By day, I work as a technology strategist. But in the evenings, I am a social entrepreneur. However, I often find myself balancing both roles all day long.
Growing up, I was heavily influenced by my family, especially my grandmother Anna Mona, who was a strong woman — an extraordinary giver and a doer who never accepted that some jobs or tasks could only be done by men. As a result, my father is a strong supporter of empowerment for women.
I graduated in 2013 from Northeastern University in Boston with a degree in civil and environmental engineering. During my time in the US, I had a chance to work with some inspirational individuals, exposing me to a full spectrum of innovative possibilities to sustainably tackle worldwide social issues.
After graduating, I worked as a negotiator with the Saudi Delegation to the UN Convention on Climate Change, then as a policy analyst and environmental engineer at Saudi Aramco. In 2016, I became a technology strategist, assessing and predicting global technology advances.
Along the way, I founded kurt Store in 2013. It is a social enterprise that supports local disadvantaged women and teaches them tailoring so that they can produce colored abayas to sustainably fight poverty.
I was heavily influenced by my grandmother Anna Mona — an extraordinary giver and a doer who never accepted that some jobs or tasks could only be done by men.
I believe that lifting the disadvantaged is a moral obligation. I also believe in contributing to something larger than myself. I want to impact, promote and inspire people as a policymaker, an engineer, a strategist and just as a citizen of this world.
In 2018, I co-founded Jonnah, another social enterprise, this time based in Al-Azraq Refugee Camp in Jordan. It helps refugees to regain their confidence and independence by giving them the opportunity to make basic clothing that can be sold around the world.
When not working, I enjoy wood-working and carpet-making, as well as spending time with my beautiful dogs, Bliss and Boston.
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