Imamull Qhaeer Returns to The Starting Line

There’s something quietly grounding about being invited back to a place where your thinking was first shaped — especially when you return not as a student, but as a practitioner still learning in public.

Earlier this January, Imamull Qhaeer was invited by Miss Aqilah Muzani (Miss Q) to speak to her U-Beyond students at Universiti Brunei Darussalam, unpacking entrepreneurship in the digital age. It wasn’t framed as a motivational talk or a “how-to” session. Instead, it was an honest conversation about thinking, responsibility, and the realities founders rarely see early enough.

What made the invitation especially meaningful was context. The venue sat just minutes away from where AICREATIVV once operated out of the UBD Startup Centre — a reminder of where things began, how uncertain it once felt, and why staying grounded matters no matter how far you move forward.

Day One: Thinking Before Acting

Rather than starting with tools, platforms, or tactics, the session began with something more uncomfortable: limiting beliefs.

Entrepreneurship, as Imamull Qhaeer shared, is not about doing easier things better — it’s about choosing harder paths and learning to bear the weight that comes with them. Growth in business often mirrors personal growth, and avoiding that reality only delays the work.

In the digital era, visibility is often mistaken for success. Engagement, likes, and reach can look convincing on the surface, but without clarity of audience and intention, they remain vanity signals. The real work starts when founders understand who they are speaking to, what they stand for, and why their story matters.

Storytelling, however, isn’t about oversharing or playing the hero. A founder who always wins feels unreal. Struggle, when shared with intention and balance, builds trust — but too much vulnerability without direction can weaken perceived value. The discipline lies in knowing what to show, when to show it, and how it aligns with the larger narrative.

After the session, the group gathered over drinks at Mantuka Cafe, a simple gesture from Miss Q that quietly reinforced what the day was about: community, conversation, and care beyond the classroom.

"Your story is content"

Group photo!

Thanks, Miss Q for the treat! Do support Mantuka Cafe

A Pause to Remember

Before the second day, there was time to revisit the old office grounds. No speeches. No photos. Just a quiet moment of remembering early doubts, small wins, and how far consistency can take you.

It was a reminder that credibility isn’t built overnight — it’s accumulated through showing up, failing visibly, and continuing anyway.

Day Two: When Ideas Meet Reality

The following day shifted from theory to application, as Imamull Qhaeer returned as one of the judges for the students’ pitch presentations. This was where assumptions surfaced quickly.

Strong ideas weren’t always paired with clear execution. Some teams leaned heavily on novelty without understanding sustainability. Others struggled to articulate who their product was truly for. The judging process became less about choosing “winners” and more about sharpening how students think — questioning statements, challenging absolutes, and encouraging clarity over complexity.

Joining the session were Ampuan Hafiz, Haziyah Azalmey, Nuur Batrisyia Ali, and media intern Farah Yasmin, marking her first-ever external event coverage — a small milestone, but an important one.

It's a wrap!

Judges' panel

Student's pitch presentation

Carrying the Responsibility Forward

Teaching, at its core, isn’t about transferring answers. It’s about helping people ask better questions.

This two-day engagement was made possible by Miss Q’s trust and continued commitment to creating spaces where students can engage directly with practitioners — not to be inspired briefly, but to think more deeply about the paths they’re choosing.

As founders and creatives, there’s a quiet responsibility that comes with experience: to stay accessible, to remain honest, and to keep showing up for the next generation — not as role models on pedestals, but as people still learning, still questioning, and still grounded by where they began.

And sometimes, that starts simply by returning to the starting line.

Going back to the starting line.