Tracking the Course to Innovation with Zahir Abji

Tracking the Course to Innovation with Zahir Abji

Part 1 of 2

Zahir Abji is the CEO and Co-Founder of Guard RFID Solutions Inc., a software and hardware provider specializing in tracking people and objects using the 433MHz frequency spectrum.  Though healthcare, mostly, associates 433MHz with infant abduction prevention, RFID Guard offers solutions in Manufacturing and Defense as well.  Understanding Zahir’s path to CEO and Co-Founder is very important to understanding what drives the company’s deep work in developing international standards and delivering reliable and quality solutions. 

Zahir Abji is the CEO and Co-Founder of Guard RFID Solutions Inc

Zahir was born in Tanzania.  Tanzania is bordered on the north by Kenya and Uganda, on the south by Mozambique, and to the east by the Indian Ocean. His grandparents migrated there from India in the early 1900s, making the 5,100 kilometer (3, 168 miles) journey from Gujarat, India to Tanzania.  “They weren’t sure where they would end up,” remarked Zahir.  Yet, they struck out anyway on an intrepid search for better opportunities.

In those days, automobile ownership by consumers was rare.  Writing a letter and putting it in the post was the way to communicate.  A family member getting on a boat to embark on this type of venture, minimally, meant loved ones would seldom see or hear from him or her.  In some cases, it meant never.  Nowadays, not hearing from a son or daughter for more than a day can send some into panic mode to skype friends or check social media statuses.  Imagine not hearing from someone for months or years.  Britain was building a railroad from Kenya to Uganda.  Zahir’s family, tradesmen mostly, struck out from India to take part in that expansion despite the dangers.

They settled in Tanzania where they built new lives and started businesses.  This includes a restaurant, a bakery, and a factory that made soft drinks.  His family maintained this entrepreneurial spirit though World War I, World War II, and the political upheavals that often comes with transitioning from under a colonial power to independence.  That is the persevering background from which Zahir set off to attend The University of Salford, Greater Manchester, UK.

His choice of discipline was Biomedical Electronics.  This took much study in understanding anatomy, physiology, and the physical and chemical effects different types of energy have on human anatomy.  The course of study landed Zahir his first job in designing avionic systems for tactical and commercial aircraft.  The contrast of medicine versus weapons is not lost to Zahir.  “The availability of jobs in his area of study was not good at the time in England.”  He took the opportunities presented.

His work with military avionics placed him in an environment in which design specifications and the manner in which design was approached had very strict requirements.  He was awash in quality and reliability practice in each phase.

Zahir set his sights on North America where he joined a Canadian company called MDI (Mobile Data International).  This is where contrast turned to irony.  All of the discipline and techniques he learned paid off in work that had global implication for medical and police first responders.

Zahir spoke of his work there with modesty.  MDI’s contribution was anything but modest.  

Part 2 Coming Soon