By Sardar Zaheer Zaufran – CEO MarCom
The Journey, The People, The Purpose – Since 2000, and Still Evolving
Passion is rarely accidental. It forms quietly, over years of experience, effort, and exposure. I have spent more than two decades in the communication and advertising industry, but my professional story did not begin in an agency, nor in a creative studio. It began earlier than most would know – in July 2000 -behind a customer service counter.
And like every great story, mine was shaped by mentors, hard decisions, sleepless nights, and the courage to build something from nothing.
2000 – The First Step Into the Professional World
At just the beginning of adulthood, I stepped into the corporate world as a Customer Service Executive at Mobilink’s Boat Basin Franchise in Karachi.
That first job taught me the value of discipline, patience, and dealing with people – lessons that would eventually become the foundation for my communication career.
Soon after, I took up another position, working evenings at Resort Condominium International (RCI). Two jobs. One young man. One big dream.
Life was moving fast and I loved it.
Inroads Into Event Management – Where Creativity Found Its Voice
My journey took a decisive turn when I entered the field of Event Management, under the mentorship of the remarkable Anisa Rasheed Khan – a woman who shaped not only my professional skills, but my character as a human being. She was more than a leader; she was the guiding compass of my early career.
Those days were intense, exhilarating, and unforgettable.
I still recall working 36 hours straight for the Emirates Airline Dealers Award & Gala Dinner in 2002, as we shifted venues overnight due to unexpected weather. No sleep – only commitment.
Working with the Lux Style Awards organizing team was another milestone. I witnessed Pakistan’s top celebrities up close; the heart of Karachi’s glamour beating live. Those experiences taught me speed, precision, resilience and the art of presence under pressure.
I was not just earning a living, I was evolving.
2004 – The Move to Islamabad & Rise into Advertising
Then came 2004 – the year advertising found me.
I moved to Islamabad and joined DANAD, under the leadership of Mr. Raoof Hassan – a brilliant mind, a true advertising guru, and someone who saw potential in me that I myself had not yet understood.
He often told people: “He will go places.”
Those words became fuel for my ambition.
Although DANAD’s closure ended my time there abruptly, it cemented my passion for advertising forever.
2005–2016 – Eleven Years of Growth & Grit at Channel 7
In October 2005, I joined Channel 7, where I spent 11 defining years.
Those years strengthened me – not only as a professional, but as a leader, strategist, and brand builder. I contributed to its expansion, its growth, and its industry reputation.
It was here that I realized:
Advertising was not just what I did – it was who I had become.
2016 – Entrepreneurship, Faith, and a Partnership That Worked
November 2016 marked a new chapter – entrepreneurship.
I ventured into this world with a passionate and committed co-founder, Ms. Madiha Naseem Khan.
Advertising is often transactional, where relationships revolve around benefits and billings. But Madiha was different – pure, trustworthy, hardworking, and relentless in pursuit of excellence.
She never watched the clock. She watched the mission.
In her, I found what every professional dreams of – a partner in purpose, passion, and performance.
Together, we built something meaningful – not overnight, not without struggle – but with integrity, merit, creativity, and the belief that a workplace should be:
A fun place
A human place
A rewarding place
A decade later, our partnership stands strong – in business, in trust, and in vision.
A Silent Enabler of Success – Gratitude to Mahmood Saeed Chaudhry
No journey of entrepreneurship is ever walked alone.
This is where my dear friend Mr. Mahmood Saeed Chaudhry deserves heartfelt acknowledgment.
A dear friend and an unwavering supporter of our vision, he played an instrumental role in establishing MarCom Pvt. Ltd. as a compliant and trusted corporate entity with SECP. From documentation to taxation, from corporate compliance to continuous advisory – he ensured our foundation was strong and secure.
Beyond paperwork and process, he offered financial facilitation, encouragement, and belief – at a time when belief mattered most.
Every organization needs people who stand behind its stability.
Mahmood has been that pillar for us.
The Journey Continues – Because Success Is Never a Destination
From a humble start — without massive accounts or glamorous budgets – we earned loyalty, respect, recognition, and a team that believed in our mission as much as we did.
Advertising is a journey – one milestone at a time.
And I am still walking forward.
Today, I proudly give back as a Visiting Faculty at various prestigious institutions, including the Information Services Academy – shaping the future minds of communication.
I stand tall as a Fellow Member of the Chartered Institute of Marketing (CIM) UK, grateful for every step, every challenge, and every late night that brought me here.
A Message to Gen Z and Generation Alpha
To the new generation stepping into the world of communication —
Don’t just count impressions. Create impact.
Build brands – don’t just boost engagement.
See beyond clicks – see culture.
Understand humans – not just algorithms.
This industry needs thinkers, dreamers, strategists, and storytellers.
If you dare, advertising can change your life; as it changed mine.
Advertising isn’t my profession – it is my passion.
A passion discovered in 2000.
Refined in 2004.
Nourished for over two decades.
Still burning bright and guiding everything I do.
The story continues.
And I’m still writing it.
One idea at a time.