# Ghulam Murtaza | Overcoming Adversity: An Inspiring Tale of Perseverance

- Show: [Being an Engineer](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer)
- Published: 2026-10-30
- Length: 41m
- Episode: 45
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2026-10-30-ghulam-murtaza-overcoming-adversity-an-inspiring-tale-of-perseverance

## Summary

Ghulam Murtaza, a Controls Project Engineer at Vanderlande, shares his journey from digitizing his father's construction ledgers in Pakistan to earning a master's in robotics and AI at the University at Buffalo. He details overcoming visa delays, family resistance, and university rejections to build a career in industrial automation, where he developed tools like a Parts Lookup app and systems for equipment monitoring. Murtaza explains how he leveraged Python, AWS, and data analytics to solve inefficiencies in Amazon fulfillment operations, transitioning from a volunteer role to a full-time position by demonstrating his coding capabilities through a personal portfolio.

## Chapters

- [0:00](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2026-10-30-ghulam-murtaza-overcoming-adversity-an-inspiring-tale-of-perseverance#t=0) Introduction: Ghulam Murtaza and his early inspiration
- [2:21](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2026-10-30-ghulam-murtaza-overcoming-adversity-an-inspiring-tale-of-perseverance#t=141) Digitizing his father's construction business at age 10
- [4:56](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2026-10-30-ghulam-murtaza-overcoming-adversity-an-inspiring-tale-of-perseverance#t=296) Winning the national robotics competition and family conflict
- [8:30](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2026-10-30-ghulam-murtaza-overcoming-adversity-an-inspiring-tale-of-perseverance#t=510) Overcoming university rejections and visa obstacles
- [18:37](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2026-10-30-ghulam-murtaza-overcoming-adversity-an-inspiring-tale-of-perseverance#t=1117) Building a portfolio and getting hired at CBRE
- [21:26](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2026-10-30-ghulam-murtaza-overcoming-adversity-an-inspiring-tale-of-perseverance#t=1286) Developing the Parts Lookup app and automation tools
- [25:19](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2026-10-30-ghulam-murtaza-overcoming-adversity-an-inspiring-tale-of-perseverance#t=1519) Interpreting a prophetic dream and career progression
- [32:51](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2026-10-30-ghulam-murtaza-overcoming-adversity-an-inspiring-tale-of-perseverance#t=1971) Perspectives on AI as a tool versus a threat
- [36:03](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2026-10-30-ghulam-murtaza-overcoming-adversity-an-inspiring-tale-of-perseverance#t=2163) Advice on perseverance and future goals

## Topics

- [Careers & education](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/engineering-careers-and-education)
- [Validation & product-market fit](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/validation-and-product-market-fit)
- [AI & machine learning](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/ai-and-machine-learning)
- [Starting a product company](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/starting-a-company)

## Most relevant to

early-stage companies

## Mentioned

- Vanderlande (company)
- CBRE (company)
- Amazon (company)
- University at Buffalo (other)
- Parts Lookup app (product)
- Python (tool)
- AWS (tool)
- PLCs (tool)
- HMIs (tool)
- VFDs (tool)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [Building an Automation Company on Ambition and Hustle with Malachi Greb](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/manufacturing-happy-hour/2022-11-15-building-an-automation-company-on-ambition-and-hustle-with-malachi-greb) (Manufacturing Happy Hour)
- [Building a Next Gen Industrial Automation Marketplace with Roman Piszcz, Founder of Quotebeam](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/manufacturing-happy-hour/2022-04-19-building-a-next-gen-industrial-automation-marketplace-with-roman-piszcz-founder) (Manufacturing Happy Hour)
- [From Robotics to Workforce to Tech in Pop Culture with FedEx’s Aaron Prather](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/manufacturing-happy-hour/2021-06-15-from-robotics-to-workforce-to-tech-in-pop-culture-with-fedexs-aaron-prather) (Manufacturing Happy Hour)
- [333: Project Purgatory](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2020-06-04-333-project-purgatory) (Embedded.fm)
- [Training the Technician of the Future](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-manufacturing-executive/2022-08-30-training-the-technician-of-the-future) (The Manufacturing Executive)

## Citing this page

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