Saima started working at the University of Amsterdam, The Netherlands in 2007 as a Scientific Researcher and Academic. Her doctoral research is based at the nexus of business strategy, technology and social value creation and resonates with her vision to make a meaningful, positive impact in today’s digitized world. Alongside her research pursuits, Saima is also passionate about teaching and has taught various Business Studies & IS/IM courses to Pre-Masters and Undergraduate students. She has also supervised several theses successfully.
Saima has presented at leading Information Systems, Business Management and Outsourcing conferences, workshops and doctoral consortiums in The Netherlands, Belgium, France, Italy, Switzerland, Canada, Peru and the US. Some of her past work has been published in workshop & conference proceedings. Saima is a reviewer for leading IS journals and an active member of the Association for Information Systems (AIS) USA and International Association of Outsourcing Professionals (IAOP), USA.
Passionate about using business and technology to drive social impact, in 2003 Saima founded Renewable Energy Design Solutions (REDS) in Amsterdam which is a knowledge hub and consultancy firm that helps design tailor-made sustainable renewable energy solutions for clients in the developing world. Saima is also the Consulting Editor and on the Board of Directors of Technobiz, an in-print monthly Science & Technology Magazine published in Pakistan.
Prior to her current work, Saima has worked in diverse capacities in the education sector and industry. Past key roles include Researcher at the PM’s Secretariat Islamabad (Committee for Research & Analysis), Consultant (International Markets) for Global Pakistan (Pvt.) Ltd., Quality Assurance Manager at the IT & Multimedia Department for an OPF education project, Center Manager at British Education & Training Systems and Consultant for an Aga Khan Education Services project, Gilgit.
In 2002 Saima graduated from the Hankamer School of Business, Baylor University, USA with a Masters degree in Business Information Systems for which she had won a graduate scholarship. Alongside her graduate studies, she worked part-time at the Baylor Collection of Political Materials (archives of Bob Bullock, the ex-Lt Governor of Texas) and was awarded a certificate of excellence for outstanding performance. Prior to this, Saima graduated from Quaid-e-Azam University, Islamabad, Pakistan with a Master of Science in Economics. Alongside pursuing her degree, she worked on a research project carried out by University of Hohenheim, Germany and QAU, Islamabad and funded by the DFG and the German Ministry of Economic Cooperation & Development. During her undergraduate years, she received the President’s Talent Scheme Scholarship, Pakistan. In 2000, Saima was awarded the International Teachers Training & Assessors Award from City & Guilds, UK.
Saima has always been very passionate about doing humanitarian work. In her college years she volunteered for various causes and was actively engaged in various fund-raising drives, e.g. for the Shaukat Khanum Memorial Cancer Hospital & Research Centre, Lahore and the Pakistan Red Crescent Society. She has some experience of organizing fund-raising events, for instance she headed the organizing team for a fashion show held at Islamabad Club in 1998 to raise funds for promoting vocational education in Pakistan. Currently, Saima is volunteering at a Dementia Care residential center for the elderly in Amsterdam and is also a Project Coordinator for ‘Serve The City’ Amsterdam, which is a global movement that provides support to the homeless, asylum seekers, elderly, disabled, children in need and victims of abuse.
Having lived and worked in diverse work environments across Asia, Africa, United States and Europe, Saima comes with the experience needed to navigate the complexities of cultural differences in multicultural global and virtual worlds. She recognizes the value of diversity and social inclusion and has a great deal of empathy and compassion, particularly for the underprivileged strata’s of society. Humanitarian work is a way in which Saima connects with herself. She strongly believes in giving back not only to the community she resides in (The Netherlands) but also to the country she belongs to (Pakistan). Saima is a strong advocate of poverty eradication efforts globally and is willing to go the extra mile with her vision, so that future generations can benefit.