COO Systems Limited Asif Akram

[_NOBODY_]

COO Systems Limited Asif Akram | TBT​

In conversation with tonight’s guest, Asif Akram. What was his journey like? How did he get his visa? Why did he choose computer science at the time? Traveling to the US! After he landed, what happened next? What was it like to study computer science back then? After college, what did he do? What was his first job? How did he obtain his scholarship? When did he return to Pakistan, and how did things turn out? How did he land a job in Abacus? What did he do there? Why did he go to Saudi Arabia and how did he get there? How was it like in Jordan? How did he end up in IBM? Why did he return to Pakistan again and what happened after? Why did he select moving to Islamabad over Karachi? After he arrived in Lahore, what did he do for IBM? What exactly were they doing? How did he come to be a part of Systems Limited? What is his role here at Systems Limited? What makes working here different? What were his thoughts on the processes here and how did he enhance them? What is the current headcount of the company? What is the ultimate goal? How would Asif address the supply-side issues? How does he envision the Pakistan of 2050?

00:00 Tonight’s guest: Asif Akram
01:09 Asif’s background
05:22 How did he get his visa for US?
09:34 Why did he choose computer science at the time?
11:39 Travelling to the US!
13:13 After he landed, what happened next?
15:00 What was it like to study computer science back then?
16:44 After college, what did he do?
17:33 What was his first job?
18:45 How did he obtain his scholarship?
22:46 When did he return to Pakistan, and how did things turn out?
24:46 How did he land a job in Abacus?
27:28 What did he do there?
28:45 Why did he go to Saudi Arabia and how did he get there?
32:32 Moving to Jordan!
33:22 Did 9/11 and the dot-com bubble leave any impact?
34:18 How did he end up in IBM?
35:00 Why did he return to Pakistan again and what happened after?
36:53 Why did he select moving to Islamabad over Karachi?
37:40 The 2005 October Earthquake.
39:39 After he arrived in Lahore, what did he do for IBM?
41:08 What exactly were they doing?
44:11 How did his career progress then?
49:37 How did he come to be a part of Systems Limited?
50:57 What is his role here at Systems Limited?
52:01 What makes working here different?
52:58 What were his thoughts on the processes here and how did he enhance them?
54:40 What is the current headcount of the company?
56:06 What is the ultimate goal?
57:35 How would Asif address the supply-side issues and how can we solve it?
01:09:37 How does he envision the Pakistan of 2050?

 

[Goenitz]

Anyway, don't want to listen to these things nowadays like Indian news, tech news, economic trends, business news, etc

The heart is not at its place.

 

[_NOBODY_]

Anyway, don't want to listen to these things nowadays like Indian news, tech news, economic trends, business news, etc

The heart is not at its place.

Don't be so pessimistic. The more problems there are the more opportunities there are to solve these problems and make money. So many countries were in a far worse position and now they are thriving.

 

[Goenitz]

Don't be so pessimistic. The more problems there are the more opportunities there are to solve these problems and make money. So many countries were in a far worse position and now they are thriving.

I know but you have to understand that security is the prime stone of any state, kingdom, etc. like Qul says "I seek refuge of Allah..." which means that a king's first duty to to safeguard his people/subjects. We need protection so that we can pray, trade, eat, sleep, invest, marry, etc in short live our lives in peace instead of spending time in a 'prison' state.

You can not flourish physically, emotionally and intelligently in stress, fear, depression, etc.

Yes, you can ignore, get high or concentrate on your career, path, aim, hobbies, ambitions etc but you will lose instantly all if lawlessness is in your periphery., and that will hit hard.

Its not just about army but how valueless lives are of 'children' of a lesser god. Like what kind of future we are providing to our children.

I am not depressed or anything but the point is these talks/subjects are 'irrelative' and the problem is very fundamental and we are wrong about it.

see this news

https://twitter.com/x/status/1718649384949227670

 

[_NOBODY_]

I know but you have to understand that security is the prime stone of any state, kingdom, etc. like Qul says "I seek refuge of Allah..." which means that a king's first duty to to safeguard his people/subjects. We need protection so that we can pray, trade, eat, sleep, invest, marry, etc in short live our lives in peace instead of spending time in a 'prison' state.

You can not flourish physically, emotionally and intelligently in stress, fear, depression, etc.

Yes, you can ignore, get high or concentrate on your career, path, aim, hobbies, ambitions etc but you will lose instantly all if lawlessness is in your periphery., and that will hit hard.

Its not just about army but how valueless lives are of 'children' of a lesser god. Like what kind of future we are providing to our children.

I am not depressed or anything but the point is these talks/subjects are 'irrelative' and the problem is very fundamental and we are wrong about it.

see this news

https://twitter.com/x/status/1718649384949227670

It is useless to focus on things that are outside our control instead we should be focusing on things we can control.

 

[Goenitz]

It is useless to focus on things that are outside our control instead we should be focusing on things we can control.

Sure, we try our best and leave the rest. It is just how can we preempt by projecting (taking all the above variables) and seeking new investment (country, political/social/moral views) accordingly.

In the end, it is just a grand equation. You don't know all the variables but want to calculate the solution. Not just for peace of mind but safety which is a basic need.

 

[_NOBODY_]

In the end, it is just a grand equation. You don't know all the variables but want to calculate the solution. Not just for peace of mind but safety which is a basic need.

During the 60s and 70s, South Korea was under a brutal military dictatorship and Vietnam was sent to the Stone Age by the US. During those times, did either of these places have any of the basic needs that you are talking about? The answer is no, their people got their sh*t together and made the most out of their resources. With all due respect, choosing to cry about things that aren't in your control instead of creating value from whatever resources you have is a loser's way.

 

[Goenitz]

During the 60s and 70s, South Korea was under a brutal military dictatorship and Vietnam was sent to the Stone Age by the US. During those times, did either of these places have any of the basic needs that you are talking about? The answer is no, their people got their sh*t together and made the most out of their resources. With all due respect, choosing to cry about things that aren't in your control instead of creating value from whatever resources you have is a loser's way.

Yes, they had the basic things which were a stable government, law and order, and investment security. See how overseas investment in property went to drain. How can one pull his sh*t together in such an environment? Yes, we can wait for the right time and conditions to change. Anyway, your example is not valid. Give me a reference that under such conditions as Pakistan, a country prospered.

Do you know that the Korean govt once took an international loan to support KIA motors as govt knew that the automobile industry is crucial.

That I am saying things are not under control so we have to move on from Pakistan as it appears to be a sinking ship on this path.