We recently had the privilege of interviewing Sowaba Shehzad, CEO of Moulded Optics, a pioneering company specializing in producing high-precision optical glass components for diverse industries through blank moulding technology. With a demonstrated history of working in the production industry and expertise in international trading, Sowaba acquired Moulded Optics to follow her passion for contributing towards sustainable innovation in optics manufacturing. A visionary and determined leader, her career trajectory is marked with several milestones, and awards recognizing her performance over the years. Leveraging her international experience and strategic vision, Sowaba is guiding Moulded Optics toward sustainable growth and modernization—strengthening its position as a trusted leader in the precision optics industry.
The Beginning
We started the session by asking, “Can you share your journey into the optical industry? What inspired you to start Moulded Optics?”
Sowaba Shehzad shared, ‘I moved to Germany a few years ago, building on my educational and business background in Europe, along with extensive professional experience with German companies. I began my career at Siemens in Pakistan as a student employee and, within three years, rose to lead one of the company’s business units—an experience that rooted me early in German corporate culture and operational excellence. I later transitioned into entrepreneurship through our family business, where we maintained long-standing partnerships with German brands, importing advanced machinery and premium products. This gave me deep insight into the values defining German industry: precision, structure, and a long-term commitment to quality and innovation.
Having led businesses across sectors—from woodworking and interior technology to infrastructure and engineering—I’ve always been drawn to technically demanding, globally relevant environments. After relocating, I actively searched for a company aligned with my family’s long-term investment strategy and my own aspiration to lead a technically sophisticated, globally scalable German industrial enterprise. Moulded Optics was a natural fit. A well-established SME with over two decades of experience in precision optics, the company manufactures glass optical components for airfield lighting, medical diagnostics, LED, and industrial imaging. With in-house design, molding, polishing, coating, and ISO 9001-certified systems, it stood on solid engineering ground.
What truly drew me in, though, was the opportunity to contribute to the future of German industry—not just by sustaining excellence, but by evolving the culture. I’ve embraced the challenge of bringing an international mindset, innovation-oriented leadership, and long-term strategic clarity to a technically rigorous sector. Having experienced the strength of the ‘Made in Germany’ promise throughout my earlier ventures, I view this as both a responsibility and a privilege’
Navigating through Challenging Phases
Challenges are an inevitable part of growth in a professional journey. So, we asked Sowaba Shehzad, “What are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced in the optics manufacturing industry, and how have you overcome them?”
Optics manufacturing is one of the most technically demanding production processes. From rod molding to grinding, polishing, and final inspection, each stage demands extreme precision, deep process knowledge, and skilled manual work—expertise that’s hard to automate and often takes decades to master. Across Europe, the industry faces a shrinking pool of technical talent and rising absenteeism. For us, this is not just a staffing concern—it’s a strategic challenge that impacts quality, continuity, and future scalability.To build resilience and stay competitive, we’re investing in talent development, cross-training, and process modernization.
Embracing Digital Revolution
Technological advancements are playing a crucial role in redefining businesses across industries. To learn more, we requested Sowaba Shehzad to share how Moulded Optics is leveraging innovation and technology to stay ahead in the industry.
Sowaba Shehzad mentioned, “Moulded Optics specializes in custom-made optical components used in industries such as aviation, medical devices, lasers, and LED technology. Our core strength lies in designing and manufacturing these solutions to precise client specifications.
We’re now moving toward a more scientific and data-driven approach in product development. We are incorporating digital tools, exploring automation, and modernizing our internal systems to improve efficiency and traceability.
“I believe in collaborative innovation,” Sowaba adds. “We partner with top research institutes and partners to co-develop new technologies, while sharing our own industry insights to bridge the gap between research and practice. You can’t innovate in isolation—building collaborative ecosystems is the smart way forward
This synergy allows us to co-create smarter solutions and stay at the cutting edge of the industry. I believe you can’t do everything alone—building collaborative ecosystems is the smart way forward.”
Values Driving Growth at Moulded Optics
To learn more, we further asked Sowaba Shehzad to share her leadership principles as a CEO, to drive growth and success in her company.
