I view the AEC program at King Saud University as the perfect opportunity for me to further develop my knowledge base and skill set, and making a tangible contribution towards the better understand and eventual resolution of issues that impact the global community. The program offers a unique prospective of employment and education though which I can acquire precious practical experience while advancing my academic qualifications, all at the same time. Conversely, the people management and problem solving skills that I have acquired through more than a decade of practical experience will prove to be a boon to the AEC program. My association with KSU would be highly beneficial for myself, the program as well as the institute.
If selected for the program, I will be the only member with an Arab Muslim background in the work group. The world today is riddled with incidents that have caused a tremendous degree of confusion and misconception about Arabs and Islam in the global community, especially the Western world. I am particularly looking forward to working with students from other geographies and cultures that will allow me to see international problems from a fresh perspective. I believe a comprehensive and unbiased viewpoint is crucial in formulating a fair and practicable solution to the problems that the world faces today.
Being a well educated Arab Muslim who has worked in the government as well as private sector for over 11 years, I will bring to the table a well balanced and knowledgeable standpoint that will enable a better understanding of my culture among the other participants in the group. I have been actively following the political and economic developments around the world, with a focus on the Middle East and North Africa or MENA regions as well as other Islamic and Arab countries. I believe that my background will prove to be highly beneficial in addressing some of the most pressing international issues pertaining to politics, trade and commerce, and global cooperation.
Life Goals and Achievements
I am an avid follower of political, economic and social developments across the world. Living in a globalized society, the occurrences in one part of the globe is bound to have an impact on the other. Whether it is the economic crisis in Greece, the debt crisis of Dubai, the presidential elections in the US, a nuclear catastrophe in Japan, or a political upheaval in Egypt, repercussions were felt through the economies of countries worldwide. In such a scenario, I believe it is vital for a leader to think actively from a global perspective so that responsible decisions can be made. My goal in life is to be in a position, whether political, social or corporate, to positively influence world events and global conflicts resolution. I would like to utilize my ability to think out of the box and collaborate with leaders from diverse cultures to promote better understanding and cultural acceptance, eventually leading to fewer conflicts around the world.
I am a problem solver by nature and have honed my leadership skills to be able to put this attribute to practical use. I am highly passionate about the issues plaguing the world today and believe that, through focused and well directed efforts, every problem can be addressed. Over the last 20 years, the Middle East has grown drastically as a collective economy and has attained the potential to sway international affairs towards a more positive outcome. Coming from a peaceful and tolerant culture, I feel that accepting diversity and working in collaboration with global partners is the key to promoting world peace and overall economic and social well being of global communities. In the long term, I would like to develop my knowledge, skills and qualifications to a point where I can help in the further development of the Middle East and further strengthening its position in the global arena.
Finally, I am a firm believer in continuous development as an imperative to progress. As such, I am committed to continue learning and developing myself regardless of the stature that I achieve in society. For this purpose, I aim to further cultivate intellectual innovation and creativity as key attributes of my personality so that I may substantially contribute to researches and studies that will enable efficient resolution of global issues.
Coming from a lower middle class family, attaining higher education has been a lifelong dream as well as challenge for me. However, from very early in my life I was determined to pursue my goals and prepared myself to face the many hurdles on the path to success. Today, I have successfully completed a Bachelor’s degree in Business administration, a Master’s in International Management and Leadership, and a Master’s in Business Administration. What makes this achievement all the more special is that I sponsored my own education, working full time throughout the programs in order to pay my university fee. Needless to say, this required an incredible degree of effort as I worked through the day and attended regular college at the same time. However, by attaining my Bachelor’s and dual Master’s degree, I proved to myself that, with grit and dedication, even the most farfetched dream can be achieved.
Although my life’s pursuit of higher education has been achieved, being a constant learner I wanted to develop my skills by putting them to practical use. In addition to the work I did while studying for my degrees, I sought employment at government as well as private sector organizations. I chose to work with companies that provided me with the opportunity to work with local departments as well as interact with members of the international business community. In the 11 years that I have been employed, I have had the pleasure on managing teams and resolving a wide spectrum of problems associated with each position and organization. This experience was a treasure trove of practical tests for my education and I was able to not only optimally use my knowledge but also learned that innovation and creativity can go a long way in addressing conflicts in an unconventional yet effective manner.
One of my greatest achievements is the establishment of the National Kidney Center or NKC. I was part of a three member team that was wholly responsible for setting up a private sector kidney treatment facility that would be able to actively provide medical services to Saudi Arabian as well as expat patients that were unable to get treatment at government hospitals. NKC is the first Nephrology unit operating as part of the private sector. Having a fully functional private sector utility like NKC helps in saving many lives that could have been endangered due to delayed treatments from overloaded government hospitals. Playing such a major role in an initiative that has made such a sizeable contribution towards the community and humanity was a highly fulfilling experience and remains one of my most cherished achievements till date.
