Meet some of our people

Manager, Dubai

You’ve worked in various cities across the globe. What brought you to the Middle East?
After working in the US, France, the UK, India, and Hong Kong, I was drawn to the Middle East because it truly feels like the right place for me to be now. I’m based in the UAE and there’s a real sense of dynamism and momentum here—with new ideas being explored and implemented at a rapid pace. It’s exciting to work with clients who really want to make their mark on the world stage.

How has your experience been so far at Strategy&?
Everything is going well, and it has been ever since I managed my first project for Strategy& as a contractor, working on one of the region’s mega-projects. That project was a great match for me, and it felt like all the stars aligned when it came to the client, the team, and my personal interests. So, as a logical next step, I applied for a permanent position.

Currently, I balance my time between client work and business development, and I have passed my certification in ESG finance. The Strategy& financial services practice has grown really fast and we have a number of new joiners. I’ve really enjoyed getting to know my colleagues better through sports and social events.

Manager, Dubai

Q: What brought you to the Middle East?

A: I had previous consulting experience and always enjoyed working in different environments, absorbing new cultures and collecting new ideas. I thought that the Middle East would be a great place for me to meet people from different backgrounds and enhance my consulting skills and expertise. With hindsight, it turned out exactly as I planned — working in the Middle East has been an excellent opportunity for me to immerse myself in financial services and to meet a diverse network of people.

Q: What do you have to say about the culture and people at Strategy&?

A: I’ve enjoyed the culture and people since day 1. As an experienced professional, I’ve worked at many different organizations and I’ve never had such an enjoyable experience as this one. The culture is very open, trustworthy, and collaborative. I feel like I’m working  in a family environment here, knowing that I can always count on support, both from the leadership team and from my peers.

Q: What’s been your most rewarding project to date?

A: I’ve had many rewarding projects and I feel inspired by our tangible socioeconomic impact on the region. For example in one GCC city, I’ve had the opportunity to shape the community of the future starting from scratch. At the same time, I appreciate the opportunities to work on policy for public entities and regulators, as we’re bringing the best of our global practice to benefit the regional economy.

Q: Which exciting trends do you see developing for financial services in the Middle East?

A: The region is committed to advancing in the digital space overall and particularly in fintech. Another hot topic in financial services is ESG strategy and the development of sustainable finance — an area where there's still a sizable gap versus mature markets. Last, but not least, I expect to see a lot of new opportunities in capital markets and asset management development as the region remains a highly attractive hub for capital flows.

Q: What are some pivotal moments in your career?

A: Incidentally, I started my professional career in PwC as an auditor 18 years ago and it is interesting to see how my career track spiraled and brought me back to the network. Looking back, I realize that every step in my career has prepared me for my current position. I learned financial statements analysis as an auditor, then I worked at Fitch Ratings and developed a very good understanding of capital markets and risk management approach, and finally I have solidified my business acumen by moving into consulting. Now I feel that I can use my accumulated knowledge to the full potential. 

Q: What do you do when you’re not working?

A: I like to spend time with my family. I also go running for mental relaxation, and I'm training to do a half marathon next year.

Head of Research and Knowledge, Dubai

Nationality: Indian

Education: MBA in Finance from the Indian Institute of Management, CFA

Q: You’ve been working at Strategy& for almost a year. How’s it going?

A: It’s very exciting and interesting. When I joined Strategy& in March 2022, I was given the mandate of transforming our research and knowledge function. Since then, I’ve been working on a number of initiatives to change our operating model and cost structure, building scale and reimagining how we deliver research and knowledge insights to our clients. Together with a core group of leaders, I’ve helped set the strategy and pushed the envelope to bring that strategy to life. Most recently, I’ve been working on setting up a cutting-edge knowledge management platform—learning about new technologies and how to create more personalized content, which will really add value for our clients.

Q: What were you doing before this, and how does it compare to what you’re doing now?

A: I’ve been building and managing research capabilities for more than 15 years, with previous roles at a number of other consulting firms including BCG, McKinsey & Company, and Deloitte. Now I’m looking forward to building on that experience, while enhancing my leadership and entrepreneurial skills.

