I’m Sabirul Islam and this is my journey as an entrepreneur, motivational speaker, and author. Having grown up in a disadvantaged community in the London Borough of Tower Hamlets, I faced numerous challenges from a young age. With my parents unemployed, I was determined to break away from the challenging norms of my community, which was plagued by gun crime, violence, and drugs. Diagnosed with epilepsy at the age of 11, I persevered through personal and societal challenges, overcoming stigma and adversity.
My entrepreneurial journey began at just 14 when I started a web design venture as CEO alongside six friends. By 16, I was already trading in the stock market. Despite being fired from my first job at 13 and rejected by over 40 book publishers for being ‘too young,’ I self-published my first book, “The World at Your Feet,” which sold 42,500 copies across the UK in nine months.
Driven by a vision to empower the younger generation, I created the Teen-Trepreneur: Strike as the Next Tycoon board game, promoting financial education and practical enterprise learning. I use this game as a key learning tool in my enterprise day workshops for schools worldwide.
As a motivational speaker, my goal has always been to share my story globally. I believe that anyone, regardless of age, race, religion, or culture, can achieve extraordinary things by persevering and believing in themselves. This belief led me to launch the “Inspire1Million” campaign to inspire 1 million young people to be resilient, enterprising, and self-confident. Supported by organizations worldwide, I delivered 867 motivational talks in 31 countries across five continents, achieving the 1 million milestone in September 2014.
With a strong media presence, I have directed and hosted my own live TV shows in Asia and have been globally featured in major newspapers, magazines, and media platforms. My story of overcoming crime, violence, epilepsy, and entrepreneurial challenges continues to inspire many.
Now aged 34, I have further expanded my portfolio with my latest book, “Build Your Confidence on Stage,” which teaches readers how to kick-start their public speaking careers. I also host a weekly series on the Build Your Confidence on Stage YouTube channel and run an online public speaking academy.
I live by the motto “Born to Serve, Live to Inspire,” believing in living life with purpose, value, and meaning.
Why Inspiring Youth Matters to Me
My journey as a teenage entrepreneur taught me the importance of empowering others to grow and break free from stereotypes and cultural expectations. In the following video filmed in 2009, I share my backstory and explain why I wrote The World at Your Feet: Turning Your Vision into Reality.
My Career Experience
My experience to date includes:
- First Business: Veyron Technology – A web design business I ran with my friends at the age of 14
- First Book: The World at Your Feet: Turning Your Vision into Reality, self-published at 17
- I became a professional speaker at 17
- My book got professionally published at 18, thanks to Marshall Cavendish
- I worked with school students to launch the Teen-Trepreneur Board Game to teach enterprise and financial education at the age of 18
- I launched the Inspire1Million Campaign at 20 to inspire one million young people globally to be more enterprising in life and to dream big no matter the challenges life throws at them.
- I hosted my first TV show called Face of Youth internationally aged 24
- I hosted my first Live Radio show called EKO (Education, Knowledge, Opportunity) aged 26 abroad
- At 30, I launched Build Your Confidence on Stage, a public speaking training book and course for those seeking to become professionally paid speakers.
Some Key Award Highlights
- Mosaic Entrepreneur of the Year (awarded by King Charles and Princess Badiya bint Hassan)
- JCI Ten Outstanding Young Persons of the World Award (Osaka, Japan)
- Growing Up CEO Award (Harvard Business School)
Sabirul Islam – I’m Passionate to Inspire Youth
What Sabirul Offers Schools:
