Latest update January 21st, 2025 4:34 AM
Oct 04, 2015 News
“Be open to possibilities but practice the power of discernment…sharpen your ability to see and understand people, things, or situations clearly and intelligently.”
By Kiana Wilburg
With an unrelenting passion to make the world a better place, a young man pursued the wonders of the medical field. He attended the Georgetown International Academy, moved on to the American International School of Medicine (ASIM) where he wrote his United States Medical Licensing Exam (USMLE) and graduated with a Medical Degree (MD).
But after investing so much time, energy and dedication into this field, Dr. Rosh Khan would soon leave it all behind, only to inject more passion into the unpredictable world of business.
He was convinced that this was the right decision to make. And Dr. Khan was not going to be the ordinary businessman. For him, it was important to be the entrepreneur who pioneered something profoundly unique. His quest was to market a product or service that would in his words, “produce profits with purpose.”
Today, Khan runs a fruitful business, Social Rank Media, and comfortably earned himself two titles; the man who can take your business from nothing to jaw dropping profits and the one who has unlocked the secret to successfully marketing business via social media.
Childhood and Family
Taking Kaieteur News through his journey to his up-and-coming position to date, Dr. Khan explained that his childhood was an adventure.
“I felt like I was growing up in two worlds at once. On Saturdays, I would visit the Bourda Market with my mom and I remember being fascinated by the vendors and the myriad of fruits in front of me. I remember running through the passage-ways like a kid in a maze, finding gems in every corner. And of course, I remember being able to keep the occasional $20 change which meant the world to me,” he recounted.
The businessman continued, “But at the same time, I remember growing up, spending most of the time at school – specifically, the Georgetown International Academy, which served as a microcosm of the world. There were students from every imaginable country and the school’s administrators ensured we interacted on such a deep level that we learnt from everyone’s culture.”
In providing an example, he said, “I still recall giving presentations where I had to pretend as if I were from Rwanda. And friends from Sweden had to pretend they were from Guyana. It was a beautiful mix of cultures, races, and perspectives. Looking back, I can say it helped mold me into the person I am today.”
Dr. Khan said that he feels very blessed to have been raised by two phenomenal parents, Mr. Roshan Khan and Mrs. Latchmin Khan. He said that they created an atmosphere that fostered growth and propelled him to give only his best.
“Who I am today is a direct reflection of who they were and are as great parents. They are amazing. My three younger siblings, Katherina Roshana, Latifan Jagarnauth, and Roshaad Lall, are also spectacular. Their continued motivation makes me feel like anything is achievable. We are a close-knit family,” he said.
From Medicine to Business
In the medical field, Dr. Khan is easily recognized as an individual with great promise, but the decision to explore the volatile landscape of business for him was necessary.
Dr. Khan explained firstly that his decision to go to medical school was fueled by that urge “to make the world a better place”.
“I wrote the USMLE (United States Medical Licensing Exam) and graduated from AISM (American International School of Medicine) in Atlanta, Georgia, at age 23. But I realized that through entrepreneurship, it would be possible to fund other projects on a grander scale. And with a successful business, the profits can be utilized for humanitarian ventures, such as constructing hospitals, building schools, awarding research grants, and conducting medical outreaches. I’ve often said that business must be about profits but profits must have purpose,” said Dr. Khan.
He added, “So, for now, I’m taking somewhat of a lengthy detour with entrepreneurship before I ultimately head back to medicine.”
The businessman said that it was not a difficult transitioning from one field to the next stating that he had read books like “Investing For Dummies” and “Arc of Ambition” along with magazines like Inc, Forbes, and SUCCESS.
He said that with these “tid bits” of knowledge in his mental arsenal, he was eager and ready to dive into the world of entrepreneurship and serve the world in an even more diverse way.
Social Rank Media
Dr. Khan explained that Social Rank Media located at 125 Regent Rd Bourda, offers social media marketing and management services by leveraging social media platforms like Facebook, LinkedIn, Youtube, and Twitter for businesses – with the mission of increasing reach and sales, all the while reducing their traditional advertising costs.
The young social media specialist said that the truth is most businesses are aware that billboards, newspapers, and radio, don’t work like they used to.
As a result, he said that they turn to social media but unfortunately, most approach it the wrong way. “That’s why we’re here; to teach and implement successful strategies for them.”
But starting the company from scratch was not a walk in the park for him. He said that financing his company in its early days was all about “the hustle”.
“I was armed with a laptop and an internet connection (often borrowed from a nearby café). But, I still needed to capital to print flyers and brochures. So I took on odd-end jobs like being the ‘flower delivery boy’ with 1-800-Flowers in Atlanta, GA.”
