I have had the delight of knowing Jihad El Hokayem and attending one of his classes in my bachelor’s period at the Lebanese American Univeristy. El Hokayem was kind enough to share his wisdom and experience with the upcoming future business leaders. He is a well-known and loved person between his students and his society.
Background:
Jihad El Hokayem is a leading chief financial market strategist, he forecasted live on TV the crash of gold in 2013, oil prices collapse & its fluctuation intervals in 2014. He is an MBA lecturer in the most preeminent universities at the international and local levels in particular at IDE – IESE business School Group (number 7 in Financial times global MBA ranking), EMBA Lecturer at Lebanese American University and Université Saint Joseph (USJ) in the oil and gas master’s program in partnership with Total and IFP. He is the President and founding member of Rethinking Lebanon 2025 that aims to empower youth. He was hosted by CNN and the American Chamber of Commerce.
Interview:
We asked El Hokayem a set of 4 questions that we think would be of value to anyone needing a bit of guidance.
- What are the most important factors that students should consider when they choose a business school?
He advised students to check first and foremost the job placement rates after graduation followed by the reputation of the university which he said is critical. He also emphasized on the importance of the alumni network and previous graduates from the institution students are considering. Finally, it is very important to check the background of professors i.e. experience, research, achievements … and it is very crucial to have professors of practice in your business schools.
- How can students make sure they are going into the right major?
Students should identify their competitive advantages and traits on an academic and personal level, they should follow their passion and interest while trying to choose the major that fits their character, personality and attitude
- What advice would you give for fresh graduates and how can they gain a competitive advantage?
Students should aim to do training in multinational firms and broaden their horizon by getting international experience and exposure. It is vital to work on their attitude and character development, attend professional seminars that
fits their career interests, develop their network, connections and get in touch
with the alumni. Professional certifications can also be a great competitive edge at the beginning of their careers that would help them fair better against competition.
- What is your point of view on failure?
Failure is just a tiny and minor detail on the big journey.
MindFort Inc. 