Zeinab Shabbir Tinwala

MSc Business Psychology, 2016

What made you choose to study at Heriot-Watt?
I was on the lookout for a Master's Programme that entailed elements from the career that I was a part of, as a Business Consultant, and my passion for Psychology that had emerged over the years after I started working in the corporate sector. So, when I found the MSc in Business Psychology programme at Heriot-Watt, I was instantly intrigued. Once I learned more details about the programme and the subjects that would be covered, I was convinced that it was the right choice for me.

What's your favourite / most memorable memory of your time as a Heriot-Watt student?
The people that I met and the friendships that we formed were definitely the most memorable parts of those years. Most of us are still in touch and it's always wonderful to reminisce the old times - the fun times, the stressful times, all of them!

Tell us about your career since graduating from Heriot-Watt.
Since I graduated, I have gone on to become a Director and CEO at an international company. I formulate strategic and operational business and IT solutions for clients based in the UAE, Sri Lanka, Oman, Saudi Arabia, the US, and many more. I am also a Career Coach for freshly graduated students right up to individuals with years of corporate experience who want to take things to the next level. Additionally, I assist people in refining their CVs and corporate profiles for better job opportunities. I am also a University Lecturer and I conduct training programmes on Communication Skills, Marketing Strategies, Corporate Policies and Operations Management. The most interesting fact is that I have expanded my association with Heriot-Watt as well, as a current member of The Watt Club Council, which is doing amazing things through the Development and Alumni Office, to keep our alumni community engaged and connected across the globe.

How has your Heriot-Watt University education contributed to your success?
I have been able to practically apply many of the theories that we learnt and experiences that we shared as part of the MSc in Business Psychology programme. Our cohort was quite diverse in terms of the industries that we all came from, and it was really interesting to discuss the commonalities across each of our domains and how we could learn from each other's experiences. Everything that I do today across all my roles involves dealing with people with various personality traits and cultural beliefs, and I have been able to implement the knowledge gained throughout my time at Heriot-Watt to ensure that we can all work well together, even under the most challenging circumstances.

What advice would you give to your past self when you were a student?
This is an interesting one - looking back, I do appreciate the amount of passion and hard work that I put into my studies, and I wouldn't change that for anything. I guess if I doubted myself at any point in the past, I would just assure myself that it would all be worth it.

What advice do you have for current students?
Our world right now is at such an interesting point, with unlimited access to knowledge and information for people in most parts of the world. However, there are still those who are not as fortunate and have limited access to resources due to no fault of theirs. I would encourage the students of today to appreciate the opportunities that come their way and strive to develop solutions that would allow equal access and prospects to other students all around the globe - so that the world doesn't miss out on the amazing talent and intelligence that is yet to be discovered. I look forward to a world where higher education is not considered a luxury and all students are given the option to explore their creativity without the fear of failure.

What are your aspirations for the future?
My personal goals right now focus on scaling up all the activities that I am currently involved in. Along with everything else that I do, I will consistently be focussed on ensuring that the generations of today and tomorrow acquire a solid set of soft skills, so they don't miss out on their dream careers due to gaps in these areas. I would also like to continue to advocate for equal opportunity regardless of gender, ethnicity, nationality, and other such geo-economic factors. I do have certain specific goals in terms of certain corporate policies that need to change but that would be another discussion altogether.

Is there anything else you'd like to add? You can tell us a little about your own background away from work, family, other interests etc.
I am in yet another new phase of exploring my hobbies - they have evolved multiple times already because I tend to get bored quite easily. The one thing that has always piqued my interest is a good book/story, specifically in the murder-mystery or business-empire-drama genres - think Sherlock Homes, Sydney Sheldon, Dynasty, etc. I also enjoy kayaking and hiking when the weather is to my liking, and it is never a good idea to try and take a jar of Nutella away from me!