CP Inspiring Men Awards 2019

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CP Inspiring Men Award 2019

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CP Magazine first introduced its Inspiring Men segment back in 2013. Since then, it has grown significantly in terms of both nominations and popularity. Over the last six years, dozens of successful men have been recognized for their achievements and it has been a pleasure to meet and interview every one of them and to hear their amazing stories.

This year, our Inspiring Men feature is bigger than ever and, as a result, has its very own supplement separate from the magazine!

For 2019, CP Magazine is delighted to feature fourteen Inspiring Men from Kuwait. They may have suffered setbacks or disappointments but each one of these men understood the importance of perseverance. With hard work and determination, they went on to achieve great things and it is with huge pride that CP Magazine congratulates them on their outstanding success.

JAMEEL ARIF www.cpmagazine.net

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CP Inspiring Men Award 2019

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Our Inspiring Men segment is back by popular demand!

We are celebrating the 7th edition of this annual favourite with a special supplement dedicated entirely to this year’s Inspiring Men. For 2019, we are delighted to introduce 14 Inspiring Men and to share their individual stories of success.

Success does not come easy. Invariably, doors will be locked, roads will be blocked and mistakes will be made. But determination pays off and, as these men know only too well, good things come to those who wait!

Congratulations to each of this year’s Inspiring Men whose stories will inspire the next generation of achievers in Kuwait and beyond.

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Dr Saud Al-Dosary The secret of my success is that money is the last thing I am looking for. Success is to give your business quality and support for the entire team including the smallest person in the

Please tell us about yourself.

I am Saud Aldosary, a dentist from Kuwait. I started the first dental team for treating kids with special needs and unhealthy adult patients in the Middle East.

Tell us about your educational background.

I studied pediatric dentistry at the University of Leeds, UK and further education in special needs dentistry in Leeds, UK and Pacific University in USA.

Tell us about your family.

I am married to a pharmacist. She helped me a lot in my work and she supports dentists by teaching them about drugs in dentistry.

Describe your family support.

My father was a general manager in the Ministry of Health so his dream was to see his son become a doctor.

He converted my dream from military college to dental college.

Tell us about your childhood. How did your formative years lead to your success?

I studied in Kuwait government schools. I was a champion at table tennis. Scouts helped me to be a good team leader and how to manage problems.

Any life changing experiences?

One day I saw a mother sitting on the floor with her Down syndrome child.

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She didn’t know what to do. She was crying because her child was in pain.

Treatment was difficult because he was not co-operative and he needed dental treatment under general anesthesia. The waiting list is 8 months and there was no team in Kuwait to treat such kids. It changed my life and my thinking about my future.

Tell us about your earlier work experiences.

I started the first dental team in the Middle East for dental and medical treatment for special needs patients.

With 15 dentists and physicians we started to have patients from all over the Gulf, Egypt and Jordan.

Tell us a little about your current job.

Hollywood smile for them and we see them happy and enjoying them life.

How would you like to be remembered?

As a happy person.

Who are your real-life heroes?

My heroes are the kids who enjoy their smile and are happy with no pain.

Where do you envision yourself in five years?

I will be happy if we can open other branches in the Gulf area or elsewhere in the Middle East.

What is the secret of your success?

I work at the Royale Hayat Hospital, one of the best hospitals in Kuwait.

The hospital has a fantastic team of nurses, physicians and management.

The secret of my success is that money is the last thing I am looking for. Success is to give your business quality and support for the entire team including the smallest person in the clinic.

Tell us about your industry.

Your hobbies?

We focus on a specific area in dentistry which was not reached by dentists before so it makes a huge difference.

Tell us about the growth of the company?

We started the dental center as one clinic with only me as a dentist. Today we have 11 dentists, 16 nurses and a team of 7 for dental management.

Special needs kids come to our clinic with pain. The parents do not know what to do. We treat them and they leave with a smile. We create a CP Inspiring Men Award 2019

Public relationships and Kuwaiti diwaniya.

I am scared of....

Unstable countries around Kuwait that are not helping us to improve our country, and the problems that may happen at any time.

What’s your favourite holiday spot and why?

London is my frequent destination for the lifestyle, shopping, restaurants and friends.

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Fahad Al-Saif I am humbled and honored to be selected. I just hope my story can inspire others to be better and make an impact on those around them no matter how small it will be. Also, it won’t end here, I hope to continue to inspire and be inspired for generations to come.

Please tell us about yourself.

I’m an over-achiever and I love helping people without expecting anything in return. I’m often called Mr. Sunshine, because I always have a positive attitude with a smile on my face and I wish nothing but the best for others. I love bringing people together, learning from them and expanding my experiences as wide as possible. Feed the body, the mind and the spirit is the game and I find it fun and exhilarating.

Tell us about your educational background.

My father believed in education. He put my brothers and I in private schools since kindergarten. We started in the British education system, which was very rigid and fundamentally strong. Then in 7th grade, my father transferred us to the American School of Kuwait, since he wanted us to go to American universities after we graduated. I always excelled in my classes and was exceptionally strong in math, English and all the sciences. I was a very curious kid growing up and it showed in my grades. I was always the youngest person in my class since my father never allowed the school to hold us a back a year after the invasion.

After graduating from high school, I ended up receiving the government’s merit scholarship and went on to enroll in Indiana University, Kelley School of Business in 2001. During my second year, unfortunately, I had to leave Indiana for health reasons, due to the Midwest’s climate. I then transferred to a state with similar weather as Kuwait, which is how I ended up at Arizona State University. I graduated with honors in 2006 with a bachelor’s degree in business administration.

Tell us about your family.

My father was a self-made man who was orphaned by the age of 13. Growing up, he was supported by his relatives and extended family and invested all of his time in getting an education and building himself. In 1984, he started one of the first

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private investment companies in Kuwait called Kuwait and Middle East Financial Investment Company (KMEFIC), which is coincidentally the year I was born. My mother is a housewife from a large Kuwaiti family and was the 11th child of the same parents. Both my parents are very social and hardworking and made sure we worked just as hard as them.

Describe your family support.

Nothing in our household was given out freely, everything had to be earned.

Ultimately though, through school and our grades, my parents were always fair. Since I got the highest grades, I usually got what I wanted - within reason of course. My brothers didn’t, but my father still rewarded them for their efforts. If they put in the hours, he would make sure they got their fair share. That made us all work very hard and respect each other for what we have.

I was a very curious child growing up and I explored theater, art, music, science, math and English. My parents supported every project that I worked on and every interest I was into at the time, even though some of it was short lived. As long as it was in pursuit of knowledge, my parents helped me get what I wanted.

Even in college, whenever I faced any difficulty, I could always rely on their support and understanding to succeed.

They knew my intentions and rarely questioned my actions. I might have driven them crazy at times, but they would tell you it was worth it.

Tell us about your childhood.

I grew up a very shy and lonely kid. I was a middle child of four brothers. My older cousins hung out with my older brother and my younger cousins hung out with my younger brothers. Therefore, I was left to entertain myself and often caused problems for attention.

In primary school, I was under a strict British education system. I had to wear a fancy uniform and follow the rules sharply.

I was so shy and couldn’t make any friends, so I just observed everyone. I was the CP Inspiring Men Award 2019

quiet kid who escaped through books and cartoons and I tried to learn how to make friends from US television shows.

In 7th grade, my parents decided to change us to an American based education system and we ended up at the American School of Kuwait. I was eleven years old at the time and I decided that since no-one knew me at this new school, I would practice everything I have observed in the past.

Then, I decided to become the outgoing kid and become everyone’s friend. In that year alone, I won the Citizenship Award for being the friendliest and most helpful kid, to the extent that my father had to install a private phone line (with an answering machine) in my bedroom due to the number of new friends calling the house.

My parents were shocked at how I changed so fast, but I changed for the better. I learned at that age that I am in control of my destiny and I can change anything to make my life better if I chose to.

How did your formative years lead to your success?

Ever since then, I pushed myself to be the top student, as well as joining school programs to help out in school. I was placed in a higher level than my classmates in math and science and I was helping seniors with their work so they can graduate. I even stayed after school sometimes to help tutor kids who were struggling in certain subjects.

I was especially involved in Student Government and would always win against my competitors by a landslide (it was easy since I was literally friends with everyone and a good public speaker). I even convinced the school to let me reopen the student-run store - it was closed for ten years. I convinced the students’ parents to donate equipment and materials and got cash donations to buy supplies. It was one of my proudest accomplishments and the store was reopened within a few months.

Six months later, the store was making so much money that the school took it away from me. I learned at that time that A) I can run my own business, and B) Make

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sure you own it before you invest your time in it. Anyway, it was a profound learning experience where I realized that I can achieve whatever I set my mind to.

Any life changing experiences?

Between the ages of 8 and 11 my parents sent us to summer camps in England, Switzerland and the US. It taught me how to live away from family, depend on myself, get closer to my brothers (we hated each other until after these experiences since we had to defend each other) and to try new experiences with an open mind and spirit. In high school and college, I continued expanding my world view and enrolled in summer programs abroad.

Every trip brought its own challenges and learning experiences.

Any dreams while growing up? Did they come true?

