International School Dhaka (ISD) hosted its Alumni Entrepreneurial Summit 2026 on 30 April, where former students shared practical insights on building and scaling businesses with the next generation.
The event, titled “From ISD to Industry – Lessons from the Entrepreneurial Frontline,” brought together six alumni entrepreneurs for a discussion attended by students, faculty, and the wider school community.
The session was moderated by ISD Corporate Relations Representative Faresta Ali Mallick.
The panel featured Sturgeon Capital Venture Partner and Rahimoto Express Chief Executive Officer Waiz Rahim, Amlin Skin Co-Founder Namit Kabir, Amlin Skin and Latitude23 Co-Founder Mehran Kabir, Bare and Bloom Bangladesh Founder Alisha Labiba Rahman, Emerald Events Founder and Chief Executive Officer Mariha Quader Chowdhury, and Ardaman & Associates Project Engineer Nafis Jalil.
Speakers highlighted how early interests can shape career paths, with Mariha Quader Chowdhury recalling her involvement in student council activities at school that later influenced her career in event management.
They stressed passion as a key driver of entrepreneurship, with Mehran Kabir saying sustained interest in work is essential for long-term success.
The discussion also addressed challenges, including failure, with Waiz Rahim saying setbacks are a critical part of the entrepreneurial journey and require resilience to overcome.
Panelists emphasised networking, climate-aware product development, and the need to align business ideas with mass market demand in Bangladesh.
They also discussed the gap between academic learning and real-world business needs, urging students to adopt long-term thinking over short-term trends.
On artificial intelligence, the panel agreed it serves best as a supporting tool to improve efficiency, rather than replacing strategic decision-making.
ISD Director Steve Calland-Scoble said the summit reflects the strength of the school’s alumni network, which includes more than 700 individuals studying in 15 countries.
The school plans to continue organising similar events to promote engagement between alumni and current students.
