“Keep building, stay curious, and don’t be afraid to take your ideas global.” These inspiring words were shared by Honourable Mr. Martin Dawson, Deputy Head of Mission at the British Deputy High Commission, Karachi, during his recent visit to the Institute of Business Management (IoBM) on April 8, 2025. Mr. Dawson was invited by the Shahjehan S. Karim Incubation Center (SSKIC) to speak to IoBM students, start-ups, faculty, Deans, Directors as part of the inaugural session of the Entrepreneurship Industry Exchange Dialogue – an inclusive initiative under the UNESCO Entrepreneurship Education Network – Pakistan Chapter. The session was moderated by Mr. Raza Abbas, Head of SSKIC Incubation Center- IoBM. With over 31 years of distinguished service in the UK civil service, Mr. Dawson brought deep insights into international relations and entrepreneurship. He opened his address by expressing his pleasure at being at IoBM and commended the institution for producing innovative and forward-thinking leaders.
During his address, Mr. Talib Karim, President of IoBM, extended his gratitude to Mr. Dawson for his visit and for sharing valuable insights. He spoke about the shifting trends in global higher education, noting that more students from Pakistan are now choosing to study in the UK, Europe, the Far East, and the Middle East over the United States. The discussion between Mr. Dawson and Mr. Karim also touched on how programs like the International Baccalaureate (IB) can empower students and shape their global futures.
Mr. Martin Dawson, when speaking on entrepreneurship, stressed that successful entrepreneurs must be willing to take risks, learn from setbacks, and embrace change. Reflecting the UK’s 2035 development strategy, Mr. Dawson emphasized, “Investing in people is at the heart of everything we do.” He also highlighted the wide range of educational opportunities available to Pakistani students in the UK, including prestigious programs like the Chevening and Commonwealth Scholarships. He noted that over 1,000 students in Pakistan are currently enrolled in UK-based transnational programs, where they complete the first two years in Pakistan and the final year in the UK. Such pathways, he said, open doors to global exposure and career advancement. Mr. Dawson further shared his involvement with Teach for Pakistan, a transformative educational initiative launched in Karachi that bridges community-driven solutions with classroom practices to foster meaningful learning experiences.
He expressed optimism about the growing collaboration between UK and Pakistani entrepreneurs, particularly in areas like trade, technology, and innovation. Inspired by the enthusiasm and energy of IoBM’s students and faculty, he concluded with encouraging advice: “Keep building, stay curious, and don’t be afraid to take your ideas global.” Mr. Dawson also visited Shahjehan Syed Karim Incubation Centre and had an engaging dialogue with SSKIC start-ups. Mr. Raza Abbas-HoD briefed him about the SSKIC Incubation program, inclusive cohort program, UNESCO EE Net Pakistan Chapter initiatives. Mr. Dawson acknowledged the incubation center program for start-ups.
