Siraj AL-Ramahi

Duke University, Fuqua School of Business

“A resilient Jordanian, endlessly curious, who learns from failures and celebrates success with unwavering determination.”

Hometown: Amman City in Jordan

Fun Fact About Yourself: The most creative ideas and solutions for my career and personal life usually come to me when I am visiting the desert in Qatar. The calmness and clarity I find in the desert provides me with a clear mind to think.

Undergraduate School and Major: Qatar University / Civil Engineering

Most Recent Employer and Job Title: AHK Enterprise / Qatar

The MBA program is renowned for its “Team Fuqua” culture, which is predicated on six paired principles: Authentic Engagement, Supportive Ambition, Collective Diversity, Impactful Stewardship, Loyal Community, and Uncompromising Integrity. Which of these resonates most with you – and what does that principal demand of you as a Fuqua MBA? The principle of uncompromising integrity resonated with me the most. I believe it is essential to maintain truthfulness, honesty, and fairness in my personal and professional conduct, thereby promoting trust and respect in relationships and duties. I recognize that I am not only representing myself but also serving as an ambassador for my nation, and I aim to represent my nation with integrity.

Aside from your classmates and school culture, what was the key part of Duke Fuqua’s MBA curriculum programming that led you to choose this business school and why was it so important to you? The quality of the instructors who teach the courses is astonishing. The faculty at Fuqua are the perfect mix of theoretical and practical knowledge. Being mentored by experts in the markets and gaining their insights on what awaits me after an MBA is exactly what I was looking for.

What has been your first impression of the Fuqua MBA students and alumni you’ve met so far. Tell us your best Fuqua story so far. What impressed me the most was the curiosity of the students and their willingness to listen and learn from one another. Additionally, their openness to other cultures fosters personal connections among students.

I was on the verge of losing my fitness before coming to Fuqua, and I thought it would get worse once I arrived. Surprisingly, I was able to improve my fitness at Fuqua, thanks to the daily fitness activities planned by students. I joined the Saturday morning running activities organized by students and loved how they encouraged each other to progress. Fuqua is great not only for building your mind but also for your body!

What course, club or activity excites you the most at Duke Fuqua?  I am interested in joining the Entrepreneurship and Venture Capital Club. I want to learn from those who have built startups in the U.S. and understand the challenges they faced. Also, I want to share my experiences from the Middle Eastern market and am excited to see how we can build bridges between the U.S. and Middle Eastern markets.

Describe your biggest accomplishment in your career so far: One of my biggest accomplishments was being a partner in a startup in the promotional products industry. We successfully navigated the business challenges of COVID-19 and ultimately achieved a profitable exit.

Looking ahead two years, what would make your MBA experience successful? Building relationships that will not just last for the two years of an MBA but for a lifetime.

What advice would you give to help potential applicants gain admission into Duke Fuqua’s MBA program? Every person today has interesting stories to tell. My advice would be to learn about “Team Fuqua” culture and really showcase to the admission committee how your personal life and culture have matched those values.

DON’T MISS: MEET DUKE FUQUA’S MBA CLASS OF 2026