Murvah Iqbal, aged 28, co-founded Hived, an innovative courier service based in London that utilizes electric vehicles for deliveries, alongside Mathias Krieger in 2021. The company has grown to encompass 70 employees and caters to renowned clients such as Nespresso, Asos, and John Lewis, securing £15 million in funding from various venture capital firms including Planet A Ventures, Eka Ventures, and Pale Blue Dot. Prior to her entrepreneurial journey, Iqbal dedicated seven years playing football for Manchester City’s youth team, culminating in a role as captain of the under-18 squad.

Football has always been my passion

As the younger sibling of a brother who is four years my senior, I often played to help him practice. At the age of ten, I began playing on my school’s football team, where I was the sole female participant, eventually earning a spot with Man City’s ladies team.

Coming from a family that passionately supports Manchester United, my choice to join Man City was initially met with some resistance. However, the remarkable talent development within their female academy was undeniable, and I remained with the club until I turned 17.

Engaging in sports from a young age cultivates discipline

Being an athlete requires careful attention to nutrition, physical activity, and proper rest. Initially, I trained once or twice weekly, but as I reached my mid-teens, that increased to three times weekly, accompanied by weekend matches. My weekends were filled with travel across the country for games, a demanding regimen that took a physical toll on me—something I still deal with today.

At 15, I began working at my family’s fast-food franchise, Archie’s, in a role managing social media, which proved challenging alongside my football and academic commitments. My parents made significant sacrifices for my education at Manchester High School for Girls, recognized as one of the top institutions in the northwest.

I developed essential skills like prioritization, delegation, and leadership

As a team captain, I learned the importance of clear communication and having a direct approach. Yet, with success came a sense of responsibility—to lift the team’s spirits when faced with defeat and inspire action.

Experiences in football reflect the realities of business

Every team, even the elite, faces losses. It’s not about never losing but about resilience and learning from those experiences. After a defeat, we engaged deeply in tactical analysis to glean insights—similar to how business operates. When a new product feature fails, the key is understanding and adapting.

Hived represents our second entrepreneurial venture

Our first project involved selling advertising space on London delivery vans, akin to how ads feature on taxis and buses. Although it provided interesting data—specifically, GPS information from delivery routes in central London—it wasn’t the rapid-growth business we envisioned. However, it revealed inefficiencies within the delivery industry that needed addressing.

After courses of exploration, Mathias developed our product’s initial version by early 2021, with my active participation in securing our first customers. I handled deliveries for several months, eventually leading us to seek venture capital, which we successfully obtained in August 2021. Since then, our growth has surged, and we now service five of the largest e-commerce entities in the UK, delivering over 250,000 parcels weekly.

The leadership principles I acquired on the pitch have been invaluable in my role as a founder

Direct feedback has always been part of my training, but it had to evolve as Hived expanded. Initially, with a small team, communication was straightforward, but with 70 employees today, feedback mechanisms are more structured.

In my role, continual adaptation and effective support systems are crucial. Recognizing my limitations spurred me to seek mentorship; I engaged business coaches, ultimately finding a significant fit with Danny Donachie. Coming from a football background, he challenged my leadership approach and encouraged me to maintain composure and presence amidst the whirlwind pace of business operations.

Managing personal well-being is vital, which can often be overshadowed by business demands. Partnering with Danny has strengthened my resolve, reminding me that resilience is crucial for navigating the day-to-day challenges of being a founder.

Murvah Iqbal discussed her experiences with Hannah Prevett, deputy editor of Times Enterprise Network.