My team and colleagues here at Strategy& are exceptional! Already, I’ve had the opportunity to work with so many talented people from diverse backgrounds and industry experience. And they’ve all really supported me in every step of this very difficult yet important transformation journey. Although my role now is very challenging and demanding, my team’s support and commitment throughout this change makes it totally worthwhile.

Q: How would you describe the people and culture at the firm?

A: This firm is a family away from family. The warm energy of the people around me is what keeps me motivated all the time. It also plays an important role in allowing me to achieve a work-life balance. Strategy& has been a positive experience so far, and the more time I spend here, the more I appreciate our ways of working together and of caring for our clients. Every day is memorable. And every day, the team’s willingness to take on new challenges inspires me to give my best.

Q: In your opinion, how does the research and knowledge function shape the way we deliver value to our clients?

A: Research and knowledge is at the heart of everything we do for clients. The analysis and insights generated by our team are crucial for the baselining and for the solutions we provide. Further, they are core to our firm’s own R&D, as we develop new knowledge that helps us build, refine, and manage our capabilities (e.g., assets, new tools, and proprietary databases). Our portfolio includes state-of-the-art research, asset-backed and rapid diagnostics, benchmarking, and workflow support. Our professionals have deep expertise and are able to apply a broad range of methodologies for specialized on-demand analyses, all of which adds value for our clients and helps them make a greater impact.

Q: What makes you happiest outside of the office?

A: I love to explore and discover the unique culture of different countries. So far, I have traveled to 46 countries. Apart from that, I enjoy painting, fashion blogging, and spending time with family and friends.

Senior Associate, Dubai

Nationality: Lebanese
Education: Master’s degree in Engineering from the Saint Joseph University of Beirut.

Q: Welcome back! After working as an associate at Strategy&, you left for a few years before rejoining the firm. What did you do during your time away?
A: In the past few years, I co-founded two startups and I became a patented inventor. First, I led operations for a boutique consulting firm. Second, I worked on a startup in advertising technology, where I had to wear different hats and juggle several administrative functions. I handled budgeting, recruitment, raising capital, international expansions, and more, all of which really pushed me professionally. I felt deeply accountable for the wellbeing of our whole team and the performance of the companies. And finally, I published a patent related to deconstructing the human personality/psyche into its elementary building blocks, and rebuilding it digitally to create an interactive identical clone of the human persona.

I’m so grateful to Strategy& for encouraging me to keep learning, to take risks, and to have a variety of experiences, especially at this relatively early stage of my career. When I saw such an opportunity to try something new, I decided to take a leap of faith and go for it.

Q: What brought you back to Strategy&, and how has your experience been so far with the Activation Hub?
A: After working at startups for two years, securing stellar top-line performance, and operationally reaching autopilot status, I felt like I had completed what I set out to do: to witness a glimpse of the entrepreneurial world and to have an active role in it. I felt ready to return to the corporate world.

Having previously worked at Strategy& and having witnessed firsthand the intellectual caliber of the staff, I set my mind on rejoining the firm. But I wasn’t sure I wanted to travel as much as I had previously. So, when I found out that the Activation Hub was recruiting, I thought that might be the right match for me. It offers an ideal mix of brain-stimulating tasks, new strategic topics every week, game-changing impact, a non-rotating team, no traveling (my lower back is quite thankful), and an optimal work-life balance. In other words, this new role allows me to exercise my hobbies while generating value to the firm.

My experience with the team has been nothing short of outstanding. Everyone is eager to support each other, regardless of seniority. And overall, it has been, hands down, the best team dynamics I’ve experienced in my career.

Q: What excites you most about the work that you do?
A: I like the variety of different workstreams—from strategic proposals to the Knowledge Hub to business development—but if I had to choose a favorite area, I’d say I like the proposals. Already, I’ve worked on topics ranging from the future of gaming, to edutainment centers, to royal art complexes.

Proposals have a fast turnaround so things always remain fresh and they have a high impact: from securing new clients to completely changing a country's vertical, these proposals can turn into long-term projects that generate plenty of value and impact for our region.

