MBA

Profiles

Durdana Achakzai, MBA 2009

Durdana Achakzai has been a pioneer all of her adult life. At Pakistan's GIK institute, she was one of only five women in a class of 160 engineering students. After graduation, she was one of the first two women hired as territory managers for Shell in Pakistan – and one of very few hires without an MBA. In these environments, getting accepted is all about performance. "Prove to other stakeholders that you're there to add value to the organization and you'll eventually win respect," Durdana says. "Women just have to work a little harder."

Durdana is also the first Fulbright Scholar from Pakistan to attend HBS. "I've always wanted to go to Harvard," she says. When she was four, her father attended the Kennedy School of Government on a government scholarship. "When I decided to get an MBA, Harvard was my first choice. For general management, nothing else competes."

Immersed in a global culture

As a member of a Pakistani ethnic minority, the Pashtun tribe, Durdana anticipated significant cultural adjustments as she established herself at HBS. "First, I had to get used to the U.S., then the case method," says Durdana. "But the Pre-MBA International Program made such a huge difference. The professors and staff help you understand the case method through practice every day." That sense of welcome continued beyond the summer program into her first semester. "People here – from administration to faculty to students – are so accessible. At HBS, everyone's out to help you win."

Durdana has been particularly impressed by the international nature of the HBS experience. "I've been surprised by the cultural and geographical diversity," she says. "There are so many students from Asia, Russia, Africa and Latin America. Going to HBS is like traveling around the world to learn global business practices."

Applying a broad perspective to energy

Even though she had no plans to work in the entertainment industry, Durdana used her winter break to join the Hollywood trek. "It's important to know a little bit about everything in general management. The treks help broaden your perspective."

The Leadership and Organizational Behavior (LEAD) and Leadership and Corporate Accountability (LCA) classes have also shaped Durdana's perspective on the industry she knows best: energy. "The cases force you to think about complex ethical issues, especially in developing countries with few formal structures." After graduation, Durdana plans to return to pursue a strategy role in an international organization. "I want to grow as a general manager," she says. "I'm interested in how the business we do today affects future generations – how we ensure sustainable development for years to come." Durdana will spend her summer in New York interning with the Market Intelligence Division of NCR Corporation.