I understand this. Yes, we're very sensitive about this thing. Biryani belongs to Karachi. I will try to be loyal to Karachi. All right.
ACCA looks at Gen Z quite systematically. We do a global talent survey including Pakistan. It tells us that 78% of Gen Z professional accountants want to start their own business one day. That's a huge number, not available right now as we speak. And with the interest rate again, thanks to some big guy... I don't like saying names. ACCA's philosophy in the world is opportunity, opportunity, opportunity. We want to always be driving the idea that everyone should have the opportunity to thrive and everyone should have the opportunity to be a professional accountant.
Start of Pakistan keys podcast: Adil Azar. We've got a very special episode lined up today. We have a guest who's not just in our studios, she's a guest in our city, in our country. She's visiting from the UK and heads an organization which has become very popular and trustworthy for students and young people who want to pursue careers in financial management and accountancy. I'm talking about ACCA. We have the chief executive of ACCA in Pakistan these days. She's kind enough to visit our studios. Please welcome Miss Helen Brand, chief executive of ACCA. Asalamualaikum, welcome Helen, welcome to Startup Pakistan.
Hi, I'm really well and delighted to be with you here. Delighted to be back in Karachi.
We normally have a conversation before the start of our podcast and I got to know that Helen actually is a very regular visitor to Pakistan and you've been visiting Pakistan for a very long time.
Yes, I first visited in 1997. Wow. Pakistan was a different place then. I was much younger then. So we've grown up together and it's been very interesting to see the economy developing, businesses developing and of course ACCA's membership in the country.
So you came in 1997 as a part of ACCA then you've been working for the same organization for a very long time.
I joined ACCA in 1996. When I came here I wasn't the chief executive then. I became chief executive in 2008. I was responsible initially for developing our presence in markets all around the globe. I'm very pleased to say we now have over a quarter million members in 180 countries around the world, over half a million future members. A very thriving global community of finance professionals.
And how big is ACCA in Pakistan?
We have about 13,000 Pakistani members and tens of thousands of future members, students as well.
Anything particular that you... Okay, I'm not going to talk about things Pakistan needs to improve on. Things that you really love about Pakistan.
Well, being in Karachi, I have to start with biryani. Love the food. It's wonderful to be here.
You've been to Lahore or Islamabad?
Yes, I've been to Lahore and Islamabad.
So, Helen, you mentioned about liking Pakistani food and biryani. There's something I have to tell you. We Karachi are very sensitive about biryani. You will be traveling to Lahore, to Islamabad. They're going to serve you something in rice form and call it biryani, but that's not biryani. What you eat in Karachi is biryani. I understand this, yes, we're very sensitive about this. Biryani belongs to Karachi and nobody cooks like us. I have been told that and I understand that. I will try to be loyal to Karachi.
That is wonderful. And I've also got to know during my conversation with her is that she's a big Liverpool fan as well.
You're having a great season. Being an Arsenal fan, there are lots to disagree with you, but Liverpool fan, you're having a great season for sure.
Yes, we're happy. And Mo Salah resigned this week as well. Congratulations on that. Yes, we were all very nervous about that. I saw him sitting on a false throne at Anfield yesterday. The Egyptian king is still with us.
I think that's a beautiful thing you mentioned about Mohamed Salah. Being two big football fans sitting here, how can we avoid talking about football? One beautiful thing about football is when you see players from Africa like Mo Salah, some players from Asia, they're doing well in European leagues. That makes football so beautiful. People from all around the world make their presence felt. I think there is something similar with ACCA. You mentioned 180 countries. Tell me, Helen, how does it feel to be heading an organization with such global presence? Do you feel like you've got your feelers from everyone on the planet?
It's a real privilege to lead an organization that walks the talk on diversity and inclusion. We were founded in 1904 with the clear aim to make the profession more inclusive. At that time, you essentially had to be very wealthy to become a professional accountant. The founders said if you have talent and ambition, there should be a way to become a professional accountant through examination and experience. That founding DNA makes inclusion along with integrity and innovation our value set. When you put that together, it's dynamic. Our members are really contributing to the communities and businesses where they live and work.
Can we see ACCA as an organization that is rebel by nature?
We've been a challenger throughout. We like to do things first. Our global president is Majid from Pakistan, the first South Asian woman to be president of ACCA. She's representing all our members from the UK, China, sub-Saharan Africa. I feel really proud of that. It's a positive message at a time when we're not always receiving positive messages.
For an organization with 180 countries, the requirements are different. The world is evolving fast. How do you and your team ensure that what is taught to students remains current and relevant?
