whereas you know the
development so it whereas you know the developed countries of anywhere between
developed countries of anywhere between
developed countries of anywhere between two to four percent so it doesn’t come
two to four percent so it doesn’t come
two to four percent so it doesn’t come as a surprise to me that Pakistan’s IT
as a surprise to me that Pakistan’s IT
as a surprise to me that Pakistan’s IT industry is still predominantly a
industry is still predominantly a
industry is still predominantly a services industry we are known for our
services industry we are known for our
services industry we are known for our BPOs we are known for our call centers
BPOs we are known for our call centers
BPOs we are known for our call centers we are known for achieve development
we are known for achieve development
we are known for achieve development costs and we are known for our clone
costs and we are known for our clone
costs and we are known for our clone startups and please don’t get me wrong
startups and please don’t get me wrong
startups and please don’t get me wrong here I’m not saying that being a service
here I’m not saying that being a service
here I’m not saying that being a service industry is necessarily a bad thing what
industry is necessarily a bad thing what
industry is necessarily a bad thing what I’m trying to say here is that if
I’m trying to say here is that if
I’m trying to say here is that if Pakistan wants to make an impact on the
Pakistan wants to make an impact on the
Pakistan wants to make an impact on the global tech space we have to invest in
global tech space we have to invest in
global tech space we have to invest in R&D we have to come up with our own
R&D we have to come up with our own
R&D we have to come up with our own original products we have to come up
original products we have to come up
original products we have to come up with the next Facebook or we have to
with the next Facebook or we have to
with the next Facebook or we have to come up with the next Instagram or if
come up with the next Instagram or if
come up with the next Instagram or if you ask me we have to come up with the
you ask me we have to come up with the
you ask me we have to come up with the next SpaceX
next SpaceX
next SpaceX and some of us are actually like working
and some of us are actually like working
and some of us are actually like working towards it like for instance what one is
towards it like for instance what one is
towards it like for instance what one is doing is groundbreaking it’s really good
doing is groundbreaking it’s really good
doing is groundbreaking it’s really good but I feel like we need a lot more
but I feel like we need a lot more
but I feel like we need a lot more response we need a lot more dreamers and
response we need a lot more dreamers and
response we need a lot more dreamers and we need a lot more crazies the spotlight
we need a lot more crazies the spotlight
we need a lot more crazies the spotlight wrap some of my friends are not really
wrap some of my friends are not really
wrap some of my friends are not really going to be happy with this one so I
going to be happy with this one so I
going to be happy with this one so I feel like the startup and incubator
feel like the startup and incubator
feel like the startup and incubator accelerator culture in this country has
accelerator culture in this country has
accelerator culture in this country has given birth to something very
given birth to something very
given birth to something very interesting a breed of entrepreneurs who
interesting a breed of entrepreneurs who
interesting a breed of entrepreneurs who thrive in the spotlight but
thrive in the spotlight but
thrive in the spotlight but unfortunately that’s the only place they
unfortunately that’s the only place they
unfortunately that’s the only place they thrive in getting a startup to succeed
thrive in getting a startup to succeed
thrive in getting a startup to succeed is an extremely difficult task but if
is an extremely difficult task but if
is an extremely difficult task but if you’re constantly being thrown in the
you’re constantly being thrown in the
you’re constantly being thrown in the limelight for your idea it becomes
limelight for your idea it becomes
limelight for your idea it becomes impossible and what’s worse is that most
impossible and what’s worse is that most
impossible and what’s worse is that most of us don’t realize how big of a
of us don’t realize how big of a
of us don’t realize how big of a double-edged sword this is till the time
double-edged sword this is till the time
double-edged sword this is till the time it’s too late you’re stuck you’re spot
it’s too late you’re stuck you’re spot
it’s too late you’re stuck you’re spot that spotlight is there because of your
that spotlight is there because of your
that spotlight is there because of your business because of its longevity
business because of its longevity
business because of its longevity because of
because of
because of success and it’s not going to succeed if
success and it’s not going to succeed if
success and it’s not going to succeed if you are hopping from one conference to
you are hopping from one conference to
you are hopping from one conference to another to another or networking from
another to another or networking from
another to another or networking from one dinner to another to another to
one dinner to another to another to
one dinner to another to another to another eight money can be the death of
another eight money can be the death of
another eight money can be the death of you um again I feel like I’m stepping on
you um again I feel like I’m stepping on
you um again I feel like I’m stepping on a lot of toes here with this one so
a lot of toes here with this one so
a lot of toes here with this one so Pakistan is the biggest recipient of
Pakistan is the biggest recipient of
Pakistan is the biggest recipient of UKaid and the third largest recipient of
UKaid and the third largest recipient of
UKaid and the third largest recipient of US aid in the world roughly in 2015 we
US aid in the world roughly in 2015 we
US aid in the world roughly in 2015 we got about one to one point two billion
got about one to one point two billion
got about one to one point two billion dollars coming into the country
dollars coming into the country
