11/17/2025
From Faisalabad to the Future: Fadia Shehroz's Inspiring Tech Journey
✨️The Dream in Faisalabad ✨️
Fadia Shehroz grew up in Faisalabad, Pakistan's textile hub, surrounded by the hum of looms and the entrepreneurial spirit of her city. But while her family's roots were in traditional business, Fadia's eyes were fixed on screens—captivated by how technology was reshaping the world.
"I used to watch YouTube videos about Silicon Valley and Canadian tech companies," Fadia remembers. "My friends thought I was crazy. A girl from Faisalabad working in tech abroad? It seemed impossible."
But Fadia has never been one to accept "impossible."
The Difficult Decision
Choosing to study abroad wasn't easy. As the eldest daughter, leaving home meant leaving behind family gatherings, her mother's cooking, and the comfort of everything familiar. Financial concerns weighed heavy—her middle-class family would have to make real sacrifices.
"My father sat me down one evening," Fadia recalls. "He said, 'If you're going to do this, don't go halfway. Give it everything.' That conversation changed my life."
After extensive research, Fadia found her path through a top Canadian tech institution. The application process was daunting—essays, transcripts, English proficiency tests, visa applications. Each step felt like a mountain, but with determination and support from education consultants, she made it through.
The day her student visa was approved, her entire neighborhood celebrated.
Landing in a New World
September 2021. Fadia landed in Canada with two suitcases, nervous excitement, and a head full of dreams. Toronto's vast skyline was nothing like Faisalabad's busy streets. Everything felt different—the crisp autumn air, the multicultural campus, even the way people spoke English.
"The first month was the hardest," Fadia admits. "I questioned everything. Was I good enough? Could I really compete with students from around the world? I called home crying more than once."
But Fadia's resilience, forged in Faisalabad, wouldn't let her quit.
The Transformation
She dove into her coursework with fierce determination. Data analytics, software development, cloud computing—subjects that once seemed abstract became her passion. While balancing part-time work at a local retail store to support herself, Fadia spent late nights in the library, often the last student to leave.
Her breakthrough came during a group project on machine learning applications. While others focused on theoretical models, Fadia proposed a practical solution for small businesses in developing countries—drawing from her observations of Faisalabad's textile industry. Her professor was impressed.
"Fadia brings a unique perspective," her professor noted. "She doesn't just learn technology—she understands how it can solve real-world problems for communities often overlooked."
The Opportunity
In her final semester, Fadia attended a tech career fair—nervous but determined. At one booth, she struck up a conversation with a recruiter from a major Canadian e-commerce company. They talked about supply chain optimization, and Fadia mentioned ideas for improving logistics in emerging markets.
Two weeks later, she received an interview request.
The interview process was intense—technical assessments, behavioral interviews, presentations. But Fadia's combination of technical skills and real-world insight set her apart. She didn't just know the theory; she understood the human side of technology.
She got the job.
The Success
Today, Fadia Shehroz is a Business Analyst at one of Canada's leading tech companies. She works on projects that impact millions of users, collaborates with teams across North America, and recently presented at an international tech conference.
Her salary allows her to support her family back home, save for her future, and live independently in a country she now calls her second home.
But ask Fadia about her proudest moment, and it's not about the job title or the paycheck.
"Last year, I went back to Faisalabad for Eid," she shares, her eyes lighting up. "Younger girls from my neighborhood came to meet me. They asked questions about studying abroad, about tech careers, about being independent. One girl told me, 'If you can do it, maybe I can too.' That moment—that's my real success."
Giving Back
Fadia now mentors Pakistani students aspiring to study in Canada. She video calls them from her Toronto apartment, sharing honest advice about the challenges, the homesickness, the financial planning, and the incredible opportunities.
"I tell them what I wish someone had told me," Fadia explains. "It won't be easy. You'll question yourself. You'll miss home more than you thought possible. But if you stay focused and work hard, you'll surprise yourself with what you can achieve."
She's also working on a personal project: developing a tech education platform for young women in Faisalabad, believing that opportunity shouldn't depend on geography.
The Message
"Three years ago, I was a girl from Faisalabad with a dream and a laptop," Fadia reflects. "Today, I'm a professional contributing to Canada's tech industry. But I'm still that same girl—just one who refused to let fear win."
She pauses, then smiles. "To every student back home wondering if they can do it—you can. Your city, your background, your circumstances—they're your starting point, not your destination. The question isn't whether you're good enough. It's whether you're brave enough to try."
Fadia Shehroz proved that with determination, hard work, and the right opportunities, dreams don't have borders.
