Lamia Hariz
I’m from Lebanon and hold a Master’s in Finance from the American University of Beirut. I’ve previously worked at Zawya (Thomson Reuters), and later on, as a research assistant at the same university from which I graduated. Now, I’m working in the corporate banking department at Fransabank in Beirut, and have enrolled in the Global Master in Real Estate Development in order to enter the world of real estate.
"Everybody here is pushing you, encouraging you; staff, professors, and, of course, our program manager, follow our journey at IE closely to make it as successful as possible."
Finding personal and professional growth
While Lamia is currently working in banking, it’s real estate that she has her eyes on for the future, as she sees the sector as a key driver of economic growth and development. She asserts that it’s a thriving industry which is gaining increased traction due to the rising scale of urbanization, and it presents challenges that Lamia is keen to address.
Asked why she chose IE University’s Global Master in Real Estate Development specifically, Lamia doesn’t hesitate. As the program is taught both online and on campus, it offered her a balance between her professional life and her studies. Indeed, Lamia believes it was “meant to happen,” as it was the only real-estate program she found that was not full-time, and therefore allowed her that opportunity. Lamia asserts that having a blended program at a top-ranked institution like IE University was an opportunity she couldn’t miss.
The program has lived up to her expectations. Lamia was particularly delighted with the two-week, face-to-face period in Madrid. It afforded her an opportunity to live the IE University experience, meet her professors and classmates in person, and get a taste of Madrid, a city she describes as “fascinating.”
She particularly highlights the diversity of the community, saying it’s “amazing” how a group of students with different cultural, professional and educational backgrounds have all teamed up together for the program. While she has classmates in Madrid, she also studies alongside people in Colombia, Peru, Qatar and the UAE, which serves to emphasize the value of online classes.
Lamia also appreciates IE University’s innovative approach to teaching, and the culture of empowerment within the community. Indeed, this was something she says she felt even before the face-to-face period. She says that everybody at IE University “pushes for you, encouraging you and following your journey closely” to make it a success.
That’s not to say it hasn’t been challenging. Lamia concedes that the material is dense, and the workload is heavy. But she also sees this as a positive—she has been forced to think outside the box and come up with her own solutions, as well as having to balance her studies with her work. That, she says, is how future leaders in the real-estate sector are made.
Lamia says she feels a “huge responsibility toward IE University, the professors and even the job market,” and is looking to achieve personal and professional growth through the program. She hopes to grow her network and her personal skills, hoping to find an excellent job opportunity and eventually become an expert in the real estate sector.
We wish her all the best!
