From the time I started my under-graduate degree, I was enthusiastically waiting for the day I would complete my degree and join my fifty year old family business of metal recycling known as Lucky Group. In 2005, I moved back to our hometown of Dubai after completing most of my degree while I continued to finish my last couple of courses at my own pace. I was appointed to oversee the business and marketing operations of the business but it was a long road ahead before I would be ready for this challenging role.
After joining the family business, I successfully completed three years of a management trainee program at Lucky Group which included a series of intensive training sessions at various departments and recycling sites within the group. During the course of my business training, I also got the opportunity to travel extensively to over twenty-five countries worldwide for business, pleasure and social.
One of the strongest qualities I learnt at the University of Waterloo was to never say no to any incoming opportunity. This is why; apart from my travelling I also accepted business projects in eight different countries across North America, Middle East, Indian Subcontinent and Australasia over the last ten years. I was lucky enough to also get the chance to live in six of them including Canada, UAE, Pakistan, New Zealand, Oman and Qatar.
I strongly believe that all of this was possible due to the strong foundation and confidence I obtained while studying at the University of Waterloo. My time at the University of Waterloo was truly unforgettable. I learned so much from everyone I met at the campus and in the Kitchener-Waterloo area. I met some of the best life-long friends who are also very successful in their careers today.
After graduation, I always wanted to give back to the University in whatever little way I could. This is why; I opted to represent the University in the UAE as a Global Ambassador. Under the umbrella of Lucky Group, I was also fortunate to have two of my University of Waterloo alumnus friends and two other co-op students to join our business. I am grateful to say that one of them will complete a decade of employment in our group this year.
