Encompassing 3 Programs on Business Strategies and Performance, Intensive Upskilling Training and Support for Start-ups
29 September 2020
The President of the Holy Spirit University of Kaslik (USEK), Father Talal Hachem, and Mr. Carlos Ghosn launched a tridimensional initiative including an executive program: business strategies and performance for senior managers in the MENA region, an intensive training/upskilling program for local businesses to develop the needed skills within the Lebanese economic sector, and an investment and advisory board for start-ups that aims at offering expert advice and cash investment to innovative startups addressing real-world problems. This initiative was announced during a press conference held at the USEK Kaslik campus in the presence of economic stakeholders, University Council and community members, and an attendance of local and international media representatives.
The press conference was introduced by journalist Léa Fayad acting as the master of ceremonies.
Father Talal Hachem
USEK President Fr. Talal Hachem’s introductory address provided an overview of “the history and educational mission of the Lebanese Maronite Order (OLM), and the historical chain of events that has characterized the University and brought us to where we are today.”
Speaking of the collaboration between USEK and Mr. Ghosn under the title of “Moving Forward”, Fr. Hachem said: “Given the current context in Lebanon (and even around the world), higher education institutions have a key role in responding to the present situation and to the present challenges. We believe it is our role, now more than ever before, to prepare our community, our students in the first place, our faculty and staff, and all our stakeholders to face potential challenges in the future with all potential means. This is why, what we do today and the efforts we are exerting now in the service of our community would shape the future not only of our youths but also of all the constituents of society. What we are launching today is a tridimensional initiative allowing us to reach out to three different target groups:
- The young generation or what I so like to call the “positive change drivers”
- The working force, which is the backbone of our society with its different age groups
- And the executives who need to make a step further in their careers
Through this tridimensional initiative we would be adopting a comprehensive approach in order to have a comprehensive impact.”
The USEK president went on to say: “The idea of collaborating with Carlos Ghosn did not come out of the blue. It was the fruit of thorough planning and the involvement of many people at USEK and from outside USEK […] I must say that the idea stemmed from the need for change and given first, Carlos Ghosn as a person, and second his career record of accomplishments, we cannot but say that Carlos Ghosn is an agent of change.”
The Moving Forward initiative, as Fr. Hachem outlined it, encompasses:
- An executive program on business strategies and performance for senior managers in the MENA region
- An intensive training/upskilling program for local businesses to develop the needed skills within the Lebanese economic sector
- An investment and advisory board for startups that aims at providing expert advice and cash investment to innovative startups addressing real-world problems.
Mr. Carlos Ghosn
For his part, Mr. Carlos Ghosn explained in his address the various stages of this initiative and commented on his utmost readiness to help Lebanon overcome the current dire economic situation, saying: “I am ready to put my experience, my knowledge, anything I have in order to support any institution, any team with a purpose… So we started a discussion with [USEK President] Father Talal [Hachem]. I understood that he has a vision for this institution and within this vision, we needed to take some initiatives and some steps to concretely illustrate where USEK would be going. And this is how we came with the 3 initiatives we’re going to be talking about today: first, a top executive management program that we want to be the best not only in Lebanon, but also in the region; second, a training center for new technologies, such as artificial intelligence; and third, support for startups to create companies and develop entrepreneurship.”
Mr. Ghosn was keen on highlighting that “we as Lebanese are not only good traders, we are also good entrepreneurs… as proven by many examples. The objective is serving this very venerable institution to achieve its goal moving forward, but also serving the country and the society because today if there’s one specific thing that Lebanon needs, it is [to] create jobs. When we are developing top management, we are developing people strong enough to carry companies through this difficult time, to grow the company and to create jobs. When we are supporting startups, we are putting an incentive in front of young people to make them become leaders in the economy, creating value, making investments, and also creating jobs. When we are creating a center for training, we are helping young people, technicians, and engineers to be trained in something where they are going to find jobs… So this is about employment, jobs and entrepreneurship to allow the society – the economic and social part of Lebanon – to take its role into the reconstruction of the country.”
