'Reconnaissance' Concludes the First Edition of 'Window to the World'
With the participation of 20 young people and 8 prominent figures
Al-Rashood: The image is not merely a visual snapshot, but a document that preserves the community’s memory and transformations
Obiroy: Entrepreneurship is not a straight path to success; there are stumbles and challenges
Turkish Ambassador: Diplomacy goes beyond official representation and is based on sincere human communication
Belgian Ambassador: Career paths remain open to development and changing direction; pivoting is not failure
Bhutanese Ambassador: Gross National Happiness balances economic growth with social well-being
The Reconnaissance Center for Research and Studies concluded the first edition of the “Window to the World” youth program, a four-day initiative that provided 20 young men and women with the opportunity for direct dialogue with eight prominent figures in the fields of diplomacy, business, aviation, media, and creative industries.
Held over four consecutive evenings at the Center’s headquarters under the theme “Young Minds… Global Impact,” the program aimed to introduce young people to the human and professional experiences that shaped success paths, moving away from traditional lectures and official speeches. The sessions focused on difficult decisions, challenges, failures, and the evolution of aspirations and values that contributed to each speaker’s journey, rather than merely showcasing achievements and positions.
Open dialogues instead of lectures
“Window to the World” adopted a format distinct from traditional conferences. Each guest was allocated a separate 45-minute session within a small group, allowing participants a broader space for discussion and direct questioning. The program included students and graduates from various academic institutions, including Babson College, the University of Edinburgh, the American University of Kuwait, the University of Kuwait, Taylor’s University, the University of Coventry, the University of Arizona, Amity University, and University College London.
Eight figures and diverse experiences
The program opened with EU Ambassador to Kuwait Ann Questin, who introduced participants to the realities of international diplomacy, multilateral cooperation, the role of dialogue in addressing shared global challenges, and the options available to young people interested in pursuing careers in diplomacy and international affairs.
Bhutanese Ambassador to Kuwait, Phub Dorji, also shared insights into his country’s experience and development approach. He discussed the philosophy of Gross National Happiness, which balances economic growth with social well-being, cultural preservation, and environmental sustainability. He presented the Giliwo Mindfulness City project and Bhutan’s vision for establishing a new economic hub based on sustainability, awareness, and cultural values.
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Parathan Pasupathy, CEO of Jazeera Airways, also participated, sharing his experience leading one of the region’s leading airlines and the management requirements in a rapidly changing business environment. The session allowed participants to gain close insight into the demands of reaching senior leadership positions, along with the accompanying pressures and challenges that require balancing commercial performance with responsibilities toward employees, customers, and shareholders.
Photojournalist and visual documentarian of Kuwait’s history, Claudia Al-Rashood, also took part. She highlighted key moments in the country’s history through photographs and stories she documented through her lens over decades. She discussed her experience documenting Kuwait before and after the Iraqi invasion, and her work on the book “Kuwait: Before the Storm and After,” emphasizing that an image is not merely a visual snapshot, but a document that preserves the community’s memory and transformations.
From the business sector, the program hosted Dehiraj Obroy, one of the founders of Kuwait India Trading Company (KITCO), who shared his experience in building one of Kuwait’s most prominent food brands since the company’s establishment in 1962. Obroy emphasized that entrepreneurship is not a straight path to success, speaking candidly about the rejections, setbacks, and challenges he faced, and imparting a lesson in perseverance and the ability to persist despite difficult circumstances.
Diplomacy as a Human Experience
Turkey’s Ambassador to Kuwait, Tuba Nur Sonmez, participated and spoke frankly about the experiences and relationships that shaped her diplomatic journey, as well as her connection to Kuwait and the human bonds she formed during her tenure in the country. She offered participants a vision of diplomacy that transcends official representation, rooted instead in sincere human communication and the building of sustainable relationships with the communities in which diplomats serve.
Belgium’s Ambassador to Kuwait, Christian Domaz, discussed his unconventional path to a diplomatic career, noting that he worked in various professional fields before joining the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in his early thirties. He affirmed that professional paths remain open to evolution, and that changing direction does not constitute failure, but may instead mark the beginning of an opportunity better aligned with one’s aspirations and convictions.
Media and Credibility
The program concluded with a session featuring Raven de Souza, Executive Editor of The Kuwait Times, who outlined his extensive experience in journalism and media in Kuwait. He discussed the transformations currently reshaping the media sector, the responsibility of news institutions to provide reliable information to the public, and the importance of maintaining credibility in an environment where news spreads rapidly and publishing platforms and information sources multiply.
Success Does Not Follow a Straight Line
Despite the speakers’ diverse backgrounds, nationalities, and professional sectors, the sessions yielded a set of shared messages, foremost among them that success rarely follows a straight line, and that professional journeys are marked by periods of hesitation, failure, career shifts, and continuous learning. These dialogues helped participants look beyond titles and positions, fostering a deeper understanding of the personal decisions and accumulated efforts behind success stories.
More Than Eight Nationalities
The international diversity of the first cohort was a fundamental element of the program, which included participants from more than eight nationalities, enabling the exchange of varied cultural and educational perspectives. For many participants, the program represented their first opportunity for direct dialogue with ambassadors, CEOs, entrepreneurs, and media leaders in an informal setting that encouraged discussion and questioning.
A Continuous Platform for Youth Dialogue
Reconnaissance Center stated that the program extends its mission to promote objective analysis, strategic dialogue, and knowledge exchange by broadening the circle of dialogue to include youth and facilitating direct interaction between them and experienced professionals. The Center affirmed its commitment to continuing the “Window to the World” program as a platform that enables young people in Kuwait to meet leaders and experienced individuals, broaden their horizons, and strengthen their confidence in engaging with the world around them.
