Zafar Masud | Seat 1C | Survivor's Tale: Hope, Resilience, and Renewal | Book Read at FC College LHR

Recorded at the Book Launch on October 08, 2025, at 3:15 pm in the Jim Tebbe Campus Center, FCCU.

In this deeply inspiring session at FC College (FCCU), Zafar Masud, President/CEO of the Bank of Punjab and a survivor of the tragic 2020 plane crash, discusses his book, Seat 1C. He explains that his book is far more than a crash narrative, serving instead as a profound exploration of the vital themes of hope, resilience, and renewal learned from his near-death experience. A major highlight is his powerful concept of "life before death". Masud describes how the incident cemented the critical importance of living a life with "no regrets," especially when facing that defining "30 seconds" where one stands answerable to oneself.

The talk also delves into his personal journey and professional philosophy. Masud reflects on his student days at FC College, crediting the institution for encouraging the critical thinking that remains essential to him today. Professionally, he champions a leadership approach based on "Management by Empathy," emphasizing the need to understand and appreciate people's backgrounds and constraints to nurture their strengths. He also shares that the experience instilled in him a strong sense of urgency—to act now without delay—and a heightened fearlessness in tackling challenges.

Masud makes a passionate case for the liberal arts, arguing that literature, history, and language are not desperate disciplines but are, in fact, "bosom buddies" with economy and business. He contends that these subjects are crucial for developing the critical thinking and creativity needed to succeed in the modern commercial world. To further encourage the students, he shares a reading from the U2 song "Get Out of Your Own Way," urging them to eliminate their inner inhibitions and realize that the sky is the limit. Finally, he discusses how he has chosen to channel 'survivor's guilt' into a positive motivation, propelling him to work towards a more equitable world.