Hult Magazine Issue 6 | Page 13

ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT businesses. Essentially it helped me in comprehending what works where, how, and when. It also broadened my perspective to appreciate and comprehend cultural differences and work with them. This has been invaluable in my professional life when working with people from different cultural backgrounds such as the U.S., U.K., India, Jordan, Lebanon, Qatar, and Brunei. The individual attention given to the students by the faculty and the provost in particular, was invaluable in helping facilitate ‘real’ learning. What have been some of the highs and lows in setting up your own IT company? Setting up and running Aspire has been and still is a great high. Growing the company, starting with a big break in 2003 when we started supporting Weight Watchers International and seeing new clients like Gilt Groupe, Borderfree.com, Smarter Travel Media, Jetsetter, IBM, BP Aramex, and Publicis among others, giving us , very positive feedback as well as good business was fantastic. Also, being able to add new services and create employment and growth opportunities for young and well-educated Jordanians is a real thrill. There have certainly been challenges along the way. Aspire has evolved, following the growth curve of the ICT sector in the MENA region. Lobbying government agencies, ensuring that robust processes are developed and followed, as well as changing the traditional biases that the West may have towards the Middle East are not easy tasks. Similarly injecting the latest HR practices and remaining a leader in our sector in the region presented and continues to present a variety of challenges but what would success be without the overcoming of challenges? What advice would you offer someone looking to launch their own business in the field of professional services? Be focused and envision what you want to achieve. Keep learning; take a chance; give 120% to everything that you do; work towards the best but always be prepared for the worst; and above all, focus on the details. hult.edu/alumni 13