How we got here
Hey there, I no longer worry about finances and live on my terms - but it took a while to get there.
Born in Hong Kong
Hong Kong
I grew up in a multicultural city that encouraged curiosity and independence, though teachers often said I daydreamed. I discovered an early love for art and ideas.
Moved to Karachi
Pakistan
A jarring cultural shift. I struggled to catch up, study, and pass within a rigid education system but learned adaptability and empathy for misfits.
Dropped out of A’ Levels
Pakistan
My academic struggles continued. I left A’ Levels midway and tried to follow expectations and “be domestic”, but felt a quiet pull towards something larger.
Found my footing in learning again
Pakistan
I enrolled in a long-distance degree with Curtin University and excelled academically for the first
time. Financial struggles deepened my sense of responsibility.
First steps into work
Pakistan
I started at Shell on a contract earning USD 308 per month. I frequently switched companies, eventually joining Citibank and managing a small team in service quality while supporting my family financially.
The Epiphany
Pakistan
I realised I wanted more independence, wealth, global exposure, and a chance to test myself beyond Pakistan.
Moved to Singapore
Singapore
I arrived with USD 1,200 to my name and joined Oracle in sales , a major leap of faith that tested
my resilience. The transition was tough; I struggled, felt miserable, and had to harden myself to survive the ruthless environment and demands of sales.
Tableau, Singapore
Singapore
I joined the sales team at Tableau supporting the ANZ market and experienced what a healthy, empowering workplace culture could feel like.
Joined Sprinklr, Singapore
Singapore
I took on a field sales role to gain regional exposure and a more demanding challenge.
Moved to Dubai
Dubai
I relocated with Sprinklr to be closer to my ageing parents while continuing to build my corporate sales career.
The pandemic years
Dubai
I was confined at home, working relentlessly, exceeding quota, and earning President’s Club.
Exhaustion quietly set in.
The hangover begins
Dubai
As restrictions eased, the emotional cost surfaced: social anxiety, isolation, and personal loss.
The disconnection deepens
Dubai
Work no longer felt purposeful. Overwhelm and disengagement grew, performance wavered,
and I was placed on a performance improvement plan.
The inward turn
Dubai
I sought professional help and began confronting burnout directly, the first honest conversation in years. In those moments of reflection, I began to see the deeper patterns of agency, alignment, and self-leadership emerging, though I didn’t yet have the language for it.
The idea of Selfternity™ was born.
The turning point
Dubai
After 19 years in high-pressure roles, I chose to step away from corporate life. Overwhelm and loss of agency and identity became the signal for change and reflection.
Seeds of Selfternity™
Dubai
Began shaping my lived experience into what would become Selfternity™ , a framework for structured reset and personal recalibration.
Co-founds NYC Scale & Early Investments
Dubai
I co-founded NYC Scale to help startups grow sustainably. Made early-stage investments in Fathom and Imtellect, backing purpose-driven innovation. I briefly considered returning to corporate, but chose alignment over security, a defining act of self-leadership.
Today
Dubai
I continue building the Selfternity movement and have adapted its principles into the 7.3 Self-Leadership Workshop for organisations , bringing agency and self-leadership to teams worldwide.
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