Reimagining future of product management in BD

"Every life-altering decision is made at a crossroads, in a battle of head and heart, comfort and passion. My journey to creating my own legacy was no exception as well. I had to choose one path: follow in my brave father's footsteps and join the Bangladesh Army, or carve out my own path. Despite passing the strict selection requirements of the army, I leaned towards crafting my own legacy," says Farhan Ishmam Sikder.

Farhan Ishmam Sikder is the co-founder and CEO of Sikder Consulting & Software Solutions (SCSS). It is a provider of IT solutions and comprehensive consulting services across the globe. It specialises in delivering custom web/mobile application development, unique ERP solutions, intuitive UI/UX designs, and strategic consultancy in the IT, higher education, and fitness domains. This consulting service and product management venture of Farhan has opened a new path in the field of international standard software solutions and consultation services for the local market. His journey to start this venture was an interesting one.

Unlike most BBA graduates who join FMCG (fast moving consumer goods) or the banking sector, Farhan chose a less travelled path by joining the tech sector. He joined SELISE Digital Platforms, a Swiss-based IT consulting and software solutions firm, as a full-time business analyst. However, as a freshman, he started working as an intern under Ayman Sadiq in his 10 Minute School programme in its early days. This was the time when the huge potential of using technology for more amazing concepts and ventures was instilled in Farhan's mind.

After joining SELISE, his vision turned to a more refined path, unmasking the uncharted territories of potential that lay in product management and software consultancy in Bangladesh. Under the guidance of Anika Mahi, the head of SELISE Web, e-commerce, and retail solutions team, he learned the global standard of work. Though the concept of consultancy was far from new, Farhan was more interested in product management through IT consultancy, which is a new concept towards a more efficient approach to reforming the service industry landscape, emphasising documentation and ethics in Bangladesh. His goal was to grow and nurture the next generation of product managers in the market.

Currently, SCSS offers an extensive suite of services, from IT consultation to bespoke ERP (enterprise resource planning) solutions. The venture did not start very long ago, but it has outshone its field through its unique services and strategy. It follows an international standard of efficiency and deliverance, and that has gained the trust of the market.

Farhan's journey towards starting a firm with a unique scope was rather challenging. He had to work night and day for the firm. He had to work a full-time job and invest 80 per cent of the money he earned into the company. Slowly, they took in partners, consultants, and employees. After months of rigorous hard work and a number of rejections, Farhan won an investor through his pitch and could let go of his job and focus full-time on this.

Among many reasons why this venture is rethinking product management and consultancy service, a prime one would be their structured agency-client work dynamic. "Working at agencies is when I first saw the awful agency-client culture in Bangladesh, where there were cases of exploitation of employees by the client side. The service industry was not set up properly, and things moved on verbal commitment rather than proper written and documented commitment," says Farhan.

This was, in his opinion, a major setback towards the brilliant minds in the tech and IT industry who have huge potential to contribute more to the product market. Farhan, through his consultancy services, introduced a newer and more efficient approach to this.

Farhan and his wife and co-founder of SCSS, Farah Hoque, are now joining their academic programmes (MS) in Business Analytics programme at USC Marshall and McGill respectively. Farhan's goal is to go global with IT professionals and consultants on product management and IT consultancy from Bangladesh and make a change in the foreign market's perception of Bangladesh.

"We also went with a vision to prove to the world that usually Bangladesh is represented in the world as just a cheap labour or a call centre country, but we are here to prove that wrong and establish that Bangladesh is set to become a digital hub of innovation as well, where there are hidden gems of software developers and product managers. Our mission is to challenge global perceptions and spotlight Bangladesh as a hub of software innovation and expertise," says Farhan. They want to connect the world more to the wonderful software developers of Bangladesh.

While Farhan and Farah are operating their dream from abroad, Tasmeet Iqbal, former head of Enterprise Solutions, has joined as the Principal Consultant and Head of Operations in the Bangladesh market.

SCSS has collaborated and provided services for the Bangladesh Army with a custom ERP solution, Sharanam Real Infra Limited with a company profile website, Chillox with an animated website, and many more. Farhan mentions Farah, his wife and COO of SCSS, every time he speaks of support and advice. He says, "My parents and Farah were there for me every time I stumbled, was immensely stressed, and had panic attacks, rethinking if I had made a mistake by not following the traditional way. But they kept supporting me throughout. Farah worked for bKash as a brand manager but still helped me any time I needed her advice. She helped SCSS be where it is now. My in-laws supported me by handling the legalities and with logistical support."

SCSS is still a venture in progress, but their brand capacity is promising of a new age of brand management and product management with a newer approach of IT consultancy. Farhan wishes to go international with their root strengthening here in the Bangladesh market, to inspire many other young entrepreneurs to rethink how efficient and impactful digital product management can be.

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