Bringing Ideas to Life

Areesha Aslam is a final-year business student at IBA University and founder of Vioris Jewels. She is a member of Pk team 22, winners of the SSCCA Climate Tank Accelerator. Areesha also represented Pakistan in the U.S. for work on sustainable water solutions. This inspiring student is also our featured writer this month, who you can check out in our December issue of En Root. Enjoy learning more about Areesha in our Q+A below!

This month's theme is all about bringing your idea to life. Tell us how this theme has played a role in your personal or professional life.

I've always been a dreamer. I've dreamt of opening my own ecommerce store, owning a jewelry store, and starting my own business. However, I was never the doer who would be courageous enough to take the first step because in my mind, the road ahead was hazy and I could potentially trip. But last year, I randomly went with my sister to the market and bought raw material for jewelry-making and here I am, the owner of Vioris Jewels, a beaded jewelry business.

This experience taught me that bringing an idea to life isn’t about having all the answers at the start—it’s about starting anyway, staying curious, surrounding yourself with the right people, and learning through every setback.

At OutGrowth, we believe in designing the space and time to reimagine the path forward. How do you think that a commitment to designing novel solutions can help us to see our futures differently?

The Design Thinking approach not only helps us reimagine the ways in which a simple product could be used but it also helps us look beyond conventional paths and shift our perspective. When I joined the climate tank accelerator, I had no scientific background, but once I let my curiosity wander, that is when I stumbled across wetlands. Wetlands aren’t new—thousands of people know far more about them than I do. But sometimes, it’s not about how much you know—it’s about whether you can connect that knowledge to a meaningful solution. In my case, it was about seeing an old idea in a new way and applying it to help clean Karachi’s rivers.

What is one competency or skill you hope to develop in 2025?

I hope to equip myself with knowledge about emerging trends and learn how to adapt to the rapid advancements in AI. Our manager often reminds us to question every task: Can this be done by AI? If the answer is yes, then we must focus on working smarter. AI can organize and display data, but if you don’t know how to read and interpret it, you’re already behind. That advice stuck with me. Moving forward, I want to develop stronger critical thinking and problem-solving skills. I’ve realized that I sometimes jump into tasks without thinking them through, which can lead to wasted time and effort. Building these skills will not only help me work more effectively, but also make me more adaptable in a tech-driven world.

What inspires you?

People inspire me. I've noticed this multiple times that my mind works better when I'm surrounded by people who have positive energy and a growth mindset. Productive gatherings leave me with creative ideas.

At OutGrowth, we believe in preparing the next generation of leaders. What is one resource you'd recommend to those looking to carve out the time for growth in the next year?

Can't Hurt Me by David Goggins because I've always been a big fan of Kolbe Bryant and David Goggins, and their journey has been truly inspiring for me

The Originals by Adam Grant is also one of my favorites, as I've always listened to Adam Grant's podcasts and Ted Talks. His research and knowledge fascinate me, and I aspire to be this knowledgeable about my area of expertise in the future.

What's next? What are you excited about in the coming year?

I'm more nervous and anxious than excited as there is a lot more to prove. Our Floating Wetlands achievement landed us good projects with companies that need to be completed. Moreover, just a while back we received $4300 funding from Open Hands to execute our project in a rural site in Badin. There are still a lot of ideas in my mind that I want to execute in the coming future. I just hope that luck will be on my side during the execution and I wish to make my parents proud.