Truly, the diversity of topics I work on is a large selling point for me. It satisfies my curiosity. And the fact that I get to do that while also experiencing brilliant team dynamics really makes this job one like no other.

Q: How would you describe the culture and people at the firm?
A: Fast and warm. The culture is focused on productivity and fast turnarounds. At the same time, a strong sense of camaraderie glues teams together, especially on tough projects, and that bond is maintained beyond the office. In fact, some of my closest friends are people that I’ve met at Strategy&.

Q: Outside of the office, you have a number of hobbies. Tell us about your passion for writing and drawing.
A: I've always been a fan of novels—especially ones that combine elements of fantasy to deliver a social or moral message. So, for the past couple of years, I've been working on writing and producing my own manga-style graphic novel for adults. It explores a complex political universe from the perspective of several characters, each with their own agenda of personal needs and growth.

More specifically, the story tackles topics of social corruption, free will, substance addiction and abuse, mental health, and the like. To make things a bit spicier, the characters also possess certain paranormal abilities that can hinder them or catalyze them forward in their personal quests.

I've been working with a team of experienced mangakas and illustrators on this project and we expect to release it later this year, in 2023. Below are some character reference sheets, with development codenames. (The actual names will be different once the story is released.)

Character 1: Codename Wanderer
Character 2: Codename Watcher
Character 3: Codename Deviant
Character 4: Codename Lost

Q: What are some of your other interests away from work?
A: I like to experience as many new activities as possible, but the ones I spend the majority of time on are martial arts, adrenaline adventures (things like skydiving, ziplining, and hopefully soon kitesurfing), kayaking, hiking, gaming, reading books, and playing music (namely, the guitar and the ukulele).

Manager, Dubai

Nationality: Indian

Education: MBA from IIM-Ahmedabad

Q: How did you join Strategy& and what have you been up to so far?

A: Strategy& represents the completion of my full circle back to consulting. After obtaining my MBA, I started my career with consulting at Monitor Group, then founded a tech startup, moved over to industry, and then returned to consulting with Strategy&.

Since joining the company, I have worked on a range of projects across the aviation, tourism, and defense industries, including leading a business turnaround for an EU airline, localizing high-tech products for a gigacity, establishing an MRO partnership for a military fleet, and many others.

Q: What attracted you to working in the Middle East? 

A: The Middle East was the missing piece of the geographic puzzle for me. I had worked across most of Asia, starting with my first job in India. From there I moved to South-East Asia and then on to East Asia. Now I’m in the Middle East. This region feels like a home away from home, given the way Indian culture has been assimilated here, particularly food. 

Q: What keeps you driven at Strategy&? 

A: The fact that I always learn something new each day. The dynamic nature of our work coupled with the colleagues I work with—extremely supportive people who invest in helping you grow—makes Strategy& a great workplace for me. Additionally, project team members have typically ended up becoming friends, which helps in overcoming challenges, cracking problems on projects, and maintaining a fun work environment.

Q: How do you enjoy spending your time away from work? 

A: I typically struggle between living weekends to the fullest and resting enough to recharge for the week ahead. Most weekends I try to go for a run or a swim and spend time with my family. Recently, I have started learning to kite surf and I’m optimistic I’ll be surfing well in just a few more weeks. 

Manager, Dubai

Nationality: Indian

Education: MBA from INSEAD

Q: What attracted you to working in the Middle East?
A: Dubai always seemed like the city that could be home away from home. It has a great expat community and yet it’s also close to Delhi. Additionally, the overall growth in the Middle East drives the massive scale of the projects here, which is very different from other parts of the world.

Q: What keeps you driven at Strategy&?
A: I’m extremely motivated by the people I work with. I’ve met some of the most wonderful people at Strategy& so far. People here go out of their way to help you and make you feel comfortable. Friends, mentors, sounding boards, workout buddies, I’ve found them all. Additionally, I’m involved in the diversity and inclusion initiatives at the firm, which has given even more meaning to my career in the corporate world.