I always wanted to become a doctor growing up. It wasn’t until I ran for Student Government and re-establishing the student store that I realized I have a talent for people and business. This is why I truly believe I am successful today.

Tell us about your earlier work experiences.

Pre-College: I got into a fresh graduate program at Burgan Bank the summer after high school. It was an eight-week program where I was intended to rotate between departments to see how a bank works. I started in the credit card department where I had to help clients fill out applications and input them into the system. The supervisor quickly found out that I was her best employee. While others finished 10 to 15 applications a day, I was cranking out 30 to 40. Also, I looked older than most people since I was an overweight kid - with a beard already - so they had me manage angry clients, which surprisingly, I was very good at. Ultimately, I never got to go on the rotation and was a full-time employee for eight weeks. I basically learned I can excel in anything as long as I take it as a challenge and adapt. I still think fondly of that experience.

During College: In college, I had two internships. The first was with a company called Silver Sneakers. Silver Sneakers is a US exercise program specifically designed for senior citizens (65 years and above).

They worked with gyms all over the US to utilize their space during quiet hours for senior citizens who have nothing but extra time. My job was to take all the surveys and type up all the results and quotations from the clients for the website. I quickly finished that job and got bored. My supervisor wouldn’t give me any additional work. That’s when I decided to run analysis on the information I collected. I discovered where our strength markets were and where we were lacking. I made a whole presentation based on my findings and presented it to the department head - not my supervisor since he was oblivious. She was shocked and very impressed with my initiative and the quality of my work. She took me under her wing and from then on I reported to her directly until the end of my internship.

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The second internship was at the marketing department of a brownie factory called Fairytale Brownies. It was a mandatory internship by my marketing class and became a final project for my grade. I was told to create surveys and analyze the data I got from customers, then present to the company owners my findings with recommendations to improve sales and service quality. I was one of five to present and my ideas were accepted.

The thrill of collecting and analyzing data and convincing a company to change its business for the better has never left me to this day. Any job where I can make the client be better was exciting to me and led me to my career today.

Post College: When I graduated from college, I had four options. The first was an offer to intern at Northwestern Mutual in Arizona. This will last only one year due to my visa extension and I would have to return to Kuwait after. The second option was a fast-track admission to a master’s degree program in marketing with a full scholarship from my university. The third option was similar except for a master’s degree in international business. And finally, the last opportunity was the fact that foreign banks just opened in Kuwait and they were hiring.

Being a realist, I decided to go back to Kuwait and apply to those banks. However, none of them responded immediately and I had to find different ways of getting their attention. Luckily, my father told me to meet someone at Citibank whom he knew. I went to the meeting and as soon as I walked in, I was told that there were no job openings and he was meeting me just out of courtesy. During the meeting, I managed to impress him and before I left, he said he could get me into this special training seminar called the Bourse Game that was taking place the week after. This was offered only to Citibank employees and their clients. Also, the course was comprised of a three-day lecture and a two-day activity.

I was told I could only attend the lecture part, since the activity was for paying clients and current employees. I was happy to accept since I was in between jobs and actively searching.

At the seminar, I was the only fresh college graduate there, which was kind of embarrassing, but that didn’t stop me. I went early every day and participated in all the discussions. On the end of the third day, I went to the instructor and thanked him for everything I learned that week. He asked if I will be coming to the activity the next day and I told him I wasn’t allowed to. He said I should come because some people drop out last-minute and he needed to fill the groups. Sure enough, the next day, exactly one person didn’t show up and I got his spot. The activity consisted of teams of three, which are considered as banks, and the instructor played the role of the central bank. We would get economic information from him at the beginning of every session and based on that information, we would trade currencies with the other banks.

Thankfully, I was good with economics and worked with my team well. My team won first place by 1.5$ million dollars CP Inspiring Men Award 2019

profit above all the other groups. The instructor then took me to the Citibank managers and told them that they would be regretful not to hire me and that I’m a future Citibanker (his words exactly). They took my information and seven interviews later I was hired as an analyst in the cash management department.

I started in January 2007. My boss at the time told me my role was to set up the department, since the bank just opened.

I had to go to Dubai and learn everything and meet everyone important within one week. Despite crazy odds, I managed to set up the department and implement the online banking system for Kuwait. I was told that a year later there would be a VP hired to be my actual boss. In 2008, the financial crash occurred and my boss walked over to my cubicle, gave me the profit and loss file of the department, and told me congratulations, I’m running cash management now under his supervision. In two years, I tripled the book and expanded our business significantly. I then would go on to help other departments set up and was consequently told to run them as well. As a result, I got double promoted every year and covered everything from cash management, investor services, custody and clearing, to senior relationship manager of the public sector and finally financial institutions. In my last year there, I was running four departments.

Tell us a little about your current job.

In January 2015, I was approached by Goldman Sachs Asset Management (GSAM) to be an executive director on their regional team to expand their business in Kuwait. I never did asset management, but I was good at sales and I knew all their customers and prospects. After 13 interviews over a period of three months, I didn’t think I would get it. In June 2015, I was given an offer I couldn’t refuse and relocated to Dubai. Now I fly between and Dubai and Kuwait almost weekly and I enjoy every minute of it.

GSAM focuses on government and financial institutions that invest abroad in all asset classes (equity, fixed income, real estate, private equity, hedge funds, cash, etc). The best part of my job is actually partnering with institutions to improve their strategies and help their employees develop and grow. It's my way of giving back to Kuwait. I always tell clients that I’m Kuwaiti first, then I work for Goldman Sachs.

Tell us about your industry.

The asset management industry is a large and highly competitive industry. Only the smartest and highly adaptive firms succeed. Therefore, to be part of one of the five biggest firms is quite an honor.

These firms help governments, pensions, companies and individuals diversify their investments and increase sources of return. That is why understanding risk and reward is key and the ones that take their time to educate clients are usually the successful ones.

What lies behind the growth of the

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company?

Trust from our clients. We have their best interest at heart combined with a successful track record of our strategies in unpredictable market conditions.

How has business been for the company in the past one or two years?

GSAM is a growing division of Goldman Sachs and has grown significantly in the past couple of years. They continue to invest in its products, systems and people to help grow the division.

I believe…

In the goodness of people and the tenacity of the human spirit. Everyone can choose to be better; to find the motivation and drive to accomplish is one of the hardest things to do, but totally worth it.

The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams…

And the present is the platform you need to create in order to achieve those dreams.

Wake up and start building.

Define success.

Success to me is when my name is mentioned and only good things are being said. Even if a certain product didn’t work out as expected, I’m close to my clients, always take blame, do everything to fix the situation and find alternatives that will make everyone happy. Once the client believes that you, as an individual, have their best interest at heart - even during the tough times - they will remember you fondly.

What’s the secret of your success?

Attitude. Being positive, never complaining and finding the learning experience in everything, even when it seems unfair and unjust. People don’t remember your achievements; they remember that they enjoyed working with you more.

What motivates you?

My desire to be a better person and to make everyone around me better.

It is said that every inspirational person has been inspired by another, was that the case for you?

I’ll be honest, growing up I waited for so long for someone to inspire me and guide me. Yes, I had the support, but no-one pushed me or told me what to do, they just gave me the tools and wished me good luck. Therefore, I decided to put in the hours (many, many hours) and inspire others, especially in Kuwait where everyone sees success as something that came out of ‘wasta’.

What inspired you to be the person you are today?

I learned growing up that I had to depend on myself and that there will be no inheritance and no trust fund to fall back on. All I have is my education and the work that I put in to make myself independent enough to take care of myself and the ones in my life that I love and cherish. In order to take care of other people, you need to be strong mentally, physically, emotionally and financially responsible.

My support is…

My family, my second family that I chose and created, and my self-worth (I believe in myself).

Your message for other people?

You are your own worst enemy, but also be your own hero. You decide what you want to be, what you need to fight for and to do it with a persistence that can be seen as irrational at times. You’ll be surprised with what you end up. Trust me, it’s going to be great!

Your hobbies?

I’m a person who likes to bring people together. In a nutshell, you can say my hobby is people. I also like to mentor and help people through their careers or through personal struggles.

I am scared of…

Being a burden on people.

I fear…

Freedom being limited and people being restricted.

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What is your favourite holiday spot and why?

Barcelona and Lisbon. They’re both unique cities with interesting histories and things to do. Plus, I have a lot of dear friends in both but I can enjoy them on my own as well.

On being selected as an Inspiring Man for the year…

I am humbled and honored to be selected.

I just hope my story can inspire others to be better and make an impact on those around them no matter how small it will be.

Also, it won’t end here, I hope to continue to inspire and be inspired for generations to come.

How would you like to be remembered?

As the person who gave back more than he has taken and made an impact in all the lives that crossed my path and inspired them to be greater.

Your favourite thing to do?

Reading, watching sci-fi and anime, and wall climbing. These are my go-to happy places.

Who are your real-life heroes?

I don’t have specific heroes. Heroes for me are everyday people who decide to be kind, generous, loving and supportive no matter what hand they were dealt and how hard life was for them. I call them my champions and I find them everywhere I go and I remember them in my heart always.

Describe yourself in three words.

