Thinking of an alternative career? Hear from these 8 mavericks who made it big in individual fields

The best success stories aren’t the ones which boast of big bank accounts and deal breakers.
True success lies in happiness, in doing what you love and loving what you do.
ICE Today brings forth 8 professionals who have dared to dream and forge paths in fields that are out of the ordinary. They have excelled, pioneered and thrived in their roles and opened up avenues for those that are scared to take that leap of faith. From pursuing a career as a renowned dancer, to a game developer, or even to a sports coach, these career choices are unconventional and need more than just textbook smarts. It needs guts, drive and a lot of determination to go for what you want. Flip through these pages and read on to find how our career heroes have mastered in their respective fields alongside inspiring many to follow their hearts.

Stage and Television actor Ataur Rahman sheds Light on building a career in performing arts

“For any performing art, one has to believe what he or she is doing; every actor has his/her own diction; and that’s what makes each actor different from the other,” says eminent theatre actor Ataur Rahman.
In the broad spectrum of arts, theatre acting is one of those areas which are pursued by only a handful of enthusiastic individuals. “Being a good actor isn’t all, you have to have faith in your words. A simple phrase like ‘I love you’ needs the right amount of stress so that when one says it, they mean it. Moreover, the beloved has to believe in it,” he stresses.

Rahman’s guide to being a stellar performer is …
“To own the stage, one must know the variations of language in order to master the pronunciations. The youth must immerse themselves in English and Bengali such as the likes of Kalidas, Homer’s Iliad and Odyssey, to grasp the depth of both languages,” he claims.
However, Rahman also explains that reading, in this context should be purely for enjoyment, as opposed to literary confinement. He also suggests that on the side of watching dramas they must also follow jatra performances to draw inspiration from them.
Walking down this creative path is indeed a gamble for aspiring theatre actors, since training facilities in Bangladesh is scarce. “Existing institutes are trying to incorporate drama into their curriculum, hence, universities like Jahangirnagar, Dhaka University and Chittagong University has formed a separate department dedicated to theatre artistry. There are few known private schools; one being run by actor and director Ramendu Majumdar. Prachyanat too has also established a school which provides a 1 year diploma course on acting,” Rahman informs.
Having performed in 112 dramas in both English and Bengali, the stage and television actor reckons that a career like theatre acting may not be a fruitful one professionally. “To keep your passion alive, you must have a source of income on the side to fall back on. That’s what me, and my fellow colleagues Aly Zaker, Abdullah Al Mamun as well as Mamunur Rashid did, when we began performing on stage, he concludes.”


Dancer and performer Lubna Mariam encourages aspiring dancers to step it up

“A polish artist once quoted as dance to be 1% talent and 99% hard work and I firmly believe that,” discloses the renowned dancer Lubna Mariam to the youth willing to pursue dance beyond just a mere hobby.
According to the avid dancer, performer and art director, dance, just like any other form of art, requires many years of formal training. “From my experience, dance requires at least 7 to 8 years of training,” affirms the performer who also operates two separate dance organisations in the capital called Shadhona and its sister concern Kolpotoru.
Breaking the predominant belief that dance solely cannot be sufficient as a career option, a hopeful Lubna Mariam is determined that a change in the scenario maybe slow but undoubtedly emergent – “At Shadhona we do not just deliver dance but also the background of this form of art and the theories along with it as a result we have had many students who have considered it as a career choice.”

Lubna outlines the academic and professional opportunities for dancers in the country…
Alumni from the institution have been sent for overseas training and several have been able to secure employment in various fields related to dance. Every year Shadhona gives out scholarships for higher studies abroad and many of these achievers upon return have actually settled down in the corporate world and in the media. Some have also engaged themselves as choreographers as well as in the teaching field. “I am looking forward to these young talents coming back to practice and write dance; they have so much to offer to the generation after them” urges an optimistic Lubna.
Contrary to popular belief, dance is not only limited to a handful of career choices, it has different variations. Besides the popular vocational opportunities in choreography and media, there is another aspect of dance as a career; writing dance or more widely known as dance studies. “This could be another career option especially after 8-9 years of training from childhood which is closely related to literary studies” informs Lubna. With the commencement of a separate entity of department of dance at Dhaka University , a thrilled Lubna is anticipant this will advocate change in the present stagnant scenario – “We have so many genres within the country- classical, contemporary urban, folk – for the rest of the world to divulge to about Bangladesh.”
As the eminent performer abridges about her area of expertise, she goes on to say how dance is ephemeral and the amount of joy it diffuses is phenomenal. The stellar dancer ends by sharing her foremost strategy to master this art is through practice. “Nothing can replace regular practice, hence my organization is called Shadhona which means practice,” pledges a smiling Lubna.


