DEAD SEA, JORDAN. - February 21, 2009 - The Aspen Institute today announced the launch of the Middle East Leadership Initiative (MELI). Modeled after the Aspen Institute's Henry Crown Fellowship Program, MELI’s mission is to foster enlightened leadership, the appreciation of timeless ideas and values, and open-minded dialogue on contemporary issues among the incoming generation of regional leaders. MELI does this by bringing together proven, entrepreneurial leaders under the age of 45 from across the region to explore different aspects of leadership and make a greater impact in their communities.  The launch of the first class of MELI Fellows was made possible through generous support from Booz & Company and Saudi Telecom Company (STC).

"¨These leaders "“ called Middle East Leadership Fellows "“ will meet four times over an 18-month period for a series of seminars focused on: the challenges of leadership; the good society; leadership in an era of globalization; and personal legacy. In addition, each Fellow will undertake a leadership project that addresses both a personal passion and a pressing need in their community or country.  Indeed the initiative itself is a collaborative project of the Aspen Institute and two Henry Crown Fellows from the region.
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The inaugural MELI class is comprised of 18 Fellows (nine men and nine women) from nine countries across the Middle East including the Gulf Cooperation Council countries. Fellows are drawn largely from the business sector (72%), and include successful entrepreneurs from the civil society sector (28%).
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"We are delighted with the caliber and dynamism of the inaugural class of the Middle East Leadership Fellows. Selecting 21 Fellows from nearly 100 candidates nominated by a wide array of individuals from the region and beyond speaks not only to the talent that can be found in the region, but also to the support for this kind of initiative," said Peter Reiling, Executive Vice President, The Aspen Institute. "In a region truly in need of inspired ideas and solutions, these Fellows represent the next generation of leaders who have the ability to provide them." 

"We found that this initiative truly addresses the need of the region for more leaders who play a key role in developing their society while building global businesses," said Ghassan Hasbani, the Partner at Booz & Company in charge of the firm's community program. "We are proud to be associated with this initiative which comes to the region at the most appropriate of times."

"¨Upon acceptance into the MELI Program each Fellow becomes part of the Aspen Global Leadership Network (AGLN), a worldwide community of entrepreneurial business, government and civil society leaders committed to values-based leadership, all of whom have completed a similar leadership program in Africa, Central America, India or the United States. Through its programs, the AGLN is encouraging these leaders to move "from success to significance" and "from thought to action" by tackling the foremost societal challenges of our times. Collectively, the nearly 900 Fellows from 44 countries that currently comprise the AGLN have the potential to make a measurable impact on some of the world's most intractable problems. (www.aspeninst.org/agln)

Booz & Company is a leading global management consulting firm, helping the world's top businesses, governments, and organizations. Our founder, Edwin Booz, defined the profession when he established the first management consulting firm in 1914.

Today, with more than 3,300 people in 58 offices around the world, we bring foresight and knowledge, deep functional expertise, and a practical approach to building capabilities and delivering real impact. We work closely with our clients to create and deliver essential advantage. For our management magazine strategy+business, visit www.strategy-business.com. For the Ideation Center, Booz & Company's leading think tank in the Middle East, visit www.ideationcenter.com. Visit www.booz.com and www.booz.com/me to learn more about Booz & Company.

STC is the leading national provider of telecommunication services in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The company is working continuously to fulfill and satisfy the market requirements, keeping pace with the emerging technologies in the telecommunications sector and satisfying its customer's needs. STC has put in its consideration that, this is the way to reinforce its position and identity in view of a changing world where the role and usage of telecommunications became more significant. STC has recently adopted its FORWARD Strategy that aims to support and re-enforce its competitive position and take the company global. Today, STC is the leading Telecom operator in the GCC in terms of market capitalization and has over 70 million subscribers worldwide.

Aspen Institute mission is twofold: to foster values-based leadership, encouraging individuals to reflect on the ideals and ideas that define a good society, and to provide a neutral and balanced venue for discussing and acting on critical issues. The Aspen Institute does this primarily in four ways: seminars, young-leader fellowships around the globe, policy programs, and public conferences and events. The Institute is based in Washington, DC, Aspen, Colorado, and on the Wye River on Maryland's Eastern Shore and has an international network of partners. For more information, visit www.aspeninstitute.org.

Aspen Institute

Aspen Institute

The Aspen Institute is an educational and policy studies organization based in Washington, DC. Its mission is to foster leadership based on enduring values and to provide a nonpartisan venue for dealing with critical issues. The Institute has campuses in Aspen, Colorado, and on the Wye River on Maryland’s Eastern Shore. It also maintains offices in New York City and has an international network of partners. For more information, visit www.aspeninstitute.org or follow on Twitter @AspenInstitute.

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