Full-Time MBA Student Fatima K. Is Doing Whatever It Takes to Succeed

Fatima K. was always energetic and competitive as a student – very involved in extracurricular activities. By the age of 9, she emerged as a successful national-level swimmer, winning important national competitions in Pakistan such as the Sindh Open. Her involvement in sports enabled Fatima to travel all over the country. “My sister and I were selected to represent Pakistan in the South Asian Games, which unfortunately had to be canceled because of the 9/11 attack in the USA. I competed in athletics in India, but as I grew up I eventually gave up sports because of the limited opportunities for women in my culture,” she explains.

Fatima then decided to focus on art and design for her O- levels. In 2016, she studied design and earned a collaborative degree from the Ontario College of Art and Design University in Toronto, Canada, and the National College of Arts, Lahore Pakistan.

“I am passionate about art and design, both can be used to solve most problems of the world. What really interests me is the idea of sustainable design. This concept is where a connection to business is made,” she explains.

Fatima is a packaging designer for a new business, ‘Bliss Naturale’. She also heads her personal firm Blends, a design and marketing consultancy. She began the company in 2017 with the support of her family after returning from Canada.

“While managing to keep my company afloat through the pandemic, I realized that no matter how good a designer I am, I still needed to know the basics of business to make money. Even a design firm cannot work if all you have is design skills. That’s why I decided to earn a Master’s in Business Administration,” Fatima shared. She was excited to discover University of the People through social media in 2021.
“I was fortunate to receive a scholarship from UoPeople, but that’s not why I joined. The flexibility was the biggest benefit, my program is 100% online. This was not only a blessing during the tough Covid19 lockdowns, but helped me juggle my job and business while studying,” she adds.

Despite the fact that UoPeople classes are 100% online, Fatima is very connected to her classmates. “I love the global community of learners at UoPeople and have made friends. My most interesting friend so far is Peter, who is trying to publish a book just like me.”

How does Fatima manage work, a social life, and completing her education? “I compartmentalize my day to do the best I can as a student, a boss, and an employee. I also believe that a supportive environment is key. I have some family obligations, but everyone understands that I need their support,” she says with a bright smile.

Fatima’s vision for the future is to make her company a global business. “I will do whatever it takes to make Blends a multinational design firm. My education is helping me develop strategies to put my plan into action. I would also love to collaborate with other innovative brands or companies after graduating from University of the People. I have faith that my ambition will be supported by the skills and knowledge I acquire through my education,” she says with passion.