“A successful business is not built overnight. It’s about consistent effort, learning from failure, and surrounding yourself with people who uplift and challenge you,” this was the sentiment by Mr. Nazar Shaffee, General Manager, Brian Bell – Trade Electrical, PNG who delivered a guest lecture on August 1, 2025, under the Student Entrepreneurship Program (StEP) at IBSUniversity (IBSU).

The StEP hosted this successful session called “Crafting a Business from Passion – The Entrepreneur’s Journey,” featured a seasoned business leader with over two decades of diverse industry experience spanning retail, technology, aviation, and industrial supply. The event was facilitated for Year 3 and Year 4 students under the School of Business and Management.

By sharing his own entrepreneurial story, Mr. Shaffee shared five key takeaways for crafting a business from passion:

1. Turning Passion into Purposeful Business

 From his career experiences in global corporates like Microsoft and HSBC Bank to leading enterprises in Papua New Guinea. He explained how aligning passion with business objectives creates innovation and sustainability in business ventures.

2. Cross-Industry Learning for Entrepreneurial Growth

Having worked in finance, aviation, and retail, Mr. Shaffee stressed about the value of adaptability and learning across sectors. He encouraged students to be open to change, experiment new ideas, and constantly seek knowledge beyond their area of interest.

3. Importance of Strategy and Leadership in Building a Brand

With his leadership experience at City Pharmacy Limited Group and Brian Bell, he gave the students an overview of how strategy, data-driven decision-making, and customer-centric thinking are important in scaling businesses. He also explained the importance of innovation and quality in brand building.

4. Challenges and Opportunities in PNG’s Business Environment

While acknowledging the unique challenges of doing business in PNG—from logistics to regulatory hurdles, Mr. Shaffee emphasized that passion and the right partnerships can convert those challenges into successful businesses.

5. Advice to Aspiring Entrepreneurs

He urged students to start small, be a problem-solver, and be flexible and adaptable to changes.

The hosting of this successful guest lecture was coordinated by Ms. Palakurthi Harika StEP Coordinator & Lecturer and supported by Dr. Durga Prasad, Head of School – Business Management who continues to support students to be expose to entrepreneurial insights from business leaders in Papua New Guinea.