Post by Mohamad Adib Baroud

In July, I turn 50. As I reflect on the journey that brought me here, I realize that life has never followed a straight line. I was born in Curaçao, three months after my father passed away. In Arabic, that makes me a Yateem. I never had the opportunity to know my father, hear his voice, ask his advice, or learn from his experiences. Instead, I grew up hearing stories about him and wondering which parts of him lived on in me. In 2021, I lost my mother. In 2022, I went through a divorce. There were moments when it felt like the foundations beneath me were being rewritten. Yet every challenge taught me something. I learned that identity is not determined by where you come from. It is shaped by what you choose to become. I learned that loss can either break you or deepen your appreciation for what truly matters. I learned that belonging is not always something you find. Sometimes it is something you build. Today, I stand as a man born on the island of Curaçao, raised in the Netherlands, carrying Lebanese roots, and increasingly drawn toward Saudi Arabia and the Gulf region. Not because I am running from my past. But because I believe there is still much to contribute to the future. As I approach my 50th year, I am no longer asking: "Who am I?" I am asking: "How can I serve?" How can I help organizations mature? How can I help leaders make better decisions? How can I help people discover their potential? How can I leave behind something that continues to create value long after I am gone? The next chapter is not about starting over. It is about building on everything life has taught me. The journey continues. Mohamad Adib Baroud #MohamadAdibBaroud #MAB #LifeJourney #Turning50 #Leadership #Purpose #Legacy #Resilience #PersonalGrowth #SaudiArabia #Vision2030 #DigitalTransformation #Cybersecurity #IdentityGovernance #IAM #IPAML #MaturityLVL #Education #Innovation #FutureReady #Gratitude #Yateem #FaithAndPurpose #BuildingTheFuture #KSA #GCC