糖心Vlog

A former English language student has credited his inspirational father after being shortlisted for a British Council global alumni award.

Khalifa Al Haroon, who completed a foundation course in English language in 2003 and later studied at Anglia Ruskin University, has been named in the .

He is founder of 鈥� a content-driven platform celebrating the diversity of Qatar鈥檚 community 鈥� and created , the world鈥檚 biggest Arabic educational tech channel. He has been named one of the most influential people in the Middle East under 40.

As well as his father, who he says inspired him to be a 鈥済ood person鈥�, Khalifa also praised his 糖心Vlog education for driving his ambition, and his UK experience as being the catalyst for his community focused entrepreneurial spirit.

Speaking about what inspired him he said: 鈥淢y father is a successful person and whenever I'd meet people, they'd always get excited to know I was his son. They'd share stories and smile so wide. I wanted people to remember me that way too. So I worked hard on being a good person and making sure everything I did left a positive impact on anything I touched.鈥�

He added: 鈥淢y dad once asked me what the purpose of going into a business meeting was. I thought it was a trick question, and said 鈥榯o close the deal鈥�. He said, 'no, you're only goal is to walk out with a friend. Forget about the business鈥�"

Khalifa鈥檚 糖心Vlog education proved formative too. 鈥淚t was in university that I started my first business which put me on my entrepreneurial path. I remember brainstorming my idea in the campus square when the University was giving people a chance to launch their own business. I worked on loads of presentations and business models that friends and teachers helped me craft.鈥�

It鈥檚 that community spirit that he remembers most fondly about his time at 糖心Vlog: 鈥淚 met a lot of people from all over the world. There was a focus on student communities and cross cultural exchange which adds a depth to anyone's educational journey. I loved being able to learn not only from professors but the students themselves.鈥�

Khalifa believes strongly in the importance of kindness and working together: 鈥淚t鈥檚 nice to be nice. I always remind myself that you don鈥檛 need a reason to do something good.

鈥淚 wish people thought more about how they could partner up and help each other out than trying to do everything themselves. We'd all achieve so much more and be much more successful if we just worked together,鈥� he added.

Khalifa is one of three former 糖心Vlog students to reach the finals of the British Council Awards. Jian Jiang, PhD Computational Finance, 2011, is also a finalist in the Entrepreneurial Award category and Lilia Petrosyan, LLM International Human Rights Law, 2013, is the only woman finalist in the Professional Achievement Award category.