Setbacks are as much a part of the journey as success. Perseverance is what truly matters. This quote, often attributed to former British prime minister Winston Churchill, said it best: ‘Success is not final, failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts.’
For a finance professional, any day can involve taking decisions that fall outside the comfort zone. That’s certainly been the case for me professionally. On a personal level, I pushed myself when I chose to move from Pakistan to Qatar in pursuit of international exposure and better career opportunities. On the professional side, I am broadening my skills by gaining expertise in the field of AI automation and working in close collaboration with our teams in the US and Korea. Overall, the experience has strengthened my resilience, adaptability and commitment to continuous learning.
A learning and growth mindset helps me to embrace challenges
I love the dynamic nature of my role. As a financial controller at the Qatar office of Bizexpress International, a US-owned financial software company, every day presents new challenges involving problem-solving, forecasting or compliance. It’s rewarding to collaborate with different teams; it gives me a broader perspective on business operations and helps me to grow. I believe in continuous learning and growth – it’s a mindset that helps me to embrace challenges, and keep pushing forward in both my professional and personal life.
I like being able to see the direct impact of financial decisions on operations, performance and long-term success. It is rewarding to help businesses improve efficiency, manage risks and achieve their financial goals, and my job lets me do that by analysing financial data and providing insights that drive strategic decision-making.
I have worked in diverse industries. They include textile manufacturing – my professional career began at threads manufacturer J&P Coats Pakistan – tea importing, utilities and vegetable oil processing, and each experience has helped me refine my expertise in treasury, credit control, corporate and financial reporting and budgeting, which pretty much sums up the whole of finance.
Audit work offers the chance to gain a broader perspective
If the right career opportunity came along in audit, I would certainly consider it. I do see the value of working for an audit firm – in particular, the chance to gain a broader perspective across different industries and deeper technical expertise.
Outside of work, I enjoy reading, especially fiction and books about technology and philosophy. I also like to keep myself updated with academic qualifications. In my last company I completed Harvard Business School’s Global Business certificate to support my decision-making abilities, and I am currently pursuing the chartered financial analyst qualification. I’m also learning new languages – Turkish, Korean and Japanese – via Duolingo and other language learning apps. Growth in any form is fulfilling!