Associate, Dubai

Nationality: Lebanese

Education: Bachelor’s degree in industrial engineering

Q: What do you love most about working at Strategy& in the Middle East?
A: As a professional swimmer, I’ve been prepared to thrive when faced with challenges, so I love the stimulating environment at Strategy&. Working in such a fast-paced environment and across diverse practices has taken me out of my comfort zone, introduced me to new concepts and ways of thinking, and has led to my growth on both personal and professional levels.

Q: Tell us more about your passion for swimming and how you’ve been able to balance it with your role at the firm.
A: Swimming comprised a big part of my life for more than 12 years and, during that time, I’d train an average of 3-4 hours per day. My greatest swimming achievements were setting the under-18yr Arab record in 2015 (which is still unbroken to this day), representing Lebanon in the Swimming World Championships, Swimming World Cups, Arab Championships, World University Games, and many other regional and international competitions; and being named team captain of my university’s swimming team.

Now, of course, working full-time and building your career can get quite demanding but I can still do the things that I love and the sports that I love, just in a less professional manner and more in a recreational manner. I always make sure to dedicate a portion of my day to keeping active.

Principal, Dubai

Nationality: Canadian

Education: MBA from Harvard Business School

Q: What is your role and the scope of your work at Strategy&?

A: I’ve been based in Dubai for the past five years, where I have largely been leading healthcare projects across a spectrum of clients, including regulators, providers, and life sciences. Our work has focused on supporting a number of the national healthcare transformation initiatives in the GCC region, enhancing patient access, affordability, and overall population health outcomes. In addition to project work, I take a keen interest in recruiting — particularly candidates from top-tier MBA schools in the U.S. and India.

Q: What are your personal interests and how do you enjoy spending your time?

A: Outside of work, I volunteer with the Aga Khan Development Network. I contribute my time and effort to addressing global strategic policy issues, as well as to enhancing programs relating to youth engagement, health, rural development, education, and economic development. Although this takes up much of my free time, I still have time to spare, and I use my weekends to travel around the region or host visiting friends and family during the cooler months. I also have recently taken up golf lessons!

Principal, Dubai

Nationality: Indian
Education: MBA from INSEAD

Q: How did you join Strategy& and what have you been up to lately?

A: I joined Strategy& straight after earning my undergrad degree back in 2014. I was in the New Delhi office and I spent four years working on several projects across India, the Middle East, and South-east Asia. Advising on a merger of two major telcos in India is still one of my fondest projects from that time.

I had worked on a couple of projects in the Middle East as an associate and found it exciting. After earning my MBA I decided to transfer to the Dubai office. I was always inclined towards tech and have found my natural calling in TMT. Currently I am working on an exciting engagement to help a tech and digital company in Saudi Arabia with its activation and transformation agenda..

Q: What attracted you to working in the Middle East?

A: The Middle East region is going through a major growth and transformation cycle and the consulting landscape here is unique and fascinating. There are several opportunities to work on highly strategic and impactful projects that aren’t available in other regions.

Moreover, after having worked in India primarily, I wanted to explore a new place and culture, and be part of a more diverse professional ecosystem — something that I find is prevalent in the Middle East, particularly Dubai.

Q: What keeps you driven at Strategy&?

A: Since I joined Strategy& seven years ago, the people and culture have been my biggest driver. With a people-centric approach as the cornerstone of the Strategy& culture, the leadership and mentors are invested in your success. The energy and drive to deliver quality work to the client, across teams I work with, is contagious and motivates me constantly to perform and learn. Moreover, the firm’s continuous focus on diversity, learning, mentorship, and work–life balance through various initiatives boosts my confidence and keeps me going.

Q: How do you enjoy spending your time away from work?

A: When I am not working, I love to travel, read, and invest in crypto currencies. I am also a big Formula 1 enthusiast. I have recently started to learn the hang drum and I find it a great way to make music and de-stress.

Principal, Beirut

Nationality: Lebanese

Education: Master’s degree in Public Administration at the Ecole Nationale D’administration in France

Q: How and why did you join Strategy&?