A walking, talking, support-structure (I’m counting support-structure as one word).

Where do you envision yourself in five years?

A Managing Director at GSAM and hopefully running a big team or multiple teams in a region. www.cpmagazine.net

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Dr. Mohammad Al-Suwaidan This is a great honor which I accept humbly and hope that I can be a positive inspiration for other young men in my society to do good, not just for themselves but for others.

Please tell us about yourself.

I am a consultant psychiatrist with expertise in mood and anxiety disorders, medical education and public health.

I work as an assistant professor at the medical schools of both Kuwait University and the University of Toronto, Canada.

I also work as head of the mental health team at Mubarak Hospital and I own and operate my own private mental health clinic. Beyond that I spend a lot of my time spreading awareness about mental health issues to society as a whole through public events, media appearances and social media means. I’m very interested in many broad subjects outside mental health including creativity, philosophy, poetry, art and history and I try to incorporate these interests in my work. I’m also a husband and father of three children who are the love of my life.

Tell us about your educational background.

I finished most of my primary schooling in the United States. I attended medical school at Kuwait University as well as specialization in psychiatry at the University of Toronto which is ranked one of the world’s top ten universities in psychiatry. I also did research training in mood disorders at Tufts University and Stanford University and a Master of Public Health at Johns Hopkins University.

Tell us about your family.

My father is a petroleum engineer, management consultant and amazing public speaker. My mother is an educator who runs several nurseries and leadership training programs for young women. I am

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the eldest of six siblings and I’m very close to all of them. I am blessed to be married to a very kind and supportive wife who herself has great achievements in dentistry and education and we have three children.

I am also very close to my wife’s family who live in Jeddah.

Describe your family support.

My family is very, very close and supportive.

I can always depend on them and they are my anchor in this world.

Tell us about your childhood. How did your formative years lead to your success?

I grew up in the United States in Oklahoma and then Washington DC. I skipped a grade in school so I was always the youngest in my class and my friends were always older than me. My parents always placed a huge emphasis on reading. We did not own video games and my mother would take us to the public library to get new books every week. I developed an insatiable appetite for reading and would finish one or two new books a week. My father would sometimes take me with him to conferences and to hang out with his friends even when I was young. I think this is why I matured intellectually very quickly.

Any life changing experiences?

When I moved from the US back to Kuwait when I was 14, it was difficult. Even though I was Kuwaiti I felt foreign. Also, I was in a minority when I was in the US. These experiences taught me what it feels like to be an outsider. As a result I always identify and can take the world view of someone who is not in the mainstream. It has helped CP Inspiring Men Award 2019

me develop empathy for those in need.

Any dreams while growing up? Did they come true?

I always knew I wanted to be a scientist growing up, even when I didn’t really know what that meant. I was always passionate about science. Today I do think this dream became true in a way. As a psychiatrist I am very involved in neuroscience both at a research and application level.

Tell us about your earlier work experiences.

As a doctor most of your work experiences come during your training. I learned a lot especially from covering the emergency room and working on emergency teams like a stroke team or being on call while I was training to be a psychiatrist. These experiences teach you to be quick on your feet with decision making and also teach leadership skills.

Tell us a little about your current job.

I split my time roughly equally between teaching medical students and doctors, seeing patients and mental health awareness work.

Tell us about your industry.

Mental health care is going through a huge revolution worldwide. Every year more people are accepting its importance and the field itself has become more scientific.

There is a movement to reach out to the wider community to accept mental health as a key part of health in general.

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What lies behind the growth of the company?

I believe…

My private clinic, Alsuwaidan Clinic, has been successful because our key principle is to emphasize quality over quantity.

Patients are willing to be on a waiting list for an appointment because they know that when they come they will get a thorough assessment and treatment plan that hopefully will lead to a recovery. More than %50 of our referrals come through word of mouth.

The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams…

How has business been for the company in the past one or two years?

We consider what we provide a service and not just a business. Our waiting list for new appointments is over one year long and this has really been because of our success in achieving results for mental health needs.

Define success.

Success is being able to achieve your goals while serving others. Service to other human beings is a key value for me.

What motivates you?

Many factors motivate me, but key is the desire to leave a lasting legacy in this world and to be remembered as someone who gave more than he took.

What inspired you to be the person you are today?

My parents always emphasized service to others when we were young. To serve another human being’s needs is my greatest inspiration of life. In my case, it is to listen to them and counsel them and help them through a difficult emotional time.

Your favourite thing to do?

To read on a beach.

Who are your real-life heroes?

Honestly, my patients. They teach me patience and resilience every day in the face of tremendous pain and suffering.

Describe yourself in three words.

Inquisitive, caring, passionate.

Where do you envision yourself in five years?

Expanding my clinic to a larger mental health care center with the full services biological, psychological and social. Also continuing my public speaking career and expanding to speak to audiences worldwide about mental health awareness.

Your hobbies?

University. Certified in public health (CPH) by the National Board of Public Health Examiners.

A Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada and a Diplomate of the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology.

Widely-sought internationally as a speaker and educator in mood and anxiety disorders. Received numerous awards and grants for my work including, most notably, the Association for Academic Psychiatry Fellowship, the Lilly Young Investigator Fellowship in Bipolar Disorder, The University of Toronto Research, Innovation and Scholarship in Education (RISE) grant, the American Psychiatric Association's (APA) Leadership Fellowship, and the University of Toronto Dean’s Alumni Volunteerism Award. I have also held leadership positions within the APA. In 2015, I was selected as a Bipolar Scholar by the International Society for Bipolar Disorders.

Previously served as a member of the executive committee of the International Society of Affective Disorders, a member of the Board of Councilors and committee head of the International Society for Bipolar Disorders.

Author and co-author on numerous scientific manuscripts, peer-reviewed journal articles and manuals. I continue to serve as a peer-reviewer for several high impact journals including Academic Psychiatry, Bipolar Disorders, The Journal of Clinical Psychiatry, The Journal of Affective Disorders and CNS Spectrums.

Anything to do with the water - swimming, snorkeling, wakeboarding, surfing.

I am scared of…

That moderation in most things is the best but we should be extreme in our acceptance of the other.

And follow the path to make them true.

What’s the secret of your success?

Living a very organized life but allowing myself space to explore my passions.

My support consists of…

My wife is my number one supporter and confidante.

It is said that every inspirational person has been inspired by another, was that the case for you?

It was not one person, there are many that I am inspired by in terms of figures in my personal life. My father is one along with some of my mentors like Dr. Roger McIntyre and Dr Nassir Ghaemi. In terms of historical figures, Ibn Sina, Carl Jung, Harry Stack Sullivan, Steve Jobs, Barack Obama and Jalaludin Rumi.

Your message for other people?

There is no health without mental health.

Your achievements?

Assistant professor of psychiatry at both Kuwait University and the University of Toronto, where I am cross-appointed to the divisions of Brain Therapeutics and Philosophy, Humanities and Educational Scholarship. I am the Head of Mental Health Unit at Mubarak Al-Kabeer Hospital - Kuwait’s largest academic hospital.

Previously served as Residency Program Director for the Kuwait Board of Psychiatry, Kuwait’s focal point mental health representative to the World Health Organization, President of the Kuwait Psychiatric Association and Head of Department at the Kuwait Center for Mental Health - Kuwait's national mental health hospital, where I was also the founding Head of the Mood and Anxiety Disorders Unit.

Completed my psychiatry residency, mood and anxiety disorders fellowship and medical education fellowship at the University of Toronto, Canada. Also trained in mood disorders at the Stanford University bipolar clinic and the Tufts Medical Center mood disorders clinic in the United States. Completed a Masters of Public Health (MPH) at Johns Hopkins www.cpmagazine.net

Disappointing people who rely on me.

I fear…

Leaving this world having not left an impact.

What is your favourite holiday spot and why?

The Pacific Northwest coast of Oregon, Washington State and British Columbia. I love hiking in the amazing forest trails that are on the edge of the ocean there.

Your favourite quote?

“He who has a WHY to live, can bear with almost any HOW.” -Neitzche

On being selected as an Inspiring Man for the year…

This is a great honor which I accept humbly and hope that I can be a positive inspiration for other young men in my society to do good, not just for themselves but for others.

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Ahmed Al-Huzami Being recognized is not only a sign that I am on the right track, but also proves that we have people, organizations and authorities who appreciate and push me further. I’m so blessed and thankful for this opportunity.

Please tell us about yourself.

Tell us about your educational background.

am where I am today. It was a stable phase of my life, yet my parents gave me the chance to explore and discover whatever I wished to try. Because of that I had many opportunities and experiences that led me to choose the direction I liked, not the way they themselves would have liked. I am so appreciative for their wisdom and help.

Graduated from IE Business School – MBA in Madrid, Spain.

Any life changing experiences?

My name is Ahmed Alhuzami. I’m passionate about sport and business.

I was raised in a family who appreciate principles, ethics and morals.

Tell us about your family.

I am married and blessed with two daughters.

Describe your family support.

I was raised in a very supportive family.

My parents always believed in me and my ability to reach my dreams.

My wife has the biggest credit for her patience and endless support. She always understands and pushes me the extra-mile.

Tell us about your childhood? How did your formative years lead to your success?

