An Open Letter of Gratitude

Dear MiSK Foundation,

As I sit down to write this letter, I’m overcome with a flood of memories and emotions from the past few years. Stepping away from the foundation was one of the most difficult choices I had to make in my career. After all, how do you leave your dream job? The foundation has been more than just a workplace to me—it has been a source of inspiration, growth, and relentless passion.

Reflecting on the past two years, I am filled with gratitude. MiSK has nurtured my professional journey and profoundly shaped my personal development. It enabled me to sit at tables I didn’t know existed and meet people I never thought I’d cross paths with. It often made me question if I was meant to be in certain rooms (in a good way). It empowered me to grow beyond my expectations through opportunities to engage with innovative and unique projects. These efforts focused on meaningfully contributing to empowering the youth of Saudi Arabia and the world, whether through national and global policy advocacy, curating content that resonates with youth, or simply being given the permission to voice the often unheard-of perspectives on inclusion and equity.

The vision of MiSK, centered around nurturing learning and leadership in youth across multiple sectors, resonates deeply with me. I often feel like living proof of how the foundation can be transformative for young people. Guiding passionate young individuals to where they can thrive and flourish started for me with my very first MGF in 2017. Supporting my previous company at the event, walking into MGF felt like stepping into Disneyland or a candy store, but for youth empowerment. Since then, everyone I met kept telling me they saw me working for MiSK, turning it into a dream and ultimate goal.

Fortunately, all the roads led to MiSK..

Trust me when I say that I tried multiple times to apply to work at the foundation, but the timing was never right and I was not yet ready. I needed to experience the world more and expand my thinking and horizons further. Just like a snowball effect (or sand ball if there ever was such a thing), I was always connected to the foundation in some way. I got to be a Junior Professional Officer at the United Nations, I was a Y20 head delegate, and became a member of the ignited voices community—all through the foundation.

So, when I wanted to come back to Saudi after having lived in NY over the pandemic, my top choice was again MiSK—or rather the only place I wanted to be. While I ended up working somewhere else for a period of time, the sentiment given to me by the wonderful people at MiSK was, “when you’re ready, we’re waiting for you.” The great thing is that they actually did welcome me back when I was ready, and took me on a journey beyond what I had planned for myself.

To infinity from start to finish...

If you’ve made it this far in reading this letter, first, thank you! Second, you might be thinking by now, why is she so sentimental about a job she spent less than 3 years in, and why would she leave if she loves it so much?

Well, the answer is complicated in its simplicity, but before I get into that, let me share a few lessons that I learned because of MiSK, through MiSK, and in MiSK:

1. Trust is earned and not given: This is especially true between youth and leaders. For leaders to trust young people to make change, they need to see the willingness, commitment, and passion for change. In the same time, young people need to trust leaders as well by knowing and seeing how they are providing them with an enabling ecosystem, a commitment to empowering them and dedication to mentoring them.

2. Change is an ongoing process: We often tell people and organizations that they require change, but practically speaking, change needs the effort and diligence of everyone involved. Most importantly, for change to be truly observed and measured, it needs TIME. Expecting change to be quick and effortless is often fruitless or at the least short-lived. To truly see the change and its impact, you need to have the vision to observe it over time.

3. Intentional inclusion is more important than quick results and quantity: This makes inclusion one of the most difficult considerations in the design of any event and program. However, without making inclusion an intentional component of design in any activity, it’s easy to lose the unique individuals who add great value and are the diamonds in the rough. Intentionally moving away from homogeneity into diversity allows for a variety of opinions and perspectives, whereas homogeneity leads to consensus bias. In other words, the more efforts you put in to ensure any cohort of people include (people of diverse geographies, socioeconomics, gender, education, etc..) the better your chance of having a holistic activity to help people help each other.

4. Learn when to move away so someone else can come up: One of the most fundamental things I learned at MiSK was recognizing when I had received my opportunity and my seat at the table. Therefore, recognizing when it became my turn to hold the responsibility to move away to give up my space for others who need it, while ensuring I also create more spaces for others. People who try to take every space and every opportunity end up occupying spaces that are not meant for them and participating in programs that are not designed for them, all the while monopolizing spaces that could’ve benefited others who are desperate for growth.

5. Paying it forward is a form of loyalty and gratitude: Paying back kindness and opportunities to those that need them is a form of giving tribute to the generosity given by the foundation. This also means that what you learn while you gain for yourself, is meant to be given back to benefit people around you, your community and ultimately your country and the world at large. Don't take for granted any small act of mentorship, teaching and even sharing about opportunities - you never know who it might help and who they could become because of it.

6. Finally when you recognize your need to grow then pursue it. One of the easiest things for all of us is to sit comfortably in our comfort zone. Comfort is in the name! Surrounded by the people and things you’re familiar with and not choosing to challenge yourself and test your limits. Some people might call this “stability” but I call this "uncomfortable comfort." I need to constantly see where the stream takes me, I’m excited by who I’ll meet next and what can I contribute for my community and my country. I’m thrilled by the idea of charting unknown territories, I am giddy with the thought that there are new things to learn and I can't wait to engage in new sectors and navigate new spaces.?

Again leaving MiSK is one of the most challenging decisions I had to make. It is a decision driven not by a desire to part ways with a mission I deeply believe in, but by a need to explore new horizons and challenges, carrying forward everything that MiSK has taught me. I am leaving to grow further, to learn more, and to perhaps bring back even more to the community that MiSK serves.

Last but not least, this is definitely not goodbye, just until we meet again!

I had the tremendous opportunity to lead some of the biggest projects at the foundation. These projects took me everywhere around the world. From the Youth Majlis in Davos, Switzerland to ITU's Youth Forum in Kigali, Rwanda, and to ECOSOC and UNGA in NY, USA. Each opportunity carried with it the responsibility to represent Saudi Arabia at its best, showcasing to the world the true potential and capabilities of Saudi youth.?

Each project held a special significance for me but non were as special as the MISK Global Forum. Having the opportunity to be part of designing and curating content for the biggest youth event in the region was so fulfilling that I cry at the end of each one. I’m not particularly an emotional person but seeing the eyes of young people from everywhere around the world glitter with inspiration, seeing them overjoyed with excitement to contribute to themselves and their communities, makes me overcome with pride (and happy tears) every single time.?

It has been a privilege to work alongside colleagues who are not only incredibly talented but also share a commitment to our collective mission. Some of them have become life long friends, business partners and others became like close family. Each project, meeting, and event has been a learning experience, where I laughed, I was challenged and pushed to grow beyond my boundaries and contributing to a cause much larger than myself.

I am deeply thankful for the trust, guidance, and encouragement bestowed upon me by everyone at MiSK. These are gifts that I will carry forward in my career and life. The spirit of innovation, commitment to development, and the warmth of teamwork at MiSK will continue to inspire me wherever I go. Above all I’m thankful to His Royal Highness Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz, the Founder of MISK for his commitment to advancing Saudi and Saudi youth with vision 2030 and beyond.?

As I embark on this new chapter, I remain an ambassador for MiSK -as a beneficiary before I was an employee- eager to continue advocating for its vision and successes. Thank you for the incredible journey, the lessons, the challenges, and the successes. Here’s to a future where we continue to cross paths and collaborate toward empowering our youth for a greater future of tomorrow.

With heartfelt gratitude and warmest regards,

Amani - a beneficiary of MISK?