8 hours agoMember-onlyStruggling to Ask for HelpAs a child, I was told to keep problems at home — being a Palestinian is something that wasn’t to be discussed publicly, most of the time. While these things made me stronger in some regards, it definitely created a habit that reflected on what I saw growing up and…Struggle4 min readStruggle4 min read
8 hours agoMember-onlyLeading With Compassion and EmpathyI’ve been fortunate to work with many leaders who have compassion and empathy for their people and customers, their communities, and beyond. I’ve also occasionally worked with a few that have no compassion or empathy towards others. In either case, while they are titled “leaders,” it was clear to me…Leadership2 min readLeadership2 min read
Nov 27Member-onlyLeadership and ResiliencyLook around globally, and unfortunately you will see many great examples of bad leadership. Just holding a title doesn’t impart success as a leader. To me, it seems that leaders that have compassion or empathy are disappearing from the world stage, with very few exceptions. Whether you are in startup…Entrepreneurship2 min readEntrepreneurship2 min read
Nov 27Member-onlyBusiness Challenges and GrowthWhether you are in the startup stage or the growth stage, you will face challenges. They may look different, but the feeling is somewhat the same. The challenges may get bigger: When you’re a startup, your rent may be zero or $100 or $300. In growth mode, your rent might…Entrepreneurship2 min readEntrepreneurship2 min read
Nov 27Member-onlyHow to Set Up an Entrepreneurship Ecosystem in an Underserved CommunityThere are several key components to consider when launching a program in a community that is not accustomed to entrepreneurship as a pathway. In some cases, access to technology is limited. Consider and discuss these steps: Do a Culture Shift. This usually happens through our Exploring Entrepreneurship program, in which…Entrepreneurship2 min readEntrepreneurship2 min read
Nov 3From Refugee to Global Citizen and Diplomat LeaderMany of you don’t know the full story behind the work that I do, but only a few know how I got here. I share this today because our professionalism and personal lives always somewhat overlap. I carried a refugee document until 2012. But it wasn’t my own story that…Refugees4 min readRefugees4 min read
Oct 24How Questions Drive OpportunitiesMost people in the entrepreneurial and small business arena run on a tight budget and time span. Learning to ask the right questions can drive and create opportunities. I’ve discovered that questions which seem simple — or even sound dumb — can actually be intriguing and cause you to think…Entrepreneurship2 min readEntrepreneurship2 min read
Oct 17Building Entrepreneurial & Small Enterprise Support ProgramsI’ve been developing programs for communities to ensure that entrepreneurs learn how to start or grow businesses, and small business owners know how to grow their enterprises, for 30+ years. Through this process, I’ve interacted with individuals in over 80 industries — coffee shops, medical devices, aerospace and so many…Entrepreneurship3 min readEntrepreneurship3 min read
Oct 10Resilient EngineersEngineers are always testing, trying, and launching solutions to problems — they are trained to be resilient. As you become formalized in your work as an engineer, you have followed certain ways and methodologies, and breaking away from them can be a challenge. We believe The Resilient Canvas methodology can…Resilience3 min readResilience3 min read
Oct 3Small Business Reality CheckThe last thing an entrepreneur needs is to live in a fantasy that has no checks or balances. For many years I paid no attention to what, how, or when I said what I said. I was careful, but didn’t totally understand or appreciate the insights I had gained in…Entrepreneurship2 min readEntrepreneurship2 min read
