From business to development

When Hani Shehada set his sights on an MBA in the Netherlands, the path seemed clear. With years of experience in the private sector – from consulting on business development to helping businesses scale - his next step felt obvious. ‘An MBA was the logical move,’ he recalls. ‘It matched everything I’d done up to that point.’

But in 2010, a shift in Dutch policy caused tuition fees for MBA programmes to double overnight. That disruption sparked a reconsideration. Little did he know, this decision would lead him somewhere entirely unexpected.

‘It was my mother who first nudged me toward Development Studies,’ Hani says. She was teaching at Erasmus University at the time and had long observed his growing interest in education and youth empowerment. ‘I was skeptical. I didn’t have a background in sociology or political science. I wasn’t an activist. But she saw something in me I hadn’t seen in myself.’

Eventually, he enrolled in the MA in Development Studies at the International Institute of Social Studies (ISS), specializing in Youth, Children and Development, a small decision that would prove to be majorly transformative.

Taking a step into the unknown

Hani’s first days at ISS were disorienting. ‘I felt completely out of place,’ he admits. Surrounded by peers fluent in development theory and politics, he was grappling with unfamiliar terminology and a learning curve that felt impossibly steep. ‘My classmates referenced Gramsci, Escobar and Said as if they were old friends. I didn’t even know what neoliberalism really meant in that context.’

His first lecture, Development History with Professor Andrew Fischer, hit especially hard. ‘I didn’t understand a single word. I came home and told my mother, “I can’t do this.”’

But he stayed. And slowly, his mindset began to shift.

Theory meets real life

The academic challenge was intense, but it was also eye-opening. ‘We were introduced to frameworks that questioned everything I thought I knew about growth and success,’ Hani says. Theories like post-development, Marxist approaches and modernization models challenged him to rethink not just economics, but power, ideology and purpose.

More than anything, ISS taught him to embrace complexity. ‘Development isn’t a checklist or a toolkit. It’s deeply political, shaped by history and struggle. There are no simple solutions. And that’s the point.’

It was in late-night group discussions and long hours in the library that these ideas began to stick. ‘We were constantly challenged to ask: Who gets to define progress? Who’s left out of the equation? That critical mindset still shapes everything I do.’

From ISS to the field

Today, Hani serves as Regional Manager at the Education Above All Foundation based in Doha, where he leads scholarship programmes supporting marginalized youth, many of whom are refugees or displaced by conflict.

‘The theories I encountered at ISS – Sen’s emphasis on freedoms, Said’s critique of dominant narratives, Gramsci’s views on cultural power – they’re not abstract concepts for me,’ he says. ‘They help me design programmes that are more inclusive and context-aware.’

Of course, working in development practice comes with its own tensions. ‘There’s always a gap between ideals and deliverables. The bureaucracy, the indicators, the need to justify impact. But ISS gave me the tools to navigate that tension with integrity.’

Looking at the past and the future

Hani never imagined a cancelled MBA would set him on a path toward purposeful work in global education. ‘At the time, it felt like a detour. In hindsight, it was the redirection I needed.’

He credits his mother for opening the door and ISS for helping him walk through it. ‘Would I recommend ISS? Yes, but not as a fantasy. It’s challenging. It forces you to struggle, to unlearn, to rebuild. But if you’re open to that, it can shift your entire worldview.’

Now based in Doha and leading regional programmes that make real change in young people’s lives, Hani still sees himself as a learner. ‘I’m still growing from that one decision. ISS wasn’t just a degree. It was a turning point.'

This story, originally written by Hani, was adapted for our narrative interview format.