I believe my childhood is the reason I

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With no doubt, studying abroad for two years in Madrid was a life changing experience. Not the educational part of it, but the life lessons I learned were endless and so beneficial. It changed my mindset and allowed me to know myself and my strengths and weaknesses.

the basics of business and the chance to grow with proper business ethics and morals.

Tell us a little about your current job.

Today I‘m the CEO of ALCANTARA Holding Co. We manage multiple businesses under the ALCANTARA umbrella: Extreme Sports Retail Co., Campo Marzio – Retail, Pro-vision Sports Management and Bazma, an ecommerce platform.

Tell us about your industry.

Yes, but not all of them! I still dream bigger and hope to be a better person.

We work mostly in the retail and service industry, one of the toughest industries in Kuwait and the region. It’s very competitive yet interesting. Our clients and customers are very well aware and knowledgeable about the services and products provided in the market. This puts us under pressure to provide the best.

Tell us about your earlier work experiences.

What lies behind the growth of the company?

Before I started my business, I worked in Human Soft for five years. It was the place that gave me the chance to learn

We believe in our principles and values that always take us to the right place.

That doesn’t mean all our decisions

Any dreams while growing up? Did they come true?

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were correct but that those principles gave every team member the chance to sync and align the personal goals with the corporate ones. We strive to always be bigger, but we love to grow with the attitude of the small businesses.

How has business been for the company in the past one or two years?

Fantastic! The main element we enjoy is the team. We grow our own talent pool and that puts us on a beautiful journey ahead.

Your favourite thing to do?

Your hobbies?

Sports in general, specifically running.

Endurance running and reading.

Describe yourself in three words.

Your achievements?

Passionate, disciplined, dreamer.

The main achievement is not the business level we reached, but my exceptional team and partners in life.

Where do you envision yourself in five years?

Touching the region is our next phase.

In five years I would like to see our arm spread in the GCC.

I am scared of....

I believe…

I fear…

Success is a journey, never a status.

That we live in phases. First we grow ourselves, but to continue to grow we are responsible to grow those around us who deserve to grow and dream.

What motivates you?

What is the secret of your success?

Define success.

Changing people, teams and the community. Taking others to a different level is the fuel that keeps me excited and happy.

What inspired you to be the person you are today?

My father. He always pushed himself to the maximum; a true role-model that inspired me.

How would you like to be remembered?

Impactful.

Getting busy and forgetting to enjoy life.

Political crises that kill the dreams of youth and generations.

What’s your favourite holiday spot and why?

My faith in God and myself.

Saint John Island. It is exceptional in every aspect.

It is said that every inspirational person has been inspired by another, was that the case for you?

Your favourite quote?

Yes certainly. Mr. Fahad Alothman, the CEO of Human Soft, wasn’t a manager but a role model and a school to learn from.

Your message for other people?

Dreams are for free. Dare to dream and fight for your dreams. Dreams are the reason we take the extra mile in our daily life.

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"Success is not final; failure is not fatal: It is the courage to continue that counts." Winston S. Churchill

On being selected as an Inspiring Man for the year…

Being recognized is not only a sign that I am on the right track, but also proves that we have people, organizations and authorities who appreciate and push me further. I’m so blessed and thankful for this opportunity.

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Abdalla Al-Dhefairi I feel honored that all my hard work and accomplishments have been recognized

Please tell us about yourself.

your success?

I’m an optimistic 27 year old who enjoys experiencing things for the first time. I’m a risk taker and a believer.

Weirdly, I was actually a shy and quiet child. After high school when I travelled to study abroad, I became more social and loved communicating with diverse people and learning about how cultures are so different. I still enjoy that.

Tell us about your educational background.

I studied in the US at the University of Oregon - Finance major and Economics minor.

Tell us about your family.

We’re 7 brothers and sisters and I’m the middle child with 3 older and 3 younger.

Describe your family support.

I can’t say everyone is aware of exactly what I do but it’s because I don’t like sharing much, but I still do get support, mostly from my sister.

Tell us about your childhood. How did your formative years lead to

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Tell us about your earlier work experiences.

I used to work at the National Bank of Kuwait as an auditor. I can’t say I hated it but I just felt it wasn’t for me. I also worked Domestic Credit Operation for Corporate banking.

Tell us a little about your current job.

I am currently the COO, CFO, and CLO (legal).

Tell us about your company.

It's a startup company and the first stop for early stage businesses.

CP Inspiring Men Award 2019

Ugenegroup is an incubator and onestop-shop for start-ups. Providing entrepreneurs with all their needs from the idea to the implementation stage; ensuring them a great kick-off.

Ugenegroup holds the adequate and robust knowledge, plus the experience in establishing and analyzing all sorts of matters in the management area of startups. Linking you to a team of experts that are certified (and have met a certain criteria) by Ugenegroup which will help in eliminating the obstacles that might arise and entrepreneurs will have a smoother and a faster road to accomplish their dreams.

What lies behind the growth of the company?

Teamwork - building a relationship with our clients.

great

How has business been for the company in the past one or two years?

It was very tough and not easy at all in

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the beginning. I sometimes thought I was going along the wrong path but unfortunately, this didn’t happen. This is because I believe in myself and my team.

I believe…

Define success.

Patience, teamwork and hard work.

Success is believing you can do something even when everything works against you. Success is saying you don’t know something and then fighting to learn it, not walking away from it.

What motivates you?

Results and inspirational stories of people and how they got where they are.

Everything is possible, the sky's the limit.

What is the secret of your success?

Your biggest support?

Allah and my team.

It is said that every inspirational person has been inspired by another, was that the case for you?

Not really!

Your message for other people?

Never give up on anything.

What inspired you to be the person you are today?

Your hobbies?

Helping people, experience, life, and growing up.

Soccer, cycling, hiking, travelling, running.

How would you like to be remembered?

Your achievements?

As a person who always tried his best to lend a hand whenever he could and who never said no if he could help.

Experiencing things for the first time and building a relationship with my clients.

Who are your real-life heroes?

Mohammed

I am scared of....

Speaking in public.

Your favourite thing to do?

Tony Robbins, Howard Schultz.

Establishing many startups and becoming a mentor for SMEs

Ali,

Describe yourself in three words.

What is your favourite holiday spot and why?

United States – Nostalgia.

Your favourite quote?

“Don’t follow where the path my lead, go instead where there is no path and leave a trial.” Ralph Waldo Emerson

Up for it!

Where do you envision yourself in five years?

Doing the things I love the most and expanding my business.

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Abdulhameed Al-Saqer First of all, I would like to thank the organizer of this award for this motivation and encouragement. It really shows that you care and made me realize that I am more responsible now to carry on developing this path and to make Kuwaiti traditional rhythms available to everyone, everywhere.

Please tell us about yourself.

My name is Abdulhameed Alsaqer and I teach at the Music Institute of Musical Art in Kuwait. I am a percussionist, specialized in Kuwaiti traditional rhythms.

Tell us about your educational background.

I have a bachelor degree in musical art from the music institute in Kuwait, and a master degree in music education from University of Jordan.

Describe your family support.

Despite the fact that my father is actually a specialist in Kuwaiti traditional rhythms, he didn’t want me to take part in this field but preferred that I pursued a scientific major or join the army. I worked at the Kuwait Petroleum Company for a few months but then realized that music is where I belong. Accordingly, I joined the Music Institute in 2003 after the intervention of the Dean (he tempted me by mentioning that I would be the leader of the percussion department). He succeeded in convincing both me and my father and I graduated in 2008.

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After my graduation my father started motivating me and encouraging me to take part in many cultural events associated with music.

Tell us about your childhood. How did your formative years lead to your success?

Everyone, including my father, noticed my early music talent and I was always part of musical activities at my school and summer courses. Then I started going to what we call in Kuwait ‘Samra’ which is an informal youth musical gathering and usually involves Kuwaiti folklore music. They noticed that I was gifted and that I had a future as a percussionist. They started requesting me by name to play the rhythm section in popular songs and other private commissions.

Any life changing experiences?

Once my name was known in Kuwait as a percussionist with fresh ideas, I was approached by the famous Kuwaiti singer, Abdullah Alruwaished, in summer 2008. He asked me to record the percussion part of one of the songs on his new album. He was CP Inspiring Men Award 2019

very pleased with the result and I ended up recording almost %80 of his album, which was a success.

Any dreams while growing up? Did they come true?

My dream was to leave a mark in the artistic landscape of the Arabian Gulf, particularly in Kuwait. I succeeded in accomplishing this. Once I was known, I decided to make an album to document the Kuwaiti traditional rhythms and I started working on it in 2012. It took me around 4 years to finish the album but it was released in 2016 under the name of ‘Thorob’ (which means rhythms). This was the reason I started being known, not only in the Gulf, but also in the Middle East and in Europe. The reason I made this album was the great amount of questions about the Khaliji rhythm, especially Kuwaiti ones. I decided to make the album in an easy but academic way so everyone can benefit from the information. I was then asked by the owner of the iPhone app ‘Iqa’at’ to create a special page for Kuwaiti rhythms. I was very pleased that even before the official release of the album, people were already

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talking about it and requesting a copy.