A: After pursuing a master’s degree in public administration at Ecole Nationale D’Administration in France, I was interested in moving back to the Middle East region. I spent time at the firm as an intern and knew it would be a great fit. I formally joined Strategy& in 2013 in the Beirut office. Business consulting for the public sector represented the perfect mix for me to evolve in a fast-paced and challenging environment while working on high-impact projects.  

Q: What are some of your personal interests outside Strategy&?

A: Away from work, I like all types of outdoor activities, in particular water sports, snowboarding, and hiking. Like many of my colleagues, I love to travel and I am particularly drawn to Latin America. My objective is to visit all of the continent’s countries one by one. 

Head of Performance Management, Learning and Org Design, Dubai

Nationality: Lebanese

Education: Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from the American University of Beirut

Q: What do you love most about working at Strategy& in the Middle East?

A: I rejoined Strategy& after five years of working elsewhere for one main reason – the family culture. I love waking up every morning knowing that I will be working with incredibly smart colleagues, pushing each other to grow and develop beyond our comfort zone.

Q: What are some of your personal interests away from work?

A: Away from work, I enjoy cycling, going to the beach, and traveling. I am also an amateur photographer and a strong believer in analog photography.

Principal, Dubai

Nationality: Indian

Education: Master’s degree in Electrical and Instrumentation Engineering from the Indian Institute of Technology

Q: Why did you join Strategy&? What have you been up to lately?

A: Fueled by the aspiration to continue working on strategic projects in the oil and gas sector and to further explore the international multicultural lifestyle, I decided to move to the Strategy& Dubai office in 2015. Since then, I have worked in Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, and Abu Dhabi on several remarkable projects, including setting up an R&D arm, as well as an integrated refining and petrochemical subsidiary for a major national oil company. 

Q: What are some of your personal interests? How do you enjoy spending your time?

A: I have become an avid traveler since my first trip outside of India in 2006. My work has afforded me the opportunity to visit more than 30 countries in Europe, South Asia, Africa, and the Middle East. While working in Norway, I took my most memorable trip: Traveling with National Geographic to the Archipelago of Svalbard to see the Arctic wildlife, including polar bears, and experience the midnight sun.

Outside of work, I love to spend time with family and play with my son. I indulge in games of table tennis, a sport I excel at, which I learned to play at the age of 10. I love playing tennis, as well, and play regularly with friends and Strategy& colleagues.

Senior Business Operations Manager, Beirut

Nationality: Lebanese

Education: Bachelor’s degree in Economics from the American University of Beirut

Q: How long have you been with Strategy& and what is your role?

A: I joined the firm in 2011 in the accounting department, where I stayed for a year before moving to the finance department as a financial analyst. From this experience, I learned how the firm generally operates.

My natural curiosity to encounter different perspectives, as well as a desire to inject some human interaction into my daily numbers and analysis, led me to move to the business operations department. My latest role has given me plenty of diversity: I have rotated through several practices so far — FI&RE, FS, and DBT, and I currently manage the operations of EPS and TMTD — and I am enjoying the aspect that every day brings something different in this part of the business.

Q: What are some of your personal interests outside Strategy&?

A: I am a founder and member of Kunhadi, an NGO that helps raise awareness of road safety. My duties are various and include helping to spread the message, supporting the business operations, and organizing events and related activities.

I also love traveling and discovering different countries and cultures, especially their food and wine. Music and dance are a big part of my life; I attend concerts and shows, and have taken different dance classes — for the last few years I have concentrated on Latin dance. But mostly, I love to spend time with my family.

Senior Associate, Dubai

Nationality: Italian

Education: MSc in Corporate Finance from CASS Business School, London

Q: What attracted you to Strategy&?

A: I had always intended to make my career in consulting. I saw it as an opportunity to constantly grow and feed my curiosity, while working shoulder to shoulder with bright minds to solve the most challenging problems. Early on, I met professionals working in the Middle East and through them I came to know Strategy&. It was an industry pioneer, and I knew that is where I wanted to be.

