What fuels your drive to lead change and make your mark in the world? (Limit: 250 words)
What fuels your drive to lead change and make your mark in the world?
Growing up in a first-generation immigrant family from Egypt, I was predominately raised by the women in my family – my mom, my grandma, and my aunts. I spent my childhood begging them to let me wear their gold jewelry, sitting at the kitchen table while they made lavish meals, and dancing to old Umm Kulthum records. They are my inspiration to seek new challenges, like attending McCombs and becoming a leader in [Industry x].
Giving back to my expat Middle Eastern community is a driving force in my life. As a pro bono learning consultant for the Omaha Middle Eastern Chamber of Commerce, I use my expertise to help develop their learning strategy and integrate innovative education technology tools. I created a training program for high school students to explore various career paths by hearing directly from first-generation professionals. This representation is vital to me, as it helps individuals in my community feel less isolated in their paths to success. Growing up in a predominately white Omaha suburb, the women in my family taught me the importance of empowering people who look like me to become successful.
At McCombs, I look forward to earning a leadership position in the International MBA Student Association. It is important to me to participate in student organizations that celebrate diverse, multinational identity and heritage. My goal is to make an impact both professionally and personally, representing success in the Arabic and Middle Eastern diaspora community—just as the women in my family did for me.