Why I&E ?
As a research-oriented student of Engineering at Duke, I possess a strong desire to bring about positive changes in society by solving pressing problems using technology. This is mainly fuelled by the fact that I come from a developing country where the need for novel and more effective ways to solve problems like hunger, poverty and illiteracy could not have been more urgent. In fact, I have had the opportunity to witness the power of innovation even as a child - within my family. My grandfather and his brothers, refugees from present-day Pakistan, started one of India’s first food-processing and cold-chain companies at a time when the country was faced with dire food shortages and desperately needed agricultural infrastructure. Growing up in this environment, I was profoundly inspired by my family’s struggle to use their talents not only to earn money but also benefit their community. Now as an aspiring computer engineer myself, I have come to believe that a great way to use my skills and bring about any change I would like to see in society is to bring it about in the form of successful businesses. This is because, to my understanding, a new business generates not only new employment opportunities but also has broader social impacts by developing communities, encouraging self-reliance and fostering a spirit of innovation amongst people.
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As someone who wishes to pursue a career in the field of technology, I am interested in more than merely putting new designs on the drawing board or conjuring a great solution to a problem, I want to put that great solution in the hands of those who need it and can benefit from it. Insofar, I perceive this program as a way for me to get useful and guided exposure to the world of entrepreneurship while I am still in the prime of my higher education. Every I&E class I have taken so far has been an excellent opportunity to hone my creativity, critical thinking and problem-solving skills in practical and hands-on situations. Additionally, the exposure to innovators, venture capitalists and others in the field via this program is significantly helping me inculcate an entrepreneurial mindset. Being on the technology track, I see this program as a perfect complement for my ECE/CS degree, since it provide me with the tools necessary to leverage the enormous business potential that lies in my field of academic interest, and in doing so, help people get easier access to technology that helps them live fuller lives.