Alum Asma Al-Kuwari on mentoring current CMU-Q students: “I want to be that person for them.”

Asma Al-Kuwari is an entrepreneur who has also worked at Ooredoo and the Qatar National Tourism Council. She returns to CMU-Q often to mentor students and share her career experiences. Al-Kuwari is part of the Class of 2011 with a degree in business administration.

Looking back at your time at CMU-Q, what are your fondest memories?

There are so many great memories. I was involved in the All Around magazine, which was an amazing experience, and the business association club. I did the internal case competition, and the midnight breakfast. There were all of these different activities that not only taught different skills, but they were just fun.

How did you get started as an entrepreneur?

After I graduated, I worked at Ooredoo for a couple of years, but I knew that I wanted to start something on my own. I had a couple of ideas, so I joined the QBIC, the Qatar Business Incubation Center, and they helped me build on my knowledge, write a business model, and actually implement it.

What was your first business?

I started an e-commerce business that was like a marketplace for home businesses. But at that time, the market wasn’t ready for such a platform. After a year and a half, I decided to close that down and pursue another opportunity that I felt would actually work. I’m a calligrapher and I now have an online stationery store, so I can also make use of my artistic side. I’m also a life coach and have started a consultancy company in that area.

Did you think you would be an entrepreneur when you were at CMU-Q?

I took Professor George White’s course in entrepreneurship and it sparked something in me. I knew I wanted to pursue entrepreneurship sometime in the future. That class still sticks with me.

Were there other courses that have helped you in your career?

One of the most important classes, no matter what your major, is business presentation.

It helps you present yourself, create your resume, all the basics of what you need to start a job. Business Arabic is another class that has been very important. Working in Qatar, especially for a Qatari, you need to be able to communicate professionally in both languages.

You often come back to speak to current students. Why is that important for you?

It’s been years now since I graduated. I just want to tell people how it looks like on the other side. What should students be expecting? When you’re so into studying, and it’s hectic with deadlines and all of that, it helps to look at the bigger picture. I think when I was in their position, I needed someone to tell me that. I want to be that person for them.