A Story of Purpose and Pure Determination: Spotlight of Dr. Emad Rahim

Spring 2014

TheLoop21.com

A STORY OF PURPOSE AND PURE DETERMINATION Spotlight of Dr. Emad Rahim, Award-winning entrepreneur & author

By Darrell L Williams, PhD

Emad Rahim was recognized for his social entrepreneurship work by the United Nations Foundation in NYC and named a 2013 Empact Honoree

Even though he’s only 35 years old, Emad Rahim’s list of accomplishments resembles someone twice his age. He served as a former University Dean of a business school, Director of an entrepreneurship program at a State college, Executive Director and President of several nonprofit agencies, held professorship appointments at several prestigious schools and co-founded several startup firms and community organizations. Did I also mention that he is a survivor of the Cambodian genocide known as the Killing Fields, a dyslexic refugee that grew up on welfare and was raised in an abusive household?

While living in Brooklynn New York as a child, he was shot in the leg during a block party after a fight broke out between some local drug dealers. Yes it is pretty astonishing when you have his full story in front of you, but Emad believes it was these tragic events in his life that helped him to overcome his adversities and to never give up.

“I use to be an angry kid that blamed everyone and everything in my life when things got bad. I realized that way of thinking was not getting me anywhere. That I cannot move on in my life until I remove that chip off my shoulder and stop blaming everyone for my mistakes. I had to stop crying over my past and start planning for my future” Emad says. “People died to get me here. My mother suffered a lot so that I could have a better life. If I did not at least try to succeed, the death of my father and older brother would all be in vain.”

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Emad continued to struggle as a teenager. He engaged in gang like activities, sold drugs, got into fights, stole cars for joy riding and was even stabbed. He described several situations where someone had pulled a gun on him because he stuck up for a friend or when he tried to by marijuana at the local “weed spot” and they thought he was a cop or a would be robber. “I never realized how close I was to death. I put myself in harm’s way so many times. I remember getting jumped by a group of kids and went back out the same night looking for them with my boys. I could have gotten myself and the people around me killed. I was reckless and straight up stupid.” Emad recalls. “I lost a lot of good friends to the street and drugs. Several of my close friends were gunned down and so many are locked upped that I lost count.”

Emad eventually graduated high school with the help of his mentor and father figure, Willie Dowdell.

Dowdell was a high school administrator that took Emad under his wing. Like a good father, he was there to support Emad in his struggles, listen to him when he needed someone to talk to and was ready to straighten him out when he was acting reckless. Dowdell would even show up to Emad’s house or search for him in the local neighborhood if he was skipping school. “There were not too many adults that cared for you in that way in my neighborhood. There were many times that I resisted his help and even disrespected him. Dowdell was always cool and calm about it. After all, he was a pretty intimidating figure and could easily put me in my place.” Emad says. “Mr. Dowdell was this this diesel black dude that was the size of an NFL linebacker. He had a commending voice and presence. He got respect everywhere he went.”

After high school Emad got accepted into Onondaga Community College (SUNY OCC) where he majored in human services. He had aspirations of becoming a counselor or social worker. But after several unsuccessful semesters he got placed on academic probation and needed a change. “I was dyslexic, working two jobs, and taking care of my siblings and mother. I found it almost impossible to stay focus in class after working double shifts. I also did not have any good study habits or techniques. I could barely read the notes I had written in class and was flunking every exam I took because I found the test too difficult to read and multiple choice answers confusing. I would get so frustrated towards the middle of the exam that I would start guessing my way through the exam.” Emad explains. “In high school I was diagnosed with a learning disability, but was never told what that really meant. I had no idea what dyslexia was. I just contributed all of my problems with school and teachers with it. The labeling actually handicapped me more than anything else.”

Emad eventually discovered SUNY Empire State College after a faculty suggests he look into the school upon hearing his frustration. SUNY Empire State College is a State school that specializes in working with adult students. The college has been around since the early 70s proving evening and weekend classes, independent study, remote courses and provided credits by evaluation. Emad found his place in higher education within the first few semesters. The personalized mentorship he received from faculty, the course flexibility, independent study options and the opportunity to earn credits based on his professional experience contributed to his success at the college. “After I earned my associate degree I realized the bachelor was in reach. I had built enough confidence in myself that I had decided I was going to continue pursuing a bachelor degree halfway into my associate degree program.” Emad says.

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Due to the flexibility of the degree program, Emad was able to continue working and gain important professional experiences, build his skills and knowledge, while also growing his network of people. Emad went on to find his passion in entrepreneurship and education. He ended up co-founding the Human Service Association of CNY and two startup firms. He even helped his wife start a letterpress stationery business that has since grew to supply products to customers and vendors all around the world and has been featured in magazines and blogs.

In 2012 he participated in the Empact Summit on the Future of Entrepreneurship Education, an invite-only event that connects top leaders from the entrepreneurship field held at the White House, Carnegie Institute, Swedish Embassy Emad Rahim with wife, Cjala Surratt, youngest daughter Safia Rahim and U.S. Chamber of Commerce. In 2013 he was recognized for his entrepreneurship activities at the United Nations headquarters in NYC as an Empact100 Honoree. He was also the recipient of Forty Under 40 Award for business leaders by Whitman School of Management, Entrepreneurship Teaching Excellence Award by the Experiential Classroom at OSU and was named Certified Manager of the Year by ICPM at James Madison University and a Finalist for the CEC Educator of the Year Award by Career Education Corporation.

Emad considers himself to be a lifelong learner. He has since attended programs at Harvard University, Tulane University and University of Maryland UC, where he earned post-doctoral diplomas in higher education administration, management and marketing (AACSB Bridge), and online instruction. He holds a doctorate in management and two master’s degrees in business from Colorado Technical University.

He was awarded several prestigious fellowships and has been invited as a Visiting Scholar and Lecturer from Rutgers University, Northwestern University, University of Chicago, Cornell University, Colgate University and Syracuse University.

Emad almost gave up his dream out of frustration and anger. Through determination, a lot of hard work and with the support of others, he was able to overcome his obstacles. Many of us would agree that Emad had very hard life. His is journey to adulthood was paved with unimaginable obstacles, but Emad does not see it that way. In a YouTube video titled “Against the Odds” Emad tells viewers “I could have been this angry kid that turned into an angry adult, right. Because of my abuse. Because of the loss of my father. Because of experiencing a genocide. Because of being shot at. I could have easily been that angry kid that turned into an angry man that would have been caught in, in the public system. But instead it was through these experiences that made me stronger, that made me better, that provided

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me opportunities that would not exist if it wasn't for those experiences.� Thank you Emad for your courage and for inspiring us all to never give up.

Dr. Emad Rahim is the appointed Endowed Entrepreneur-in-Residence at Oklahoma State University and Visiting Scholar at Rutgers University. He lives in Chicago, loves coffee, everything entrepreneurship and helping startups grow. You can follow him on Twitter @DrEmadRahim

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