This album is regarded as a reference not just for the academic researcher but also for music students, artists and academic teachers. After the success of both the album and the application I proposed an idea for KTV to record a video clip of each rhythm and show it on TV. They accepted the idea immediately and we finished recording within a week. It is shown on Alarabi and KTV2 channels. I was then asked by a Kuwait radio station to prepare audio clips to be used between programs. Also, I approached Kuwait Airways and proposed the idea that we should show the album on the aircraft TV which would help to spread the Kuwaiti music culture among foreigners. They also accepted the idea immediately and I received very satisfying feedback.

Tell us about your current job.

I teach percussion and folklore literature at the Music Institute.

Define success.

Success to me is when you understand your passion and fight hard to accomplish it and when you see that your accomplishments are benefiting other people. Also, to be successful is to be reached by people who don’t even know you, to congratulate you for your achievements.

What inspired you to become the person you are today?

My father was always a role model to me and I was very inspired by his personality and his love of the Kuwaiti traditional rhythms. The success of my father made me feel responsible to carry on the job.

What is your favorite thing to do?

Music! Music is my life.

Describe yourself in three words.

Ambitious. Hard working. Musician.

Where do you envision yourself in 5 years?

To become a reference to all who want to learn about Kuwaiti traditional rhythms.

What is the secret of your success?

Ambition and hard work. And I care about my passion.

Your message for other people?

To succeed in something, first you need to always ask ‘why?’ Forget about disappointment and haters. To see your goals and principles, always remember that you should care about your image and you family image as well.

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Your hobbies?

Cycling, travelling, fashion, cooking, camping, playing, swimming.

I fear…

Heights and flying (even though I love travelling).

What is your favourite holiday spot?

London.

Your favourite quote?

“Do not waste your age to prove that you are successful. Tell them that you are a failure and they will believe you immediately and then live your life in your way. Your way is the real success.”

Jack Nicholson

On being selected as an Inspiring Man…..

First of all, I would like to thank the organizer of this award for this motivation and encouragement. It really shows that you care and made me realize that I am more responsible now to carry on developing this path and to make Kuwaiti traditional rhythms available to everyone, everywhere.

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Abdulrazzaq Al-Mojalhem I would like to thank CP Magazine for selecting me as an Inspiring Man for the year and my friends and family for continuously believing in me. I am truly honored and humbled to be selected for this award. I hope that those of you reading this may decide to one day conquer the mountains that lay before you, both figuratively and literally.

Please tell us about yourself.

My name is Abdulrazzaq Almojalhem and I am a mountaineer from Kuwait with a dream to climb the Seven Summits. The Seven Summits are the highest mountains on each continent.

I am passionate about running, travel, learning about new cultures and being in the mountains.

Tell us about your family.

When I was younger, my parents always encouraged me to be outdoors and try new sports. My love for running was born through their encouragement which eventually drew me towards mountaineering and travel.

Tell us about your childhood. How did your formative years lead to your success?

As a kid I was always in love with sports. I was always into running and swimming in school and I played multiple sports while I was growing up.

Any life changing experiences?

My most life changing experience would definitely have to be the first time I summited Mt. Elbrus. After getting back down and reflecting on the 9 days spent climbing and hiking to the top I knew I was hooked. I knew that climbing mountains was something that I wanted to keep doing for as long as I could. The sense of achievement and the camaraderie that

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formed between our team of climbers was incredible, a lot of whom I am still close friends with to this day.

Any dreams while growing up? Did they come true?

When I was younger I always admired the idea of exploration and discovering new places. One of my biggest dreams as a kid was to one day climb a mountain and I am blessed to be able to say that yes, thankfully my dream did come true.

Tell us a little about your current job.

When I am not climbing mountains, I work as a marketer. I’ve always been interested in psychology and communication in general and I find that this field allows me to learn more about these topics while always challenging me to learn and grow with each new project I undertake.

Tell us about your sport.

Mountaineering, quite simply, is the sport of climbing to mountain tops.

It has taught me one of the most valuable lessons I have learned in life, the absolute need to never ever give up on your dreams or your goals no matter how big they may be. And also that nobody, no matter how strong, can make it alone. It takes a team to reach any summit successfully.

In African Zulu culture there is a philosophy referred to as Ubuntu, CP Inspiring Men Award 2019

which translates to: I am because we are. Quite simply if you want to go fast, go alone, but If want to go far, go together. I find that applies very literally to mountaineering. Without the aid of a team and proper support one cannot hope to get very far.

What lies behind your growth in this sport?

I am still learning new things every day when it comes to mountaineering and I still do not consider myself an expert. But no matter what project I undertake in life, or with any new goal or challenge that may be ahead of me, I believe that hard work, consistency, keeping an open mind and being keen to learn as much as we can, can go a long way to gaining a new skill or growing preexisting ones.

Define success.

Success to me is based on perspective and I believe we should never allow it to get to our heads. The moment we see ourselves as successful we tend to become complacent and stop growing, learning or improving. So, my message is to always be striving for success. The journey towards success has always been to me, more enjoyable than being successful.

What motivates you?

I want to climb the seven summits because I want to test my limits. I want to test the limits of my own physical

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and mental fortitude and see just how far I can go. And maybe be able to inspire others to live out their dreams whatever they may be.

What inspired you to be the person you are today?

In my early twenties I was extremely unfit and unhealthy. I made a conscious decision that I wanted to get back into shape like I was when I was younger, so I started running and going to the gym. I then decided to climb Kilimanjaro as a test to myself to see if I would be able to reach the summit. One thing led to another and here I am three years later having climbed Kilimanjaro three more times and been on multiple expeditions.

Back then it would have never crossed my mind that I would still be climbing mountains and wanting to summit the highest mountain on every continent.

How would you like to be remembered?

No matter what the future holds, I want one day to be able to look back and say that I lived my dream and hope that in the process I have inspired others to do the same.

What is your favourite thing to do?

One of my favourite things to do is run.

Running helps me get my thoughts in order. It allows me time outdoors (I try to never run on a treadmill) and helps keep me in shape and fit enough when the time comes for an expedition to the mountains.

The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams…

If your dreams don’t scare you, they aren’t big enough. Dream big and do not be afraid to fail. When we fail, we learn it is an opportunity for us to try again.

What’s the secret of your success?

Hard work, determination and perseverance. I'd say when I set a goal, I put a plan in place and I stick to it and do whatever I can to achieve that goal. I try to make the best out of every situation I am in. Also, being grateful for every opportunity that I have been blessed with and for all the support from my friends and family.

It is said that every inspirational person has been inspired by another, was that the case for you?

I was never inspired per say by anybody I met but rather what inspired me was the feeling I experienced being on a mountain. It’s very difficult to describe in words but the best way I can explain it is that I felt like I had found my calling or purpose in life, like nothing else mattered and I knew exactly what I had to do and how to do it.

Your message for other people?

known routes, North and South.

Successfully summited Mt. Kazbek (highest mountain in Georgia).

I am scared of…

Deep water. I really don’t like the fact that I can't see the ground beneath me when I’m swimming in the ocean, but I don't let it stop me from swimming anyway. I just try not to think about it, or look down!

What is your favourite holiday spot and why?

That’s a pretty difficult question to answer but I believe it would have to be between three countries, Sri Lanka, Russia or Tanzania. It all depends honestly on what kind of holiday I am after. If I want to get lost in a massive city then I would definitely choose Russia. If I just want to disconnect from civilization for a bit I would go to Sri Lanka for the kindness of its people and the endless jungles and national parks and beautiful beaches. If adventure is what I am after Kilimanjaro is a short flight away and Tanzania is the place to go for that. The people of Africa are always heartwarming with endless smiles on their faces and never fail to rejuvenate my faith in humanity.

Never be afraid to go against the grain to fulfil your dreams and never settle for the norms society has placed before you. Be brave and chase your dreams. Take that first step and the next will follow. I always tell people that being on a mountain is a lot like everyday life. It’s not always smooth sailing. You will have ups and downs and it’s those tough times when we are tested that truly define and shape who we become and the way we choose to lead our lives.

What is the next mountain you plan on climbing?

Your hobbies?

Your favourite quote?

Enthusiastic. Driven. Passionate.

In my free time you will most likely find me running, practicing photography and editing, travelling, or just reading and learning about things that draw my interest.

On being selected as an Inspiring Man for the year…

Where do you envision yourself in five years?

Your achievements?

Who are your real-life heroes?

Reinhold Messner, an Italian mountaineer. In 1978, he made the first solo ascent of Mount Everest (the first ascent of Everest without supplemental oxygen) and was the first climber to ascend all 14 of the world's highest mountains above 8,000 meters.

Describe yourself in three words.

In five years, I hope to have completed the seven summits and still be travelling the world and perhaps I would hopefully be on a mountain somewhere with a big smile on my face.

I have summited Kilimanjaro (highest mountain in Africa and Tanzania) three times and will be going for my fourth this December. Successfully summited Mt. Elbrus (highest mountain in Europe and Russia) twice from both www.cpmagazine.net

In December 2019 I plan on climbing and successfully summiting Kilimanjaro for the 4th time. In January, 10 days after Kilimanjaro, I plan on climbing Aconcagua which is the highest mountain in South America and the second highest of the Seven Summits standing at 6,962m which is located in Argentina.

