While many people struggle to gain a foothold in their home country, there is Nezrin Midhlaj, who has carved a path for herself in both India and Saudi Arabia. She credits her experience and unique work style for this achievement. Not only is she an entrepreneur, but also a trainer, event coordinator, motivational speaker – you name it.
Nezrin’s work is largely centred around students and women. Born into the Bombay business family in Malappuram, she has always been passionate about working with young entrepreneurs and empowering women.
After completing her school education in Saudi Arabia, Nezrin earned her degree from Farook College, Kozhikode. She then pursued postgraduate studies at Monash University, Australia. Following her studies, it didn’t take long for her to follow in the footsteps of her businessman father, Abbas Musliyar, and mother, Shakeela Abbas.
Today, her greatest support system is her husband, Midhlaj, and their daughter, who Nezrin says “encourages me”.
A true role model, Nezrin’s journey is nothing short of inspiring. She has not only excelled in running businesses but has also paved the way for bringing the next generation into the world of entrepreneurship.
A historic mission in Saudi
When Saudi Arabia began creating new opportunities for women, Nezrin was at the forefront, offering every possible form of assistance. While working at the corporate giant Aramco, she became part of the country’s efforts to implement special initiatives for women. Nezrin was entrusted with the crucial task of empowering thousands of Saudi women through training. As a result, many women secured jobs in various companies, taking up roles such as supermarket managers and office staff.
“Initially, many of them lacked the skills and confidence to interact with the public. With the goal of creating high-quality employees, I first formed a group of 100 women under my leadership. They were trained in IT, soft skills, and relevant technical expertise, alongside behavioural and personal development programmes,” she recalls.
As more women began entering the workforce, it brought about remarkable progress across the country. Building on this success, Nezrin developed and submitted a project aimed at fostering entrepreneurship at the school level. The initiative, titled Entrepreneurial Mindset Development Programme, targeted young people between the ages of 14 and 25. Through this programme, hundreds of thousands of students were guided towards entrepreneurship.
Touching hearts in Malappuram
Nezrin has always cherished a dream of uplifting women in her native Malappuram. As a first step, she established Nez and Co, an educational consultancy where 80 percent of the staff are women. Nez and Co has opened up a world of knowledge and opportunities for women and girls, many of whom have become financially independent after completing courses at the academy.
“Many of them now work from home or part-time for multinational companies. Our courses enable them to secure jobs with good incomes in a short period,” she says. The academy also offers training in digital marketing and AI-based courses.
There is an interesting story behind the name Nez and Co. “We were struggling to decide on a name for the new venture when the co-founder suggested using my name. So Nezrin was shortened to Nez,” she shares with a smile.
Her other venture, Profile Business Solution, headquartered in Mukkam, provides services to business owners. From company registration and scale-up strategies to intellectual property, finance, and business consultancy, it offers comprehensive support. The company also assists entrepreneurs with angel investments for promising projects or businesses that are already performing well.
A legacy spanning countries
Nezrin’s business empire is not confined to Malappuram. She has expanded to Saudi Arabia, Dubai, and the UK. Her areas of focus include digital marketing, IT, and education. The advertising agency in Saudi Arabia is flourishing, and in the UK, she runs a brand of Study Abroad, which aims to provide jobs and educational opportunities for young women.
Passionate about cultivating young entrepreneurs, she recalls: “I did ten episodes for Victers Channel’s Njan Samrambhakan, which received an excellent response. It was designed to instil entrepreneurial thinking in students.”
Now, Nezrin is preparing to take her ventures to the next level – with plans for a Dubai-based university initiative. Very soon, she will take charge of a prominent university, marking yet another milestone in her inspiring journey.