I was fascinated by the idea of working on breakthrough projects in one of the world’s fastest-growing regions and felt privileged to receive the opportunity to join the team.

Q: What are some of your personal interests away from work?

A: Having played volleyball professionally, my passion for this sport remains undiminished. I still follow my former club’s performances and I am regularly in contact with key players and friends in the world's main leagues.

The sportsman in me impels me to keep an active lifestyle by playing different sports with my friends whenever possible. Moreover, I am passionate about psychology and I enjoy travel and cuisine. Even while discovering the world, my Italian roots are always present when looking for good food!

Principal, Dubai

Nationality: Italian

Education: Master of Supply Chain Management and Logistics Engineering from MIT

Q: Why Strategy& /what benefits personal or professional do you get from being part of the firm?

A: When I was in school, I met a number of people from Strategy&. I was impressed and intrigued by their ability to think logically and synthesize complex problems. I chose Strategy& for that rigorous training. Ideas do not make it out of the conference room here unless they are very well thought through, regardless of the person’s grade, legacy, or tenure. As a bonus, I’ve found that getting intellectually challenged on a daily basis can become addictive really quickly!

Q: What do you do outside Strategy&/when you’re not working?

A:  Living in Dubai provides us with a modern sports infrastructure and unrestricted access to most major cities and tourist destinations around the world. I spend most of my weekends either working out at Al-Qudra cycling track, decompressing at Kite beach, or visiting friends and family around the world. When it gets too hot to be outside, I can always go skiing at the mall.

Principal, Beirut

Nationality: Lebanese

Education: MBA from Columbia Business School

Q: What benefits do you get, personal or professional, from being part of this firm?

A: The best part about working at Strategy& is that you never get too comfortable — you’re always being challenged, pushed to grow beyond your current strengths. And that’s only possible because you’re surrounded by excellent people up and down the pyramid and around its support.

Q: What do you do when you’re not working?

A: I try to stay active — swimming, hiking, or circuit training. I also like to read and am I currently hooked on a political graphic novel that investigates a forgotten war crime. For me, a well-spent weekend in Beirut involves fun activities with friends and sufficient sleep to refuel for the week ahead.

Senior Office Manager, Riyadh

Nationality: Syrian

Education: B.S., University of Maryland

Q: Why Strategy&?

A: I chose to work at Strategy& because I knew that the company invests in its staff before it invests in its clients. Here, I have the opportunity to learn from all senior consultants and am rapidly given more responsibilities. My favorite projects involve finding solutions for our clients quickly, especially when I know that my performance will strongly affect the final outcome of the projects.

Q: What do you do when you’re not working?

A: I enjoy traveling, meeting new people, reading, and listening to music

Senior Associate, Dubai

Nationality: Indian
Latest degree: Bachelor’s degree in Mathematics from St. Stephen’s College, India

Q: What attracted you to consulting?

A: I was still in secondary high school when my elder brother introduced me to the world of management consulting. I recall being fascinated by the idea of working on different problem statements and interacting with the senior leadership of different companies.

While pursuing my college education, I explored this fascination by working on several consulting projects. I was eager to become a part of the vibrant ecosystem in my own country but, as fate would have it, roads led to Dubai and this move gave wings to my dream of becoming a consultant.

Q: Why did you join Strategy& and what have you been up to so far?

A: Serendipity played a role in my arrival at Strategy&. A chance meeting with a friend of friend who worked for the firm convinced me that it was the place to be. A referral and a few interviews later, I began my journey as an associate at Strategy& in 2019.

Since joining the company, I have worked on a range of projects, including privatizing a leading university in the Middle East, developing the local content strategy for a large chemicals player, conducting the commercial transformation of an incumbent telecom operator, and supporting a government authority as it fulfills its child protection mandate.

Looking back to the time when consulting was just a fascination, I must admit that the reality of consulting is even better. Every day is a new challenge, and every project is an opportunity to gain expertise. When one is surrounded by people who are passionate about their work and motivate one other to excel, the sky is truly the limit!

Q: What are some of your personal interests away from work?

A: Being highly energetic, I like to spend time in creative pursuits such as dancing, or thrill-seeking adventures such as skydiving.

