Neshmeen Faatimah is the CEO & Co-Founder of Nuzzle, a startup making veterinary education & training more accessible and effective at scale. Nesh is a recent MBA grad from Harvard Business School who studied Economics and Computer Science at Duke. Prior to business school, Nesh worked in private equity. She is originally from Bangladesh, and she is part of a growing family of eight dogs and ten cats.
1. Thinking back, what led you to join BOW?
BOW was the first women-focused group I had ever joined. At the time, I was seeking a community that could provide both exposure and practical guidance as I thought more seriously about my professional future. I’m grateful for that early exposure as it helped me realize how much I valued surrounding myself with driven women. Since BOW, I've consistently sought out and participated in women's professional groups and they've been a constant source of inspiration and support.
2. What is your coolest accomplishment and/or favorite memory from Duke?
My coolest memory is probably when I decided to adopt a secret dorm room kitten my sophomore year. Don't worry - he wasn't in the dorms for long and is now my 9-year-old handsome boy, Boba. Many of my most wholesome Duke memories actually revolve around our campus animals. Peaches, Mamabean, Nugget - I miss them all so much.
3. Could you talk a little bit about your transitions between different jobs and how they led you to ultimately co-found Nuzzle Technologies, Inc.?
I started my career in investment banking. Like everyone else going into finance, I planned to join the buyside after paying my banking dues. No originality there. However, I joined a team focused on private equity secondaries and chose Dallas over NYC. That, combined with being an international student, made me a non-traditional candidate in the eyes of headhunters. That is to say, recruiting into the buyside was not a fun experience for me. I'd make it to super days, be told I was a top 3 candidate, only to be informed that the firm decided to go with someone with a more traditional background. It was tiring.
Eventually, I found myself interviewing with a partner at a middle-market buyout fund who not only saw value in what made me different but was genuinely excited by the unique perspectives I brought to the table. He ended up hiring me, becoming my mentor, and championing me for business school.
When I got to HBS, I wasn’t expecting to become a founder while still in school. But during my MBA, I went through a brutal healthcare journey with my cat, Head (named so for his oversized noggin). The experience of losing Head exposed me to many systemic issues in veterinary medicine, and prompted me to connect with people across the industry to better understand their problems and challenges. This is what led to Nuzzle.
4. What led you to pursue your MBA and how has your degree shaped your career?
An MBA was always part of my plan, and it came at a natural transition point in my life. I felt I had completed my "starter career" and no longer felt the pressure to work solely for the sake of building a resume. I was ready for some soul-searching and horizon-broadening and an MBA, particularly at HBS, was perfect for that.
HBS shaped my career trajectory in that without this experience, I wouldn't have developed the confidence or skillset to venture out on my own.
5. What is the most difficult obstacle you have faced in your career?
During COVID, I hit rock bottom with burnout. After working brutal hours non-stop for over a year and a half, I kept waiting for things to improve, but they never did — not even briefly, not even for a week. I had genuinely forgotten what it felt like to get a proper, restful night's sleep or to wake up looking forward to my day.
One day, I decided to take a "quit of faith." It was still the middle of the pandemic, and I had nothing else lined up. I just decided that was it, and no matter how long it took me to find my next thing or the potential impact on my career, I'd deal with it.
This decision profoundly impacted my life and who I am as a person. I THRIVED in the months after leaving my job — both professionally and personally. Though it took me a long time to get my mental health back on track, I found new and better opportunities, reconnected with my passions, and rebuilt my sense of balance. And that's after the 500 hours I put into Animal Crossing!
In all seriousness, this experience taught me an invaluable lesson about taking risks and trusting myself. People often ask if it's scary being a founder, but I remember jumping into the unknown during one of the weakest and most vulnerable times in my life — and not just landing on my feet, but coming out stronger. I have faith that I will be okay, always growing, always moving forward.
To BOW members entering challenging professions: it's very likely burnout is something you'll encounter. If that happens, remember that taking a 'quit of faith' can be an option — and sometimes, it's these self-reclaiming moves that allow us to truly find and appreciate ourselves.
6. Could you share one piece of advice you have for current BOW members thinking about one day founding their own company?
My advice to aspiring founders is to listen - both to yourself and the world you wish to enter.
By listening to yourself, you'll better understand your strengths, values, and what truly drives you. You'll act out of genuine motivation, not obligation, and do things for yourself rather than for external validation. This makes being a founder far more manageable and fulfilling, as you'll be less driven by fear of failure and more energized by the challenges ahead.
Listening to the world, particularly your chosen industry and your customers, is equally important. It's not necessary to come in with an idea - in fact, ideas are made-up and often out of touch with real problems and opportunities. Listen and adapt, and you'll find yourself on a far more interesting and exciting entrepreneurial journey.
7. Where do you see yourself in 5 years?
Doing what I’m doing now!
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