Ahsan Rehman: Infectious Enthusiasm

We’ve all had the experience: Every so often, you meet someone whose passion shines through in everything he says and does — which reignites your commitment to your own direction and goals. Anyone who’s met Ahsan Rehman will know what I mean. As you’ll see in the course of our conversation, his energy is profound and infectious, growing from a commitment to IBM, its opportunities, its vision, and its culture of respect and inclusion.

You’ll also see that Ahsan shares my commitment to putting people first. The pattern throughout his impressive career is simple: Be curious about people, befriend them, support them, and exceed their expectations.

My lesson from Ahsan is the one I hope will resonate with you as well: Be curious, steadfast, and enthusiastic — and the rest will follow.

Dinesh and Ahsan at Silicon Valley Lab, San Jose, CA.

Dinesh: I always like to start by asking for the story of how you arrived at IBM. Go back as far as you like.
Absolutely. I was working toward my undergraduate degree in Information Technology from the National University of Sciences and Technology (NUST) in Pakistan, and for my final project I wanted to know what external factors might be influencing the price of stocks on the Karachi Stock Exchange. IBM gave me an internship for six months to dive into that work, and in the course of the internship, I learned Cognos and SPSS. By the time I graduated, I had a job offer.

I worked for Global Business Services (GBS) as an advanced analytics and optimization consultant, primarily at China Mobile in Pakistan, the biggest telecom operator in the region. At the time, no one else on the team knew SPSS and predictive analytics, so I trained them and by the time I left for grad school two years later, we had a team of 15 people.

And where was grad school?
Northwestern University in Chicago, one of the top five schools in the US for data science. My degree was a Master of Science in Analytics. Actually — circling back to IBM — at one point, I was chosen from Northwestern to go to a Chicago-wide hackathon: five students from Northwestern, five from University of Chicago, five from DePaul, five from IIT, and we won. Turns out, one of the judges worked for IBM and a few weeks later he asked if I’d like to work for IBM again. So, that’s how I came home to IBM.

And you’ve been back three years. What have you been up to?
Watson Analytics for two and a half years on research analysis and working closely with the design team. And at this point, I work for the Data and AI group. It’s software development as well as the research aspect, on emerging technology for automating AI.

You’ve been busy and sounds like you’re busier than ever. Do you have time to look at what’s next? Where are you five years from now?
I see myself helping end users — particularly scientists without advanced computer science training — to do machine learning and data science. Whatever they don’t need to understand, we handle. And they can make queries in natural language, see clear visualizations of results, run experiments within the data, and iterate. All on their own. Needing a data science expert is just friction for so many people at this point. They know the questions they want to ask. Let’s give them the tools to just ask and make progress. IBM can do it. We have the right hardware; we have the right middleware; and we’re building the software as we speak.

You’ve got a reputation for loving IBM.
At IBM I have had an opportunity to share the intellectual space with SME’s having 30 to 35 years of experience with some of the world’s biggest systems, and scientists with tremendous skills and exceptional achievements. If you are looking to work along with and learn from the best, this is the place to be in my opinion. Honestly, it is challenging and pushes my limits every day. This environment has made me grow and ‘Think Big!’. I aspire to learn from my peers, stay updated on research and always trying to upgrade my knowledge bank. Having access to some of world’s top brains to discuss your ideas, get advice and collaborate on cutting edge projects is why I value IBM.

You go back to Pakistan every December. What’s technology look like in Pakistan these days?
Well, technology is a broad term, so it depends. Some industries have truly progressed in the past decade. Telecom has made progress with research and data science. Some banks have adapted more sophisticated systems for security and privacy. Others, like manufacturing industry and energy sector haven’t changed much in my view. IBM Pakistan has established a client innovation center there which is now serving the whole Middle East, Asia and Africa, working with telecom, banks, airlines and government organizations.

There’s a theme here. You love technology and what’s possible, but you love the people you work with just as much. True?
I give credit to everyone who has touched my life and mentored me to reach where I am. It is a cycle, and I try to give back as much as I can. One of those initiatives very close to my heart is NUSTIAN USA chapter. I am a founding member of this non-profit for my alma mater in Pakistan. The number grew to 600 members this year. The alumni work with some very reputable organizations in the US. Our most recent project is a scholarship fund to help under-privileged students back at my alma mater. We recognize our members for their effort in such noble causes.

This value resonates with IBMs. You work hard here, and you do good work, you will surely be recognized and encouraged. The extraordinary minds I am surrounded by don’t just help you become smarter; they also boost your passion.

Ahsan with his wife on their wedding day.

Favorite place you've ever seen in your travels. Rawalakot, Grand Canyons, Istanbul

Where’s your heart? Wherever my wife and family are.

What inspires you? Hard work. The most inspiring example of our times, a man with an exceptional career: Imran Khan; a world cup winning cricket captain, educationist, a philanthropist and now the Prime Minister of Pakistan.

Book you like to recommend: Lately, it’s The Like Switch, by an FBI agent named Jack Schafer. It’s helpful to understand personal communications and how you can influence, attract and win people over especially in the US when you come from a different country and want to make great impression and build lasting relationships.

Dinesh Nirmal – Vice President, IBM Analytics Development
Follow me on Twitter: @dineshknirmal