Advance Your Way of Thinking
As managing director of investment at Finance House, Waseem Khayata came to the Senior Executive Leadership Program—Middle East (SELPME) to further his professional development and gain the knowledge and skills necessary to meet his career goals. He recently sat down with us to share his thoughts.
What spurred you to apply to SELPME?
Two things: First, I wanted exposure to the latest information on various aspects of accounting and economics, and second, I wanted to enhance my time management and decision-making capabilities—both of which will help me meet my career and organization's objectives.
Overall, what do you think of the program?
It's definitely been a positive experience so far. The staff has been very welcoming. Harvard Business School (HBS) is a marvelous experience on its own, and living and working alongside other executives is wonderful. By talking before and after the program each day, the group ensures that you get all the important information. It's an excellent way to learn.
What have you found to be the program's biggest benefits?
This program has helped me truly understand the fundamentals of what it means to be a senior executive. There's such a wealth of knowledge available to participants, and the program communicates it in a way that's easily accessible, friendly, and very rich.
What do you think of the program's format?
It's very practical. Because the program is broken into four modules stretched over five months, I was able to gain the information and learning experience I anticipated without needing to relocate to a new country for half a year. The HBS campus module has long hours—we start 6:30 a.m. and end at 10:00 p.m. —but we don’t really feel it. We enjoyed every minute of it.
What's it like learning alongside other executives?
Hearing about others' experiences, especially during group discussions, has enhanced my own program experience. Working on a team with diverse professionals has advanced my way of thinking and, in some cases, made me think differently. And collaborating with others from the same region means that we have the same economic, technological, and business challenges. This enriches our discussions of customers and regulators and enhances our ability to overcome challenges to achieve better results.
What's been your biggest takeaway?
Case study discussions have been very beneficial in helping us think through the process, challenges, and overriding success factors of various real-life scenarios. These discussions have been extremely useful, and I think the valuable lessons we've learned will benefit each of our organizations.
What have the classes been like?
The professors are great. They combine economics with philosophy and other important theories to provide unique perspectives. It's a very different way of looking at business issues, but I've found it to be very helpful.
Some people admit to feeling intimidated by the Harvard name. What was your experience?
I understand why some people may feel intimidated by the Harvard name, but I haven't met anyone in the program who feels that way. The school has been very welcoming, and I’ve found the people, process, and program to be very positive. Honestly, it's been the opposite of intimidating—and we all feel proud to be a part of the name.