Adil Umar, Head of Technical Support in Germany at Teltonika, has spent his career connecting things – technology with business, ideas with execution, and people across cultures. His journey has taken him from Karachi to Dubai and Vilnius, then back to Dubai and Munich, collecting new adventures and experiences along the way.
This path could’ve been different if Adil hadn’t dared to step out of his comfort zone: choosing a different country and a new field of study, from engineering in Karachi to Business management at VILNIUS TECH. Yet it turned out to be the most logical move he ever made.
A change that opened up opportunities
After completing his Bachelor’s in Engineering in Karachi, Adil moved to Dubai, where he started working at Teltonika, the Lithuanian IoT and telematics company with a global footprint, as a Technical Support Engineer. It was a ground-level role, intentionally so. “Starting there allowed me to build a deep understanding of both the product and customer challenges,” he explains. Early on, Adil worked on large-scale telematics and fleet management deployments across multiple countries, gaining exposure to real-world problem-solving that no classroom could replicate.
Adil Umar
He could have stayed comfortably within his technical lane, but instead, he made a bold move, both geographically and professionally, by enrolling in the Master’s in Business Management program at VILNIUS TECH. To those around him, it might have looked like a change of direction. To Adil, it was a way to open new horizons.
“As I began working more with customers and teams, I realized that many impactful decisions were not purely technical – they were business-driven,” he explains. “Choosing Business Management was not about changing direction but about expanding it.” VILNIUS TECH stood out for its international environment and practical approach – exactly the bridge he was seeking between technical expertise and strategic thinking.
Lithuania: a recalibration of mindset
Arriving in Vilnius meant navigating more than a new academic system. The culture, communication style, and expectations – all of it required Adil to adapt and recalibrate his mindset. “People here were more direct and structured, especially in academic and professional environments,” Adil recalls. “Academically, there was a strong expectation to think critically and work autonomously. Initially, this required adjustment, but over time I came to value this approach.”
Adil Umar
What stayed with him beyond the lecture halls was something less tangible yet more lasting: a shift in perspective. Studying alongside people from different countries showed him that there is rarely a single correct way to approach a problem. “Now I try to listen carefully, consider different viewpoints, and make balanced decisions – especially when leading diverse teams,” he says. “That started in Vilnius.”
He also wishes he had understood earlier how much the people around him would matter. “When you start, your focus is naturally on academics, but over time you realize that the people around you – your classmates, professors, and colleagues – become an important part of your journey. If I could go back, I would invest even more time in building those connections from day one.”
Career shift: from execution to leadership
After graduating from VILNIUS TECH, Adil moved back to Dubai and got promoted to Head of Technical Support at Teltonika in 2018. He shifted from day-to-day operations to long-term strategy. “A defining moment was transitioning into leadership – from executing tasks to enabling teams,” Adil recalls. “That shift was not easy, but it was necessary.”
In 2022, Adil received Teltonika’s Leadership Award for his team’s excellence in pre- and post-sales support. For someone who had steadily climbed from engineer to executive, it was meaningful recognition – but Adil remains humble. “For me, it represents the effort of the entire team. We focused on building a strong team culture where people felt responsible, supported, and motivated to improve continuously. The award recognized that shared effort.”
Adil Umar
Over the years leading operations in the Middle East, Adil developed the ability to manage complexity across markets, languages, and client expectations. This year, he started a new chapter, moving to Munich, Germany.
Balancing a fast-moving industry
IoT telematics is not a field that stands still. Predictive analytics, real-time insights, and increasingly data-driven operations are reshaping client expectations and the support teams’ deliverables. Adil’s response to this pace of change is rooted in a principle he has carried since his earliest customer-facing roles: “Success lies in simplifying complexity. Some clients need deep technical guidance, while others need simple, clear solutions. Balancing both is key.”
It is also where his dual background – engineering and business management – proves its value most clearly. “Technical expertise creates possibilities, but business understanding turns those possibilities into results,” he says. “Today, I naturally connect both perspectives in my role.”
For students at VILNIUS TECH today – particularly those who arrived from abroad, unsure how their degree will translate – Adil has simple advice: “It is normal to feel uncertain at times, especially when you are in a new country. Stay patient and consistent. Focus on learning, gaining experience, and building connections. Progress may not always be immediate, but over time, those efforts create opportunities.” His own story proves that – each step was built on the one before it.
