Alumni Success Stories

“Curiosity led me from jewellery to flowers—and finally to tomatoes. Every pivot reminded me that purpose and impact can be cultivated anywhere.” – Mariam Adel Ghanem

Mariam Adel Ghanem, a Lebanese MQM alumna of UOWD, leads sustainable value-added innovation at agritech pioneer Pure Harvest Smart Farms.

"Breaking barriers was never meant to be easy. But every challenge shaped me into a stronger, more resilient version of myself—and that’s a legacy I want to leave behind." - Isra Arif

Isra Arif, a Bachelor of Business Administration graduate from UOWD, is Pakistan’s first female watchmaker—currently honing her craft at the prestigious WOSTEP institute in Switzerland.

"My degree at UOWD deepened my understanding of critical thinking, research, and effective communication – skills that have been invaluable in my role as a journalist." - Nour Al Hosni

Nour Al Hosni, a Syrian-Hungarian journalist and presenter, has built a thriving career in the media industry, rising to prominence as a reporter for AlArabiya, one of the leading TV channels in the Arab world.

"Success is about turning a vision into reality and making a meaningful impact." - Duygu Yilmaz Koksal

Duygu Yilmaz Koksal, a Turkish entrepreneur and co-founder of Saledo, is making a social impact through her women-led initiative that produces sustainable and innovative food products like green banana flour.

“Entrepreneurship is not easy, but when I feel like giving up, I remind myself of the impact I have on others, and that gives me strength to keep going.” - Nooran Albannay

Nooran Albannay, an Emirati entrepreneur, CEO, and founder of Coffee Architecture, has charted an unconventional path from her engineering career to the coffee industry.

“The knowledge and diverse multicultural environment at UOWD were pivotal in shaping my professional ethos and leadership qualities.” - Abdalla Ibrahim Abdalla Mohammed Al Darmaki

Abdalla Ibrahim Abdalla Mohammed Al Darmaki’s journey from student to founder is nothing short of remarkable. He graduated in 2009 with a Master’s in Human Resource Management from the University of Wollongong in Dubai (UOWD), and today he leads the Strategic Centre for Consultancy & Training.

“The skills I gained through my UOWD program were crucial in securing my first management position in a governmental organisation in Abu Dhabi” - Wardah Harharah

With a 20-year tenure in global leadership across aviation, tech and luxury retail industries, Wardah Harharah is the visionary Founder and CEO of The Powerhouse Project, passionately championing women's empowerment in the corporate world.

"The MBA program was more than just learning from books; it was about understanding how these concepts play out in the actual business world"- Mei Wang

Originally from China and having lived in the UAE for 12 years, Mei is the founder and driving force behind a thriving business consulting firm in Dubai.

“The collaborative spirit and practical experiences at UOWD instilled in me a passion for innovation and excellence, driving my pursuit of diverse leadership roles.” - Ali Mohammed Almuwaijei

Currently serving as the Vice President of Governance, Compliance, and Enterprise Agility at DEWA, Ali's career is a roadmap of success in competitive fields like financial and quality management.

“I have to praise the quality of education that I received at UOWD as I am still benefiting from it today. And 13 years later, I still meet regularly with the friends I made there.”- Shurooq AlBanna

With over a decade of experience in the humanitarian sector, spanning across the Middle East, Africa, and Asia, Shurooq AlBanna is now empowering the next generation through mentoring, consulting, and writing.

Open Day

Attend our next Open Day on Saturday, 12 July 2025.
Join our experts to learn more about our degrees and how you can enrol at UOWD in our
Autumn intake which starts on 22 September 2025.