I’m interested in developing ideas, solving problems and helping people and projects move forward. I enjoy identifying where something could work better, bringing clarity to challenges and turning ideas into practical outcomes.
My approach is shaped by curiosity, a willingness to take initiative and an openness to learning. I believe in giving things a go, learning from experience and making adjustments along the way.
I value thoughtful work, collaboration and making a useful contribution. Whether I’m developing something new or improving what already exists, I aim to approach it with care, follow through and keep building on what I learn.
I moved from Dubai to Boston at 16 to study international affairs at Northeastern University and graduated summa cum laude in 2016. The breadth of the discipline, which spans economics, history, development, and politics, gave me a habit I still rely on of examining an issue from several angles before reaching a conclusion.
I returned home to join Expo 2020 Dubai, where I spent six years. As an associate country manager, I worked with ambassadors and ministers to secure participation from 16 countries and multilateral organizations, part of an effort that brought more than 190 nations to Dubai. I later managed grants for Expo Live, a $100 million fund for social innovators, which drew more than 11,000 applications from 184 countries and funded 140 innovators in 76 countries. Site visits took me to rural communities in Bangladesh, Kenya, and Uganda, and I led a humanitarian innovation program in partnership with the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.
Innovation is relative to context. A light fitted into a plastic bottle can be transformative in the right village, and the most durable solutions tend to come from people already working in their own communities.
I completed a master's in education at Harvard, focusing on leadership, organizations, and entrepreneurship, and then joined the Abu Dhabi Executive Office. I advised the Director General on long-term policy in employment, education, AI, and philanthropy and helped establish the Future-Foresight Department. Better World Inc. grew out of a desire to build ventures directly after years of funding and advising the work of others.
