Georgetown SFS-Q Alum and Staff Chosen to Attend Ideas Economy in New York

An Alumni and a staff member from Georgetown University School of Foreign Service in Qatar (SFS-Q) were chosen by Qatar Foundation (QF) to attend The Economist’s Ideas Economy: Human Potential event, held at the National Museum of the American Indian in New York.

Basmah Ali, Career Development Manager, SFS-Q and Hajeerah Khan, Business Support Coordinator at QF and a graduate of SFS-Q, were selected by QF to attend the prestigious event that marks the launch of an exciting new relationship between QF and The Economist Group (TEG).

Hajeerah Khan commented, “Members of the community were invited by QF to answer questions around unlocking human potential, with those with the most inspiring answers being chosen to attend this landmark event; I’m extremely thankful I was one of those people. As a graduate of SFS-Q, I understand the challenges and motivations of the country’s next generation and this forum was extremely helpful, examining many themes central to Qatar’s development into a knowledge-based economy.”

The event ran in perfect harmony with Qatar Foundation’s own mission of “unlocking human potential” through innovative educational endeavors and featured analysis and commentary from renowned authors, scholars, journalists, policymakers and business leaders, who shared experiences and advocated ways to advance economic growth through human capital.

Commenting on her experience, Basmah Ali said, “Having the opportunity to attend the Economist Forum and listen to some of the most renowned speakers was a chance of a life-time, and I’m very grateful to QF for this valuable opportunity. As the Career Development Manager at SFS-Q, I was particularly engaged by the interactive lectures which explored technology’s impact on the workplace and how we can harness innovation to achieve socioeconomic progress along with gaining new ideas about the future of jobs, how new technology will influence the work place and the latest on best practices applied at global organizations within their corporate culture. These issues come up daily when we advise students about the latest trends in the world of work and how it would affect them. This in turn will help them become the knowledgeable talent that can compete in the ever-changing job market and deliver on Qatar’s vision to become a knowledge-based society.”

This initiative is one of many that will be held between TEG and QF with a series of engaging discussion-based events and student internship programs including The World in 2013 festival in New York. Key personnel, chosen through an internal selection process that demonstrates their understanding of the organization’s mission and objectives, will continue to participate.