In the tech world, where men have historically dominated business, the rise of successful businesswomen is a testament to resilience, innovation, and determination. These women have shattered glass ceilings, broken through barriers, and carved their paths to success.
Their stories are not just triumph tales of personal achievement but also a source of inspiration for countless others striving to make their mark in the business world. We look into the remarkable journey of Jehan Ara, a woman in the digital world, her achievements, the challenges she’s overcome, and the lessons we can all learn from her inspiring story in the corporate arena.
Jehan Ara’s Early Life
Jehan Ara was born in Karachi, Pakistan. She moved to Hong Kong in her youth, as her father worked at the National Bank of Pakistan. He was initially posted to Hong Kong for three years, but as Jehan expressed that her father had done such a fantastic job, The National Bank of Pakistan extended his contract for 20 years.
Disciplined Lifestyle
Jehan expresses that growing up in Hong Kong has shaped her into the woman she is today. She states that the importance of time and the discipline she learned was from the Chinese. Unlike many Asian countries, China has a considerable amount of women in the workforce; hence, being a woman in a country like China was no problem for Jehan.
Wish to Become a Doctor
Career-wise, Jehan had always wanted to be a doctor, or perhaps that is what her parents wanted her to be. Jehan describes that she cannot stand the sight of blood, which makes her faint, so she lets go of her desire to be a doctor.
Passion for Journalism
Jehan loved to write, and she kicked off her career as a journalist. Due to the timing issue of being a young person in China, her parents did not approve of the decision to be a journalist, and hence, that soon ended.
Got into a Shipping Company
Writing can get you anywhere; as Jehan describes, she joined a company where she attended PR for a specific duration. She was soon accepted into a shipping company, where she would take out newsletters. The company had multiple offices around the globe, and Jehan learned a lot about the industry during her tenure of three and a half years before shifting to Dubai, in the United Arab Emirates.
Life in Dubai
Jehan did not hold a work visa during her stay in Dubai; hence, she freelanced. Due to her father shifting there, Jehan worked for multiple communications and writing posts before moving back to Pakistan after a stay of 5 years.
Shifting Back to Pakistan
As Jehan describes, following her father’s retirement and shifting back to Pakistan was the start of her digital career. She was never in favor of working for a large organization, as she has no Masters or a Ph.D. degree, so she started working with a group of friends in Macromedia as a representative. Macromedia developed software for multimedia production, such as Dream Weaver.
Attempt to Become a Distributor
Jehan wanted to try to be a distributor for Macromedia, as she sensed that multimedia products would significantly impact the purchases. Since the early 90s in Pakistan, the company, especially the marketing department, thought interactive media would have no value. As Jehan describes, no one was ready to buy the product.
Launched Multimedia Products
Jehan, with a partner from Macromedia, started to develop multimedia products from the software Macromedia was distributing. Perhaps the product that brought Jehan’s idea into the spotlight was the Audio of Faiz Ahmed Faiz. They also developed a CD of the 50 years of Pakistan’s art. Jehan expressed that the entire domain knowledge was her partner’s, and she had no knowledge of Fazi Ahmed Faiz or skills, for that matter.
Joined P@SHA
After gaining enough attention for her multimedia products, Jehan considered moving into a trade association. She then joined P@SHA, which stands for the “Pakistan Software Houses Association,” which is a prominent and influential organization in Pakistan’s information technology and software industry. Her stay in P@SHA was about 25 years before the birth of Nest IO and Katalyst Labs.
Curiosity Coded Here Way to Excellence
Jehan guides young entrepreneurs to not wait for a big moment to act. Instead, she suggests trying things regardless of how many times they might fail. She believes that through trial and error, a person learns, such as how she learned video digitizing. She also suggests young people remain curious, as someone who is interested will only know something new out of curiosity. She is very curious and passionate about trying out new things.
Rise as a Titan in A Male-Dominated Digital World
Just like all the other companies Jehan had worked for before, P@SHA was also male-dominated. She describes how it is necessary to remove awkwardness between colleagues to communicate effectively.
Inception of NEST I/O
Following P@SHA was the birth of NEST I/O, a pioneering technology incubator and accelerator in Karachi, Pakistan. This institution was pivotal in advancing Pakistan’s tech and startup ecosystem. It provided a nurturing environment for early-stage startups, offering mentorship, resources, and networking opportunities to help entrepreneurs turn their innovative ideas into successful businesses. The Nest I/O’s acceleration programs were instrumental in assisting startups to scale their operations quickly by connecting them with industry experts, investors, and potential partners.
Founded Katalyst Labs
After six years of NEST I/O and leaving P@SHA, Jehan founded Katalyst Labs. Katalyst Labs was a technology accelerator where the company would find talented individuals with startups and help them reach a certain level. Katalyst Labs hosts events to raise awareness in numerous software and IT fields. The possibilities are currently being conducted in Punjab and Sindh, with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa being an area where they may work in the future. The scale of events in Karachi is what Jehan is passionate about.
Jehan Ara, an Inspiring Women of Pakistan
What Jehan thinks about leaving Pakistan is that they should go abroad and try adventurous things, such as the Indians did and how they are spread in various large-scale organizations. When comparing that spread to Pakistan, it is low. Jehan also thinks that the women of Pakistan are competent, and unless they are held back by themselves or by cultural norms, they can achieve a lot.
Conclusion
Miss Jehan is a heart inspiration for the women of your country. She has thrived to reach where she is today. Jehan Ara’s remarkable journey as a pioneering entrepreneur and tech advocate has left an indelible mark on Pakistan’s business landscape. Her founding of The Nest I/O and her advocacy for the tech industry showcase her unwavering commitment to fostering innovation and entrepreneurship.
Her enduring legacy stands as an inspiration, breaking down barriers and paving the way for a new generation of businesswomen and entrepreneurs to follow in her footsteps, driving positive change in the ever-evolving world of technology and startups.
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