First let's start off with you. Tell me about yourself, who are you? Tell me about your home and family, as well as your interests and hobbies outside of work.
I'm Naz Mansha. Outside of work, I'm your typical grandmother. My grandchildren are a real gift from God. I love that status - 'grandmother' - and I wouldn't swap it for anything. I also spend time with my mother every day. I meet my friends quite often - we have our girl-time a lot.
Tell me about a typical day in your life.
We're early risers. I actually leave for work before Mansha. I'm home by about 2:30pm - Mansha comes home from lunch and I like to be home then too. He's never asked me to do it, but it's something I'm comfortable with. Plus, by the afternoon I feel like I'm done with the day's work at the office because I get such an early start. Later in the evening I spend time with the family, sometimes I visit my stores and give some time to my house.
Tell me about some of the challenging/defining moments of your life.
Mansha's success has brought some challenges. The general mindset here is that if you're successful it must be because you've done some wrong. Honesty, hard-work, integrity, luck and God's blessings are not thought to be ingredients to success. Sometimes it's hard to hear negative things about oneself. I wouldn't say I feel angry, I feel hurt.
Tell me a little about your husband. What is it like to be half of one of Pakistan's foremost business teams?
Mansha is always overseeing all of us - we're always under his watchful eye. Without my husband's support I couldn't have done anything because it's like swimming against the tide. My daughter-in-laws also work. It's very healthy to be busy.
Do you feel the perception of a working woman in Pakistan is changing?
It's so nice that so many girls are working. There are opportunities now - it's not looked down upon, even in different social classes. As long as it's a healthy environment the family is happy too. Between you and me I think women are more committed workers. Deep down we have to prove ourselves in a man's world. I frankly don't believe in the men-women equality cry - we should not pretend to be equal to men because we're better than them.
Tell me a little about how you started off Nishat Linen.
I started my factory in 1989. Before that, Nishat used to make home linen but on a much more basic scale and I felt there was a lot of potential. I had it designed by the architect Wasif Ali Khan. He used to tell me he's making me a Taj Mahal for me to have fun in. One day I decided… why not branch out into womenswear? I started on a small experimental basis and it was so much fun! It became so big that I threw home linen out of my Taj Mahal.
Let's speak about Swarovski and Inglot. Tell me a little about your vision for the future.
Swarovski and Inglot approached me and I had always felt like I'd like to add women-related products to the market. International brands see Pakistan as a very big emerging market. Swarovski is somewhat expensive, but actually it's cheaper here than anywhere else in the world. Inglot took off immediately because it's also excellent and extremely affordable. It's got great products - I use them too. I don't want to add any more brands. I like to take things slow and steady. It's not easy and I don't want to overwhelm myself.
Tell me about one person who's had a profound influence on you and your work.
My husband has had an incredible influence on me. Not just his work ethics but generally as well in day-to-day life. Your parents' values are ingrained but as you grow older you make choices of the values that matter to you and I've always admired Mansha's. He's a very helpful and generous person - he has a big heart.
Tell me about a moment when you felt happy and proud of yourself!
When I feel like I've done something for the Pakistani woman I'm proud. I'm also proud and blessed to have a wonderful team. My people have grown with me. They've started from the bottom and now they run the whole show. Various times NGOs have come to me to talk to them as an "empowered woman". I have told them that they need to interview these women - women who have really made a difference, women who contribute to the family home and change the status of the family. But they back away because... I'm sorry to say but because they think there's no glamour in it.
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BUSINESS