Rewriting the Rules: Fearlessness Over Experience
I promised I’d be vulnerable, and this space is not about listing my resume or giving a formal bio. It's about being my authentic self and sharing my story. So, where do I begin? Let's start from the beginning.
Taking an Unconventional Path
One fun fact about me is that I dropped out of school after 8th grade. Yep, you read that right! My decision was fueled by the belief that I could finish my school and high school diploma faster than the pace set by traditional schooling. With encouragement from my parents and my sister, who had already paved the way, I decided to go for it. For my international readers, this is where terms like O levels and A levels (the General Certificate of Education from the Cambridge board) come in. I quickly moved through those exams and enrolled in one of the top universities in Karachi, Pakistan, for a computer science degree, while my friends were still in Grade 10. Was I particularly intelligent? Not really. But I was definitely driven, and willing to take risks. I figured, what’s the worst that could happen? If I failed, I could always try again.
University was an exciting experience. I consistently scored the highest GPA, and I eventually earned gold medals in both my undergraduate degree and my first master’s. It was a whirlwind, but the real adventure started when I entered the workforce.
Stepping into the Professional World
By age 21, I was done with my first master’s and found myself working at one of the Big Four firms, and by 22, I had been hired by the largest university hospital in Pakistan to establish and head their global cybersecurity function. This university hospital was massive, with multiple locations around the globe and over 10,000 employees. I learned so much during my time there, skills that shaped me into who I am today. I owe a lot to that place. But there’s so much to share, and I plan to break it down in future blogs.
For now, I want to focus on what it felt like to be young, fearless, and a woman trying to make her mark in a male-dominated world. I was incredibly fortunate to have a boss who trusted me and championed getting more women into leadership roles. But let’s be real, there were challenges.
A Defining Moment
One moment I’ll never forget. I was in a meeting when someone asked my age and then pointed out that they had more years of experience than I had been alive. Their point? I needed to listen to them. Bold and a bit fiery at the time, I shot back with a reference to Moore’s Law (the idea that processing power doubles every 18 months). I told them that in tech, it wasn’t the years of experience that mattered, it was staying current. What was I fighting for? Applying a very basic security control, which they eventually agreed to.
Staying Relevant: The True Measure of Experience
Here’s the thing: people value experience, and rightly so. Experience brings growth and perspective. But experience without staying current is a fast track to becoming obsolete. So, if you're thinking, “I don’t have enough experience for this job or that title,” stop. Go for it. Your attitude, knowledge, and life experiences could be exactly what’s needed.
There’s more to come in this journey I’m sharing with you and am on right now, but for now, I’ll leave you with this: Be fearless and take the leap. You never know what’s waiting on the other side.
Maliha
Disclaimer: The content on this blog and website reflects my personal experiences, perspectives, and insights. It does not represent the opinions, policies, or strategies of any organization I am currently affiliated with or have been affiliated with in the past. This platform serves as a personal space for sharing ideas, lessons learned, and meaningful reflections.
