Learning and Leadership: My 2022 Story

As the year comes to an end, it’s a time to reflect on the ups and downs, the triumphs and challenges, and the growth and changes of the past twelve months. As I look back on the past year, I am filled with gratitude for all the experiences that have shaped me into the person I am today. In this personal year in review, I will be taking a journey through my own experiences, reflecting on what I have learned, and celebrating all that I have accomplished. So, let’s take a walk down memory lane and reflect on the journey of the past year.

Learning and leading

In 2022, I will forever cherish as one of my best years, a year in which I accumulated a lifetime’s worth of memories. During the first quarter of the year, I enrolled in a number of courses as I am a continuous learner and always striving to sharpen my skills and challenge my thoughts and capabilities. From Coursera to Edx, ITC-ILO to USIP, and finally to Harvard, I took classes, courses, and workshops in both virtual and in-person formats. Learning is one of my favorite activities, and I almost completed a total of 11 courses and 1 fellowship. I acquired numerous new skills and improved others, including Digital Marketing, Agile Project Management, Leadership, Conflict Management, and Communications.

One of the most captivating courses I took was “Power and Influence for Positive Impact” from Harvard Business School online. This fulfilling course challenged me to rethink the essence of power and how to use it for the betterment of humanity. It was a mind-blowing and perspective-shifting course that will shape my approach to leadership. Furthermore, the USIP Generation Change Fellowship with His Holiness the Dalai Lama was another breakthrough leadership experience. Through this fellowship, I underwent a personal journey of understanding and exploration, which led me to re-evaluate my purpose in life and my vision for the future. This program aimed to empower young leaders in conflict-ridden and fragile countries like Somalia, and as a result, I was able to reshape my communication and conflict management skills.

In July 2022, I was elected as the Curator of the Mogadishu Hub. It has been a privilege to lead the hub and make a significant impact, including the selection of the first Somali Shaper to attend Davos50 and participation in the Annual Shapers Summit in Geneva. I have been a member of the Global Shapers community for almost 5 years, starting as a Shaper in the Kampala Hub. Prior to my role as Curator, I served as an Impact Officer for two years. During my leadership, I have enjoyed collaborating with teams, hubs, and local communities to drive meaningful change for the people.

Amplifying the voices

I had the privilege of speaking at the Annual Leaders Gathering (ALG) 2022 and the World Economic Forum’s Strategic Intelligence Outlook 2022 Session on two important topics, “Africa in the World” and “Future Readiness: Workplaces of the Future.” During the ALG 2022 program, I joined several distinguished leaders from across the African continent to engage in a thought-provoking conversation about the significance of keeping sight of Africa’s interests, the importance of reconnecting with the continent, and the role that progressive networks such as CEED and LéO Africa can play in facilitating the exchange of ideas and expertise. The discussion was expertly moderated by Ivan Kyambade. In the Strategic Intelligence Outlook session, I shared my insights on the difficulties organizations face in adapting to the ever-evolving work environment and the need for organizations to create a work culture that is inclusive of different cultural backgrounds, age groups, and perspectives. The objective of the session was to help organizations design workplaces that cater to the needs of a diverse workforce while being equipped to handle the technological advancements and market changes of the future. I emphasized the importance of considering cultural diversity, age gaps, and differing perspectives in designing workplace practices that can attract and retain talent effectively, and brought in a unique perspective by sharing my thoughts on the young people’s and global south perspectives. The goal was to explore how organizations can strive for future readiness and achieve economic success in the ever-changing business landscape.

Reconnecting to the world

In 2022, it was a year of reconnecting with the world. Mogadishu Airport became my third home, after my actual home and office, as I frequently traveled through it and landed countless times, to the point where I worried that my passport would run out of pages for stamping. For the first time in my life, I flew to Europe, Asia, and the Middle East. In May, I was selected as a Davos50, an elite group of shapers chosen every year from different hubs, to participate in the Annual World Economic Forum meeting in Davos, Switzerland. This was a rare opportunity to dive into global discussions and reconnect with the global shapers community, with the aim of refueling our noble service across the hubs for the betterment of our cities and communities. In September 2022, I landed in Switzerland again for the Global Shapers Annual Summit, which brought together the hub leaders from the over 500 hubs around the world. I was honored to carry the torch from Somalia to Geneva and contribute to the conversations with fellow young leaders, another amazing experience.

