Faisal Chohan selected as a TED Fellow for 2009
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Faisal Chohan has been selected as a participant in the TED Fellow Program 2009. I dont have much time to explain this in detail so here’s the explanation of the TED Fellows program as well as Faisal’s bio as submitted for the program. Feel free to discuss it.
From Kara Swisher’s BoomTown blog at the WSJ:
introduction this year of the TED Fellows program, initially 50 individuals picked because of the “world-changing potential of their work.â€
They will be invited to participate in the TED community each year, and some of the fellows will come for longer stints to future conferences.
The fellows program is supported by the Bezos family, the Harnisch Foundation, private donors and Nokia (NOK), with additional in-kind support from Kodak (EK), Lightscribe and One.org.
According to the press release, the fellows program was inspired by TED’s Africa program in 2007:
“The TED Fellows program will focus on attracting applicants living or working in five parts of the globe: the Asia/Pacific region, Africa, the Caribbean, Latin America and the Middle East, with consideration given to applicants from the rest of the world….The program focuses on innovators in technology, entertainment, design, science, film, art, music, entrepreneurship and the NGO community, among other pursuits.â€
Said Tom Rielly, TED Community Director, who is responsible for the program: “TED will help them communicate their ‘ideas worth spreading’ to a much larger audience.â€
Given the troubles all over the world these days, we could all use a much broader perspective.
And here’s the submitted bio:
Co-founder of Pakistan’s leading on line recruitment portal (BrightSpyre.com). Faisal worked on a vision to innovate products entrepreneurial way. Faisal put foundation of Internet Business in Pakistan in 2002 and inspired others by promoting entrepreneurial culture in Pakistan for young technology people.
Moving forward he is working on customer focused web 2.0 solutions and tools for collaboration between entities who must communicate/collaborate to learn,earn,help and work.
Faisal grew up and studied in Pakistan. Belonging to a middle class family he studied in ordinary public schools and colleges to complete bachelors degree. After bachelors I decided to pursue careers in Computer Science even though I do not know to operate computers before that.
After the graduation, he worked for 2 years in local IT industry. During this period I worked as software engineer, developed and created hard core computer programs and CRM applications.But it was a usual and ordinary work that most people used to do. Then I put my energy,time and passion towards creating something meaningful, the local internet business, the local content of jobs and job seekers and the context for the local Pakistanis.
It was a real start up in a developing country with least possible resources and support. Our personal investment last only first few days and consumed in renting out space.Faisal worked as a core developer as my other partners were looking at the business side. I developed technology behind BrightSpyre and other products. Created product road map and brought necessary on time changes according to users feedback. He designed and implemented core components and worked with teams on product features and extensions. During this time he learned working long and extended hours, solving complex problems and ways to plan and execute in the complete product life cycle.
In 2005, Faisal moved up to the management position to figure out the ways to do right things at right time and lead the organization as entrepreneurial way. He developed long term consistent strategy, vision and lead the company in providing innovative products and solutions for local and international markets. During this time period, worked with long term commitments and extended the relationship with more than 600 customers. Consistently worked with teams to improve products and services and launch new product extensions.
During this time, team building, mentoring and coaching was the most consistent part of work.All of the above resulted in creating one of the largest electronic asset in Pakistan with more than 500,000+ users base. It brought meaningful change in the lives of people by offering them the tools and services to find right jobs one of the most important aspect of the lives.
He is a regular member to organize job fairs, the sessions to promote entrepreneurship, organized world entrepreneurship week in Islamabad, guest speaker at various universities in Pakistan.
2:46 pm
Bravo!!!! Bravo indeed! This is EXCELLENT news. TED is indeed a very unique forum and its great to hear Faisal has been chosen.
3:11 pm
Congratulations Faisal. No wonder, he deserved it.
6:07 pm
It is great news for Faisal and for Pakistan’s IT industry when companies like BrightSpyre get nominated on an international platform.
Congrats Faisal, we are proud of you!
10:31 am
Friend of mine worked at Cogilent/BrightSpyre but never received his salary!! After leaving the job he is still trying to recover his salary but no success!
To me paying your employee’s salaries is more important than any type of award or recognition, and surely the blame lies on management.
Shame of them!
10:32 am
Shame on them!
12:18 pm
Congrats.. I knew Mr. Faisal would do that.. He got the potential to bring the change for Pakistani industry – and people like that are the role models for us..
3:28 am
Shame on u all. I believe that Brightspyre had flopped till now.
What they did with its employees is disgusting. All old players have left the ground and the company have no one to support now. Even Faisal left for US.
Anyhow lets see how they manage the new born employees.
6:54 pm
Hasn’t BrightSpyre shut down? I heard they closed their office and are in hibernation mode due to financial difficulties?
9:27 am
Actually, Rahat and Bilal seem to know nothing about brightspyre. There is no need to start rumors and talk stuff with no semblance.
The company is growing and getting stronger by the day. And Faisal, went to attend the ceremony in USA to receive his award. He will be back later this month.
So my suggestion to both of you is to stop heeding to rumors and start being a bit more responsible with your comments.