Curiosity to explore the unknown spurs me to read in my leisure time. Currently I am fascinated with behavioral economics, particularly the “cognitive effects” and “biases” that affect people’s decision making.

Manager, Dubai

Nationality: Peruvian
Education: MBA from Columbia Business School

Q: How did you join Strategy& and what have you been up to so far?

A: I was born and raised in Lima, Peru, where I studied industrial engineering and worked at a technology consulting company. I moved to New York to pursue an MBA at Columbia Business School, which led to a life-changing five-month break and an inspiring internship with Endeavor. As my horizons broadened, I became interested in working to solve problems beyond pure technology, and looked to management consulting as a potential next step. I landed an internship at Strategy& NYC and got a full-time offer from them.

For personal reasons, I transferred my offer from NYC to the Dubai office. I have been working with the public sector and healthcare practices, and recently worked on setting up a regulatory framework to promote and support social enterprises in Abu Dhabi.

Q: What are some of your personal interests?

A: I am passionate about social impact. I have volunteered and worked in multiple pro-bono consulting projects in Peru, Kenya, and in The Philippines. I also have an entrepreneurial side: I co-founded a company that sells female apparel in Peru, which I sold before moving to New York. Currently, I am starting a business with a friend back home that taps into sustainable fashion and the circular economy.

Lastly, I am really into exercising – I find it the best way to keep my mind at ease. I have been boxing for the last 5 years. I also like running (the most practical while traveling) and high intensity trainings such as Barry’s Bootcamp – anything that gets my endorphins flowing.

Principal, Beirut

Nationality: American/Lebanese

Education: M.S. Transportation Engineering & Planning from the University of California at Berkeley (UC Berkeley)

Q: What did you do before Strategy&?

A: I grew up in Lebanon and moved to the U.S. after completing my undergraduate studies in civil engineering at the American University of Beirut, where I was awarded the Penrose Award and the Distinguished Graduate Award upon graduation. In 2017 I was invited back to receive the Distinguished Young Alumnus award, and to speak at several seminars about disruption and transportation.

In the U.S., I attended graduate school at the University of California – Berkeley, then landed a job as a consultant in Washington, D.C. Both my education and work were focused on emerging technologies and the resulting transportation/mobility transformation. While in the U.S. capital, my clients included federal agencies as well as state and local departments of transportation.

Q: What keeps you driven at Strategy&?

A: Since joining Strategy&, I have shepherded many transformation projects for high-profile clients, across different practices. I’ve also made key contributions to Strategy& thought leadership on mobility and technology topics. I particularly enjoy the people aspect of my work. I get a great deal of satisfaction from collaborating with amazing colleagues and mentoring and bringing a positive energy to my surroundings. I make it a priority to understand both the career goals and personal preferences of my team members to maintain a balanced and pleasant environment that constantly ignites passion and renewed purpose and energy for everyone.

Senior Associate, Beirut

Nationality: Lebanese

Education: Bachelor’s degree in Computer and Communications Engineering at the American University of Beirut

Q: Why did you join Strategy&? What have you been up to lately?

A: While still in school, I had an internship as a software engineer with ETS Corporation in Virginia, in the U.S., and after that I decided to pursue a more stimulating and fast-paced career. So when I graduated in 2016, I joined Strategy& as an associate based out of the Beirut office.

Over the last two years, I have enjoyed the ever-changing nature of the consulting lifestyle, working in multiple sectors (TMTD, Consumer & Retail, and Health) and from multiple locations (Cairo, Manama, Dammam, Dubai, and Riyadh).

Q: What are some of your personal interests?

A: I am very passionate about the environment and animal welfare. I actively promote environmental awareness among friends and colleagues, participate in environmental initiatives, and am volunteering with a prominent Lebanese NGO in this field.

I am also known among my friends as “the singer,” and I’ve actually performed at Strategy& staff events. In my free time, I enjoy travelling regularly, and I have travelled to 10 different cities recently, including Copenhagen, Zakynthos, Salalah, and Singapore.