Two Distinguished KOC employees become vice-presidents of the Harvard Club

Two distinguished Kuwait Oil Company employees and graduates of the Harvard Leadership Development Program sponsored by the Company have won Vice President positions at Kuwait's Harvard Club board, after running for the election last May. This is the second board in the club's history. 

This new achievement confirms the Company's contribution to building a better society, especially as it is keen to develop its employees and support them to gain global experiences that bring them to advanced positions through the Harvard Leadership Development Program.

To explore this achievement, we met with the two winners from the Company. Senior Planner (R&D) in the Innovation & Technology Group, Nadia Khaled Al-Zeabot, won the Vice President position for Programs and Schools. In the case of the President of the Harvard Club's temporary absence, she is the one in charge.

We also met with TL Contract & Purchasing Services Mohamed Sadiqi, who won the Vice President position for Membership and Communications.

Al-Zeabot explained that the Harvard Club of Kuwait was established in December 2018, to join 88 Harvard University clubs around the world. As stipulated in its constitution, it aims to enhance the welfare of Harvard University and establish a mutually beneficial relationship between Harvard University and its alumni.

She added that Harvard University is one of the oldest and best universities in the world, located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, and exemplifies the quality and seriousness of education.

She pointed out that her role is to chair the Programs and Schools Committee, appointing committee members and event chairpersons throughout the year as necessary to assist them in carrying out their duties.

In addition, she keeps an updated schedule of all events, activities, and programs planned by the Club, and oversees the publication of such events in the Club newsletter.

She added that her work assignments also require liaison and cooperation between Harvard Club and the various Harvard admission and financial aid offices, or their appointed volunteers and representatives in Kuwait.

On what she hopes to accomplish this year, Nadia said that she is seeking to participate in providing several cultural and professional activities that benefit all club members.

She also hopes to cooperate with the various centers, companies and branches of international university clubs located in Kuwait and the Gulf region, to create a system and professional communication network that achieves joint cooperation.

She stressed that she also seeks to highlight KOC's investment in building the capabilities of its employees and supporting them to gain global experiences that brought them to advanced positions through the Harvard Leadership Development Program, with the sponsorship of the Training & Career Development Group.

She explained that the Club, in cooperation with KOC, would sponsor club activities, based on its social participation and to give its alumni the opportunity to share their different experiences and highlight their skills.

She added that, in light of the current circumstances of the outbreak of the novel Corona Virus, they aim to use electronic platforms while carrying out various activities, as per the security and health directives of the country.

She mentioned that they have also been working on communicating with a number of ambassadors, including the American Ambassador, in preparation for organizing discussion sessions on the current situation and other related topics.

In addition, the new board members have started to work on a questionnaire for club members to obtain their opinions and suggestions, which will contribute to creating this year's strategy and determining the activities that will be focused on to meet members' needs and aspirations. 

For his part, TL Contract & Purchasing Services Mohamed Sadiqi clarified that the Harvard Club is the most recent and includes Harvard University graduates, as it is a reference for them.

He added that elections are organized every year to elect new board members to run the club. In this framework, Harvard alumni receive emails inviting them to run for the election that includes multiple positions: Board Chair, Finance, Programs and Schools, Membership and Communications, and Secretary.

He added that he ran for the Vice President position for Membership and Communications by submitting his CV. The elections then took place on May 13, where the list of candidates was sent to Harvard alumni in Kuwait for voting, and the results were announced on June 16.

He believes that the good thing about winning the elections is that he represents the Kuwait Oil Company, which participates in marketing within the Harvard Club. There are about 45 Harvard alumni who are KOC employees.

He stressed that this experience is good for him personally and for the Company as well, as it enhances the Company's image, which is deeply investing in its employees and sending them to Harvard for educational programs.

He stressed that, by joining the Club, he is focusing on the common interests between Harvard Club and the Company, especially since  he will be involved in Membership and Communications.

He explained that among the tasks of the club's board members is to invite speakers that are beneficial to KOC employees as well, through bringing new expertise and organizing seminars.

Regarding future programs, Sadiqi said that due to the unprecedented situation imposed by the pandemic, options are limited. However, the new board members will sit with the American Ambassador soon, to get acquainted and discuss a virtual embassy event in Kuwait.

He pointed out that there is a virtual seminar in preparation. The council seeks to coordinate with four speakers, and will focus on the current situation imposed by the Corona virus and how to deal with it.

He added that the board members started work through a conference call, and are expecting to organize a meeting soon. It was agreed that the meetings would be organized outside working hours (at night and on weekends), indicating that the new board aims to take the club to another level.

He went on to explain every role within the Club. For example, he chairs the Membership and Communications Committee, appoints the members of the committee, keeps records for all members and students in the club, and is responsible for collecting all dues and contributions to the club and coordinating with the Vice President of Finance regarding the deposits.

He elaborated that he is responsible for the Club's principal means of communication, including the newsletter, website, and social media, as well coordinating with the Harvard Alumni Association and any other related activities, to publish information related to the Club and Harvard University.

He added that by joining the board, he aims to promote the club, make people more aware about it, and interact more with Harvard alumni.

He pointed out that he will focus his work within the Kuwait Oil Company, where many Harvard alumni work, to get to know more, cooperate, and achieve collective benefit in his field.

He stressed that this is his current goal and challenge, as the Contract & Purchasing Services Team Leader.