Meet Saif

Tell us a bit about yourself – what's your background?

With over seven years of progressive leadership at Smeirat Architects in Amman, Jordan, a legacy firm with over three decades of service, I’ve shaped and delivered architecture projects across Jordan while modernising internal systems and workflows.

My experience spans founding tech-enabled ventures, scaling digital education across MENA, and building AI-based operations that have increased efficiency and democratized access to knowledge.

I’ve also served as an Adobe trainer and speaker, including sessions at Adobe MAX in the USA, and I continue to mentor young architects through community outreach initiatives.

Through every role, I’ve remained focused on impact that extends beyond the client: building systems that serve communities, not just companies.

What does your most recent role entail?

I lead projects and operations at Smeirat Architects, overseeing everything from design leadership and strategic planning to digital transformation.

I implemented AI, BIM, and AI-based SOPs to reduce operating costs and raise productivity across departments.

I also represent the firm externally, collaborating with government bodies, mentoring young architects, and delivering lectures across underserved areas in Jordan. My focus is building scalable, resilient models for design, education, and enterprise that others in the region can replicate.

Why did you choose to study an MBA?

The scale of the problems I want to solve – global businesses, regional innovation, and systems reform – requires more than architectural knowledge. I chose the MBA to gain tools in corporate strategy, policy design, and organisational systems that can support long-term, responsible development. I’ve led initiatives that worked locally; now I need the insight to scale them across borders, institutions, and industries.

What attracted you to the MBA programme at Newcastle University Business School?

Newcastle stood out for its commitment to values I already live by – ethical leadership, global citizenship, and responsible innovation. Its focus on applied learning and real-world business transformation perfectly align with my mission. The moment I spoke to the Degree Programme Director and other colleagues at the Business School I felt the school’s belief in my journey, and I knew this programme was not just a degree, it was a platform to do more, reach further, and build responsibly at scale.

What does it mean to you to receive an MBA scholarship? What impact will it have?

This scholarship is more than financial support, it is a public endorsement of a vision I’ve been quietly building for years: that systems, when thoughtfully designed, can elevate entire communities. It validates the kind of leadership that values equity over ego, and innovation over convention.

With this support, I will be able to accelerate ideas already underway, like a scalable AI platform for client-centred design, and channel them into ventures that serve a broader ecosystem: cities, ministries, industries, and young professionals across the globe.