A Guest Speaker session on ‘The Use of Social Media for Branding & Marketing’ was held on Friday June 07, 2013 in the Seminar Hall, Abdul Razzak-Tabba Academic Block at IBA Main Campus by the Alumni Department. The session was organized exclusively for the alumni and attracted a dozen alums from 70’s, 80’s, 90’s and early 00’s.

Mr. Hammad Siddiqui was the session facilitator. He holds 24 years of work experience in the private sector development, training, capacity building and designing and facilitating advocacy campaigns. He is currently serving as Deputy Director, Center for International Private Enterprise (CIPE).

As is evident from the topic, the session centered on how social media, once considered an informal communication channel, is now being used by business professionals and corporations all over the globe to promote and market their products. Some of the senior alums from the class of 70s and 80s who have started their own businesses were present on the occasion to advance their knowledge of using various social media tools to market their brands.

Attendees were divided into two groups; those who were skeptical of the use of social media and those who supported the idea of utilizing this media for constructive purposes. Almost all agreed that initially they were slow to respond to this communication medium and construed it as a ‘waste of time’.

Mr. Siddiqui explained to the audience that social media has changed the dynamics of how we think, speak, act and consume. Calling social media “a true manifestation of global village,” Mr. Siddiqui highlighted how we need to change in this ever-changing global milieu or be left behind in the race for survival.

The novel idea of conducting a session exclusively for Alumni was given by Muhammad Asadullah, Alumnus of 2003 who had attended Mr. Siddiqui’s guest speaker session to EMBA students at IBA.

The session was followed up by refreshments which provided a networking opportunity for alums from different sectors and industries to interact and share their thoughts.