Among other great characteristics, an education at LUMS instils a passion for lifelong learning in its students. Inspired by this passion, and a common desire to create a bigger impact on the world stage, three of our alumni Sadia Khuram, MBA 1996, Saima Alvi, BSc 2001, and Muhammad bin Shahbaz, MBA 2007, joined the prestigious MIT Sloan Fellows Program in 2016, and have successfully graduated this year.
This global leadership development programme is a 12-month, full-time executive MBA programme designed to prepare an elite group of global mid-career managers with the management skills necessary to magnify their impact as leaders and innovators. Notable alumni of the program from over 80 years include the world’s most visionary leaders such as former UN Secretary General Kofi Annan, former CEO of BP Robert Horton and former CEO of Boeing Company Philip M. Condit.
Khuram, a senior telecom veteran, Alvi, a public sector reform and organisational change specialist, and Shahbaz, a consumer products sales and marketing leader, already had notable achievements in their respective fields, but yearned to do something more profound; to break the mould and reinvent themselves, to experience the future first-hand, and to get inspiration from the latest research on technology, innovation and leadership at the bastion of innovation that is MIT.
All three of these recent MIT graduates trace back their inspiration to make an impact in the world to LUMS, sharing with their MIT cohort from 34 different countries their life, academic and professional experiences and representing Pakistan. In addition, Khuram, Alvi and Shahbaz have been active LUMS ambassadors in Cambridge/Boston, reaching out and supporting the larger LUMS community in the region.
Khuram has already returned to Pakistan and in addition to continuing her corporate career, is actively seeking out ways to give back to the country by mentoring young entrepreneurs. Shahbaz is pursuing his career in the US in data analytics and digital transformation of enterprises. Alvi is exploring opportunities to further accelerate her career within the international development space and actively supporting building a stronger LUMS alumni community on the East Coast.
All three of them welcome other LUMS alumni to reach out to them for any relevant professional advice about MIT, the Sloan Fellows Program and/or the LUMS alumni community in the Boston region.