During both trips in Switzerland, thanks to EU connectivity, I had the pleasure of visiting some incredible cities in Europe, including Zurich, Luzern, Geneva, Brussels, Frankfurt, and Paris. It was an amazing experience to observe the culture, development, infrastructure, and geopolitics of Europe. During my stay in Europe, I had the pleasure of visiting remarkable places, including the EU Parliament, where I spent a whole day learning about the history of the European Union and what Somalis and Africans can learn from it. I also enjoyed my stay at the United Nations compound in Geneva and the WEF HQ, among others. Of all the cities I visited, I loved Paris the most. It is a vibrant city with a lifestyle, culture, food, landscape, and entertainment that are unmatched. I still remember the taste of macarons and the scent of YSL wild leather! It is a city of artistic beauty, with landmarks such as the Arcs between Champs-Élysées, the Eiffel Tower, the Frank D. Rosevelt train station, the Grand Mosque, and Louvre museums that left a lasting impression on me. If it wasn’t for my older brother, Abdullahi Alim, who is one of the nicest humans I have ever met, I could not have enjoyed my stay in Paris. The recurring memory I have is the conversation we had under the Eiffel Tower on a Thursday evening, discussing global issues in relation to Somalia affairs. I am indebted to Abdullahi Alim, aka the unofficial mayor of Paris!

In September, I embarked on a journey to Dharamsala, India, located on the edge of the Himalayas. This city is famous for being the home of the Dalai Lama and the Tibetan government-in-exile. My colleagues Iman and Irbad accompanied me on this trip as we were all selected to be a part of the Generation Change fellowship, a program aimed at fostering young leaders and promoting peace in Somalia. During our stay in Dharamsala, we were mesmerized by the natural beauty and warm hospitality of the locals.

Later in the trip, we explored the cities of Hyderabad and New Delhi. While Hyderabad was a delight for food lovers, with delicious meals available in almost every corner of the city, New Delhi was a different story altogether. The city was heavily polluted and crowded, making it an unpleasant experience.

In November, I had the opportunity to visit Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt for COP27, marking my first trip to the Middle East. I was honored to represent SIMAD University at the summit and voice the concerns of Somalia as a country vulnerable to the effects of climate change. The summit highlighted the newly established Institute of Climate and Environment and aimed to find novel solutions to the environmental crisis.

During my engagement at COP27, I had the privilege to meet and interact with a diverse group of delegates, including government officials, representatives from multilateral institutions, academia, and more. I had the honor of meeting HE President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud of Somalia for the first time, and we agreed to meet in the future to discuss matters of national importance. I also met the deputy prime minister, the minister of foreign affairs, and several high-level officials. I also had the opportunity to engage with the president of the African Development Bank,Akinwumi Adesina, Professor Carlos Lopez, among others.

Aside from the professional interactions, I also enjoyed my time in Sharm El Sheikh. The city was breathtakingly beautiful and I relished the seafood, late-night walks around the old market, and the cultural shopping experience. I also made time to visit Cairo, the oldest city in Africa, where I was awe-struck by the National Museum and the pyramids. The Arabian desert scent, camel rides, and the sunset over the pyramids made for a fantastic travel closure point.

Looking Ahead

With a passion for education, environment, and sustainable development, I have taken on a new challenge as the founder of the Institute of Climate and Environment (ICE Institute) at SIMAD University. After 3 years of co-creating SIMAD iLab, previously known as IITE Institute, which is now the largest university-based innovation hub in Somalia, I am eager to tackle the cascading effects of climate change in the country. As a committed leader, I will work tirelessly to create novel solutions to some of the most pressing problems of our time and strive to uplift people to live decent lives. My purpose and vision for the future remain strong, and I am confident that through the work of the ICE Institute, I can make a meaningful impact for the people of Somalia.

In 2022, I accomplished many milestones and I am grateful for all the blessings I received. Despite not achieving all my goals, I am thankful for everyone who has helped me in some way or the other along the way. I would like to express my gratitude to Allah for all the success and opportunities I had in 2022. As I move forward, I remain committed to my purpose of bettering humanity and will continue to take small steps towards creating a positive impact.

Join me in pioneering the possibilities for bettering the people and planet! Yes, You are awesome and invited!