Harb Bou-Harb, Director: Education – Microsoft Middle East and Africa
Microsoft’s Director of Education for the Middle East and Africa might be a leader in a multinational technology company today, but would you believe that he attended university at a time when PCs weren’t even invented?
Harb Bou-Harb grew up in Beirut, the capital of Lebanon, during the civil war. It was only when he reached high school that he was introduced to the concept of computer science by his friends, who believed it would be ‘the future’.
After learning more – and getting excited – about the subject, Harb decided to major in computer science when he entered university in 1989. “It was a time very different to what I believe the average computer science student is experiencing today,” Harb says. “There were no laptops or mobile phones to practise on, nor were there YouTube tutorials or online forums for information sharing. We learned everything by practising in the campus computer lab and discussing among one another,” he says.
After completing his master’s degree in computer science, Harb secured an internship at a software development house in Beirut. “It was an opportunity for me to learn on the job but also be introduced to a professional work environment, so it was a good choice for me. It’s also why I recommend internships to young people today” he says.
Harb was promoted to permanent employee two months into his three-month internship. He went on to stay with the company for three years thereafter. “I then decided to launch my own software development company. I ran it successfully in Australia for 10 years before moving to Qatar.”
Using the experienced he gained during his year-long stint as an IT Adviser to a municipality in Qatar, Harb leveraged his computer science background and joined Microsoft as Services Lead in February 2006. He went on to hold several leadership roles in Microsoft before ultimately taking up the role of director of education in 2017.
Today, Harb is responsible for furthering the use and awareness of Microsoft’s educational learning tools and other technologies among young people across the Middle East and Africa. His favourite part of the job? Learning about the nuances that make up the education systems in the various countries he covers – and how this impacts each country’s readiness to prepare students for the future world of work. “I’m very passionate about education and assisting Microsoft in empowering students – from kindergarten to high school and beyond – to succeed,” Harb says.
Advice for recent graduates
An experienced computer science expert with a passion for young people, Harb encourages recent graduates to not be overwhelmed by the fast rate at which the world is changing.
“IT enthusiasts know better than most than the world is evolving rapidly. The impending digital era is an inevitable reality – but it is exciting, and graduates should prepare to enter the working world with perseverance and dedication to keep up with the times. Then, they will succeed,” he says.
Similarly, success in the world of computer science requires getting a jumpstart in the industry sooner rather than later, Harb says. “If you are ready, get started in the computer science industry immediately – even if it is for a short internship or volunteered time. The world is moving at a very fast pace and the more exposure you’ve had to it, the more your candidacy for future employment improves.”
You’ll learn a lot on the job, but nothing can replace those basic learnings you were taught in university. According to Harb, computer science degrees and courses level will always be relevant and helpful to students, no matter how quickly the world advances, because the basic theory of computer science will never undervalue.
And finally, even if you haven’t majored in a tech-related subject, get involved anyway. Harb recommends you take a short introductory course into Information and Communication Technology (ICT) and computer science, or spend more time reading about new technologies and practicing wherever you can. Microsoft, for example, offers online computer training certifications and readings via Microsoft Learn. “The future will be built by technology. That fact alone makes it important for students hoping to succeed in the future to get to know the workings of the emerging technologies that will create our future,” Harb concludes.