George White, distinguished career professor at Carnegie Mellon University in Qatar and the founder of the Al Fikra competition, was awarded a Prestigious Appreciation Award for his contribution in creating a supportive environment for entrepreneurship in Qatar.

White is the founder of Al Fikra, a business development competition that incorporates education and coaching: “As an educator, I encourage entrepreneurship through my classes, and competitions like Al Fikra provide a platform for students to put their theory to practical use.”

Al Fikra is organized by Qatar Development Bank (QDB) and runs over a three-month period. During this period, innovative ideas are recognized and supported by QDB and its strategic partners throughout the different stages of their development.

“We would like to sincerely thank QDB for its role in promoting entrepreneurship in Qatar,” said White.

The award was presented at a gala dinner to celebrate the end of the Al Fikra competition. CMU-Q was also recognized as one of two academic partners in Al Fikra.