He continued, “I started my company by “hitting the pavement” and knocking on doors, explaining my services and hoping clients would sign up with me. I am very grateful to my first few clients. After all, I was able to build a portfolio based on their successful social media campaigns and after my first year in business, I was able to work for large global brands like Starbucks, Armani Exchange, Ford, and many others.”
Dr. Khan said that in Guyana, he was been blessed to work with companies like Giftland, Bruster’s Real Ice Cream, Metro Office and Computer Supplies, RK’s Security Services, Essential Care Agency, the Guyana Telephone and Telegraph Company, and Gizmos and Gadgets.
His company is currently in the process of signing up approximately a dozen new local clients. In addition to this, Social Media Rank also does a lot of “probono” work for charitable causes and organizations. He said that he would be willing to answer any other question on the power of social media in advertising and he can be contacted via email on [email protected].
Current projects
Dr. Khan recently launched his first “4-Week Entrepreneurship Master class” for the local market. The businessman disclosed that he also does a lot of mentorship for entrepreneurs in the USA but after talking with so many young people in Guyana, he believes that there is a renewed sense of entrepreneurship here.
“I believe that it’s time that someone brought practical knowledge about how to start and run a successful business – without needing a whole bunch of degrees to do so.”
Common mistakes
The upcoming social media guru said that most companies make common mistakes when advertising on social media, one of which includes treating it like old-school traditional media.
Dr. Khan said that social media is a completely different platform. He emphasized that it’s a two-way dialogue and not a one-way monologue. He said that it’s about listening, sharing valuable information, and having a conversation that leads to sales. Not about screaming “SALE SALE SALE.” He said that people will eventually tune you out and stop listening to what you have to say and/or offer.
The businessman said that often business owners don’t think about the “WIIFM Principle”. The WIIFM acronym means What’s In It For Me.
“Many businesses are focused on their bottomline. That’s fine. That’s the way businesses should operate. But if you’re not framing your message so that it responds to the NEEDS and PAINS a prospect/customer may have, then they won’t see any need in buying your product to begin with. No matter what you do, put yourself in the mind of the customer and ask yourself, “What’s In It For Me?”
Dr. Khan asserted that social media can be the one thing that makes or breaks a business.
“But let’s be clear about something. Simply using social media does not guarantee any sort of success. Using social media the RIGHT way does.”
Volunteer work
Given his still ignited desire to change the world one good deed at a time, it comes as no surprise that when Dr. Khan is not working on one of his multiple businesses, he is involved with the Global Shapers Community – Georgetown Hub. This is a group eager to create a positive impact in their community.
As the Curator for 2014-2015, Dr. Khan and the group embarked on some great projects.
They include: the Head Start Stationery Drive 2014 where 500 school children in the Hinterland communities were supplied with stationery and school supplies, the Peace Day Initiative where they partnered with the S4 Foundation to make clothes available and to offer dental aid to the St. Cuthbert’s community, the Mobile Soup Kitchen, where they cooked and distributed hot meals for 500 individuals around Georgetown and the Ultimate Communications Workshop 2014. On the latter project, they conducted a communications-oriented workshop geared for young professionals as a fundraiser for the “Save The Libraries Initiative”, which raised $500,000.
He and his team are also poised to roll out a mental health awareness project. He is also involved with the Universal Peace Federation.
Advice
To the young and ambitious entrepreneurs, Dr. Khan says that there’s no shortcut or magic recipe to success.
“Get serious with yourself, plan accordingly, and just put in the work. A lot of young entrepreneurs seem lazy or entitled – don’t fall into that trap too. Be open to possibilities but practice the power of discernment. That is, to sharpen your ability to see and understand people, things, or situations clearly and intelligently.”
He said that the big secret lies in knowing that failure is never the final destination but simply consider failure as a lesson learnt.
Jan 21, 2025
Kaieteur Sports- Mainstay Goldstar FC has officially earned its place in Season 7 of the Elite League following a 1-0 victory over Mahaica Determinators FC in the Qualification Play-Off Finals held...Peeping Tom… Kaieteur News- What if in tabling the 2025 Budget, the Minister with responsibility for Finance did... more
Antiguan Barbudan Ambassador to the United States, Sir Ronald Sanders By Sir Ronald Sanders Kaieteur News- The upcoming election... more
Freedom of speech is our core value at Kaieteur News. If the letter/e-mail you sent was not published, and you believe that its contents were not libellous, let us know, please contact us by phone or email.
Feel free to send us your comments and/or criticisms.
Contact: 624-6456; 225-8452; 225-8458; 225-8463; 225-8465; 225-8473 or 225-8491.
Or by Email: [email protected] / [email protected]