I build institutions, tell stories, and fight for the ideas that make free and prosperous societies possible — from New York to Baghdad and everywhere in between.
I grew up in Iraq, where I saw firsthand what happens when extremism goes unchallenged and economic opportunity disappears. That experience shaped everything I do today.
I founded Ideas Beyond Borders to do something about it — translating the ideas of free markets, critical thinking, and open inquiry into Arabic and getting them into the hands of people who need them most. What started as a translation project has grown into a platform for policy reform, entrepreneurship, and media across the Arab world.
My work sits at the intersection of economic development, media, and counter-extremism. I collaborate with policymakers, intergovernmental institutions, and private sector leaders to find solutions that actually scale in complex, diverse societies.
I'm a Non-Resident Fellow at George Washington University's Program on Extremism and a Non-Resident Scholar at the University of Pittsburgh's Center for Governance and Markets. I split my time between New York and the Middle East.
Global Speaker
Volunteer Service · Obama
Whittier College
Where I Call Home
Why free markets aren't just theory — they're the most practical path to jobs, dignity, and stability in fragile states. I've seen it work on the ground.
You don't defeat bad ideas with silence. I talk about what actually works: education, media, and giving people access to better ideas.
How do you build institutions that outlast sectarian politics? I share lessons from building organizations across some of the world's most complex environments.
Keynotes, panels, university lectures, and private events
Book Me →I've spent over a decade building organizations from scratch in some of the most challenging environments on earth. Here's where I can help you:
I've secured and managed millions in grants from major foundations and government agencies. I can help with acquisition strategy, compliance, reporting, and donor relationships.
From a one-person idea to an international organization — I've navigated every stage. I advise on scaling, governance, operations, and sustainable growth.
Leading cross-cultural teams across time zones and conflict zones has taught me things no MBA can. I help leaders think strategically in complex environments.
I know the region — the opportunities, the risks, and the people. I help with market entry, regulatory navigation, tech adoption, and building the right partnerships.
The organization I founded to translate the ideas of free markets, critical thinking, and open inquiry into Arabic — and get them to the people who need them most.
→A modern revival of Baghdad's historic House of Wisdom — a publishing and translation platform expanding intellectual access across the Arab world.
→An independent media platform I created for unfiltered reporting and analysis on politics, culture, and economics across the region.
→Where I write about the ideas I care about most — economic freedom, governance, extremism, and what it takes to build something that lasts.
→I write about the ideas that keep me up at night — economic freedom, governance, extremism, and building things that matter.
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