Meet Shezad Nawab MBE, a deaf entrepreneur!

Hello to you all! My name is Shezad Nawab MBE. I am a deaf entrepreneur based in Birmingham, West Midlands. I provide specialist management consultancy and I currently work as an interim executive director as well as an international speaker. So far in total I have been fortunate to receive 8 different business awards.

For those who aren’t familiar with the word ‘entrepreneur’ or the BSL sign for it, I personally use the sign for thinking, innovation and success – as these words describe what entrepreneurs do – create new solutions / products and work towards successful business.

I was actually 10 years old when I first got the idea that I wanted to work in this area. At the time I was working at my father’s businesses in the Post Office and also in Property development. I approached my Father and asked him, “How can I become a multi-millionaire?” He said to me, “you need to focus on your business at all times to make a strong business foundation.”

Now, in my daily work with several businesses, I ensure communications run smoothly by using email, message and video calls with my deaf clients. We work to flexible time schedules to ensure we can make convenient appointments to meet with each other.

To communicate with hearing clients, I employ an interpreter who always supports me in relation to phone calls, business networking and providing voiceover when I present at business presentations, conferences, seminars and workshops.

I am profoundly deaf and a native user of British Sign Language (BSL.) I am always learning new sign languages when I travel and I have learnt six sign languages so far. These are; Arabic, American (ASL), British (BSL), Moroccan, South Africa and International. I meet deaf people overseas and we use range of gesture and sign language. We keep in touch and meet up through opportunities hosted by the World Federation of the Deaf as well as on social media.

Keeping in touch with deaf clients and friends overseas provides me with the great benefit of learning and using a greater range of sign language. This gives me nothing but positive opportunities.

I haven’t encountered many barriers in business due to my deafness. Sometimes I receive phone calls from people trying to speak to me on the phone. This is because they aren’t aware I am deaf. I simply use text messages to reschedule their call for when my interpreter is with me.

I advise others not to let barriers affect their business dreams. You must stay positive and never give up, keep your attentions on your time management and overall business plan.  You can make realistic short or long term goals, focus on them alone and stick to them!

As I work with both hearing and deaf businesses and clients, the services I offer vary greatly. Deaf business owners benefit from working with me to develop their ideas , these are normally start ups looking at how to grow their business into a successful one. With hearing companies they often employ me to look at accessibility or how they can cultivate more deaf awareness.

The sort of business services I provide include things such as:

– Creating a Business plan, Marketing plan and Financial plan,

– Looking at Business organisation and development

– Management consultancy

– Business start-ups

– Offering motivational speeches.

I enjoy supporting others to practise making a pitch – which is just what people do when they prepare to go on Dragons Den (BBC1) for example!

I do feel that so many more deaf people could have the confidence to become self employed or own their own small business.

I was shocked to find out in 2017 that I had been awarded a MBE. When they announced the news to me and all the other nominees on the New Years of 2017, I wasn’t allowed to tell anyone about it for six weeks! I was so impressed going to Buckingham Palace where I met Charles, Prince of Wales. That was a very special day for me, 16^th March 2017.

I currently still provide management consultancy to both deaf and hearing businesses people and I enjoy travelling the world offering motivational speeches. I am very pleased to share with you news of my debut book release, Born Deaf To An MBE which is available for purchase on Amazon.

The book tells you more about me and my journey as a deaf person determined to succeed in business. I hope that if any Limping Chicken readers feel inspired to set up their own new business that they go for it and don’t wait any longer. Go forth with productivity!

All the best,

Shezad Nawab

Shezad Nawab MBE is a deaf entrepreneur based in Birmingham. 
Email: shezad@shezadnawab.com
For more information see www.shezadnawab.com.