Nayab Liaqat

Vanderbilt University, Owen Graduate School of Management

“Architect-turned-consultant, blending creative design thinking with strategic problem-solving in diverse professional landscapes.”

Hometown: Islamabad, Pakistan

Fun Fact About Yourself: I have an IMDb list where I collect movie and TV-show titles, so far, I have collected around 850+ titles!

Undergraduate School and Major: National College of Arts, Architecture Design

Most Recent Employer and Job Title: Growth Levers, Global Technical Recruitment Manager

What has been your favorite part of Nashville so far? Why? My favorite part of Nashville is Centennial Park! It’s a great blend of history, culture and community building. I go there every week to walk around and experience the diversity of the city.

Aside from your classmates and location, what was the key part of Vanderbilt Owen’s MBA programming that led you to choose this business school and why was it so important to you? When looking at business schools, I greatly valued the competitive yet supportive culture within Owen’s MBA community. It’s not cut-throat; instead, everyone in the school is viewed as a valuable resource. The smaller class size contributes significantly to creating a more personalized experience for each student, fostering meaningful connections with faculty, staff, and the career center.

What course, club or activity have you enjoyed the most so far at Vanderbilt Owen? The Owen Strategy and Consulting Club stands out as my favorite club to date. The second-year members have shown remarkable dedication in ensuring a smooth transition for each first-year student into a consulting career. From informal coffee chats to structured weekly case preparation sessions, they have proven to be an invaluable resource for our professional development. Another club I thoroughly enjoy is the Culinary Club, which organizes fantastic initiatives and programming for everyone. Their highlight, the on-campus Hot Chicken Festival, was particularly enjoyable and showcased their creative approach to events.

Describe your biggest accomplishment in your career so far: As a recruiter, I observed a significant disparity between male and female applicants as well as hires within tech companies. This was particularly concerning because many women in Pakistan graduated with computer science degrees, yet not all of them secured employment. Moreover, those who did apply for jobs often gravitated towards roles in documentation and quality assurance, with limited involvement in hands-on development.

To address this issue, I proposed and implemented various initiatives. Initially, I launched a women-centric podcast where female developers from my company and I openly discussed concerns related to the gender gap in the tech industry. Following the same trajectory, I moderated an exclusive event for women in development, bringing together female professionals from different organizations to share their experiences in the Pakistani tech sector. The event highlighted the challenges faced by women developers in this predominantly male-dominated industry, fostering discussions on strategies to overcome these issues and create more inclusive workplaces.

Describe your biggest accomplishment as an MBA student so far? Over the last six months, my most significant accomplishment has been serving as a Recruiting and Admissions Fellow for Owen. In this capacity, I actively assisted the Recruiting and Admissions team in connecting with potential students, serving as a reliable point of contact for any prospective student with inquiries about life at Owen and Nashville. Additionally, I had the opportunity to contribute to the school’s virtual MBA session, where I addressed numerous questions, particularly those from international students and individuals with non-traditional backgrounds.

What has been your best memory as an MBA so far? The highlight of the past six months was undoubtedly the Holiday Party, where the entire Owen community gathered to celebrate the commencement of the holiday season and a thoroughly deserved break.

DON’T MISS: MEET VANDERBILT OWEN’S MBA CLASS OF 2025/