A wall for you could mean something different than it does for me. The color red may mean something different for you than for someone else. And that can empower innovation.
As Founder and CEO of ISM, Faris Alami works with international leaders and entrepreneurs on strategies and implementations, to create an empowering environment for startups and existing businesses to prosper and grow.
Find Faris online:
1. Weekly blog on leadership, entrepreneurship, education, globalization, and community topics
2. Weekly Finjan show podcast, available on YouTube
3. StartupGrind host
4. Yearly host and keynote speaker of the Global Entrepreneurship Week
5. Guest, live on stage during programs and events, shows, and podcast including
international, national, and local news channels and social media outlets
In the course of his career, Faris has been a special advisor and Entrepreneurial Ecosystem
expert with the World Bank, a Business Advisor with Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses Program, and a Mentor to MBA Students and Entrepreneurs globally.
Facilitating economic and workforce development programs on entrepreneurship, small/medium enterprise development,
mentorship, and funding, Faris works with high-ranking officials—presidents of countries, ministries, universities, incubators/accelerators, and economic development groups. He also leads the ISM team in supporting entrepreneurs in underserved communities in finding success.
His insights into, strategies for, and facilitation of entrepreneurship activities have been sought out by more than 61 leaders of nations and organizations. ISM’s programs include training entrepreneurs, trainers, and management teams in supporting entrepreneurs, and in technology, retail, workforce development, leadership, and culture-related programs.
Faris founded the non-profit Connecting Dots Globally — a STEMprenuerer program in which high school and university
students learn to launch a global technology company.
Check out more interviews with entrepreneurs here.
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Table of Contents
We are thrilled to have you join us today, welcome to ValiantCEO Magazine’s exclusive interview! Let’s start off with a little introduction. Tell our readers a bit about yourself and your company.
Faris Alami: I just included Faris’ bio on the last page, so I think you have that? Here is also some Boards and Awards/Honors information that I have available:
Current Boards:
• Automation Alley International Center, Advisory Board
• Center For The Study Of Citizenship at Wayne State University
• Executive Board of Directors/Vice Chair GlobalTies Detroit
• Leadership Oakland, Board of Directors
• Franklin University MBA Advisory Board Member
• American Lung Association, Board Member
• Oakland Livingston Human Service Agency Board Member
• George Washington University School of Business Advisory Board Member
• U.S. Global Leadership Coalition Michigan Advisory Committee
Sample Professional Honors and Awards:
• Leader of Leaders Award
• Corp! Diversity Business Leader Award
• Professional Resource Business Award
• KNF Appreciation Award
• Global Entrepreneurship Week Host & Keynote Speaker
Regarding the company – our website is https://www.myisminc.com/ and we specialize in inspiring entrepreneurs, supporting the establishment of incubators, and building leadership programs around the world. We work mainly in underserved and underrepresented communities with minorities and immigrants; working with economic development agencies, incubators, accelerators, nonprofits, universities, high schools, and more to bring entrepreneurial education and activities to these communities.
2020 and 2021 threw a lot of curve balls into business on a global scale. Based on the experience gleaned in the past couple years, how can businesses thrive in 2022? What lessons have you learned?
Faris Alami: I think these questions are better answered by Faris – but I can tell you that he created a program in 2020 (The Resilient Entrepreneur) to help business owners learn how to thrive during a crisis – instead of fail. We were working with so many entrepreneurs who were struggling to keep their doors open, or who had decided that maybe now wasn’t the time at all to open that business they had been working towards. This program works to help individuals create actionable plans that will help them to survive ANY crisis that may come their way.
The pandemic seems to keep on disrupting the economy, what should businesses focus on in 2022? What advice would you share?
Faris Alami: Again, this would be a better question for Faris lol. I’m sure that he can tell you some of his secrets from his Resilient Entrepreneur Course – but I don’t want to put words in his mouth here.
How has the pandemic changed your industry and how have you adapted?
