Conversations with CAPAi Participants, Part 1
At the American University of Kurdistan (AUK), the CAPAi Design Thinking Tech Bootcamp is currently in session. Young entrepreneurs from the region have descended upon the AUK campus to learn from UCLA’s Raffi Simonian and other experts. Content Writer Michael Collins was able to speak to one representative from each of the three entrepreneurial tracks: “health,” “civic,” and “educational.” Below, you will find the text for each mini-interview.
Participant’s Name: Aya Frias Abdulkareem Al-ogaidi
Track: Health Tech
Q: What do you ordinarily do? In other words, are you studying, are you working, or are you working while studying?
A: I graduated last month from a dual-degree program offered through the University of Duhok and THM (Technische Hochschule Mittelhessen) in Germany. I am in a transitional period, and, for my next step, I would like to pursue my Master’s while working.
Q: Do you already regard yourself as an “entrepreneur”? Why or why not?
A: I am 50% there. Through this program, I hope to get about 80% there. There is always room for improvement, and there are always opportunities to learn.
Q: Win or lose, the most important things are growth and progress. How do you hope to improve the most through your participation in this bootcamp?
A: I want to enhance my presentation and engagement skills. I want to be able to own the room.
Q: Why does Kurdistan need initiatives like CAPAi?
A: It opens so many doors for learning, and it is especially important for such doors to be opened for young, enterprising people like the participants in CAPAi.
Participant’s Name: Bahaaldeen Yasir Abdullah
Track: Civic Tech
Q: What do you ordinarily do? In other words, are you studying, are you working, or are you working while studying?
A: I studied Business Administration and Marketing. I have been working in art and fashion for seven years now, and I started working in business in 2019, my second year of university.
Q: Do you already regard yourself as an “entrepreneur”? Why or why not?
A: I am the owner of the first podcast in Duhok, but I won’t call myself an entrepreneur. I’d say I have entrepreneurial skills, though, and I am participating in CAPAi to add to my skills and resources.
Q: Win or lose, the most important things are growth and progress. How do you hope to improve the most through your participation in this bootcamp?
A: I want to reach a better understanding of how to transfer my design skills into other fields.
Q: Why does Kurdistan need initiatives like CAPAi?
A: Because the Kurdish educational system does not focus on spotting and incubating talent, much of the entrepreneurial potential is wasted or never discovered. In the modern world, knowledge and data are the most valuable resources available to humans. The best thing about gathering and sharing knowledge is that it’s infinite and can only produce more knowledge. In CAPAi, ambitious people can build on their knowledge while helping others to build on theirs.
Participant’s Name: Mina Rezgar Mostafa
Track: Educational Tech
Q: What do you ordinarily do? In other words, are you studying, are you working, or are you working while studying?
A: Right now, I’m studying at the University of Duhok, building useful skills and my resume so I can hold down a good job in the future.
Q: Do you already regard yourself as an “entrepreneur”? Why or why not?
A: I would rate myself as an aspiring entrepreneur. Just like everyone else, I have ideas and desires, but I have not taken all the necessary steps to accomplish these goals. I regard my participation in CAPAi as one such step.
Q: Win or lose, the most important things are growth and progress. How do you hope to improve the most through your participation in this bootcamp?
A: I’m grateful for the chance to grow just by being in a room full of people who are dedicated to making our world a better place. Here, I’m forging lifelong relationships and business partnerships with people wanting to go in the same direction as me. It’s a win-win.
Q: Why does Kurdistan need initiatives like CAPAi?
A: There are so many distractions in the world. CAPAi is important because it brings bright people together and gives them a platform, a chance to speak and be heard. Together, we can drown out distractions and turn our shared commitment to entrepreneurship in Kurdistan into something tangible, even beautiful.
