Life for Relief and Development is a renowned humanitarian organization, offering essential services such as clean water, education, emergency relief, refugee support, family assistance, and healthcare on a global scale. Under the leadership of the honored Hany Saqr, Life for Relief and Development, a leading humanitarian organization in the United States, has delivered nearly $600 million in aid. Additionally, Life for Relief and Development holds consultative status with the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations.
Hany says that because our world is always changing, so is LIFE! Continuously incorporating inventive strategies derived from the specific requirements of the communities they cater to, they prioritize sustainable growth and nurture local collaborations. Their efforts not only offer immediate assistance but also guarantee that their programs are culturally significant and have enduring effects.
Hany himself, qualified with an M.D., Ph.D., says that teaching medical studies was one of the best things he did. He saw how important knowledge is and how it can help communities. This made him believe even more in the importance of education and healthcare for making society better, and witness firsthand the power of knowledge and its impact on communities. Later, living in Egypt was a very important time for Hany. He learned a lot about the country's history and faced new challenges. This experience helped him see that people in different places have different needs. He realized how important it is to work together with people from different cultures to help others around the world. When he moved to America and started volunteering at various organizations that help people for free, he became even more dedicated to helping others. Being part of these groups taught him more about the big problems that many communities face and why it's important to work together to solve them.
Hany employs an African proverb, "If you want to go fast, go alone, and if you want to go far, go together," to enhance understanding. Hany's experiences have taught him that they are stronger together and have more in common than they realize. By embracing their shared humanity, they can do so much more than they ever thought possible.
As LIFE changed over time, they made sure to keep track of how they were helping people and being responsible with the money they received. They also made sure to ask the people they were helping for their opinions to ensure they were doing a good job and respecting their culture. They began utilizing advanced technology such as smart computers and space imagery to assist a greater number of people and increase efficiency. These changes have enabled them to make better choices, help communities, and continue to improve at what they do.
Hany leads LIFE with a focus on addressing key humanitarian issues by breaking them down to their basic elements and creating solutions from there. By deconstructing complex problems like clean water access and healthcare, he is able to develop new and lasting interventions. He focuses on ensuring the satisfaction of both donors and beneficiaries with LIFE's work. In his view, constant communication and feedback ensure that their efforts are in sync and allow for any necessary changes to enhance their work.
Finding a balance between personal hobbies and professional duties has been rewarding and beneficial for Hany. Some of his hobbies have directly helped him succeed as a CEO, such as reading about leadership, innovation, and global issues. This not only keeps him up-to-date on current trends and challenges but also gives him new insights and concepts that he can implement in the organization's philanthropic efforts.
Hany leads his team by encouraging forward thinking and creativity to keep the company innovative and competitive. He values people's importance and promotes a culture of collaboration and innovation. Hany fosters a supportive environment that welcomes diverse perspectives and encourages new ideas, thereby empowering his team.
He maintains open communication, sets high standards for integrity and accountability, and establishes clear goals for team members at all levels. He believes in creating open lines of communication through regular meetings and tools like Trello. He focuses on individual strengths and offers opportunities for skill development, such as cross-training and mentorship. Finally, he emphasizes the importance of creating a creative environment through idea sharing and brainstorming sessions to drive team success.
Hany keeps up-to-date with competitors' strategies using online tools such as Meltwater, SEMrush, Google Alerts, and Hootsuite. These tools help him monitor competitors' web traffic, keywords, online performance, industry news, trends, and social media activity and engagement. He aims to outperform competitors by distinguishing our organization's products and services. He looks for areas where competitors are lacking and creates innovative solutions to take advantage of these opportunities. His team values continuous learning and flexibility, staying responsive and proactive in changing their tactics based on the most recent competitive insights.
LIFE is improving the process of online donations by offering automated options and various payment methods through Shopify, catering to their worldwide audience. Also, they have recently established offices in Yemen, Kenya, Malaysia, and Somalia, which was based on extensive market research and their dedication to aiding marginalized communities. These new offices will allow them to better deliver crucial services to those in need. LIFE is introducing new community engagement initiatives in education, healthcare, and sustainable development to empower local communities and promote long-term progress. They are excited about these projects and look forward to the positive impact they will create!
Posted in CLF | Top 10 Inspiring CEOs of 2024, Dr. Hany Saqr, MD, Ph.D. CEO and President at Life for Relief and Development Profile