Posted on May 4, 2026 by Wendy Frost
Sabba Razaq’s future at UT San Antonio began with one choice: do I want to wear a white lab coat or a business suit?
Sabba Razaq
Razaq’s family had all pursued degrees within the sciences. But when it was time for her to pick a major, she did not feel that path matched with her passions.
“I am a person who is passionate about working with people and leadership,” said Razaq, who followed her brother to UT San Antonio. “I told my dad that if he let me pursue my studies in management, I’ll make him proud, and I think I did.”
Razaq will graduate this May with her bachelor’s degree in management from the Carlos Alvarez College of Business.
Active on campus, she immediately connected with student organizations her freshmen year. During her time at UT San Antonio, Razaq was a member of the Muslim Student Association; chief financial officer for the Business Student Council; and president of the Pakistan Student Association, which was named best student organization as part of the university’s Student Life awards during her tenure.
“Being a management student, leadership, communication and teamwork are important skills to develop, but how can you apply those skills in real life? I was able to practice those skills by being a part of student organizations,” she said.
Razaq also honed her skills through her participation in the Alvarez Ambassador Program, a select group of business students who support college activities and programs. “Being an Ambassador for the college for two years helped me improve my networking skills and allowed me to interact with professionals. I also learned a lot about the university and the resources that are here. I’m glad that I was a part of this program,” she said.
Utilizing those connections, Razaq participated in an internship with Embrey, a real estate investment company headquartered in San Antonio. She worked in their service management department the summer before her senior year. “It was a really good experience, and I’m glad that I had that opportunity,” said Razaq.
Ultimately Razaq learned from that experience that a corporate, desk job was not the right fit for her. And she was motivated to pursue her interests in entrepreneurship. She had previously tried and failed with a few business ideas, but an entrepreneurship course with Andrea Marquez, assistant professor of management, helped her understand her mistakes and led to the start of a new business.
“Her class changed my perspectives on business,” she said. “I met with her one-on-one, and the projects we did in class really helped me grow as an entrepreneur.”
Razaq started her business, NUR Collection, a company which sells high-quality and affordable hijabs. After graduation, she plans to continue building and growing her brand.
“The idea came to me during one of my entrepreneurship classes where we learned that as an entrepreneur you have to identify a problem and solve it,” she said. “Many of the hijabs sold are expensive. I did my research on the materials and preferences of customers. My goal is to make a quality product at a cheaper price using textile connections that I have in Pakistan.”
Razaq has been selling her merchandise on Shopify as well as through pop ups at international stores and coffee shops. She shares that her business is doing well, and it wouldn’t have been possible without the help she received from Alvarez faculty and resources like the college’s Start-up Garage.
Looking toward the future, she is exploring ways to receive funding for her business while also pursuing full-time opportunities when she graduates to have a steady income stream.
“I appreciate that the Alvarez College of Business has given me opportunities to grow beyond my studies,” said Razaq. “The opportunities here are massive. And there are amazing programs here that I was able to be a part of. Students just need to be willing to go out and try new things for themselves.”
— Wendy Frost
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