Adel Sajan

iraq is taking over so he's like what does that even mean like you know you've never heard of this right you know so he's like no just go outside and see your balcony so he opens the balcony and they're like tanks lined up on the streets then we had to escape so luckily the indian government rescued a lot of the indians how did you escape on a fighter plate on a fighter jet like no so they send these huge army planes so he didn't want to work in india yeah uh kuwait was obviously it was a war so you want to live somewhere close by and like

iraq is taking over so he's like what does that even mean like you know you've never heard of this right you know so he's like no just go outside and see your balcony so he opens the balcony and they're like tanks lined up on the streets then we had to escape so luckily the indian government rescued a lot of the indians how did you escape on a fighter plate on a fighter jet like no so they send these huge army planes so he didn't want to work in india yeah uh kuwait was obviously it was a war so you want to live somewhere close by and like

iraq is taking over so he's like what does that even mean like you know you've never heard of this right you know so he's like no just go outside and see your balcony so he opens the balcony and they're like tanks lined up on the streets then we had to escape so luckily the indian government rescued a lot of the indians how did you escape on a fighter plate on a fighter jet like no so they send these huge army planes so he didn't want to work in india yeah uh kuwait was obviously it was a war so you want to live somewhere close by and like

Saudi was a little more conservative at that point. So it was just like, okay, let's just try Dubai. So it was that rejection was a perfect, you know, because if had it not been or had the war not happened or had so many things not happened, you know, maybe things would have not been the same for us. Maybe I would have not been at Harvard. Who knows, right?

Saudi was a little more conservative at that point. So it was just like, okay, let's just try Dubai. So it was that rejection was a perfect, you know, because if had it not been or had the war not happened or had so many things not happened, you know, maybe things would have not been the same for us. Maybe I would have not been at Harvard. Who knows, right?

Saudi was a little more conservative at that point. So it was just like, okay, let's just try Dubai. So it was that rejection was a perfect, you know, because if had it not been or had the war not happened or had so many things not happened, you know, maybe things would have not been the same for us. Maybe I would have not been at Harvard. Who knows, right?

Yeah, so first of all, Chris, thank you for having me on your podcast. You know, really feeling honored and privileged. Chris, again, is one of my best friends who I met thanks to HBS. And I had a great time over there thanks to him. So, you know, thank you for being part of my life. Talking about my dad, yes, of course, things are different now.

Yeah, so first of all, Chris, thank you for having me on your podcast. You know, really feeling honored and privileged. Chris, again, is one of my best friends who I met thanks to HBS. And I had a great time over there thanks to him. So, you know, thank you for being part of my life. Talking about my dad, yes, of course, things are different now.

Yeah, so first of all, Chris, thank you for having me on your podcast. You know, really feeling honored and privileged. Chris, again, is one of my best friends who I met thanks to HBS. And I had a great time over there thanks to him. So, you know, thank you for being part of my life. Talking about my dad, yes, of course, things are different now.

But actually, my, you know, we originated from, you know, some of the slums in India. And my granddad was a factory worker. And he actually passed away when my dad was only 16. And my dad being the oldest suddenly had huge responsibility to take care of his two younger siblings and his mom who was not that healthy. So she was not capable to work.

But actually, my, you know, we originated from, you know, some of the slums in India. And my granddad was a factory worker. And he actually passed away when my dad was only 16. And my dad being the oldest suddenly had huge responsibility to take care of his two younger siblings and his mom who was not that healthy. So she was not capable to work.

But actually, my, you know, we originated from, you know, some of the slums in India. And my granddad was a factory worker. And he actually passed away when my dad was only 16. And my dad being the oldest suddenly had huge responsibility to take care of his two younger siblings and his mom who was not that healthy. So she was not capable to work.

So he had to not only feed three of his family members, but also make sure that they survive. And it was really, really, really hard because you're 16 and you don't know what just happened.

So he had to not only feed three of his family members, but also make sure that they survive. And it was really, really, really hard because you're 16 and you don't know what just happened.

So he had to not only feed three of his family members, but also make sure that they survive. And it was really, really, really hard because you're 16 and you don't know what just happened.

So at that point, more than getting out of it was like, how do we put a meal in front of us? And he used to do all kinds of odd jobs like selling milk, delivering newspapers, selling firecrackers, you name it. Hustler. Hustler. Because at that point, you just got to get a meal in front of your... Survival. Survival. So it was literally survival mode.

So at that point, more than getting out of it was like, how do we put a meal in front of us? And he used to do all kinds of odd jobs like selling milk, delivering newspapers, selling firecrackers, you name it. Hustler. Hustler. Because at that point, you just got to get a meal in front of your... Survival. Survival. So it was literally survival mode.

So at that point, more than getting out of it was like, how do we put a meal in front of us? And he used to do all kinds of odd jobs like selling milk, delivering newspapers, selling firecrackers, you name it. Hustler. Hustler. Because at that point, you just got to get a meal in front of your... Survival. Survival. So it was literally survival mode.

And he reached out to one of his uncles in Kuwait. He's like, look, uncle, I need help. Can you get me a job? I need to really support my family. And his uncle said that, look, you're too young. When you turn 18, I will employ you. And he just thought that, look, normally when you need people the most, that's when they turn away. It's typical life.

And he reached out to one of his uncles in Kuwait. He's like, look, uncle, I need help. Can you get me a job? I need to really support my family. And his uncle said that, look, you're too young. When you turn 18, I will employ you. And he just thought that, look, normally when you need people the most, that's when they turn away. It's typical life.