As you think, so shall you become.

I would like to thank CP Magazine for selecting me as an Inspiring Man for the year and my friends and family for continuously believing in me. I am truly honored and humbled to be selected for this award. I hope that those of you reading this may decide to one day conquer the mountains that lay before you, both figuratively and literally.

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Bader Al-Yaseen I am honored, it was completely unexpected. My best work has always been done when I do it quietly. I never thought I’d be considered ‘inspiring’, but I am grateful for being selected and hope to live up to this award.

Please tell us about yourself.

I used to cook back in Middle School and sell brownies to my classmates. I stopped to focus on my studies and pursued Electrical Engineering in the University of Manchester. Whilst there, I started cooking again and found myself indulged in the experimenting process.

I enjoyed experiencing new flavors. When I came back to Kuwait I worked as a Barista for a short while before securing an engineering job. However, during my time as an engineer, I participated in events selling food. After 18 months in the engineering industry, I decided to quit and pursue my passion for cooking. At first I secured a job at Natureland where I worked as a recipe developer/ videographer. After a year, I left to work at a roastery, ORU Roastery, and created a new company called ZERT. 32

Tell us about your educational background.

BEng Electrical and Electronics Engineer.

Any life changing experiences?

Deciding to quit engineering and pursue cooking as a career path.

Tell us a little about your current job.

Currently I work as Head of Business Development at ORU Roastery. I am creating solutions to further grow the company. I am also in charge of a sister company called ZERT, we manufacture and sell Tell us about your childhood. where carbonated coffee beverages.

How did your formative years lead to your success?

My childhood was filled with Tell us about your industry. curiosity. I always liked to try The coffee industry has seen the strange items on the menu. huge growth over the last 3 ‘What does octopus taste like?’ years, especially in Kuwait.

‘What would happen if I add Every month at least 5-4 new this to that?’ But I never really coffee shops are opening. So thought of becoming a chef. At roasteries have seen a boom in first, it was only the interest in sales due to the high demand. It tasting new things rather than is a competitive market due to its small size, so we always have creating them. to be developing and growing.

Tell us about your family and their support.

My family has always been supportive, regardless of what career path I chose to pursue. I will always be grateful for their constant support.

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What lies behind the growth of the company?

My partners, Omar Al Obaidan and Abdulrahman Al Saleem, are the core of this company.

They started the company 2 years before I joined and their passion towards coffee is what’s helping the company grow. My role is to help accelerate that growth through problem solving and market analysis.

How has business been for the company in the past one or two years?

We are slowly increasing our market share within Kuwait and we are currently looking to expand elsewhere towards a larger market.

Define success.

Leaving a positive impact within the market. We strive for change; when we see something that’s missing, we aim to be the first to provide it. With ORU, it’s our strategy to help our clients with their basic needs rather than just selling beans. With ZERT, it’s our aim to provide an alternative to artificially caffeinated drinks.

What motivates you?

Tasting something new.

What inspired you to be the person you are today?

The people I surrounded myself with.

Your favorite thing to do?

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Eat new foods I have never seen before.

Describe yourself in three words.

Reliable, resourceful, creative.

Where do you envision yourself in five years?

Working at one of our restaurant chains.

What’s the secret of your success?

My team.

Your message for other people?

There’s always time for a new career path.

I am scared of....

Losing my hunger. I always want to be aiming for a higher goal.

Your favourite quote?

“The moment you make a decision and act on it, you win.”

On being selected as an Inspiring Man for the year…

I am honored, it was completely unexpected. My best work has always been done when I do it quietly. I never thought I’d be considered ‘inspiring’, but I am grateful for being selected and hope to live up to this award.

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Sulaiman Al-Mansour I think I am doing something great and that’s a real validation for my success.

Please tell us about yourself.

I am Sulaiman Almansour. I’m an entrepreneur managing an incubator business called Ugene. I am always looking forward to adding value and learning from others so I consider myself a student of life.

Tell us about your educational background.

indicator is how many jobs we created in the market.

Where do you envision yourself in five years?

Tell us a little about your current job.

As an economy booster.

I am the CEO for Ugene and I am responsible for business stability and scalability.

I studied economics and business in the US and graduated in summer 2016 from University of Oregon with a bachelor degree.

Tell us about your industry.

Tell us about your family.

What lies behind the growth of the company?

I live with my family. I have 6 siblings and I am very close to them and my parents.

Describe your family support.

My family is a big supporter of everything I do in life except for the entrepreneurship.

They see it as risky and time wasting.

Unfortunately, this is the main thing I need them to push me toward and they never do.

Tell us about your childhood. How did your formative years lead to your success?

I was always questioning everything and thinking of finding creative solutions. This would make people laugh.

Any life changing experiences?

Studying aboard.

Any dreams while growing up? Did they come true?

I don’t remember them!

Tell us about your earlier work experiences.

Ugene Business Incubator helped more than 500 startups locally and regionally.

We are responsible for adding value in the economy and we think the success

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The industry is full of passionate people and the day-to-day is like a vacation every day.

Quality work and trust.

How has business been for the company in the past one or two years?

A lot of lessons have been learned.

Define success.

I believe…

All people have potential.

What’s the secret of your success?

Learning.

Your biggest supporters?

My partners and my mentors.

It is said that every inspirational person has been inspired by another, was that the case for you?

Yes. I was inspired by many successful people in my life.

Your message for other people?

Adding real value for people in life.

Heighten your senses and live every moment in your life.

What motivates you?

Your hobbies?

Helping people.

Football.

What inspired you to be the person you are today?

Your achievements?

Other successful people.

How would you like to be remembered?

As humble and inspiring.

Your favourite thing to do?

Playing football.

My parents’ happiness.

I am scared of....

Heights.

I fear…

Success.

Who are your real-life heroes?

What’s your favourite holiday spot?

My grand fathers.

Greece.

Describe yourself in three words

Your favourite quote?

Student of life.

Bring the joy.

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Mohammad Najem It’s really an honor and a privilege to get this great recognition from a magazine that I always love to read and get inspired by. Thank you so much CP Magazine.

Please tell us about yourself.

Tell us about your childhood.

My name is Mohammad Najem, I’m a radio presenter and TV director currently doing more radio shows between live and recorded shows on O.FM and Kuwait FM. I have worked as a TV director since 1999 and done over 50 music videos for artists from Kuwait and the GCC plus a comedy series and the first adult cartoon series in the GCC (Block 13) and other comedy TV sketch shows.

I had a great childhood growing up. I always travelled all over the world with my family and my parents were very supportive of me perusing different forms of art like painting, making home videos and also interviewing members of my family on my tape recorder (which actually led to me being a presenter and a TV director).

Tell us about your educational background.

I studied media in the States, have a bachelors degree in Arts, graduated from the Higher Institute for Dramatic Arts (Kuwait) in Acting and Directing.

Tell us about your family.

Any life changing experiences?

The most life changing experience for me was the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait. It really impacted my life and made me grow up so fast in so many ways and made me stronger.

Any dreams while growing up? Did they come true?

Tell us a little about your current job.

Currently I present a daily morning show which I also co-produce. I have a chat show at night and both are on O-FM radio station.

Tell us about your industry.

The media industry is a never ending and always updating industry. Now, with social media, it has grown to be a very powerful influence on everyone.

Define success.

Success to me is to leave a great positive legacy and a great impact on other people’s lives even if only a small group of people.

My dream was always to appear on TV or radio so I really worked hard on achieving it.

What motivates you?

I have one brother and one sister from Kuwaiti parents.

Describe your family support.

Tell us about experiences.

work

Who or what inspired you to be the person you are today?

I was first introduced to media by being an intern in Radio Kuwait and seeing how things worked and what it takes to be in the media field.

A lot of people, starting with my grandfather. He was a self made and humble man and was always working hard to achieve his goals.

My family has always been supportive of my choices and is always there for me every step of the way.

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your

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Making people happy and leaving a positive vibe.

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How would you like to be remembered?

another, was that the case for you?

The person who made someone happy and impacted life in a positive way.

I look at examples in my family and how they struggled to better themselves.

Your favourite thing to do?

Your message for other people?

Travelling. Any chance I get I always travel to places I have never been before.

Never lose hope. Regardless of how many doors shut in your face, keep trying and you will achieve.

Who are your real-life heroes?

Your hobbies?

My parents.

Describe yourself in three words.

Humble, positive and creative.

Where do you envision yourself in five years?

Helping other young people and guiding them in media.

I believe…..

Music, art and travelling.

Your achievements?

Three golden awards at the Cairo TV festival. Two awards in Bahrain GCC TV and radio awards. Two awards in Arab Radio awards.

I am scared of….

Easy come easy go.

Nothing scares me expect losing the people I love and cherish.

The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams….

What is your favourite holiday spot and why?

Dreams are what keep us motivated and make us more creative if we do something about it.

Tokyo for the culture, people and food.

What’s the secret of your success?

Easy come, easy go.

Investing in myself by educating myself. Knowledge is the key.

My support is…

My family and my friends.

