Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Faiza Yousuf. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Hi Faiza, thanks for sharing your insights with our community today. Part of your success, no doubt, is due to your work ethic and so we’d love if you could open up about where you got your work ethic from?
I get my work ethic from my parents. Growing up, they instilled in all three of us the importance of kindness, discipline, reliability, and a no-nonsense approach to life. As a neurodiverse individual, I’ve had to work hard to create systems that suit how I function, and the structured environment my parents created, along with their emphasis on honesty and always doing your best, gave me a solid foundation.
Now that I’m older, I value those lessons even more. I’m deeply grateful they invested so much energy into raising us with a strong moral compass, mental toughness, and the mindset to show up no matter the circumstances.
Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?
I’m a technology professional working as a fractional product leader for global startups and SMEs. Alongside that, I’m deeply involved in Pakistan’s impact sector through three award-winning initiatives.
I founded WomenInTechPK, Pakistan’s largest community for women in technology, with over 10,000 members and more than 100 global partners. I co-founded CodeGirls, a free coding boot camp in Pakistan and South Africa that has trained over 1,000 women and achieved a 70% placement rate. Additionally, I co-founded CaterpillHERs, an entrepreneurship and career accelerator that has supported 100+ startups, facilitated over 200 career advancements, and partnered with 60+ organizations worldwide. Our mission is to increase women’s participation in the tech ecosystem by connecting them to stronger career paths and business opportunities.
There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?
Ability to self-learn and read like my life depends on it. You can learn it by scheduling learning time in your calendar every week to spend 60-90 minutes on the project or problem at hand. Both structured and unstructured learning are good and have their place.
Being super organized and resourceful. Learn to take better notes and organize them. Use a calendar and learn to track your habits and progress on different projects.
Having the patience to stick with problems until I can crack them. When a project or problem seems overwhelming to you, learn to break it down and focus on one step at a time. Take appropriate breaks and never shy away from asking for help.
What was the most impactful thing your parents did for you?
The most impactful thing my parents did for me was to trust me to make my own decisions. That trust gave me confidence, even when I was figuring things out the hard way. It taught me to take ownership of my choices, learn from failure, and stay grounded in my values.
That early sense of autonomy shaped the way I navigate life. I’ve launched and run initiatives from the ground up, explored multiple professions, and taken risks, some calculated and others more impulsive. But I’ve always chosen the road less traveled, and that mindset continues to define how I lead, learn, and grow.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.faizayousuf.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/faizayousuf/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/faiza.yousuf
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/faizayousuf/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/FaizaYousuf
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