dollars coming into the country both these aid programs have multiple
both these aid programs have multiple
both these aid programs have multiple grant and partnership opportunities for
grant and partnership opportunities for
grant and partnership opportunities for innovative solutions that fit their
innovative solutions that fit their
innovative solutions that fit their goals and that is precisely where the
goals and that is precisely where the
goals and that is precisely where the problem lies their goals not necessarily
problem lies their goals not necessarily
problem lies their goals not necessarily us so until you are a company whose
us so until you are a company whose
us so until you are a company whose entire business model revolves around
entire business model revolves around
entire business model revolves around and the aid industry it makes sense
and the aid industry it makes sense
and the aid industry it makes sense otherwise I would say it’s a
otherwise I would say it’s a
otherwise I would say it’s a double-edged sword again
double-edged sword again
double-edged sword again if you you know if you start chasing
if you you know if you start chasing
if you you know if you start chasing eight money because unlike an investor
eight money because unlike an investor
eight money because unlike an investor who has a direct stake in the longevity
who has a direct stake in the longevity
who has a direct stake in the longevity and scalability of your business
and scalability of your business
and scalability of your business the most eight programs work on very
the most eight programs work on very
the most eight programs work on very strict KPIs for a limited period of time
strict KPIs for a limited period of time
strict KPIs for a limited period of time and after that time is over their
and after that time is over their
and after that time is over their commitment to your business might be
commitment to your business might be
commitment to your business might be minimal you are uniquely placed to drive
minimal you are uniquely placed to drive
minimal you are uniquely placed to drive a car tonight if so I was recently
a car tonight if so I was recently
a car tonight if so I was recently selected to represent Pakistan in the
selected to represent Pakistan in the
selected to represent Pakistan in the fortune 500 most powerful women’s
fortune 500 most powerful women’s
fortune 500 most powerful women’s program and while I was there
program and while I was there
program and while I was there interacting with all these powerful
interacting with all these powerful
interacting with all these powerful women from all over the world I realized
women from all over the world I realized
women from all over the world I realized that I wasn’t there because I had done
that I wasn’t there because I had done
that I wasn’t there because I had done something uniquely different or
something uniquely different or
something uniquely different or something that was mind-blowing I was
something that was mind-blowing I was
something that was mind-blowing I was there because I was an oddity an oddity
there because I was an oddity an oddity
there because I was an oddity an oddity from Pakistan there was a woman talking
from Pakistan there was a woman talking
from Pakistan there was a woman talking about startups and technology and not so
about startups and technology and not so
about startups and technology and not so much about child marriages and honor
much about child marriages and honor
much about child marriages and honor killings
killings
killings if challenged many preconceived notions
if challenged many preconceived notions
if challenged many preconceived notions some were willing to share them while
some were willing to share them while
some were willing to share them while others were existent but all were
others were existent but all were
others were existent but all were interested in my story and the story of
interested in my story and the story of
interested in my story and the story of many others like me who are not building
many others like me who are not building
many others like me who are not building bombs or who are not killing in the name
bombs or who are not killing in the name
bombs or who are not killing in the name of honor but are working on Twitter
of honor but are working on Twitter
of honor but are working on Twitter currency or are leveraging technology to
currency or are leveraging technology to
currency or are leveraging technology to connect doctors to patients I think it’s
connect doctors to patients I think it’s
connect doctors to patients I think it’s high time we start changing the global
high time we start changing the global
high time we start changing the global narrative about Pakistan and I strongly
narrative about Pakistan and I strongly
narrative about Pakistan and I strongly feel that the tech industry can play a
feel that the tech industry can play a
feel that the tech industry can play a pivotal role I do what I do because I am
pivotal role I do what I do because I am
pivotal role I do what I do because I am in this country I’m not sure where my
in this country I’m not sure where my
in this country I’m not sure where my story would have been same anywhere else
story would have been same anywhere else
story would have been same anywhere else so next time if you’re having a moment
so next time if you’re having a moment
so next time if you’re having a moment of self-doubt or somebody says that
of self-doubt or somebody says that
of self-doubt or somebody says that you’re too stubborn or too obstinate to
you’re too stubborn or too obstinate to
you’re too stubborn or too obstinate to make it remember this the nitrogen in
make it remember this the nitrogen in
make it remember this the nitrogen in your DNA the calcium in your teeth the
your DNA the calcium in your teeth the
your DNA the calcium in your teeth the iron in your blood the carbon in your
iron in your blood the carbon in your
iron in your blood the carbon in your apple pies were all made in the
apple pies were all made in the
apple pies were all made in the interiors of collapsing stars you are
interiors of collapsing stars you are
interiors of collapsing stars you are made of starstuff thank you very much
made of starstuff thank you very much
made of starstuff thank you very much [Applause]
”
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