It is said that every inspirational person has been inspired by

Your favourite quote?

On being selected as an Inspiring Man for the year…

It’s really an honor and a privilege to get this great recognition from a magazine that I always love to read and get inspired by. Thank you so much CP Magazine.

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Mohammad Al-Attar I’d like to thank CP Magazine for choosing me as an inspirational person along with all the great personalities they’ve chosen. I would also like to thank all who had a hand in helping me be where I am today.

Please tell us about yourself.

I’m an English teacher in the morning and a super hero at night - haha! I’m an adrenaline junkie and extreme sports pro athlete doing Parkour, Skydiving and B.A.S.E. jumping. I did school gymnastics during primary school and practiced Karate for 11 years (I have a black belt 3rd dan). I also did Taekwondo and bossaball at Gulf University.

Tell us about your educational background.

I studied math and science in 2007 but didn’t do well so switched to English major in Gulf University for science and technology in 2008. I graduated with a bachelor’s degree in English literature in 2012.

Tell us about your family.

Dad is a car fanatic. Mom was a gymnast and a volleyball player. I guess the awesome mix is clear!

Describe your family support.

My family was very concerned at where I was going with all those so called ‘dangerous sports’ but with time they saw that those sports were directed to be more of a career that gave

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profit through shows, performances, competition judging, TV commercials and much more. I guess that made them have more confidence in what I do. I have to admit I was also good at hiding my injuries!

Tell us about your childhood? How did your formative years lead to your success?

My dream was to be a pro gymnast.

After primary school, I joined Kazma Sports Club for two weeks, only to be kicked out of the team and have my dream shattered. The reason was because as a kid I was too weak to do handstands on parallel bars. I didn’t do well when it came to fighting with kids in school either so mom and dad decided I should join karate to learn how to defend myself. So I drifted away from that dream, but it was never really gone! I was also just another kid at school, not one of those ‘cool kids’ that everybody wanted to hang out with.

Any life changing experiences?

I was sponsored by big companies in 2013 and was kind of under the spotlight. I also had many people around me, some of them the type that came with the fame. I had a severe injury in 2014, one that I thought had CP Inspiring Men Award 2019

ended my sports career. I had to stop doing sports for two years and it really had a negative overall effect on me.

But that injury had a good side too!

The real friends stuck around while the others walked away. I think it was good to remember where I came from and who I was. It was good to remember that I was not one of the ‘cool kids’ and I had to climb up the ladder again to get right back on track.

Any dreams while growing up? Did they come true?

I already talked about my dream but here’s what happened next. When I was 17, right after I graduated from high school, one of my friends (Mohammad Assad) told me about a new crazy sport called Parkour, so I joined in with a few guys and started to learn whatever I could in the streets. Later on, I found out that I was really talented in Parkour and that’s when I knew I never really wanted to be a gymnast! I only wanted to learn how to move and do flips. That handstand I couldn’t do on parallel bars? Well, now I can do it on the edge of buildings!

Tell us about your earlier work experiences.

I had many jobs including a salesman in a furniture store (IKEA) and a

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gymnastics coach for kids.

Tell us a little about your current job.

I currently work in two jobs. The first one is in the Ministry of Education as an English teacher for intermediate school. The second is as an English teacher in the High Institution for Telecommunication and Navigation.

Define success.

Success is subjective. I believe that each personal achievement, whether big or small, is a success as long as it is in your dream’s direction.

What motivates you?

Knowing that I have a duty to show people that all Kuwaitis can succeed in their fields and can be as good as any other.

How would you like to be remembered?

A humble person who inspired many, both as an athlete and as a teacher.

Also that guy who did the things people thought impossible and the dude who made flips look easy!

Your favourite thing to do?

Long car drives (when I have enough time to think and plan).

Who are your real-life heroes?

My dad. He taught us that everything can be solved through reason. I can’t remember a single time he told us to do something and answered ‘because I said so’ whenever we asked why. He always gave us a reason and convinced us that whatever he asked for needed to be done. He was always a father and a friend. So many times I heard ‘Your father is awesome’ and ‘He’s like your

friend.’

Also Khaled Al-Meshari, my friend and HoD at work. He is the combination of an epic car racer and a great educator.

He taught me how to be a good teacher and never take the actions of young students in class in a personal way. This helped a lot when dealing with them. He always helped me to make the most of my skills and talents both as a teacher and an athlete. I really believe he helped me to be kind to students and see them as a son.

Describe yourself in three words.

Born ready (because 3 words are just too much!)

Where do you envision yourself in five years?

Participating again in the Parkour world championship under the Kuwaiti flag because Parkour was never limited to an age.

I believe…

That everyone can make their dreams come true if they work hard and smart enough.

What’s the secret of your success?

people think. It is your duty to show them that whatever you do is great and not silly.

Your hobbies?

In addition to the sports I do, playing video games and eating sweets!

Your achievements?

Kuwait’s Parkour champ 2010.

Selected as one of the top 3 Parkour athletes in Kuwait 2011. Participated in the Parkour world championship twice 2013 /2011. Skydived over one of the world’s seven wonders in 2017 (Pyramids of Giza, Egypt). One of only 7 base jumpers in Kuwait. Won many medals in karate (30+ medals). Speed climbing 2nd place 2007 Marina Waves, Kuwait.

I am scared of....

Nothing, seriously nothing.

What is your favourite holiday spot and why?

The Maldives. It’s a quiet place with nice beaches, amazing weather and great food.

Mom’s prayers.

Your favourite quote?

It is said that every inspirational person has been inspired by another, was that the case for you?

It’s an Arabic poem that I’ll try explaining in English: Those who don’t die by sword, die by other. Death is one, but reasons differ.

All the Parkour athletes and martial arts tricksters that I used to watch on YouTube were my inspiration. Also, all of my team mates, especially Abdulmohsen Al-roomi and Barrak Al-qallaf.

On being selected as an Inspiring Man for the year…

Your message for other people?

Follow your dreams no matter what

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I’d like to thank CP Magazine for choosing me as an inspirational person along with all the great personalities they’ve chosen. I would also like to thank all who had a hand in helping me be where I am today.

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Hassan BuHamad Thank you so much for considering me. It means the world to me to know that what I'm doing is being appreciated. I hope I can inspire somebody to believe in yourself and know that you can make a difference.

Please tell us about yourself.

My Name is Hassan BuHamad. I am 28 years old and a huge animal lover.

I'm a dog behaviorist and trainer and also a volunteer and dog rescuer.

Tell us about your educational background.

I studied in the States from 2009 to 2016. I’m not going to lie, I had a rough time through college. I attended 5 different universities (counting my ESL program makes it 6) and tried 3 majors.

I’m currently working on obtaining my bachelor's in media productions. In the field of dog training, I have a couple of commercial certifications (usually done by testing in the field) plus many years of private education between online learning and self-learning from academic resources - and I’m still learning.

Tell us about your family.

My family is my backbone. Since a young age, I was always family oriented. We are a family of 5 and I'm the middle child. My father is my hero and my sister is my princess.

Describe your family support.

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If it wasn't for my father and his support I wouldn't be half the man I am today. My dad was there for me and believed in me through times of hardship. He was proud of me.

The rest of my family is supportive of what I want to do and have always shown love since a young age. When I say family I don’t just mean mom, dad and my bother and little sister, I mean my extended family too. We were always close and that includes the cousins – life-long best friends!

How did your formative years lead to your success?

Ever since I can remember, I have loved animals. There is picture-proof of that even before I can remember.

Growing up as kid, we always spent weekends at my grandparent’s house. My grandma used to raise chickens and I remember feeding them and caring for them. Chasing after the chickens is one of my best memories. My grandfather always led by example and was a big influence on my childhood. Even though he was illiterate, he was one of the kindest people and always environmentally aware. He loved planting and cared for animals out of kindness. He loved CP Inspiring Men Award 2019

camping and would camp for almost half of the year; he just loved to connect with nature. While spending months in the desert (sometimes from late September to late April in Kuwait), he spent most of his time cleaning the desert and planting whenever he could. He also used to feed leftovers to desert strays and dogs would end up staying in and around our camp site.

Some dogs would show up the next year as we usually camped in the same area annually. I remember bonding with some of those dogs. Some I saw for over 3 years and I even named them. At one point, there was a pack of over 20 dogs living in the camp with us. That was an amazing experience and what set the foundation for my love of animals.

Any life changing experiences?

Many actually but dog related, it would be Iron. He’s a dog and he taught me how much change is possible and how much you and I can make a difference.

Any dreams while growing up? Did they come true?

To be a published musician! No, not really - but it remains a hobby.

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Tell us about your earlier work experiences.

I started as a volunteer whenever I could at a local shelter and rescue in the States, plus freelancing whenever someone would reach me.

It was %100 from word of mouth recommendations.

Tell us a little about your current job.

I'm currently freelancing in Kuwait and also working on establishing a non-profit rehabilitation center for shelter dogs in Kuwait, with a possible partnership soon.

Tell us about your industry.

The pet culture is growing in Kuwait and the number of dogs is at record high (and growing). This means the industry is doing amazing but more education and awareness is needed.

What lies behind the growth of the company?

