The Flare panel held a sit-down meeting with Waqas Ahmad, the CEO of Redway Innovations (Pvt) Ltd, for an interview. He shared that Redway Innovations aims to build a business environment where technology and creative ideas lead to real solutions. Our goal is to seek out chances where innovation can enhance processes, boost competitiveness, and provide better service to customers
Interview:
Waqas Ahmad
CEO
Redway Innovations (Private) Limited, Mardan
Flare: Kindly share your professional journey and experiences that shaped you as an entrepreneur and business leader.
Waqas Ahmad: My entrepreneurial journey has been driven by identifying opportunities and transforming ideas into practical solutions. I have always believed business is not simply about selling a product or service; it is about understanding problems and creating value for people and organisations. The rapidly changing technological environment provided an opportunity to pursue this philosophy through Redway Innovation. Each stage has brought new challenges and learning experiences that continue to shape my approach to leadership and business development.
Flare: What inspired you to establish Redway Innovations, and what was the original vision behind the company?
Waqas Ahmad: The vision behind Redway Innovations is to create a business environment where technology and innovative thinking become meaningful solutions. We focus on opportunities where innovation can improve processes, strengthen competitiveness, and better serve customers. Our approach is based on understanding market requirements, developing practical solutions, and continuously improving our capabilities. For us, innovation should ultimately produce measurable value.
Flare: What are the core areas of Redway Innovations, and what makes your company different in today’s competitive business environment?
Waqas Ahmad: I believe innovation means finding better, smarter, and more effective ways of doing things. It does not always mean inventing something completely new. It can involve improving an existing process, introducing technology into a traditional business model, or finding a more efficient solution to a customer’s problem. At Redway Innovations, we encourage new ideas and evaluate them based on their practical potential and ability to create value.
Flare: What are some of the most significant challenges you faced while building and growing Redway Innovations, and how did you overcome them?
Waqas Ahmad: One major challenge is the rapidly changing nature of technology, requiring companies to continuously learn and adapt. Access to skilled human resources, investment, infrastructure, market uncertainty, and changing economic conditions can also create difficulties. However, challenges can encourage businesses to become more efficient and creative. Organisations should focus on strong fundamentals, cost control, developing people, understanding customers, and maintaining flexibility.
Flare: As a CEO, what leadership philosophy do you follow when building teams, encouraging creativity, and managing organisational growth?
Waqas Ahmad: My leadership philosophy is based on responsibility, teamwork, continuous learning, and adaptability. A CEO cannot build a successful organisation alone. Sustainable growth requires people who understand the company’s objectives and feel responsible for achieving them. I give team members opportunities to contribute ideas and take ownership while maintaining clear direction and making difficult decisions when necessary.
Flare: How is digital transformation changing the way Pakistani businesses operate, and what opportunities do you see for technology-driven companies?
Waqas Ahmad: Technology is changing how businesses communicate, market products, manage operations, and interact with customers. Pakistan has enormous potential because of its young population and growing digital awareness. Businesses embracing digital tools can improve efficiency, reach wider markets, and compete beyond geographical boundaries. AI, automation, cloud solutions, digital platforms, and data-driven decision-making will increasingly influence business models.
Pakistan has significant opportunities in technology, software, digital services, e-commerce, automation, and technology-enabled solutions. Our young population provides a strong talent base, while global connectivity allows Pakistani companies to access international customers. However, entrepreneurs must focus on quality, reliability, professionalism, and international standards.
Flare: How can Pakistani entrepreneurs turn innovative ideas into successful businesses?
Waqas Ahmad: The first step is identifying a genuine problem. Entrepreneurs can become too focused on an idea without asking whether there is a real market need. They should understand customers, study competitors, test the concept, and develop a practical business model. Starting small, learning from feedback, and improving the solution can be more effective than building everything at once. Most importantly, entrepreneurs must remain persistent and treat failure as a learning experience.
Flare: What role should government and industry play in strengthening Pakistan’s innovation ecosystem?
Waqas Ahmad: Government, industry, educational institutions, and entrepreneurs all have important roles. We need policies that encourage investment, entrepreneurship, research, technology adoption, and skill development. Stronger university-industry links can ensure education responds to market requirements. Businesses should also help develop talent and create opportunities for young professionals. A strong innovation ecosystem requires cooperation rather than isolated efforts.
Flare: What would you advise to young Pakistanis who want to become entrepreneurs?
Waqas Ahmad: I will advise them to start with learning. Do not wait for perfect circumstances because they rarely exist. Develop expertise, understand the market, observe problems, and seek opportunities to provide solutions. Building a business takes time and involves setbacks, criticism, and uncertainty. The key is to remain focused, learn from mistakes, and continue improving. Entrepreneurship requires patience, discipline, courage, and a willingness to take calculated risks.
Flare: Finally, what is your vision for Redway Innovations, and what message would you like to share with Pakistan’s business community?
Waqas Ahmad: Our vision is to continue developing as an organisation that embraces innovation, technology, quality, and customer-focused solutions. We want to build long-term value rather than focus only on short-term achievements. The future belongs to businesses that can adapt, innovate, and understand changing customer expectations.
I believe that when Allah Almighty blesses you with success and elevates you to a certain position, that success carries responsibility. If you achieve success but the people around you do not benefit from it, in my view, it is not true success. True success is when your progress creates opportunities, support, and positive change for others.Success is not only about what you achieve for yourself, but also what you create for others.
