To RSVP, please email aak2184@columbia.edu

“Unleashing the Next Generation of Change Makers” – a talk by Najla Al-Midfa will be the launch event of the Soraya Salti Youth for Youth Series.

The Youth for Youth Series is inspired by the legacy of the late Soraya Salti, former President and CEO for Middle East and North Africa at INJAZ Al-Arab, a non-profit organization that supports youth education and training in the Arab world. With the support of Mr. Waleed AlBanawi, Founder and Chairman at JISR Venture Partners, the series will honor the incredible work and achievements of Soraya Salti in the field of youth education and entrepreneurship. This initiative aims to create a space for debating, reflecting and understanding the challenges and opportunities faced by youth, as well as for proposing applications to address them.

The speaker, Najla Al-Midfa, is the General Manager of Sheraa, an Emirati government entity that aims to inspire the next generation of entrepreneurs and provide them with a launch pad for success. She is also the Founder of Khayarat, a platform that enables young Emiratis to make informed career choices.

In her previous role, as Senior Manager at the Khalifa Fund for Enterprise Development, Najla led a team of business counselors through the process of selecting ventures for financing. Prior to joining Khalifa Fund, she was a Senior Associate at Mckinsey & Company in New York.

Najla’s experience also includes roles within PwC and Shell. She is a board member of United Arab Bank, and Vice-Chairperson of Young Arab Leaders. She holds an MBA from Stanford University, and is a fellow of the Aspen Institute’s Middle East Leadership Initiative.