At the age of sixteen, Imran Aftab was preparing himself to drop out of a well-regarded Jesuit school in Karachi. Although he worked as a tutor to supplement his family's income, his father had struggled to find work for seven long years. The political situation in Pakistan was unstable, jobs were scarce, and it looked as though Imran's school fees were becoming too hefty to manage.
"The Bishop said he could go home and instead wanted to deal with me directly. He agreed to let me study for free—an incredibly life-defining moment, considering it was one of the best schools in Pakistan. It was a kindness that came with no strings attached, but made all the difference.
Today, Imran's commitment to achievement is driven by his desire to create opportunity for others to succeed, both here in the United States and back in his native Pakistan. He brings his scientific, engineering, business, and finance expertise to bear as the CEO of 10Pearls, a software development firm he founded in 2004. The business employs over 300 people in four offices—about 80 percent in Karachi, with the rest in Toronto, Dubai, and Herndon, Virginia.
Still, the job at AOL was comfortable, and these thoughts were initially theoretical. The idea of starting his own software business that sourced talent in Pakistan didn't really begin to take shape until a chance encounter forced Imran to articulate his purpose aloud. While flying with other AOL executives, a colleague asked a question about his background. "One of the executives said to me, 'Imran, are you from Pakistan? You seem normal. What's wrong with the others?' Oh boy! That started a 90-minute conversation which really refined and clarified for me the purpose of my existence," he recounts. Having achieved a great deal of success, Imran found that he felt called to give back. Just as the Bishop at the Jesuit school had given him a leg up, Imran set about creating opportunity for those still in Karachi.
Working in a small empty bedroom by the kitchen, this first employee always got hungry when Mrs. Aftab, Imran's mother, started cooking. Imran and his brother made a decision: free lunch would be provided for every 10Pearls employee in Pakistan. Twelve years later, they've never missed a meal.
Armed with inspiration, he didn't overthink his plan. He'd been inspired by a short video, called "Business Backwards," detailing a new strategy in which you work first and then make detailed plans later. So Imran sent his brother, Zeeshan Aftab, $2,000 in Karachi and asked him to join the venture and help execute on the vision. Their first employee served as a developer, designer, and QA while they got off the ground. Working in a small empty bedroom by the kitchen, this first employee always got hungry when Mrs. Aftab, Imran's mother, started cooking. Imran and his brother made a decision: free lunch would be provided for every 10Pearls employee in Pakistan. Twelve years later, they've never missed a meal.
True to that ethos, 10Pearls is working with one major client, AARP, to develop digital products for caregivers. Because Western nations are dealing with an aging population, caregiving responsibilities, especially among young people, are becoming increasingly common. A full quarter of caregivers are millennials, and that market is crying out for modernization. "These people demand mobile technology and digital tools," says Imran. "Why should they be on hold with a healthcare provider, when they could just be texting them at their leisure? Why could they not go to an online marketplace to find out the best nutrition provider, or a replacement caregiver when they're on vacation? How can they schedule a ride for mom and make sure she got there safely? How can they emotionally connect with another caregiver? In the past, all these interesting sorts of interactions have been done in person, on the phone, and in emails. Now, thanks to the digital revolution, there's all this great advancement. We're living in a world that's going to be virtual as well as physical, and we're going to see some amazing new opportunities as a result." Thanks to this vision and work ethic, AARP named 10Pearls their Supplier of the Year for 2016, a competitive award that honors companies that use technology to change lives for the better.
When he wasn't working, Imran played cricket and football, read fantasy novels, and devoted himself to his studies. He hoped to excel in school and ultimately land a scholarship to study in the U.S. The Jesuit school was filled with Imran Aftab competitive kids from wealthy families, and most of them aspired to do just that. But while many of the kids could count on financial support from their parents, Imran knew he would have to land a scholarship if he wanted to go at all. At age 17, he filled out the applications, submitted glowing letters of recommendation, and received some acceptances, but not enough scholarship money. He would still be expected to contribute $7,000 to his tuition, and he didn't have a penny.
It was a crucial fork in the road for Imran. He considered attending the local university, and even passed the exam to attend one of the top computer science colleges. But instead, he made a gamble and decided to take a job teaching high school chemistry, offered by the very same Bishop who had changed his life several years earlier. For a year, Imran was an 18-year-old high school chemistry teacher by day, and a tutor by night. He saved every penny, and the following year, he reapplied to school and received an acceptance letter and full scholarship to Bard College in upstate New York. He had applied for and been accepted into their Distinguished Scientist program, awarded to only ten students each year. Imran had to cover $4,000 in expenses, but with the money he'd saved—plus $1,000 from his father, and a campus job—he was able to start his life in the U.S. as a student at a small, liberal arts school.
But after some time in North Carolina, Imran began to have doubts about pursuing a career in chemistry. The lab work had become boring, and he didn't feel like his work was directly applicable to the real world. Most of all, Imran wanted to ensure that, when he came out of school, he'd be able to do more to help his family back home in Karachi. So he began looking at courses at UNC's Kenan-Flagler Business School, and decided to try his hand at corporate finance. Right away, something clicked. After years of study in math and the hard sciences, finance courses were a breeze. Despite having completed two years of coursework and a Master's degree, Imran decided to leave his PhD program with what's known as an "ABD"—all but dissertation. In 1996, Imran gambled on himself again and got a job stuffing envelopes on Wall Street, biding his time for a big break.
In 1997, Imran landed an interview with Chase Manhattan Bank for a job with the chemicals industry group doing syndicated finance. The interview went well, in part because Imran had much in common with the interviewer. "The guy interviewing me had a PhD in Chemistry. What's the likelihood of that?" exclaims Imran. "It seemed as if it was all scripted, right? He saw himself in me, and he could see the next steps I was trying to take in relating sciences and finances." With that, he landed the job and worked for Chase until 1999.
Imran's Muslim faith has played an important role in the development of his career, and that was not the first or last life-changing event in which he sees a divine providence. His next move was motivated by a desire to be closer to family in Virginia, and although he was reluctant to leave banking at the time, in retrospect he feels fortunate that he did. He took a job with MicroStrategy, where he began his career in technology. The company was hiring young people, training them in a kind of tech boot camp, and using them as consultants. For five years, Imran developed his familiarity with the tech world and continued to expand his skill set.
AOL solidified and expanded the skill set Imran needed to make the jump to executive of his own firm. Armed with his experiences in the sciences, in the financial world, in a business environment, and in the tech sector, Imran's solo venture was poised from the outset to achieve the success and potential it is well on its way to fully realizing. But Imran is quick to share the credit with those around him, including his brother, Zeeshan Aftab, who has been an instrumental right-hand man and partner. Imran also carries with him his father's humility and his mother's willpower. And his wife, Salma Naseer, is both a rock that grounds him and a compass that guides him.
"Rather than constantly working to make more money for yourself, work backwards and figure out what you need. Then figure out how you can use your skills to expand opportunity for those around you.