“My leadership style is grounded in understanding people, inspiring shared purpose, and creating space for others to grow. Coming from a different cultural background, I’ve developed a strong sensitivity to human dynamics, which helps me connect with individuals on a deeper level. I see leadership not as a position of control, but as a responsibility to empower—supporting others in adapting, evolving, and finding their own voice as leaders.
Having lived and worked in various parts of the world, I’ve learned how to lead diverse teams with empathy and effectiveness. At Moulded Optics, our workforce spans different cultures and generations. I see this diversity not as a challenge, but as a tremendous strength. We cultivate open communication, alignment around shared goals, and a culture of mutual respect. When people feel heard and appreciated, they bring their best selves to work,” explained Sowaba.
Sowaba Shehzad added, “Sustainability is at the core of our mission at Moulded Optics. We’ve already taken concrete steps by using recycled materials, minimizing production waste, and working with long-lasting, self-engineered machinery to reduce our energy footprint. We’re also exploring higher-level sustainability audits to further align our operations with long-term environmental goals. It’s not just about compliance—it’s about responsibility. We see ourselves as part of a broader ecosystem, and we want to ensure our legacy is both innovative and sustainable.”
Words of Wisdom: Insights of an Expert
As a female leader in a technical field, we requested Sowaba Shehzad to share advice addressing aspiring women entrepreneurs and professionals.
Sowaba Shehzad responded, “My message to women is this: never underestimate your ability to adapt, lead, and thrive—especially in industries that may seem outside your previous experience. When I moved to Germany, I stepped into a completely new world. My background was in woodworking, textiles, and kitchen appliances, and suddenly, I was leading a company in the high-precision optics sector. I didn’t have technical expertise in optics, but I had the leadership experience, strategic mindset, and emotional intelligence to guide the company forward.
Leadership is not about knowing everything from the start; it’s about having the confidence to make decisions, the courage to take risks, and the openness to learn and grow. These qualities are at the core of entrepreneurship as well. Being an entrepreneur means navigating the unknown, making the best of what you have, and adapting your vision to seize new opportunities. Women possess incredible resilience, adaptability, and the ability to manage complex challenges. These are not just soft skills—they are the foundation of strong leadership and successful entrepreneurship. So, be bold enough to explore new paths.”
Plans we asked Sowaba Shehzad
Interested to learn the plans Sowaba Shehzad has for the growth of her company, we posed the question, “What are your plans for Moulded Optics in terms of global expansion and future business strategies?”
“Our future strategy involves expanding our product portfolio and exploring high-growth international markets. The aim is not just to grow, but to grow intelligently—with a focus on sustainability, innovation, and adaptability. As markets evolve, so must we,” she replied.
Career-Defining Experiences
We ended the session by asking, “What is one piece of advice that has shaped your career, and what would you like to share with emerging entrepreneurs?”
“One of the most important lessons I’ve learned is that authentic leadership forms the backbone of any successful venture. Whether it’s with your internal team, clients, or strategic partners—at the core, it’s about trust, transparency, and collaboration, not just products or numbers. For emerging entrepreneurs, my advice is to remain true to your purpose, your people, and yourself. By people, I mean all your stakeholders—employees, mentors, clients, and partners. Stay open to feedback and embrace continuous learning, because challenges will always arise. But every challenge also presents an opportunity for growth and transformation.
Personally, I’ve learned the most during turbulent times. Each challenge gave me a new lesson and helped me evolve into a more resilient and capable leader. When I entered Moulded Optics, I stepped into a traditional and somewhat conservative culture—but in a short time, I managed to introduce a more agile and inclusive work culture. I would also like to share a guiding principle that has shaped my journey. While I trust my own judgment and independent thinking, I have always placed great importance on the guidance of mentors and experts. Their perspectives have enriched my decisions, broadened my understanding, and helped me grow at every stage of my life.
One of the most pivotal figures in my early professional journey was Mr. Sohail Wajahat Siddiqui, then CEO of Siemens Pakistan. He helped me recognize my leadership potential and shaped how I view responsibility and impact. To this day, I stay in touch with my mentors and professors and continue seeking their advice. For me, being open to guidance is not a sign of weakness, it’s a mark of self-awareness and strength,” Sowaba mentioned.
To learn more about Sowaba Shehzad, visit http://www.sowabashehzad.com/
Find Moulded Optics on their website http://www.mouldedoptics.com/
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