Develop Solutions for Complex Issues

What initially attracted you to the Senior Executive Leadership Program – Middle East (SELPME) program?

The faculty and the Harvard Business School (HBS) case study method. Before I enrolled in the SELPME I was familiar with many of HBS professors' works and had read many of their books. It is one thing to do that, and another to have the opportunity to learn from them first hand. Their ability to condense hundreds of thousands of hours of research and all that that entails in terms of sacrifice and intellectual prowess and manifest it in a diverse 60 person - 90 minute discussion is admirable. In addition, I thought it would be a great opportunity to investigate how to apply the theory into my own business in a practical and tangible way.

With that said, I got that (and much more) at HBS.

What was it like learning from HBS faculty members?

The professors had a profound impact on my approach to business in general, and my company in particular. They taught me to see through the seemingly chaotic and complex situations that I face as an executive and extract what truly matters when making decisions under uncertainty.

The way the professors look at complex issues and draw out applicable lessons is nothing short of magic.

Do any lessons stand out?

For me, there were three key moments in the program. One professor asked, "If your company died, would anyone care?" which made me think about making a real difference in the world. Another professor told me: "Don't be average," which inspired me to reach higher as a company and by proxy as an individual. The third moment, which I'll never forget, was when one faculty member asked, "If Steve Jobs walked into your company today, what would he change?" I was so inspired that I wanted to take action there and then!

What did you think of the case study method?

I had obviously known of the case study method, but this was the first time I experienced it. The benefits far exceeded my expectations. The diverse backgrounds represented in our cohort and their active participation in case studies made it an extremely enriching experience. It was relatively easy for me to draw lessons to apply in my own business.

What was it like learning alongside other leaders from the Middle East?

Our region is small in the business community sense, so many of us already knew each other. However, despite being so central to the world economy, we do not often engage in open discussions about conspicuous challenges that we face as leaders. HBS provided us the platform to openly discuss these challenges with minimal reservation and much objectivity and guidance. We discovered our similarities, supported each other, shared our perspectives, and built friendships that would hopefully last a lifetime.

Do you think there's a need for executive education specifically tailored to your region?

Absolutely. The Middle East is in a constant state of change with boundless constraints. Some of these constraints at least appear to be in our DNA, while others are so obviously limiting to our growth and evolution that the need for open platforms to objectively discuss these issues in an environment as inspiring as HBS is necessary (as opposed to simply being a need). That was one of the reasons it was so helpful to learn alongside peers from my region. We examined all the case studies we came across from a Middle Eastern perspective, which was really valuable.

What's it like being a part of SELPME's first graduating class?

HBS Executive Education has reached out to us in the Middle-East by starting the SELPME program. That in itself is a humbling feat and a great leap of faith in talent that has oftentimes grown accustomed to being repressed and overshadowed by the chaos in the region. I therefore feel a responsibility to make an impact after we leave. I know that many notable business ventures have been initiated among our cohort.