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HI, I’M IMTINAN AHMAD
Entrepreneur, Executive Business Coach & Consultant.
“A journey of a thousand miles
begins with a single step.”
" I have been there "
I remember often lying in bed, tears streaming down my face, sobbing into my pillow. Sometimes I didn’t even have the energy to cry, only to lie there feeling helpless and sinking deeper into the abyss.
My insecurities, low self-esteem, and mood swings became overwhelming, and I asked God why this was happening to me. So, one day I decided to stop grieving and decided to pick myself up.
" You Can't Do it "
My journey started at the age of 14 when all the doors were closed, I had nothing to start with, and I remember my uncle visiting us and telling me that “No, Imtinan, you cannot do it. Go out and find yourself some work and stop studying and burdening your family’s shoulders because your father cannot support you anymore.”
I took that seriously, Lifted myself up, I went out & started to sell crisps at Naz Cinema Rawalpindi, during intermissions. In those days, the cinemas were not as cool as the multiplexes we have today. I had to go inside the cinema hall in the dark, chant my vendor slogans to sell the popcorns and crisps. The hand of God was right on my shoulder at that time, and this idea went super solo amazing, and I thought, “Making money is not tough when you are dedicated.”
Furthermore, I invested my savings from crisps business & turned my focus towards selling the plastic bottles to the pharma companies for medicinal purposes.
I got enrolled in the intermediate, I made a formula for my success, and I bashed and told myself, “Imtinan, let’s make it work.” Well, I listened to myself carefully, and my formula was “Study, Work, and Positive Thinking.”
SMILE MORE. LIVE THE FULLEST.
" My Educational Journey "
I was not just working hard. I was also working smart. And guess what happened? I topped the board in intermediate, and I was awarded with Quaid-e-Azam scholarship. I wasn’t shocked that how I did that because at that moment I was making a plan for myself, I knew that I would surely achieve my goals, and with faith and dedication, a man can achieve anything.
After that, I joined Muhammad Ali Jinnah University, & got enrolled in the Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA Honors).
I was pumped, boosted, energetic, and ready to hustle. I listened to my inner beast, and he was telling me, I haven’t come this far, only to come this far.
I was the first in batch to start a business, earn from it and make a report on it & present it to my teacher and my teachers were amazed by this productivity and told me, “There is nothing stopping you Imtinan.” I loved his words.
Soon after MBA, I started my career in advertising industry and served some of the leading ad agencies in the country. Sales & marketing has always been in my blood, & I developed record business for my employers within the first three months of my first job.
Proving the Odds Wrong:
I decided to go abroad for higher studies, and when I was about to leave the country, my father told me that “I am the “Underdog” proving the odds wrong and taking a win from every battle I anticipate in.” This gave me more confidence because my father’s words are still worthy of writing on the Statue of Liberty.
I went to the UK, and I had no one from my family there, so I was on my own, but I had myself, so that was all I ever needed. Surviving in the UK, managing studies and paying for the university tuition fee, along with the living expenses was more difficult in the UK than in Pakistan. I did whatever best I could. At a time, I was doing 2 to 3 different jobs on rotation at a time. I still remember the day when I missed to wish birthday to my sister because I was so very busy with job shifts and when I called her, she said: “Tumhe hamari yaad bhi hai?”.
" My Entrepreneurial Hat "
I decided to take admission in the University of Manchester. The University of Manchester is the largest single-site university in the UK, and it was ranked as one of the top business schools in the world at that time (currently at 8th in the UK).
With an MBA degree in Marketing, and now an MSc. Degree in Marketing from Manchester Business School, the University of Manchester, UK, I knew I had to study a bit more and serve the marketing quest in me. I joined Chartered Institute of Marketing in the UK, and with hard work, resilience, passion, and dedication, I was pronounced as the youngest Chartered Marketer from Pakistan. I had everything going for me. I was a scholar of straight “A” student. I had all these big companies they were all lining up waiting to headhunt me to hire as soon as I got out of university.
It was time to get rid of all old jobs and migrate to graduate jobs. I started working for some of the leading names in the world soon after graduation. I served McCann, Bain & Earst, Horizon Finance, and Greater Manchester Chamber of Commerce.
At GMCC, I was managing the portfolio of insulation companies, and I was regularly in touch with them.
Most insulation companies in the UK were struggling with marketing at that time. I supported a few and shared my plans with them on how they can market their services better. These companies loved the plans to the moon and back.
" My Projects "
It was December 2007, when my true entrepreneurship kicked in. When I looked at my bank balance, there was nothing literally, I guess only £17, enough to pay for the meal for a day. Within mere 9 months, my insulation company turnover crossed £1 million with 84 employees and three offices.
Furthermore, I got recruited as a Marketing Consultant by a few leading organisations including the World Bank, Unicef, and Plan International. I launched my very first management consulting firm, i.e., DSI Consulting, which today, is a leading management consulting firm, research & training outfit. At DSI, we serve leading organisations, UN institutions, and various governments across the globe.
In 2013, I consulted leading gurus, marketers, and entrepreneurs in the field of digital marketing and spent a decent 5 years of my life practically doing it. I became quite proficient and exceptionally well in this field that I am learning in even today.
Later on I launched another company i.e., Mad Refinery Digital, a full-service Digital Media Agency, and technology outfit. At Mad R, we help businesses rapidly scale up their revenue by getting more clients via Digital Media and design, develop and innovate technologies that help individuals and organisations alike.
I am also heading the board at Skill Gains (PVT) Limited, an organisation that spreads knowledge to the digital divide. As of now, I am very much dedicated and focused on my personal project, i.e., AskImtinan.com.
I launched AskImtinan.com solely relying on making knowledge and guidance accessible to the people. My sole purpose is that people must stay happy & contented with their lives, and build a life and business they deserve.
At AskImtinan.com,
• I provide learning opportunities and courses to youth on subjects that the society doesn’t even talk about
• I provide mentorships to start-ups & entrepreneurs.
• I provide 1-on-1 coaching to people on business, and the life they desire.
• I conduct executive coaching sessions for CEOs, and heads on corporate concerns.
• I execute motivational sessions at various orphanages and chalk out their life goals.
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