Head of Program at BASTOB, Ranjit Chandra Das trained Bangladesh Women’s National Basketball team

Ranjit Das is a professional basketball coach. He believes that, with true commitment, one can develop his/her skills in sports, which is not considered a very sought-after career choice. Ranjit adds, “There is a demand for professional sports coach in Bangladesh; however, the number of professionals in the field are low.”
One can start by working in schools, colleges, universities, district sports association, divisional sports association, national sports councils, clubs and all the concerned sports federation. There are also scopes to get employment as the referee, match commissioner and match officials. Ranjit enlightens us about the various training centres available, such as Training of Trainer (ToT), coaches’ clinic organised by Bangladesh Olympic association and National Sports Council, coaches’ and referee clinic every year with the help of FIBA conducted by Bangladesh Basketball Federation.

Ranjit Das chalks out the qualities that make a good coach
A good player is not always a good coach. Their skillset should shine through his/her her area of expertise alongside their physical fitness. Aspiring coaches must stay updated about the new rules and techniques of the sport they specialise in. Furthermore, they will also have to observe the opposition’s game plan to prepare his own.
“Not all good players can be coaches. A good coach should be result oriented and understand the players’ sentiments, likes, dislikes and focus on individual care,” emphasises Ranjit, urging the youth to understand the concept of ‘survival of the fittest.’


Bapon Rahman, make-up expert & partner at Divine Beauty Lounge, guides you through the pathways of becoming a makeup artist

“It requires passion; more than anything else, actually, ” he says. Growing up, Bapon would put make-up on his sisters and mother. He had a knack for it, yes; however, he polished his skills and learnt new techniques simply by never giving up on his dreams. Despite the highs and lows that he encountered, Bapon’s drive and determination made it possible for him to pursue his choice of career.

Bapon gives his insight on how one can become a successful makeup artist…
There are institutes that offer courses and diploma on makeup in both Bangladesh and in countries such as Germany, Thailand and several others. Also, there are professionally trained makeup artists who conduct makeup workshops. Conventionally, Bapon believes that these courses can only get you so far. One needs to teach themselves not just the techniques but also different aspects of makeup, learn about other peoples’ works, and keep up with the latest trends.
There are many career prospects in this field. One can start by investing in their own home studio, conduct workshop for amateurs and enthusiasts. To take it to the next level, one can even invest in a salon. From fashion makeup to creative makeup, Bangladesh has setup quite and avenue in the last few years and Bapon encourages new makeup artists to come into this field for more diversity.


Shahriar Caesar Rahman lays the groundwork for pursuing a career in conservation biology

Working for the welfare of animals doesn’t come out of a whim; you need to be one with nature and wildlife to value its core being. Conservation Biologist, Shahriar Caesar Rahman strives to ensure that humans and animals coexist without serving as a threat to each other. “Conservation biology is a relatively new field, especially in Bangladesh; to thrive in this line of work, one must simply love what they do,” he explains.

Caesar’s guide to embracing life as a conservation biologist…
A country where human lives are already at stake, wildlife preservation comes as a massive challenge. But with the right amount of dedication, anything is possible. “This is a multidisciplinary field so it’s essential for the youth to have knowledge in subjects like sociology, psychology as well as politics to understand the environment they will be working with. Contrary to popular belief, 90% work in conversation biology is with people; the rest 10% is with animals, so it’s imperative that you have good communication skills,” elaborates Caesar. He also adds that patience and perseverance should be second nature when pursuing a career down this path.
The life of a conservation biologist is nothing like an average 9-5 job; it’s the kind that’s bound to keep you on edge. “You can only survive this journey if you truly commit to saving species; you have to put aside the thought of money when embarking on this journey. If you have the necessary skills, this field will certainly offer better opportunities,” he highlights.
Caesar truly believes that one can hone skills in conservation biology by immersing themselves in extensive fieldwork. “You have to go beyond textbook knowledge to succeed in the field of conservation through practical experience. While you’re at it, you should meet people and expand your network as much as you can. In Bangladesh there are few organisations where you can volunteer or do internships such as WCS- Bangladesh, IUCN, WildTeam, TheArannyak Foundation (AF), and NSU Earth Club, to gain experience,” he says.
To survive as a conservation biologist, one must prep themselves to face all the struggles that would come along the way. In Caesar’s opinion, it’s key to step outside one’s comfort zone to get ahead in this territory. “One must focus on their strengths; everything else will fall into place,” he wraps up.