I don't have a company yet but I’m working on it - hopefully by the first quarter of 2020.

How has business been in the past one or two years?

Well, I have only been working in Kuwait for a year (I came back from the States in September 2018) and since then it has only been growing.

Define success.

To me, success is being satisfied and happy with what you are doing. It’s also achieving the goals you set for yourself.

What motivates you?

My career is my passion and I love what I do. I love knowing that I can make a difference and sometimes change lives and destinies.

What inspired you to be the person you are today?

I have so many teachers in life - some I have met and others I have yet to meet. The people that taught me and believed in me are those who inspire me. And of course my lovely pack!

Of course, seeing what others have achieved is inspiring. You just have to do the work.

How would you like to be remembered?

Do you what you love, love what you do, follow your heart, success will follow through. Work for your dreams, do what you know you are best at and don't let others tell you how to live your life! Be your own success.

The kind heart that cares and does things out of passion and care.

Your favourite thing to do?

Spending quality time with my pack somewhere in nature, obviously.

Who are your real-life heroes?

My dad/father and my pops.

Describe yourself in three words.

Driven, passionate, artistic.

Where do you envision yourself in five years?

Your message for other people?

Your hobbies?

Photography, hiking and being outdoors. Also basketball, volleyball and music production.

Your achievements?

That’s hard for me to say. I have many personal achievements but none relevant to my career or dogs. Would saving a life count?

Being part of a high caliber humane society in Kuwait.

I am scared of…

I believe…

I fear…

You can make a difference.

The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams…

My dream is to celebrate the 1000th saved dog and maybe be stray-free in Kuwait.

What’s the secret of your success?

Loving what I do.

My support is…

My family and friends who believe in the cause. I'm lucky to always have a hand reaching for me whenever I need it.

It is said that every inspirational person has been inspired by another, was that the case for you?

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Losing my beloved.

Cruelty toward animals by some individuals in this society.

What is your favourite holiday spot and why?

Florida - it's my second home.

Your favourite quote?

"People are one of two, either your brother in religion, or your peer in creation." Imam Ali.

On being selected as an Inspiring Man for the year…

Thank you so much for considering me.

It means the world to me to know that what I'm doing is being appreciated.

I hope I can inspire somebody to believe in yourself and know that you can make a difference.

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Abdullah Dexen I want to thank you for nominating and selecting me. I hope I meet your expectations.

This also motivates me to work hard in my field to improve myself and to be better, if not the best. By selecting me, you have added another challenge to become a successful person in my community. Really, I can’t find proper words to describe my feelings and all I can say is a big thanks from my heart for your support of the ambition of Kuwaiti youths.

Please tell us about yourself.

My name is Abdullah Dexen. I am 29 years old from Kuwait.

Tell us about your educational background.

I have graduated from Gulf University for Science and Technology as an accountant.

Tell us about your family.

I am married and I have two brothers. I grew up between two artists, my father and my brother, Hussain Dexen.

Describe your family support.

My family was always behind me at every exhibition, supporting me.

Tell us about your childhood. How did your formative years lead to your success?

Besides learning art, I was also a football player. After graduation I focused more on art and started to visit museums and galleries. I was practicing every day, searching and

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reading. That led me to be more professional.

Any life changing experiences?

Life is normally full of challenges and whilst struggling with and overcoming those challenges, you usually gain experience. I can’t really define a specific life changing aspect. However, I believe that to gain experience, many things must change including thoughts, ideas and even the ways of solving issues.

What were your dreams while growing up? Did they come true?

Yes, I dreamt of becoming an artist and having some exhibitions. That became true when I joined and established Den Gallery with my partners. They are really great artists.

I also did an exhibition in 2015 with another great artist. She is one of the most successful artists in Kuwait, May Al Saad, and it was really successful.

My first exhibition was in 2018 by 36 artworks at Den Gallery. The name of the exhibition was Mushreq.

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Tell us about your earlier work experiences.

As I mentioned previously, I was a football player until I found myself in art. I became better by practicing and having exhibitions with professional artists from in and out of Kuwait.

Tell us a little about your current job.

I have been an accountant at the Public Authority for Housing Welfare since 2015.

How has business been in the past one or two years?

The past few years were successful.

At Den Gallery, we are doing our best to take new steps in the art industry in Kuwait and also to challenge art galleries outside Kuwait by making a place for Kuwaiti artists in the market.

Define success.

Honestly, it is hard to define success because everybody has his/her own definition. However, I would answer with two words: motivation

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and determination. These two words together can make miracles in our life.

What motivates you?

When my family and friends encourage me to make more paintings and give their ideas.

What inspired you to be the person you are today?

My father.

How would you like to be remembered?

I would like people to remember me as a great artist who added a new thing and added to Kuwaiti art.

Your favourite thing to do?

Preparing for exhibitions.

Who are your real-life heroes?

My dad, but I would also like to mention those who really fight for their dreams and struggle for them. Those fighters are my inspirational heroes because I consider myself one of them. My hero is anyone who has a dream and does the impossible to make it true.

Describe yourself in three words.

Persistent, ambitious and flexible.

Where do you envision yourself in five years?

Actually, I have a dream to make my beloved country first in the field of fine art. We know that Kuwait was a pioneer in this field in the 60s, but we should know that this field is renewable and never stops. It is our duty to update it and present it to the world with new ideas that will impress. This could be achieved by thinking out of the box and by daring to do it without any fears. This is what I’m working on for the upcoming years and if this goal is accomplished, Abdullah would be remembered as someone who loves Kuwait. This is what I’m seeking.

I believe…

I can give more than I have because I

still have ideas to present and goals to achieve. As long as I’m still alive, I will never stop working on myself to reach my dreams.

The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams…

This sentence is totally true and nobody can argue with it because there is no future if there are no dreams.

However, the dreams have different categories. One of my dreams is allocated under the category of art and beauty. Other categories of dreams could be industrial or economical but mine is purely artistic. This is because I believe the future of the nation has many categories and one of them is art. This is what I’m trying to work hard at. There is also a common saying about art: If you want to know the development of the country, look at its art cultures. This is what I want for Kuwait.

successful.

Your hobbies?

Art, watching movies, and football.

Your achievements?

My solo exhibition, an exhibition in Sharm El Sheikh and a group exhibition in Algeria, amongst others.

I am scared of....

Losing the dearest people in my life.

What’s the secret of your success?

I fear…

Losing. This is a normal feeling that everyone should have. If you don’t fear losing, how can you become a successful person? Fear of losing is the key of working hard for your dreams to come true. It is vital to have some fears to motivate you in fighting to exist and this is the meaning of life.

Hard work, motivation and determination. Without these factors, no success could be achieved.

What is your favourite holiday spot and why?

Describe your family support.

My parents and my beloved wife all believed in me and what I’m capable of providing for my community and, of course, for my beloved Kuwait.

It is said that every inspirational person has been inspired by another, was that the case for you?

Definitely. This is the normal result for any inspirational person. How can you become effective and creative if there is no idol in your life? You want to be like him/her and in my case, I want to say that it was my family who inspired me. I learned so much from them to become what I am now and I’m so grateful for that.

Your message for other people?

Never give up on your dream and work hard for it. If you don’t have dreams, it means you don’t have a soul. The dreams are the main reason of being

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The French Riviera because it inspired me to be away from everything with my sketch book and some new ideas.

Your favourite quote?

Goals determine what you're going to be.

On being selected as an Inspiring Man for the year….

I want to thank you for nominating and selecting me. I hope I meet your expectations. This also motivates me to work hard in my field to improve myself and to be better, if not the best. By selecting me, you have added another challenge to become a successful person in my community.

Really, I can’t find proper words to describe my feelings and all I can say is a big thanks from my heart for your support of the ambition of Kuwaiti youths.

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Rashed Al-Mubarak Love of education and never ending exploration was, and still is, a profound factor of my success today.

Please tell us about yourself.

I am Rashed Almubarak, founder and CEO of PROJX, co-founder and CDO of UGENE.

Tell us about background.

your

educational

Bachelors of Architecture, University of Oregon, USA. LEED Green Associate.

Tell us about your family.

I’m the oldest. I have three younger brothers and one sister.

Describe your family support.

My mother was a fundamental source of motivation for me in life. My father taught me how to have a good eye and practice what I love.

Tell us about your childhood. How did your formative years lead to your success?

I always dreamed of building a big house for all the family, and it’s coming true with hard work and discipline.

Tell us about your earlier work experiences.

I’ve worked in large and small architecture firms in the US and Kuwait. I also worked for the government. A special project that I worked on was the JACC construction.

Tell us a little about your current job.

I’m CEO at my design and build company, PROJX, and an architect by profession. I love creating new spaces and bringing places to life.

I’m also a CDO at UGENE, where I love sharing my professional experience with startups.

Define success.

Success is continuing self development.

Love of education and never ending exploration was, and still is, a profound factor of my success today.

What motivates you?

Any life changing experiences?

On being selected as an Inspiring Man for the year…

Living abroad for 7 years for study changed how I perceive life and read my surroundings.

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Any dreams while growing up? Did they come true?

Being an important part of someone’s journey and leaving a good mark in my field.

Very honored.

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