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.
The concept behind the reunion was two-fold; firstly, to apprise Alumni of all the changes at the IBA and its future plans / implementation, and secondly, to discuss how the Alumni may interact / help the IBA to reach its objectives.
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 highlight of the event was the commitment of pledges for two units of Alumni Students' Centre worth Rs. 5 million each by the class of 1971-72 and 1974-75. Moreover, about a dozen Alumni pledged generous donations tos 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.
