Bahrain
I create leadership strategies for entrepreneurial leaders. Hi, I’m Zahraa 👋🏼 Since 2012, I have been designing thought-provoking experiences for impact-driven leaders. Those experiences ranged from 1:1 mentorship sessions with CEOs to nation-wide programs impacting thousands. After advising leaders globally, including the world’s top CEOs, I realized the power of combining both internal leadership & external organizational strategy…THAT is my approach at ThirdThunder. I founded ThirdThunder to support impact-oriented leaders leverage their multi-passions to mobilize impact in their respective companies. I mainly focus on women in MENA. In 2022, I served as Assistant Director for Innovation Programs, heading the startup education portfolio at the New York University Abu Dhabi. In 2020, I joined an innovation-driven boutique consultancy based in NYC, where I had the unique opportunity of collaborating with the world’s top CEOs in reimagining impact for their teams, companies, and communities. In 2017, I had the honor of joining Bahrain’s premier driver of entrepreneurship, Tamkeen, where I developed programs for the national startup ecosystem. I have a soft spot for impact-professionals and I’m lucky to have consulted startup founders and around the world including Mexico, Greece, UAE, USA, & Bahrain. I currently mentor and train passionate professionals globally through ThirdThunder's offerings. I lived & worked in 5 countries across 3 continents — from MENA to corporate America. I combine my global exposure of diverse organizational models in reimagining a new era for leadership. Happy to connect with fellow 'rebels' who dare to challenge business standards — if that's you, drop a DM!
I consulted world leaders heading companies worth $1,000,000s, studied at the #1 human development college, coached +1000 leaders, to finally realize that the best leadership lessons that are tailored specifically for you, particularly for your current situation are laid out in one book: the Quran. {أفلا يتدبرون القرآن أم على قلوب أقفالها} …. ThirdThunder is a boutique consultancy that challenges leadership norms and elevates leaders across levels. We have partnered with leading institutions including the U.S. Department of State to challenge leadership paradigms and chart a novel definition suited for today’s leaders. Our services include customized corporate programs, curated dialogue spaces, and 1:1 mentorships
Teaching Bachelor’s and MBA courses under the College of Business and Management including Consulting Skills, Sustainable Business, and Leadership.
Led a global startup portfolio Selected to lead innovation team at the university’s startup hub and its $1.5M portfolio of global startup and innovation programs in collaboration with the U.S. Mission to the UAE, Ma'an Social Investment Fund and UN Habitat, and Abu Dhabi Global Markets (sequently: Academy For Women Entrepreneurs, Ma'an Social Incubator, Startup Campus). Orchestrated a Startup Campus curating 100 global startups to exhibit and attend the Abu Dhabi Finance Week on my second week on the job — thereby driving delivery for the organization's largest & newest client. Singlehandedly designed a 3-days startup-focused agenda and brought 50 international speakers, 20 sessions over 3 days, 3 demo days to life. Decided not to proceed to relocate back home after 5 years of living abroad.
A Bain Partner knocked my door :) I’m often contracted by leading firms to consult on human-led business growth, including designing strategies & programs for leadership development, culture transformation & employee engagement. At Bain, I was handpicked to join the Bain Advisor Network. I supported a consulting team in developing the national Education strategy for a G20 country and developing key leadership documents delivered to a committee of ministers. Bain is a global consultancy that helps the world’s most ambitious change makers define the future.
Partnered with CEOs & C-level executives of multi Billion $ companies. Created and facilitated immersive workshops and roadmaps so Executive Teams can co-create strategies. Developed experiential meetings, summits and offsite to align executives and leadership teams. Managed consulting teams on 5 projects (4-7 consultants) on a range of people and culture usiness transformations (Executive Board immersion workshops, Inclusion program development, Employee Value Proposition, Employer Branding, People qualitative analysis, C-level team building, Board of Directors communication, Organizational communication strategy, Organizational Values/ Mission/ Vision development) Clients ranged from Fortune50 - Fortune1000, a $1.6 billion non-profit and a social Foundation of an Emirati princess. SYP helps leaders and teams imagine futures that don’t exist yet and build the capability to transform into more vibrant versions of themselves—so they can grow with purpose, and have a positive impact in the world. We believe that humanity and business performance are equally essential to create unprecedented impact.