Why did you choose to study at LUMS?

After spending 12 years in professional life, I decided to plunge myself back into the educational arena as a student to satisfy my desire to learn. I knew this would probably be one of the crucial and life-turning events of my life. Hence, I wanted to be careful by selecting the right university based on its reputation, ranking and research intensity, which was one of the main reasons to choose LUMS. The university ranked 131 in the world in the QS World University Rankings 2019, 146th in Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2019, and Top 10 in all 3 UK National League tables (The Times and The Sunday Times Good University Guide, The Guardian University Guide, and The Complete University Guide) and was accredited by AACSB, EQUIS, AMBA and the Small Business Charter (SBC), placing it among the top business schools across the globe. Moreover, it provides a good course structure, excellent on-campus accommodation, and a quality ambience to grow academically and professionally.

What was the best thing about your course?

The program extensively covers three areas - Entrepreneurship, E-Business, and Digital Technologies -  and how the interplay between the three drives innovation in business. To me, this was something I found quite intriguing and unique about the course. On top of that, it draws on the expertise of Lancaster’s Management School, School of Computing and Communications and the Institute for Entrepreneurship, and is delivered in partnership with leading technology companies such as IBM and SAP.

What/who inspired you most at LUMS and why?

My entire tenure at LUMS has been inspirational. Overall, I feel blessed to have got an opportunity to be part of this program at the prestigious university. The skills I imbibed here will be with me for a lifetime. The people I met here have become an integral part of my life. I will always be grateful to Program Director Juliana Sutanto and Deputy Program Director Amjad Fayoumi for continuously supporting and guiding me during my study period, even during the pandemic. The technical discussion, ideas exchange with Ioan Demeter from Huawei Technologies during the “Hackathon” and the Guest sessions were inspiring and motivating. And what more influencing than knowing and working with Professor Edward Truch, without whose support and guidance the consultancy project and individual dissertation would not have been successful.

Describe your time at LUMS in three words.

Memorable, Motivating and Challenging.

What are your best memories of your time at Lancaster?

There are many memories from the time I spent at Lancaster, and choosing the best among them is very difficult - Workshops, Hackathon Events, Trips to Lake District, Manchester, Festival "Light Up Lancaster", local surroundings and Scotland, to name a few. I will always cherish making friends for life who have become family and working as a Volunteer Responder to support the NHS and the care sector during the COVID-19 outbreak.

What are the best things about living in the Lancaster area?

The university has a sprawling campus and boasts almost all kinds of amenities one can think of - ranging from restaurants, coffee shops, grocery stores, sports centre, bars etc. Beyond the campus, the city centre and the surrounding area offer loads of options to let you enjoy your weekends or celebrate after exams. Its strategic location, proximity and good connectivity to nearby scenic places like Lake District, Williamson Park, Lancaster Castle and others make it even more delightful. Also, for those who like to travel and experience, major Scottish cities, Liverpool, Manchester are very close by and even London is not far if one catches high-speed trains. As Lancaster is a small city, traffic, air pollution and noise are also less when compared to bigger cities.

What impact did scholarships or funding have on your degree experience?

Scholarships helped me manage my finances well and made my dream of earning a Double Master’s degree from one of the esteemed universities a reality.

Which parts of your Lancaster experience were the best preparation for your job?

My prior work experience was always there to help me embrace the challenges of preparing myself for a future job. I had my work experience as my biggest strength and asset. But at the same time, I had to be on track with the latest and trending developments and expectations in the job market. My Lancaster experience played a key role here. Coming from a technical background, the numerous workshops and seminars in the program assisted me in understanding how IT can be used by businesses to gain a competitive advantage, open new markets, enhance relationships with customers and suppliers, and streamline many of the firm’s core processes and systems. The outstanding course structure helped me build a dynamic profile. I got my hands into a few of the numerous opportunities the university provides, even outside the course, to build and expand my personality. I volunteered to be an NHS responder to embark on my social responsibilities and participated in "The Lancaster Award" to showcase my participation in extra-curricular activities. The Award is developed in collaboration with employers, listing the new anticipated skills. I was accorded the Gold level award which enhanced my job prospects significantly. I will always cherish my learnings at Lancaster for helping to pave my professional career path.

What impact has your Lancaster experience had on your career?

I think it is the experiences and ideas that I was exposed to during the classes, team activities, seminars, workshops, consultancy and dissertation that had a profound impact on my professional life. During the course, I was very fortunate to have got a chance to collaborate with many great minds and expand my professional network to another level. The Lancaster experience has made me a “thoughtful leader”, and most of my decisions now that I take at my workplace are a reflection of that.