Leeds gave
me independence

With connections in Karachi’s business, technical and higher education sectors, Dr Nousheen Zakaria (PhD Business 2014) is a powerful advocate for Leeds, offering valuable advice to those considering studying at Leeds.

As co-founder and CEO of UK-based Out of Box Ltd, Infographics Designers and the Pakistan-based The Code It Company & CoSpace, Nousheen Zakaria is the driving force behind some of the newest and most innovative ideas and websites supporting clients worldwide. She completed her PhD in the Business School in 2014 but remains closely involved with the University – offering guidance to students and encouraging others from Pakistan to follow her footsteps to Leeds.

“I was the first person in my family to go to university. My dad was the real force behind me and inspired me to achieve my goals and dream big. He really wanted his daughters to study to a level where we could be financially independent.”

For Nousheen, that path was not always smooth: “After finishing my Master’s in Sheffield, I struggled to find a job as Britain was in recession at that time. I tried selling goods from Pakistan in the UK. It was a disaster.” She and husband Omar then established Out of Box Ltd, a digital agency selling software development, infographics and graphic design solutions – and spent everything they made on Nousheen’s PhD fees at Leeds. “It was a really important time for me,” she says. “The process of doing a PhD, the rigour, the critical thinking, the support of my supervisors all really impacted on me.”

As their web businesses continue to grow, she and Omar diversified to establish one of the biggest co-working office space companies in Karachi. “It wasn’t a well-known model at the time; there simply weren’t places where people could just come in and work.”

Nousheen remains a vocal advocate for the University and the Business School – and a powerful role model for prospective students she meets at recruitment events in Pakistan. “It’s a huge step to move away from your family and study abroad. It’s not just studying, it's as much about working part-time, buying your groceries, and making new friends. Getting that independence was a big part of my personal development.

“I was recently contacted by a girl who had heard me speak at a recruitment event. Her parents hadn’t been keen on her going abroad, but she said I was the reason that she went to Leeds. I guess I was an inspiration for her and I’d like to do that for others.”

Nousheen’s achievements have been twice recognised in the British Council Alumni Awards which showcase the contribution which overseas alumni of UK higher education institutions make in their chosen fields – and how this was sparked by their studies in the UK. And she spent time talking to current doctoral students, sharing advice on life during and after their PhD, on a recent visit back to the Business School: “Leeds is still special to me. It was almost like I had never left.”

Prospective Leeds students come from many different backgrounds and often benefit from talking to alumni who they can relate to. If you would like to support students from backgrounds which might be under-represented at university, we would really like to hear your story. Please contact us at: alumnivolunteers@leeds.ac.uk