Faris Alami: ISM went completely virtual after the pandemic. Our programs and courses were offered virtually before, because we are a global company; however, most of our programming was offered locally – and in-person prior to the pandemic. We had to make a quick change to virtual classrooms, virtual workbooks, virtual communications – everything. Programs, workshops, courses, presentations – anything ranging from 1-hour to 10-weeks suddenly had to be converted from paper to online. We needed all new templates and all new tools – not to mention new promotional material to get the word out. We are getting back now to some in-person and hybrid programming; but even now these individuals are being sent the same links to our virtual workbooks and classrooms – it took quite some time, but in the long run it did make things easier both on our staff and on the program participants.
What advice do you wish you received when the pandemic started and what do you intend on improving in 2022?
Faris Alami: This is a great question – I’m curious to hear what Faris’ response is to this for 2022! Haha!
Online business surged higher than ever, B2B, B2C, online shopping, virtual meetings, remote work, Zoom medical consultations, what are your expectations for 2022?
Faris Alami: Keep on surging! I know he has been taking a lot of global meetings – I handle the US side of things so I’m not as privy to that information but I know that they’ve been happening because I manage his calendar. Personally, I work remotely from home, and I find that I am more efficient than I ever was working in an office. Online meetings and medical appointments can be just as effective as in-person as long as the people in the meetings are present and focused.
How many hours a day do you spend in front of a screen?
Faris Alami: All of them LOL – unless Faris is driving he is working on his computer, on a phone call or in a zoom meeting. He skips lunch everyday and works from 5am to 8pm… I joke that I think my boss is an AI !!!
The majority of executives use stories to persuade and communicate in the workplace. Can you share with our readers examples of how you implement that in your business to communicate effectively with your team?
Faris Alami: Because our members work all over the world, simple phrases can sometimes be taken the wrong way due to a cultural difference that the other person simply doesn’t understand. Anytime a new member joins our team, Faris says something along these lines – usually with different words or phrases, but this one stood out to me because he just provided this quote for an interview:
“A wall for you could mean something different than it does for me. The color red may mean something different for you than for someone else. And that can empower innovation.”
Business is all about overcoming obstacles and creating opportunities for growth. What do you see as the real challenge right now?
Faris Alami: Hahaha, this is why Faris should fill these out himself. I’m sure he would give a different response to this question – but I’m the one responding… To ME, his biggest challenge is Faris. He doesn’t talk up the services that ISM offers because he is worried that he will come off as “pushy”- or he doesn’t try to sell programs through the nonprofit because someone might think he is “bragging” about having a nonprofit in the first place LOL. I don’t know how he would have answered this question, but that is my response.
In 2022, what are you most interested in learning about? Crypto, NFTs, online marketing, or any other skill sets? Please share your motivations.
Faris Alami: Online Marketing. I also know he is interested in setting up a funding campaign for his nonprofit this year.
A record 4.4 million Americans left their jobs in September in 2021, accelerating a trend that has become known as the Great Resignation. 47% of people plan to leave their job during 2022. Most are leaving because of their boss or their company culture. 82% of people feel unheard, undervalued and misunderstood in the workplace. Do you think leaders see the data and think “that’s not me – I’m not that boss they don’t want to work for? What changes do you think need to happen?
Faris Alami: Faris actually has a workshop on Attracting and Retaining Talent – he can tell you all about this!
On a lighter note, if you had the ability to pick any business superpower, what would it be and how would you put it into practice?
Faris Alami: Faris either needs time travel to create more hours in the day – or the ability to duplicate himself so he can be two places at once!
What does “success” in 2022 mean to you? It could be on a personal or business level, please share your vision.
Faris Alami: Success in 2022 would mean being able to take at LEAST one lunch hour per week – more would be an epic success (or that he gained one of those superpowers after all)
Jed Morley, VIP Contributor to ValiantCEO and the host of this interview would like to thank Faris for taking the time to do this interview and share his knowledge and experience with our readers.
If you would like to get in touch with Faris or his company, you can do it through his – Linkedin Page
Disclaimer: The ValiantCEO Community welcomes voices from many spheres on our open platform. We publish pieces as written by outside contributors with a wide range of opinions, which don’t necessarily reflect our own. Community stories are not commissioned by our editorial team and must meet our guidelines prior to being published.