Editor of Star weekend, at The Daily Star, Elita Karim doles out advice for aspiring journalists who wish to build a career in entertainment journalism

In entertainment journalism, one should tread carefully. Hence Elita suggests tips and tricks to avoid pitfalls. “Make sure that the news you are working on is authentic and that you can back it up with sources. Celebrity gossip is ‘old news’ and ‘overrated’ but actual bits and pieces of positive news (like an announcement of a concert or the release of a movie or maybe even something nice and warm shared by the celebrity on their social media platform) could actually lighten up someone’s day,” she advises.
“Aspiring journalists can start their own website, blog or open a channel on YouTube to showcase their news items or they can work for newspapers that already boast infrastructures for this genre of journalism.” She also suggests that they go for the TV channels where many kinds of celebrity and entertainment news and features are showcased.

According to Elita, an easy way to be a seasoned entertainment journalist is..
“To bring an x-factor to the news piece. Try to focus on the intellectual side of the celebrity as well — books they like to read, what they think of the current political situation etc. Do your research before you ask celebrities questions.”
Journalists get a bad reputation for hounding and harassing celebrities. Elita firmly advocates against jumping into that bandwagon. “Respect their privacy. In fact, if you are respectful, friendly and honest regarding your work — you will turn out to be a ‘celebrity’ of sorts amongst the existing celebrities,” she smiles.


Co-Founder & Deputy Managing Director of Appnometry, Riyadh Hossain, tells us how the gaming industry is a lucrative market for game developers

Mobile Gaming is a relatively new sector in Bangladesh. Games have been developed since 2002, mostly independently. However, from 2012, some IT companies have started to develop video and mobile games commercially. There has also been some research carried out at various universities for the betterment of the video game development sector. “As these new technologies continue to march forward, they are altering the ways that brands, marketers and advertisers can take advantage of enhanced viewer engagement across various screens and platforms,” explains Riyadh. He points out areas enthusiasts can go for
Game development (requires logic and art) Game design (requires art and skill-set of visualisation) Game art (needs excellent visualisation and drawing skill set as well as colour concepts) Game testing (needs logic and effort) Given this industry’s scope, the government too has given utmost importance to ensure participation of Bangladesh in the $ 100 billion worth of International Gaming Market. “In fact, it is now being considered as the vital stake towards achieving the Sustainable Digital Bangladesh goal. Gaming is now used for marketing and education purposes as well. Career progression too is relatively fast paced leading up to senior level positions which include technical directors, developers, producers and team managers,” shares Riyadh.

An easy way into game development is …
to begin as a quality assurance tester. Anyone can then progress to a lead tester role within a few years and potentially move on to the design or production side or even into management.
Freelance work is possible and, with experience, you may choose to build up your own business and set up your own development studio. There is also the option to specialise in the developing areas of the industry such as wireless platforms, interactive game applications and online gaming.


Ridwan Hafiz, Co-Founder & The People’s Champ at Analyzen steps forward to present his view on the career prospects of digital media

An ever-growing field like digital media is always discovering something new in every corner of the world. The ever growing necessity of marketing and spreading awareness through digital platforms has led to digital media being a lucrative field of opportunities and innovations. But compared to traditional media, the scopes for this platform are not defined yet. However, in this field, not only can you find new prospects but also create them. Analyzen’s founder and innovator, Ridwan Hafiz, walks the youth through the know-hows of working in digital media.
Ridwan gives pointers on how to ace the digital world…

Unlike conventional career choices that require a set curriculum, Ridwan Hafiz urges that specialising in the digital media doesn’t require on to stick to textbooks. “A stellar cv or CGPA will not be enough for this job. It requires passion and hands-on experience starting from your freshman years,” assures Ridwan. Creativity cannot be taught in classrooms and digital media is a platform where creativity and vision must come to play. He also adds that while they are at it, they must also remember that the industry they are stepping into is new, both domestically and internationally. Hence, in order to secure a successful career in this field, one needs to think outside the box.
There are however, certain issues that employers in this field are meticulous about. “This career will require you to have a proper educational background, relevant experiences and will evaluate how active and proactive you are in the world of digital media. Employers also notice how you have articulated your vision and ideas into actions in your previous experiences.” The social media extraordinaire also mentions that candidates who can dream big in this line of work are a great asset to this field. He concludes on a humorous note by saying that this is the only profession where one can claim “I get paid to use Facebook.”

 

Photograph by Kazi Mukul
Photo by Adnan Azad Asif
Photograph from ICE Today archives