As the first Yemeni undergraduate to be admitted to Yale University, Shady has completed his third year studying Economics after completing two trimesters at Cambridge University. Shady is the co-founder of Yemen's leading international NGO 'Adalah', which has been appointed as the official secretariat to the UK Parliament’s All Parliamentary Group on Yemen. He also serves as a Vice President at the Economic Forum for Sustainable Development. At Yale, apart from being a competitive table tennis player, Shady is President of both the Arab Students Association and Middle East & North Africa Students Association and is also the President of his college council. He has directed Yale's first-ever Arab Conference: "Amalna - Paving the Road Ahead." Shady also works as a Student Assistant at the Macmillan Centre's Council on Middle East Studies and is leading the campaign to establish a fifth cultural centre at Yale for the Middle East and North Africa.
1 Which place, or city or country do you most feel at home in? (50 words response)
Aden, Yemen which is rich in history, cultural heritage, mountainous regions, highlands and a plethora of coastal plains. The city is a hotbed of diversity with different climates, vegetation and animals.
2 What are your proudest achievements? (50 words response)
I am proud to be the first Yemeni undergraduate admitted to Yale University and proud to have directed Yale's first-ever Arab Conference. In addition, it is an honour to lead the campaign to establish the MENA cultural house at Yale. I am also very proud of the progress we have achieved at Adalah, where we were able to grow tremendously over the past three years.
3 What inspires you? (50 words response)
John F. Kennedy’s quote: "Ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country." I aspire to play a leading role in Yemen's post war economic recovery. Through revitalising Yemen’s economy we can find the means to rebuild the infrastructure ravaged by war.
4 What has been biggest obstacle in your career? (50 words response)
It has been a great honour and privilege to co-found Adalah and work with our incredible team. Despite the extensive research and interviews we have conducted with various stakeholders including politicians, leaders and locals, war conditions have unfortunately limited our presence on the ground.
5 Who has been the biggest influence on your career to date? (50 words response)
My grandfather Mohamed Kaid Saif, who was a leading member of the Yemeni Revolutionary Command Council which deposed the Imam's rule in 1962. After his attempt to lead the 1955 coup was thwarted, his perseverance along with that of other freedom fighters’ led to success 7 years later with the 26th September noble revolution (also happens to be the day and month my sister and I were born, two years apart!)
6 What is the best aspect about your current role? (50 words response)
I stand for many young Yemenis who have the potential to make a marked difference in this world, but do not have the resources to do so. I wish to use my privilege to create more opportunities for them and provide a platform to project their silenced voices. By changing the dialogue pertaining to Yemen's post-war potential, I firmly believe that we can be part of the change that we wish to see.
7 And the worst? (50 words response)
It can be frustrating when your ideas are not taken seriously by individuals simply because you are not "old enough." If we want to truly achieve change, everyone should be given a real stake in society regardless of their age, race or origin.
8 What are your long term goals? (50 words response)
Thinking carefully about post-war economic recovery in Yemen since this will be a huge topic of discussion moving forward and the decisions made will affect the lives of countless people. Given the pre-war limitations of Yemen’s infrastructure, reconstruction should not be viewed as an attempt to rebuild what once existed, but rather an effort to ‘build back better’: to build up a nation that is more equitable, a government that is less corrupt and an economy that promises stability, health, employment and wellness for its citizens.
9 If you were Prime Minister, what one aspect would you change? (50 words response)
I would banish forever the practice of false equivalence; reporting should be about the truth and not about balance. For instance, if you are reporting on facts showing that climate change exists, then you do not need to bring in a hack to present the other side because the other side does not exist.
10 If you were marooned on a desert island, which historical figure would you like to spend your time with and why (50 words response)
Benjamin Disraeli, to ask him about his inspiring journey and what kept him determined to climb to the top of the greasy pole. After three unsuccessful attempts, he was finally elected in 1837 as a Member of Parliament. Even then, he was criticised and ridiculed for being too ambitious and he ended his maiden speech with the following words: "I will sit down now but the time will come when you will hear me." He eventually became the Chancellor of the Exchequer, was elected Prime Minister twice and became Lord Beaconsfield.