As to why he chose USEK, he mentioned several reasons: “First, because Fr. Talal was the first one to show up; second, the tradition and five-century history of the University, which goes back to 1584 with the creation of the Maronite College in Rome; and third, because I found a team around Fr. Talal who is young, ambitious for their institution, for the country and for themselves who want to move forward (…) and help the young people transform the reality in which we are.”
In conclusion, Mr. Ghosn thanked all the people he had been calling personally in Lebanon and around the world – top executives, CEOs, specialists, experts – for dedicating their “time to help Lebanon overcome this difficult situation” and help Lebanon’s youth secure a better tomorrow.
During a Q&A with the audience, Mr. Ghosn reflected on how difficult it is for him as a businessman to enter the world of politics, adding that the current situation, difficult though it is, calls on society to act responsibly and on all sectors to work together to promote economic recovery, put politics aside, help develop society, and offer solutions to the current problems. Stressing the need to help the youth and prevent them from emigrating in order to develop society, he praised their tremendous enthusiasm even while acknowledging their fear of the future.
In his opinion, Lebanon’s economic problem is not due to a lack of financial assets, but rather to a lack of trust, leading Ghosn to emphasize the need to restore trust in order to confront this major economic challenge and attract funds and investors. Lebanon has “immense human capacities, natural resources and infrastructure and the only way out lies through using this wealth as the foundation for a detailed action plan because solutions do exist.”
On the initiative
Dr. Khalifé-Freiha
In her address, Dr. Danielle Khalifé-Freiha, dean of the USEK Business School (UBS), said it was “an honor for us to collaborate with Mr. Carlos Ghosn and present a unique world-class executive program that tackles current business world problematics with globally-renowned experts”, adding: “The Business Strategies & Performance Program is all about how to build a resilient business model and help organizations to develop global leaders and nurture a talent pool for senior management. 10 workshops will be delivered by internationally renowned professionals, who have a proven record in leading successful organizations, along with Mr. Carlos Ghosn who will personally address several of the topics presented.” The program, which “will be offered to only 20 participants per round, will start in March 2021 and end in May 2021 with a combination of online and on-campus attendance options. All safety measures will be taken into consideration with regards to COVID-19.”
Dr. Joseph Assad
Dr. Joseph Assad, dean of the USEK School of Engineering, introduced the USEK Skills Development Center, an initiative targeting 3 stakeholders:
- Young engineers by introducing focus workshops concentrating on skills needed for the Lebanese and international markets
- School students by introducing them to new fields, such as mechatronics, in addition to workshops for traditional professions, such as carpentry, agriculture, and blacksmithing
- Skilled workers by providing multiple levels of training, including basic skills, the use of technology, and international standards in traditional professions.
This initiative will be followed by an industrial incubator allowing any entrepreneur to transform their idea into a real or tangible product. A mobile phone application will also be launched as an e-store linking local services and goods to international markets.
Mr. Élie Akhras
In his address presenting USEK’s Asher Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship (ACIE), ACIE Director Mr. Élie Akhras gave an overview of the center and its objectives before addressing the third initiative, supporting startups in Lebanon, saying: “The Investment and Advisory Board for Startups was created at USEK to provide equity investment and advice to early-stage entrepreneurs in order to develop their businesses locally and internationally. The board’s action is in keeping with USEK’s mission to offer Lebanese talent an incentive to stay, offer them hope for the future, and provide them with new opportunities. We are launching this initiative today to create more jobs and contribute to Lebanon’s economic development.”
Ms. Rosabelle Chedid
Finally, Ms. Rosabelle Chedid, a USEK student, presented the C Green project, a cleantech startup treating sludge and transforming it into organic fertilizer. This project, which has already benefited from Mr. Ghosn’s financial and hands-on support, could have a tremendous social, health, agricultural, and economic impact.